Croatia’s Coastal Delights

I love the knack Croatians have for taking a humble stretch of rocky shoreline and turning it into a wildly romantic bar or café. At Valentino Bar in the coastal town of Rovinj, the woman who runs the place hands out pillows as you arrive — an invitation to find your own nook in the rocks overlooking the bay. As the sunset fades and the flames on the old-time candelabra seem to brighten, you realize just how easy it is to enjoy a luxurious moment on the Adriatic coast.

Boasting thousands of miles of seafront and more than a thousand islands, Croatia's coastline, with its pebbly beaches, balmy summer weather, and melt-in-your-mouth seafood, is central Europe's Riviera. In fact, it's sometimes difficult to distinguish this lively, chaotic place from Italy.

The most Italianesque stretch is in the northern peninsula of Istria. Instead of the sheer limestone cliffs found along the rest of the Croatian shoreline, the Istrian coast has gentle green slopes, giving it a more serene feel. Though Istria has its share of tacky touristy beach towns, it also hosts my favorite Adriatic town, Rovinj.

Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Rovinj is like a little hunk of Venice draped over a hill. It's simply romantic. Boats laden with kitschy shells for sale rock giddily in the harbor. The fountain on the main square celebrates the arrival of the water system — which happened in 1959. A bell tower with a rickety staircase requires an enduring faith in the strength of wood. From the top a patron-saint weathervane boldly faces each menacing cloud front that blows in from sea.

Walking through the market, I feel like Marilyn Monroe singing to a bunch of sex-starved GIs. Women push grappa and homemade fruit brandies on me. Their sample walnuts are curiously flavorful. Ducking away from the affluent Croatian chic on the main drag, I walk up a back street and step into a smoky bar filled with town fishermen and alcoholics (these seem to be largely the same group).

Though Istria is quickly gaining a reputation as a hot spot, it's still not as famous as its southern rival, the Dalmatian coast, home to Croatia's top tourist town, Dubrovnik. Jutting confidently into the sea, Dubrovnik is ringed by thick medieval walls containing a traffic-free Old Town and a jumble of quiet, cobbled back lanes.

Though sun worshippers can easily find a pebbly patch along one of Dubrovnik's beaches, to truly appreciate the coast, it's best to head out to one of the islands. My two favorites are Korčula, with its "mini-Dubrovnik" vibe, and Hvar, a once-tidy fishing village with a hip, ritzy "Croatian Riviera" buzz.

The island of Hvar is known for its gentle climate, fragrant fields of lavender, and excellent wines. It's also a big draw for celebrities and yachters, making it one of the most expensive places to stay in Croatia.

Activities in the main town, also named Hvar, are low energy. The main square is a relaxing people zone surrounded by inviting cafés filled with deliriously sun-baked tourists. The formidable fortress hovering above town rewards hikers with stunning views. At the Benedictine convent, 13 sisters (who never go outside) make lace using fibers from the cactuslike agave plant. Some yellowed samples of their work date from the late 19th century.

For a humbler and less expensive experience, Korčula, while certainly not tourist-free, offers an often appealing, occasionally frustrating backwater charm.

Like other Croatian coastal towns, Korčula has two parts: The functional side — where most people park, eat, and sleep — and the time-warp Old Town. Four centuries of Venetian rule left Korčula with a quirky Gothic-Renaissance mix and a strong siesta tradition. The historic gate is a reminder that Korčula was once a mighty little place. Facades recall its 14th-century trading heyday, each one contributing to the evocative medieval townscape and dripping with drying laundry and local character.

Every Thursday in summer (and some Mondays), lazy Korčula snaps to life when locals perform a folk dance called the "Moreška." The dance dates back at least to the mid-17th century, and the current troupe has been performing it since the 1960s. With local dancers all dressed up in traditional costume and accompanied by an amateur band, it's a fun evening out…and so endearingly small-town.

When visiting the Croatian coast, seafood is a must, as hardworking restaurants seem to abide by the local creed: Eating meat is food; eating fish, that's pleasure. One waiter reminds me that a fish should swim three times: first in the sea, then in olive oil, and finally in wine. Red wines, which Croatians actually call "black wine" (crno vino), are a specialty along the southern coast.

With succulent seafood, sunny beaches, and a carefree attitude, Croatia's coast offers Central Europe's own twist on la dolce vita.