Croatia is a small country situated in the Balkan Peninsula with an area of 56,594 square kilometres ( 21,851 square miles ); even if it is almost the size of West Virginia, it is visited by millions of tourists every year, who go to Croatia attracted by the ancient ruins, the mild weather, the exquisite resorts and the delicious cuisine.

The major cities are: Zagreb ( the capital ), Rijeka, Split, Dubrovnik, Trogir. The country is also famous for the multitude of small islands, over 1,000, making the Dalmation coast a top destinations for tourists all over the world.

Croatia is a perfect holiday retreat not only for its mixture of history and breathtaking scenery but also because of the top-quality services which are an emblem of Croatian tourism.

The foreign tourists should not worry about the language because many of the locals speak English, German and Italian. The Croatians are very friendly and hospitable and they do their best to make the toursits enjoy their vacation.

• Dubrovnik City Walls - Dubrovnik is a city dating back from ancient times. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Europe, being known as

"The Jewel of the Adriatics". The city walls witness Dubrovnik's medieval past and represent a must of any sightseeing tour of the city. The tourists can stroll along the two kilometres of walls, fortresses and towers, taking photos and enjoying the beautiful view. The city walls were bulit between the 13th and 14th centuries and surround the entire historic district of Dubrovnik. They are among the best kept complex of walls and fortresses in Europe and can be visited entirely for 15 kuna ( 5 kuna for children - 1 Croatia Kuna= 0.17 US Dollar ) http://www.dubrovnik-guide.net/walls.htm

• Maksimir Park in Zagreb - It is the largest park in Zagreb, opened to the public in 1794. It is situated several miles east of the city centre. It attracts many visitors throughout the year because of its lakes, trails, the neighbouring Botanical Garden and the stadium of the local team Dinamo Zagreb. It is the ideal place for a romantic walk or for jogging, canoing or riding the bike. The Maksimir Park divides the city of Zagreb in two and it is always full of people from all the districts of the city, who can sip a nice cup of coffee on the terrace of the cafes or feel the rythm of music on the dance floor of the modern discos. http://www.park-maksimir.hr/maksimir_en/Maksimir_EN.htm

• Plitvice Lakes National Park - It is situated at the border with Bosnia- Herzegovina and it consists of 16 lakes linked through a network of natural dams of travertine, surrounded by waterfalls and forests, thus creating a delicate mixture of green and blue in a variety of shades. Not only the flora but also the fauna is very well represented especially through an impressive variety of birds. The park was opened in 1949 and in 1979 was added on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/eng/index.php

• Krk Island - it has an area of 410 square kilometres and it is the largest island of Croatia. Among the facilities for tourists one can mention the numerous hotels, an airport and many fishing ports. The biggest town on the island is Krk, an ancient Roman site with well- preserved ancient ruins, museums and art galleries. Baska is the most popular summer resort on the island because of its sandy beaches of a unique beauty. Because many Croatian beaches are covered in small pebbles, the tourists will need special flip-flops which can be bought from the shops neighbouring the beaches.

The tourists will also have the chance of enjoying the local cuisine which is a mixture of Italian, Greek and Turkish culinary influences.http://www.krk-croatia.com/eng/povijest.htm

• Pag Island - it is one of the largest Croatian islands with an area of 305 square kilometres. It is famous for the local embroidery and a very tasty variety of cheese. The small town of Novalija is renowed for the Zrce beach area which is the centre of summer fun in this part of Europe due to the multitude of discos, clubs and open-air parties.

Those interested in history may visit Novalija History Museum with a large display of Roman artefacts. http://www.find-croatia.com/islands-croatia/pag.html