UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Croatia – all 10 natural and cultural heritage sites

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Croatia has 10 sites and areas on the UNESCO World Heritage List – from historic cities and Roman structures to lakes and primeval forests. There are well-known World Heritage sites here such as Dubrovnik, Diocletian's Palace in Split and the Plitvice Lakes, but also considerably lesser-known places. We have visited several of Croatia's World Heritage sites ourselves and here we list all ten.

Unesco World Heritage Sites in Croatia

Croatia has a total of ten World Heritage Sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Eight are cultural and two are natural. Some of them are entirely Croatian, while others are so-called transnational World Heritage Sites shared with several other countries.

The World Heritage Sites have been selected for their particularly great cultural-historical or natural value. In Croatia, they include everything from Roman remains and medieval cities to a unique seascape and valuable European beech forests.

We have so far visited five of the ten World Heritage Sites: Split, Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes, Trogir and the Venetian Fortifications in Zadar. Here is the full list.

1. Diocletian's Palace and Split's Historic Center

In the city Split you can see Diocletian's Palace, which is integrated into the historic part of the city. The palace was built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 3rd century, and is one of the largest preserved Roman buildings in the world.

The palace, which is exceptionally well preserved, contains a number of buildings from different eras, such as the Temple of Jupiter (now the Baptistery of John), the Cathedral of St. Dominus and the ”peristyle”, i.e. the central square of the palace. Plus, Split is a very nice city!

2. Old Town of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a stunningly beautiful old town. Despite being severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667, it has managed to preserve Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture in the form of churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. The city was damaged again during the armed conflict of the 1990s, but is now protected by UNESCO and is being carefully restored. Dubrovnik is a city well worth visiting.

3. Plitvice Lakes

Of the ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Croatia, Plitvice Lakes one of two natural heritage sites. This national park has old forests and a large lake system with 16 lakes and many dramatic waterfalls. You can walk around on nice wooden bridges over the large water areas, or get around by shuttle bus or electric boats. Fantastically beautiful!

4. Eufrasius Basilica in Poreč

I Poreč Christianity was founded early, and here is a group of religious monuments that form the most complete complex of its type. Here is the Euphrasian Basilica, founded in the 6th century, as well as the atrium, baptistery and bishop's chapel, all of which are special examples of religious architecture.

5. The historic centre of Trogir

Trogir is located on an island in the Adriatic Sea and offers a city center with narrow alleys, cobblestone streets and cozy outdoor cafes. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Croatia due to its architecture with fortifications, Romanesque churches and distinctive Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period. We highly recommend a visit!

6. Cathedral of St James in Šibenik

The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik (1431-1535) bears witness to the great exchange of monumental art between northern Italy, Dalmatia and Tuscany in the 15th and 16th centuries. Three successive architects developed unique vault and dome construction techniques. Šibenik is a city we have yet to visit.

7. Ancient beech forests in the Carpathians and other parts of Europe

The beech forests, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Croatia, extend across a total of 18 countries. The forests spread after the Ice Age from some areas in the Alps, Carpathians, Dinaric Alps, Mediterranean and Pyrenees, and this process is still ongoing.

8. Stari Grad Plain

The Stari Grad Plain on Hvar Island is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was colonized by the Greeks in the 4th century BC. At that time, grapes and olives were grown here, as they are still today. The geometric system of land division used by the ancient Greeks is also preserved. Otherwise, the island is a pleasant holiday island, with the beautiful historic towns of Hvar and Stari Grad.

9. Stećci medieval gravestones

Stećci medieval tombstones are located in a total of 28 sites, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia. The cemeteries date from between the 12th and 16th centuries AD. Most are carved in limestone and have decorative motifs.

10. 16th and 17th century Venetian defences

The World Heritage Site ”Venetian Fortifications of the 16th and 17th Centuries” includes six sites with fortifications in Italy, Croatia and Montenegro. In the Croatian city of Zadar You can see sturdy city walls, gates and bastions, which are truly impressive. In Šibenik, it is about the Fortress of St. Nicholas, an isolated bastion fortification on three levels.

Croatia also has intangible cultural heritage

In addition to the physical World Heritage Sites, Croatia has a long list of traditions and knowledge that have been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. This does not mean buildings or natural areas, but living traditions such as music, dance, crafts, festivals and knowledge that are passed down from generation to generation. Here are some examples of interesting intangible cultural heritage in Croatia:

• Klapa song from Dalmatia
• Lace making on the island of Pag, among others
• Nijemo Kolo – silent ring dance from the Dalmatian hinterland
• Sinjska Alka – knight tournament in Sinj
• Gingerbread crafts from northern Croatia
• Za Križen – the traditional procession of the cross on the island of Hvar
• Saint Blaise's Feast in Dubrovnik
• The traditional Mediterranean diet – shared world heritage with several other countries
• Drywall – a multinational cultural heritage

More to see and experience in Croatia

There is of course much more to see and experience in Croatia, beyond national parks. Here you will find more tips and further reading:

• National parks in Croatia
• Istria – 9 locations
• Dalmatia – 10 places
• Croatian food
• Facts about Croatia