Croatia

Croatia’s coastline is the main draw, with the walled city of Dubrovnik, island-hopping around Hvar and Korčula, and turquoise water that looks almost unreal in photos. Inland, Plitvice Lakes National Park adds waterfalls and forest hiking to the mix. Zagreb, the capital, gets less attention but has a solid food and café scene. Summer gets busy and prices rise, so spring or early fall works better for a quieter trip.