In the Dalmatian region of Croatia

 “If you want to see paradise on Earth, come to Dubrovnik.”

-- George Bernard Shaw
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(in Croatia) The Dalmatian region of Croatia comprises a central coastal strip and a fringe of islands along the Adriatic Sea. Its greatest breadth, on the mainland, is about 28 miles (~ 45 km), and its total length, from the Kvarner gulf to the narrows of Kotor, is about 233 miles (~375 km). A rugged and barren range of mountains, the Dinaric Alps, divides Dalmatia from the interior. The Dinaric Alps offer two main passes: the Krka River canyon and the Neretva River valley. The Dalmatian coastline has many bays and harbors and is noted for its scenic beauty. (Dalmatia’s main cities are Zadar, Split, Šibenik, Dubrovnik, Trogir, and Korčula.) 
+ Serving the classic Dalmatian cocktail of historic towns, jewel-like waters, rugged limestone mountains, sun-kissed islands, gorgeous climate, and Mediterranean cuisine, Northern Dalmatia is a vacationer's dream. Yet it is the cities and islands further south that get most of the limelight, leaving Northern Dalmatia, less overrun. Yachties can sail between unpopulated islands without any development, lost in dreams of the Mediterranean of old, while hikers can wander lonely trails where bears and wolves still dwell, and explore three of Croatia's most impressive national parks in the hinterland. By contrast, Zadar is a cultured city rich in museums, Roman ruins, restaurants and bars.

+ Central Dalmatia is the most action-packed and diverse part of Croatia, with pretty islands, quiet ports, rugged mountains, many castles and an emerging culinary scene, as well as three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Diocletian’s Palace in Split, the medieval walled town of Trogir, and the ancient strip fields of the Stari Grad plain on the island of Hvar. Through all of it, the rugged Dinaric Range provides a dramatic background. Hot spots include the busy Mediterranean-flavored city of Split and lovely little Hvar Town, which is known as the Adriatic's most glamorous party island. Yet, if it's relaxation you're after, there are seductive sandy beaches and pebbly coves scattered about islands near and far. Best of all, Dalmatia is usually warmer than Istria or the Kvarner Gulf. You can plunge into the crystalline Adriatic from the middle of May up until the end of September.

+ From the island of Korčula in the northwest to the dreamy plains of Konavle in the southeast, Southern Dalmatia is a region to be savoured by beach seekers, wine lovers, and history buffs alike. Yet one location eclipses any discussion of Southern Dalmatia: the remarkable old town of Dubrovnik (depicterd here). Ringed by defensive walls, the city encapsulates the very essence of a medieval Mediterranean fantasy. When Dubrovnik's tourist crowds threaten to overwhelm, a reinvigorating balm is but a quick boat or bus ride away. Refresh yourself on the shady paths of Trsteno Arboretum or, the wine and oysters of the sparsely populated Pelješac Peninsula.