Stretched along the Adriatic, situated across from Italy and nestled against the eastern Alps, Croatia lures tourists with stunning scenery, World Heritage cities and affordable prices. This tiny boomerang-shaped nation is blessed with the kind of dreamy coastline — dotted with medieval walled cities and washed by aquamarine bays — that makes it a postcard-perfect backdrop for a wedding or honeymoon.
Wedding Requirements Marrying here requires some paperwork: U.S. citizens must have valid U.S. passports, copies of U.S. birth certificates (issued within the past 90 days and translated into Croatian by a sworn court interpreter), a sworn statement of citizenship made before a U.S. consular officer in Zagreb and authenticated by the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, proof of dissolution of any previous marriage, and an interpreter for the civil ceremony. A church or other religious ceremony can be held separately. For more info, visit zagreb.usembassy.gov/service/other/marriage.html.
Things to Do
Islands and the Coast Nicknamed the Pearl of the Adriatic, golden-hued Dubrovnik shines as one of Croatia’s most beautiful cities. Encircled by a 15th-century wall (which takes about two hours to walk and provides amazing photo ops), the Old City is a pedestrian-friendly maze of boutiques, cafes, wine bars and ice-cream shops. Midway up the coast, the resort isle of Hvar (located off Split, the country’s second-largest city) beckons with pristine beaches, picturesque villages and a sailboat-studded marina. Cast off to explore the nearby Pakleni islands, home to secluded coves ideal for sunning á deux.
Central Region Croatia’s nine-century-old capital, Zagreb, offers the intimate baroque ambience of Upper Town, plus the slightly more modern bustle of Lower Town, with its wide boulevards and public trams. Top sights range from the twin-spire Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which lords over Trg Bana Josipa Jelacica (the main square), and Tkalciceva, a bohemian street lined with vibrant cafes. The city’s numerous parks include Botanicki Vrt, a botanical garden, and Maksimir, a zoo surrounded by five lakes. Easy day trips include nearby red-roofed Samobor, waterfall-studded Plitvice Lakes National Park and romantic 13th-century Trakoscan Castle.
Wining and Dining Croatia may be Slavic, but with Italy as both a neighbor and past invader, wine has long played a role in its lifestyle. With the country’s more than 300 wine regions — the majority produce whites, but coastal vintners are dabbling more in Bordeaux-style reds — wine bars are great spots to sample varietals you’ve never heard of. Pair them with local staples of Mediterranean-meets-Central European cuisine: black olives, sheep’s-milk cheese and wood-grilled seafood near the coast, and spicy meatballs, hearty goulash and tender kebabs inland.
Off the Beaten Path Head north to the seaside Istrian towns of Rovinj, Porec and Pula for their distinct mixes of history and architecture. Colorful Rovinj, with its towering campanile guarding its tiny harbor, is superbly photogenic; Porec’s main pedestrian zone could be lifted straight from Venice; and Pula boasts a fabulous Roman-style coliseum. Or visit the smallest town in the world, Hum, with a population of merely 23. — Donna Heiderstadt
