Photography: Croatian National Tourist Board
Croatia may not be the first destination that springs to mind when you’re planning a honeymoon, but scratch the surface of this nation on the Adriatic Sea and you’ll find romance aplenty, from the medieval city of Zagreb with its beautifully preserved Old Town, to Alpine castles and beautiful Dubrovnik — with its massive walls set by the sapphire sea, this coastal city has been a stand-in for Game of Thrones’ Kings Landing.
Location: Kempinski Hotel Adriatic
Ancient Split — Croatia’s second-largest city — is arguably even more lovely and historic: this international hub on the Dalmatian coast dates back at least 1,700 years, and is built around a palace raised by the Emperor Diocletian. Get outside the cities and you’ll find lovely countryside seemingly untouched by time, such as the Istrian coast that’s home to the Kempinski Hotel Adriatic, a five-star spa and golf resort set amid olive groves and vineyards. Similarly situated, the boutique Hotel Monte Mulini is a modern classic near the town of Rovinj, a beautiful fishing port with its own unique language and culture.
Location: Hotel Monte Mulini
Zagreb, located in the mountainous north of Croatia, also can trace its lineage back to Roman times, but it’s Art Deco and modern design that inform the Esplanade Zagreb, the elegant center of the city’ social and dining scene. Honeymooners will bask in the hotel’s famously attentive service, drink in the gustatory pleasures of a meal at Zinfandel’s — Croatia’s top restaurant — and be wowed by gracious rooms with lovely city views.
>Written by: Bob Curley
