Loviste means "fishing place" and this small village on the tip of the peninsula is idyllic. It's a peaceful bay where you can sit and watch the world go by, and it claims to have the best fish restaurant on the peninsula. Drink the locally produced wine and eat the freshly caught fish while you watch the breathtaking sunsets - the village has 5 bars and restaurants in total.Fishing boats bring the days haul in and sailing boats moor overnight in it's sheltered waters.

Loviste also has one of the loveliest swimming spots on the peninsula with a soft white sandy bottom and shady trees to relax under the calm waters are bliss! Loviste is very child friendly having a separate shallow beach perfect for paddling, a beach volley-ball court and perfect snorkeling conditions. The bay also has a no car rule in force during the summer season. Also visit the 8000 year old prehistoric hill fort on the top of the hill between Loviste and Viganj and the old village of Nakovan. This old village is uninhabited except for one family and every September a huge celebration takes place here attended by most of the local population with dancing, hog roasts and home made organic wine.

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Viganj is a village which stretches from the side of Mt Illja down to the sea and has a long seafaring history. Many of the old stone houses you see are being restored to their former glory and are protected by UNESCO along with Dubrovnik as a world heritage site. It is a beautiful village, full of luchious plants and flowers brought back by past sailors of the village from their travels. There are also many domestic restaurants here ie local people serving food from their homes which are always particularly good. Viganj is also the place to go if you want to wind or kite-surf. The Croatian championships are held here every July as the conditions are perfect. Everyday at about 3pm, a maestral blows down the channel between Korcula and the peninsula and creates a welcome breeze.

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Kuciste has a long seafaring tradition and the village has quite a few sea captains houses. They are very opulent houses and were built in the late 18th/early 19th centuries in the style of Dubrovnik summer mansions. Kuciste is a stunning village with lots of little quays along the sea edge where the locals moor fishing boats or quite often sunbathe! There are a few restaurants and café/bars to relax in if the sun and sea get too much

Perna sits directly opposite the old town of Korcula and is a beautiful spot to just sit and enjoy the view. A very small village, Perna is home to a fantastic Franciscan monastery which is well worth visiting if you can face the steep drive up the hill! The views from the peaceful monastery location are fabulous. Beneath the monastery is also a protected forest of cypress trees. Close to here are the starting points for walking tours to nearby villages and Mt Ilija.

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Orebic is named after a famous seafaring family and was the maritime centre of the Peljesac Peninsula. Roman remains have been found here and, until 1806 it was part of the Dubrovnik administration. These days it is the biggest town on the peninsula (although it isn't really very big!) and has all the amenities you'd expect in a rural town - bank, farmers market, supermarkets, butcher etc The stroll from the marina along the promenade of sea captains mansions to Trstenica beach at the other end is lovely and well worth doing. Trstenica beach is popular with families because of its soft sand and gentle slope into the shallow, clear sea as well as the cypress trees which shade the upper part of the beach. There are cafes and tourist shops near by selling everything you need for a day on the beach. There are plenty of restaurants and bars in Orebic to suit every taste - it is a vibrant yet relaxed little town. You'll also find tennis courts and a football pitch. Orebic is also home to the ferry port which you can catch to hop across to Korcula town on the island opposite either on foot or in the car.

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Trstenik is a very picturesque village in a perfect harbour - perfect for swimming enjoying the natural beauty of the area. Wine growing is the principal occupation here - Dingac, a famous wine in this region, is produced here. You can also catch the ferry to the lushious island of Mljet from here. Prince Charles is said to be particularly captivated with this island when he visited last year.

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Trpanj lies on the northern side of the peninsula and is well known for its fresh water springs and healing mud!. It's a small town and harbour looking over to mainland Croatia - linked to the mainland at Ploce by ferry. It has beautiful beaches and is very popular with visitors.

Architecturally interesting, with Roman remains and a medieval fortress, Trpanj also has Baroque and Renaissance influences. Trpanj makes an interesting day trip from the other side of the peninsula if you can make it that far!

Korcula town is a short passenger or car ferry hop from Orebic, and is one of the best preserved medieval towns of the Mediterranean. Like a jewel jutting out of the land this is a beautiful little town and the birthplace of Marco Polo. It has plenty of meandering streets to wander along, and cosy little shops, bars and restaurants to stop at.

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Dubrovnik is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and you will see why when you drive above it on the road into Dubrovnik – it’s beautiful! It’s one of the most attractive and famous cities of the Mediterranean. Apart from its outstanding natural beauty and clean environment it has an incredibly well preserved historical heritage and offers a great variety of activities to its visitors.

With 2,554 hours of sunshine a year, Dubrovnik ranks among the sunniest towns of southern Europe. In July it has 12.4 hours of sunshine a day, just like Alexandria in Egypt. The vegetation is subtropical and extremely luxuriant (olives, almonds, citrus fruit, rosemary, laurel, holm oak, pine, stone pine, and cypress). Southeast of the old part of the town is a tourist zone called Ploce (hotels and beaches), west of it is Lapad (sports facilities, hotels, beaches, walking trails); while northwest of it is the Gruz port and Gruz.

There are many points of historical interest to see and the serious sight-see-er could spend several days here.

The place to start is the Stradun – the main street of the old town. From here wind your way through the narrow streets and view the sights from the top of the city walls to get a feel for this centuries old citadel.

The Dubrovnik Museum in the Duke's Palace keeps 15,500 exhibits in its cultural and historical department. A collection of furniture from the 17th-19th century, uniforms of dukes and councillors, aristocratic garments and many other items are exhibited in the authentic halls of the palace. The Maritime Museum (situated in the fortress Sveti Ivan) has a number exhibits on a permanent display, related to the maritime affairs of Dubrovnik and Croatia on the whole, with a particular emphasis on the history of the Dubrovnik Republic. The museum of the Franciscan monastery keeps all inventories of the old pharmacy, as well as the works of Dubrovnik jewellers, painters and embroiders. The museum of the Dominican monastery exhibits valuable examples of Dubrovnik painting from the 15th and the 16th centuries, as well as sculptures, jewellery, manuscripts, incunabula and notes (music). The treasury of the Dubrovnik cathedral keeps the relics of St. Blaise, patron of Dubrovnik, and numerous paintings and works of art. The Rupe Ethnographical Museum presents traditional occupations and the rural architecture of the region of Dubrovnik, national costumes and hand-made textiles.

A great number of Dubrovnik restaurants and taverns offer delicious specialities of local and international cuisine – the nicest place to eat is in the old town. Sea food is obviously a must-eat here – some of the 5 Star hotel restaurants are worth trying for a nice meal if you are fed up with the old town – The Excelsior has a lovely water front restaurant and serves divine seafood risotto... Likewise, try some of the little villages and towns surrounding Dubrovnik for a different slant on the areas food...

The most important event in the cultural life of the city is the Dubrovnik Summer Festival (10th of July - 25th of August). It is a theatre and classical and folk music festival; Concerts and other performances take place on open stages in the town (Gunduliceva Poljana, Drziceva Poljana, Lovrijenac, Revelin) or in beautiful interiors of the most famous buildings (Duke's Palace, cloisters, churches). The repertoire includes works of Croatian and world classics, performed by the leading personalities from Croatia and abroad, including a number of world-famous actors, directors, conductors, etc. So far several hundreds of them have performed in Dubrovnik.

The artistic life of Dubrovnik is characterized by numerous exhibitions taking place throughout the year. Apart from already renowned galleries - The Art Gallery (Put Frana Supila 23), its exhibition space Luza Art Centre (Stradun), Sebastian - occasional and permanent exhibitions are also held in other spaces as well.

The Dubrovnik carnival festivities are also very popular - so-called Dubrovnik "karnevo" (local variant of the word "carnival"), held ever since the early Middle Ages, when they were brought from neighbouring Italy. Another important event is the Feast Day of St. Blaise, also the Day of Dubrovnik (3rd of February). The feast takes place for the whole week, including religious ceremonies, a procession through the town, concerts, sports events, entertainment and carnival programs. Excursions to Dubrovnik during that week are regularly organized.

Mlini is a small picturesque village with a small harbour on the northern coast of the Zupa Bay with nice sandy beaches. The brooks and streams which flow from the nearby sources were once used for water mills. The upper part of the village (Trgoviste) lies along the main road – but near the beach are the parish church of St. Hilarius which dates from 1449 and the chapel of St. Roch (Rocco). Close to the church, on the way toward Cavtat, are the Roman remains.

Cavtat is a popular place for families to holiday – it is a very beautiful medieval town built on the slopes of the Rat Peninsula. It has a rich cultural and historical heritage so there’s plenty to sightsee here. There are entertainment programmes here all year round and it is a popular venue for the Croatian carnival. If you want to be more active you can make the most of the water sports, horse riding, and walking here – the scenery is beautiful so it’s a lovely place to just relax on the beach as well.

The island of Lokrumis famous for its Benedictine abbey and monastery – the first mention of which was in 1023. It’s name comes from the tradition of bringing plants and fruits from all over the world (Lokrum comes from the Latin acrukmen meaning sour fruit) and that was how the island continued. There are many plant varieties to discover – eucalyptuses and cactus types from Australia and South America to name a couple. Since 1964 Lokrum has been a managed nature reserve. There’s a little “Dead Sea” lake on the island too which is attached to the open sea. And make sure you see the stunning views from the Fort Royal (built by the French in 1806) across Dubrovnik, Cavtat and the islands… A mere 10 minute boat crossing from Dubrovnik makes this a lovely trip.

10 km north of Dubrovnik, Zaton is a picturesque and charming little village in a bay, perfect for taking in some sunshine and swimming in the sea. Its 2km beach is pebbly and has pine trees for shade – it’s pleasant to walk along the shore or just to sit in one of the little sea-front restaurants. There’s a freshwater source at one end of the bay that once powered a water mill and you will also see the summer mansions of some of the old Dubrovnik aristocratic families who used to holiday here.

Mljet Island is famous for its natural beauty and is a national park. You can reach it by catamaran from Dubrovnik – one goes everyday and then takes you back at the end of the day. You can also get there by ferry from Trstenik on the Peljesac Peninsula. You don’t need a car as you can hire scooters once you get there. Get there early in case there’s a queue for the ferry! Ask at the tourist office for information about the national park and things to do on the island before you go to make the most of your visit…Hiring kayaks on the lake is worth doing... Mljet is supposed to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Ancient Greek poet Homer writes about it in Odysee and Apostle Paul mentions it on his trip back through the islands to Rome. There are 2 connected salty lakes and in the centre of one is a smaller forested island with a Benedictine monastery. Roman remains of a palace from the 2nd century are also to be found in the Bay of Polace and there’s also the remains of a 4th century Christian Basilica. Just following the walking paths brings you to stunning sight seeing points. Mljet is definitely worth a trip.

Trogir is a beautiful medieval town situated just off the mainland north of Split - it's connected to the mainland and the island of Ciovo by a bridge. The town is steeped in history which dates back to the Illyrians, Greeks and Romans who all had a hand in building the town. Today it is a world heritage site and is a fantastic place to visit whether you just want to have a meal in an atmospheric old city or to discover more of the history of the place. There are a variety of fine restaurants, bars, cocktail lounges and cafes are located in the town. Several shopping centers are also located very near to the center (across the old Town Bridge, on the main market place). Split is very close and there are many places to visit here especially if you want to do a bit of sightseeing or discover more of the history of the area...

Ciovo Island is the largest island of the Trogir archipelago and is connected to the town of Trogir by a drawbridge! The beach resorts are wonderful (see Okrug Gornji and Dornji) and are lovely places for a stress free holiday. Aside from the beaches, Ciovo is also an interesting place historically. It’s been inhabited since prehistoric times and has a rich cultural heritage. Trogirs noblemen spent their holidays along the coast here!

Okrug Gornji is situated on the Island of Ciovo and is probably the best beach destination of the area. Connected by a bridge and frequent bus service to the mainland, his is a brilliant location if you want the best of both worlds – beach by day and old town culture and nightlife of Trogir by night. Okrug is one of the oldest places on the island of Ciovo originating in around the 15th century as a fishing village. This area is good for the soul – crystal Sea, fresh sea-food etc.

Okrug beach is the most popular beach on the Trogir Riviera. Easy to get to, the beach is nicknamed ‘Copacabana’ and has may bars and restaurants to keep you refreshed both during the day and in the evening. The water sports centre caters for any energetic notions you may have!

Okrug Dornji

This is a smaller village with more rustic charm - head in this direction if you want more secluded coves and walks.

Split is very close and there are many places to visit here especially if you want to do a bit of sightseeing or discover more of the history of the area...

The Palace of Roman Emperor Diocletian (who started to build his palace around 293AD) is a must see – the palace is about 30 thousand square metres.

At the entrance to the city are the ruins of ancient Salona (once the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia), the biggest archaeological site on the Adriatic coast.

North of Split is the fortress of Klis – this was built to defend the region from the Turkish invasion.

Also visit the museums of Split to get a sense of the cities history: the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments - a capital Croatian cultural project, established in 1893 in Knin; the Archaeological Museum from 1820, one of the oldest in Croatia; the Treasury of the Split Cathedral, including a valuable collection of religious art; the Ethnographic Museum, founded in 1910; the Museum of Marine History; the Museum of Natural Science. The Art Gallery, established in 1931, the Collection of the Franciscan Monastery in Poljud, the Mestrovic Gallery, are also worth visiting.

There is also a marvellous view from the top of Marjan on the old and new parts of Split. It takes only 15 minutes to reach Marjan on foot from the historical core of Split through the old quarter Varos. The Marjan stairway, running along the crest of the hill, leads to another, higher top of Marjan, Telegrin, with a vista point offering prospect on the Split peninsula, Kozjak, Mosor, the Kastela Gulf, Salona and Klis, Trogir and Ciovo, and the islands of Solta, Brac, Hvar and Vis.

The Istrian Peninsula is the largest Croatian peninsula and is one of the best-developed tourist regions on the Mediterranean. Referred to as the new Tuscany, it certainly has that feel about it - lush countryside and fairytale, hill top towns like Motovun…wine tasting, truffle forests and olive oil are staples of this area. However, it has remained largely untouched, and offers real variety to visitors - you can stay in a villa in the countryside of Istria, yet be close to sea side towns like Rovinj, Porec, ADDED COMMA Opatija and Pula. Steeped in history and with plenty of sightseeing opportunities, these are lovely towns to wander around with their cobbled, winding streets. And, of course you can swim in the clear Adriatic at any point. It's beautiful and there's nowhere else really like it…