Facts about Croatia - 30 things you (might) not have known

Writer: Peter Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Croatia is known for its long coastline, its many islands and historic cities like Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb. But did you know that the country also has dinosaur tracks, a strong Glagolitic cultural heritage and connections to both the tie, the torpedo and Nikola Tesla? Here we have collected 30 exciting facts about Croatia – from history and nature to food, inventions and popular culture.

Facts about Croatia

We have traveled to Croatia many times, visiting everything from Istria and Zagreb to Dalmatia and the islands in the Adriatic Sea. The country offers much more than sun and swimming: there are Roman ruins, medieval towns, national parks, wine, truffles and a long line of exciting stories. Here are 30 facts about Croatia that you might not know.

1. Croatia has 10 World Heritage Sites on the UNESCO list

Croatia has ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites: eight cultural and two natural. Among the most famous are the Old Town of Dubrovnik, Diocletian's Palace in Split, the historic center of Trogir, the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč and the Plitvice Lakes National Park.

2. Croatia has 8 national parks

Croatia has eight national parks.: Brijuni, Kornati, Krka, Mljet, Paklenica, Plitvice Lakes, Risnjak and Northern Velebit. They represent very different types of nature, from waterfalls and forests to mountains and islands.

3. Croatia has over 1,000 islands, islets and skerries

The Croatian coast is full of islands, islets and skerries. The exact number depends on how they are counted and classified, but the number 1,244 is often mentioned. Only a small part of them are permanently inhabited.

4. Zlatni Rat beach changes shape

The famous Zlatni Rat beach is located near Bol on the island of Brač and protrudes like a long tongue into the Adriatic Sea. The outermost part of the beach can change shape depending on the wind, waves and sea currents.

5. Pasjača was named Europe's best beach in 2019

Pasjača is located south of Dubrovnik, near the village of Popovići in Konavle. In 2019, the beach came in first place in a vote by the travel organization European Best Destinations.

6. There are dinosaur tracks on the Brijuni Islands

On the Brijuni Islands outside Istrian coast Fossilized dinosaur footprints have been found. The tracks can be seen on the main island of Veliki Brijun, among other places, and testify to animal life here more than 100 million years ago.

7. Neanderthals lived in present-day Croatia

At Krapina in northern Croatia, archaeologists have made one of Europe's most important finds of Neanderthals. Today, you can learn more about the finds and the people who lived here at the Krapina Neanderthal Museum.

8. Vinkovci has been inhabited for around 8,000 years

The town of Vinkovci in eastern Croatia is often described as one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Archaeological findings show that people have lived in the area for around 8,000 years.

9. A sphinx that is about 3,500 years old stands in Split

At Diocletian's Palace in Split There is a genuine Egyptian sphinx that is considerably older than the palace itself. It is usually dated to the time of Pharaoh Thutmose III in the 15th century BC. Diocletian had Egyptian sphinxes brought to his palace around 300 AD.

10. Hum is often called the world's smallest city

The little one medieval town of Hum in Istria has long been marketed as ”the world’s smallest city.” It has city walls, churches, small cobblestone streets and only a few inhabitants. Exactly what counts as a city varies from country to country, so the term should be seen more as Hum’s well-known nickname than as an official world record.

11. Zagreb's gas lanterns are still lit by hand

I Zagreb's historic upper town There are still hundreds of traditional gas lanterns. They are lit and extinguished manually by the city's lantern lighters, a tradition that has lived on since the 19th century.

12. The Sea Organ in Zadar is played by the waves

At the beach promenade in Zadar there is the unusual artwork The Sea Organ, Morske organ. Under the stone steps are pipes that are pressed by the ocean waves, creating constantly changing tones.

13. Zagreb's funicular is one of the shortest in the world

The Zagreb Funicular connects the lower town with the historic upper town. The length is only about 66 meters and the journey takes about a minute. It is often described as one of the world's shortest public transport funiculars.

14. The Pula Amphitheatre is one of the world's best-preserved Roman arenas

Pula's famous Arena was built during the Roman era and received its monumental form under Emperor Vespasian in the 1st century AD. It is particularly famous for the unusually well-preserved outer wall. In ancient times, the arena could accommodate around 20,000 spectators.

15. Istria is famous for truffles

The forests of the Istrian hinterland are famous for both black and white truffles. In 1999, Giancarlo Zigante found a white truffle weighing about 1.31 kilograms near Buje. It became famous as one of the world's largest white truffles and helped put Istria on the gastronomic map.

16. Croatia has had more and more restaurants in the Michelin Guide

Croatia's gastronomic scene has gained increasing international attention, and the Michelin Guide now includes restaurants in many parts of the country, including Michelin-starred restaurants, Bib Gourmand awards, and other restaurants recommended by the guide.

17. Zinfandel originated in Croatia

The American Zinfandel grape has been genetically identified as the same grape variety as the ancient Croatian Tribidrag grape, also known as Crljenak Kaštelanski. The grape thus originated on the Croatian side of the Adriatic Sea and has been cultivated there for hundreds of years.

18. The word cravat is connected to Croatia

During the 17th century, Croatian soldiers were noticed in France for the pieces of cloth they wore tied around their necks. The fashion spread and the French word tie is considered to come from Croatian, i.e. Croatian. From there the word for cravat has spread to other languages.

19. Slavoljub Penkala developed the mechanical pencil

Slavoljub Eduard Penkala was an inventor who lived and worked in Zagreb. In 1906 he patented a mechanical pencil and the following year an improved fountain pen. His surname became so associated with writing instruments that penkally still used as a word for pen in parts of the region.

20. The modern torpedo was developed in Rijeka

The idea for a self-propelled anti-ship weapon was developed by Croatian naval officer Ivan Lupis. British engineer Robert Whitehead further developed the idea in Rijeka, and in the 1860s, what is usually considered the first practical self-propelled torpedo was created there.

21. Game of Thrones was filmed in Croatia

Dubrovnik became world famous as the filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones. Split, Klis and Šibenik were also used during the production of the series. Dubrovnik's city walls, fortresses and historic alleys are easily recognizable in many scenes.

22. The women's folk costume on Susak has very short skirts

The island of Susak has a distinctive traditional women's costume with several layers of short, colorful skirts. The costume is usually highlighted as unusually short compared to traditional folk costumes elsewhere in Europe.

23. Špica is a Saturday tradition in Zagreb

In Zagreb is spic the name for the lively Saturday morning when people meet over coffee in the city center, stroll and observe the world. The phenomenon is particularly associated with the cafes and streets around Cvjetni trg and Bogovićeva. For many Zagreb residents, it is as much about seeing and being seen as it is about the coffee itself.

24. Croatia has a long tradition of naturism

Croatia has been an important destination for naturists for more than a hundred years. The island of Rab has a special place in history: naturism existed there as early as the beginning of the 20th century and a naturist beach is said to have been opened in 1934. In 1936, the British King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson were granted permission to swim nude in Kandarola Bay, an event that is often mentioned in the story of the development of naturism on the island.

25. Marco Polo may have had a connection to Korčula

Marco Polo is usually described as Venetian and his exact birthplace is not definitely documented. On the Croatian island of Korčula However, there is a strong local tradition that claims he was born there. The connection is controversial, but Marco Polo has become part of the island's history and tourist identity.

26. Nikola Tesla was born in present-day Croatia

Nikola Tesla was born in 1856 in the village of Smiljan, then in the Austrian Empire and now in Croatia. Tesla was an ethnic Serb and later became an American citizen. He became one of the most important inventors and engineers in the development of alternating current and modern electrical engineering.

27. Luka Modrić was born in Zadar

Luka Modrić was born in 1985 in Zadar, in what was then Yugoslavia. He has become one of Croatia's most successful footballers of all time, winning the Ballon d'Or in 2018 after helping Croatia reach the World Cup final that year.

28. Davor Šuker was the top scorer in the 1998 World Cup

Davor Šuker was born in 1968 in Osijek, then Yugoslavia. He scored six goals in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer. Croatia won bronze in its first World Cup as an independent nation.

29. The Dalmatian has Croatia as its official country of origin

The distinctive black and white spotted Dalmatian has Croatia as its official country of origin. The breed's name is associated with the historical region of Dalmatia along Croatia's Adriatic coast.

30. Professor Balthazar was created in Zagreb

The animated series Professor Balthazar was created in the late 1960s by Croatian animator Zlatko Grgić and produced by Zagreb Film. The series about the friendly professor and his imaginative inventions became an international success and was also shown to many Swedish television viewers.

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