Choose Croatia holidays for a Central European time warp, with pine-forested national parks, glistening Adriatic waters and cosy suppers in rustic restaurants.

Plitvice National Park, a vast wonderland of waterfalls and lakes, is a peaceful Garden of Eden between the cosmopolitan capital of Zagreb in Croatia's north and studenty coastal Zadar. From here, the jagged Dalmatian Coast road splits olive groves and vineyards from the dreamy, turquoise Adriatic Sea. History buffs stop off at Split's Roman ruins before yachting to the emerald Croatian Islands trimmed with tiny fishing harbours, like Hvar and Brac. Further south, the turrets and ramparts of Dubrovnik look out over the city's terracotta rooftops.

Best of Croatia holidays for...

• Shopping: Dubrovnik's circuit of old city walls enclose a shoppers' paradise. As soon as you step through the grand Pile Gate you'll fall upon lanes of gift shops selling take-home delicacies like strong komovica brandy and nutty Bajadera nougat.
• Free & cheap: Rub shoulders with Roman royalty at Diocletian's Palace in Spilt Old Town in Northern Dalmatia. The ruins of this giant palace, which was built way back in the 4th century, include courtyards, villas and mausoleums with pillars and friezes still intact.
• Romance: Tiny alleyways and drawbridges make your fairy-tale date complete in the Renaissance Old Town of the island of Korcula. Romeo and Juliet love affairs begin on pizzeria terraces overlooking the azure Adriatic.
• Active types: Set sail along the rugged Peljesac Peninsula for lush, green panoramas of vineyards and sleepy fishing villages. You can moor up alongside Orebic for dips off the endless beach and treks up Mount Ilija.

• Relaxing: Brac Island's unique fin-shaped sand and shingle bar, the Golden Cape Beach, points out to sea from the lively seaside town of Bol. Snooze under pine trees between pedalo rides in the turquoise shallows.
• Nightlife: Zadar's Old Town streets are ideal for venue hopping on holidays to Croatia. Take your pick from hip-hop tunes in student cafés, bops in cheesy open-air nightclubs and bohemian chill-out bars.
• Kids & teens: It's a fun 6km ferry trip from the ancient Istrian city of Pula to meet the animals on the Brijuni Islands National Park. Look out for fallow deer and buzzards in the forests and spot exotic residents like Indian elephants and llama in Veli Brijun's safari park.
  
  For more information about Croatia, visit the Official Croatian Tourism Site.