As the borders to Europe reopen this summer, we go to Croatia for excitement. The country's borders opened to foreign tourists on April 1, 2021, with flight times of just over two hours from London. Croatia, with over 1,200 islands and islets, is known for having some of Europe's most amazing beaches, making it ideal for boat trips into quiet bays. Inland, you'll find national parks with flowing waterfalls, beautiful woods, and cities filled with history and things to do.

From hidden golden beaches to walled citadels, environmental parks are worth investigating. Begin making your Croatia bucket list right away.

Biokovo Skywalk

Biokovo Nature Park, on the Dalmatian coast, is one of the tallest coastal mountain ranges in the Mediterranean, with fantastic views of the Adriatic. The horseshoe-shaped Skywalk, which debuted in July 2020 and is 1,228 meters above sea level, cantilevers 11 meters above the cliff above the Makarska Riviera. The glass walkway may be found in Ravna Vlaka, in Biokovo's southwestern section. The ideal time to come is early in the morning to avoid crowds, and bring appropriate hiking shoes if you intend to explore beyond the skywalk since there are other serious trekking trails to uncover.

The Plitvice Lakes

This national park, two hours from Zagreb and one of the country's most popular, isn't most people's idea of Croatia. The UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of 16 crystalline lakes (literally turquoise in color due to deposits of gypsum, a soft sulfate mineral), surrounded by lush green forest and magnificent waterfalls. The paths are well marked, making this an excellent walking location. It should be noted, however, that swimming is not permitted in the lakes. The Veliki Slap viewpoint provides the most incredible aerial views of the upper lakes. Croatia has eight UNESCO sites, but this is one of the few that cannot be reached by water; we recommend taking the detour inland.

Northern Velebit National Park

This national park, two hours from Zagreb and one of the country's most popular, isn't most people's idea of Croatia. The UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of 16 crystalline lakes (literally turquoise in color due to deposits of gypsum, a soft sulfate mineral), surrounded by lush green forest and magnificent waterfalls. The paths are well marked, making this an excellent walking location. It should be noted, however, that swimming is not permitted in the lakes. The Veliki Slap viewpoint provides the most incredible aerial views of the upper lakes. Croatia has eight UNESCO sites, but this is one of the few that cannot be reached by water; we recommend taking the detour inland.