After more than a decade of civil and ethnic unrest, Croatia is once again emerging as an attractive tourist destination. With its magnificent coastline boasting 1,185 islands, islets and reefs; and countryside scattered with Roman ruins and picturesque medieval villages, Croatia is fast becoming a rival to the magical Greek islands in luring lovers of fun, sun, local colour, great food and history.

After centuries of fighting for independence, and being sliced and diced geographically to suit political and ethnic divisions, Croatia has ended up arc-shaped. Its long Adriatic coastline forms the western leg, tapering to the unique ancient seaport of Dubrovnik in the south, while the land between the rivers Drava and Sava form the northern section. The capital, Zagreb, sits in-between.

The most prominent feature of Croatia's tourist industry is its Dalmatian coastline, which is indented with rocky cliffs, peninsulas and small inlets. Numerous good quality hotels and marinas have been resurrected or constructed in the past few years, and the Croatian province is once again beginning to enjoy a tourist boom reminiscent of its heyday in the 1930s. There is a special atmosphere to Croatian towns and villages, many of which are built on the sites of ancient Greek settlements dating from the 4th century BC. This, coupled with a welcoming and determined population, Mediterranean climate, scenic beauty and lush vegetation, is aiding Croatia's rise from the ashes of war into one of the world's best tourist hotspots.

Diocletian's Palace

Address: Split

Admission: Free. A nominal fee (5-10kn) is charged for entry to some of the attractions

Archaeological Museum

Address: Zrinsko-Frankopanska 25 Split

Admission: 20kn (adults), 10kn (concessions) June to September, Monday to Saturday 9am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm. October to May, Monday to Friday 9am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm. Closed Sundays

Telephone: (021) 329 340

Mljet Island

Address: Dubrovnik

Admission: Admission to the national park is 90kn

Telephone: National Park: (0)20 744 058

Hvar Island

Address: Split

Franciscan Monastery

Address: Placa 2 Dubrovnik

Admission: 30kn (adults), 10kn (children) 9am to 6pm daily in summer

Telephone: (0)20 321 410

Dubrovnik City Walls

Address: Gundulièeva Poljana 2 Dubrovnik

Admission: 70kn (adults); 30kn (children) Opening times vary according to the season, but generally 9am to 6:30pm (summer), 10am to 3pm (winter).

Telephone: (0)20 425 942

Marin Drzic's House

Address: Siroka ulica 7 Dubrovnik

Admission: 20kn (adults); 10kn (students and children) 9am to 1pm, closed Sundays. The presentation is shown to groups of 15 at a time.

Telephone: (0)20 420 490

Cathedral Treasury

Address: Kneza Damjana Jude 1 Dubrovnik

Admission: 10kn Weekdays 9am to 8pm. Closed for lunch

Telephone: (0)20 411 715

Dubrovnik Riviera

Address: Dubrovnik

Andautonia Archaeological Park

Address: Archaeological Museum: 19 Nikola Subic Zrinski Square Zagreb

Admission: Museum: 20kn (adults), 10kn (concessions). Park: 15kn (adults), 10kn (children) Archaeological Park: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 4.30pm to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm (May to 23 September). Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm (24 September to October). Museum: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am to 1pm. Museum open until 8pm on Thursdays.

Telephone: (0)1 487 3101

Croatian History Museum

Address: Matoševa 9 Zagreb

Admission: 10kn (adults), 5kn (concessions) Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 1pm

Telephone: (0)1 4851 900

Croatian National Theatre

Address: Trg Marsala Tita 15 Zagreb

Telephone: (0)1 4888 418

Town Squares

Address: Zagreb

Trakoscan Castle

Address: Zagreb

Admission: 30kn (adults), 15kn (concessions) 9am to 3pm (summer); 9am to 6pm (winter)

Telephone: (042) 796 281 or 796 422

War Photo Limited

Address: Antuninska 6 Dubrovnik

Admission: 30kn Open daily 9am to 9pm (June to September); Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm (May and October); closed from November to April.

Telephone: (0)20 322 166

Elafiti Islands

Address: Dubrovnik

Korcula Island

Address: Dubrovnik

Trogir

Address: Split

Brac Island

Address: Split

Sibenik

Address: Split

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Address: Zagreb

Admission: April to October: 110kn (adults), 55kn (children 7-18). November to March: 70kn (adults), 40kn (children 7-18)

Onofrio's Fountain

Address: Dubrovnik

Sponza Palace

Address: Luza square, Dubrovnik Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Port

Address: Dubrovnik

Stradun

Address: Dubrovnik

Cruising in Dubrovnik

Rozarij

Address: Prijeko 2 (corner of Prijeko and Zlatarska) Dubrovnik

Food Type: Seafood

The Gaffe Pub

Address: Miha Pracata 4 Dubrovnik

Food Type: Gastropubs

Pizzeria/Spaghetteria Baracuda

Address: Bozidareviceva 10 Dubrovnik

Food Type: Italian

Porat

Address: Marijana Blazica 2, In the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik

Food Type: Local

Poklisar

Address: Ribarnica 1 Dubrovnik

Food Type: Seafood