Croatia

No longer a secret getaway, Croatia has been trending with tourists for decades, since the civil war ended in the mid-1990s. Rated fifth among the world’s top ten countries to visit according to Google searches, this fascinating country has garnered a reputation as a European travel hot spot. Dedicated to tourism with airport expansions and additional resorts, visitors find Croatia more affordable than many European countries. With ten distinct regions, Croatia offers magical forests, picturesque hillsides dotted with castles, meandering rivers and cascading waterfalls, and quaint towns to explore on foot.

The crescent-shaped country is steeped in history dating back to the Roman Empire. Architecture blends old and new featuring medieval and Renaissance and includes many well-preserved Roman and Gothic churches and palaces. Some of the best places to take in come with a sea view, with over 1,000 miles of shores, the villages of the Dalmatian coast including Split, Zadar, and the iconic walled city of Dubrovnik are enchanting and mesmerizing to visitors. With over 1,000 islands and islets scattered about in the Adriatic Sea, it’s no wonder that cruising and sailing creates endless opportunities.