Croatia: Cities | Lighthouse | Sail | Food | Swim | Villas

CROATIA'S history is long and eventful, so there are plenty of archaeological sites and historic sites to explore. Westminster Classic Tours (020- 8286 7842, www.westminsterclassictours.com), which specialises in cultural tours by boat, has introduced Croatia to its programme for 2008. There will be two tours, Cruising to Dubrovnik and Cruising the Dalmatian Coast, with itineraries that include visits to Roman sites such as Salona, the former capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, and the Renaissance cathedral of Hvar. Each tour is lead by a lecturer and accommodation is on a luxury gulet cruiser.

The 15-day tours cost from £2,950pp, including all meals and drinks.

FAMILY

The short flight time makes Croatia ideal for families. Explore (0844 4990901, www.explore.co.uk) has a new activity week, based in the rural hamlet of Sestanovac, close to the Dalmatian coastline and the Cetina river. The trip combines whitewater rafting on the river, canyoning through waterfalls and caves, and sea-kayaking along the coastline. Abseiling and walking are also included. Experience the unspoilt side of Croatia by staying in a simple rural pension that specialises in home cooking. A free day is included when you can visit the nearby historic town of Trogir, a Unesco heritage site with medieval architecture.

A week costs from £769 (adult) and £729 (child), including flights, transfers, accommodation and most meals.

HOTELS

Dubrovnik is an ideal getaway destination, but until recently there has been insufficient top-grade hotel rooms to cope with demand. The Libertas Rixos opened in late 2007, bringing five-star luxury back to a long-deserted 1970s hotel complex. Rooms have flat-screen TVs, decor in several shades of taupe, and spacious private terraces with views to the island of Lokrum. The hotel is 15 minutes' stroll from the Old Town.

A B&B week at the Libertas Rixos costs from £705pp, including flights through Holiday Options (0844 4770452, www.holidayoptions.co.uk).

ACTIVITIES

The best way to explore Croatia is on the water. Dalmatian Destinations (020-7730 8007, www.dalmatiandestinations.com) has a collection of elegant yachts that ply six themed routes. The Sail & Spa route utilises the elegant new spa at the Adriana hotel on the island of Hvar. Stay on board an air-conditioned gulet with an itinterary that can be tailored to include stops at islands such as Vis and Korcula. The trip includes access to the Sensori Spa at the Adriana for the two days the boat is in Hvar, one treatment and free use of the rooftop pool.

From £1,370pp including full board and transfers. Flights are extra, at about £150pp a flight.

BOUTIQUE STAYS

Hotels have never been Croatia's strong point, tending towards large, impersonal 1970s monoliths or small two-star pensions. New boutique properties are cropping up such as the five-star (with only 32 rooms) Hotel More in Lapad, outside Dubrovnik and the blonde-wood and cream-walls Hotel Indijan in Orebic on the Peljesac peninsula. The two pair nicely together for a self-drive trip, allowing you to spend time in Dubrovnik and some lazy days on the coast.

A ten-day trip, with five nights at the Indijan and four nights at the Hotel More, costs from £655pp, including flights, bed and breakfast and car hire through Croatian Affair (020-7385 7111, www.croatianaffair.com).

ARCHITECTURE

Zadar has been up and coming for a while, but direct Ryanair (0871 2460000, www.ryanair.com) flights from Dublin, in addition to those from Stansted and improved motorway links with Split (40 minutes away) mean the medieval cobbles and glorious Venetian architecture are more accessible. The problem with Zadar, is most of the accommodation is well out of town, in the beachfront Puntamika quarter. Those in the know stay at Villa Hresc (00 385 23 337 570, www.villa-hresc.hr), a small family-owned hotel just a stroll from the Old Town, where double rooms start at £60 a night. The city is Croatia's party capital and on weekend nights the cocktails come thick and fast; start, end, or just spend your whole night at the town's hippest address, the Garden (www.thegardenzadar.com).

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