Think you can predict the ending of GoT? Let the Unforgettable Croatia agency know!

If one thing has put Croatia on the map more than anything else for film and TV buffs, its the hit Game of Thrones series which has taken the world by storm, leading to countless visits to the many Croatian filming sites, particularly those in Dalmatia's southernmost city of Dubrovnik, which plays Kings Landing in the series, as well as Split.

While the Game of Thrones hysteria has been met with both positive and negative conclusions from residents of popular cities like Dubrovnik and Split, there is no doubt that economically speaking, Croatia has benefited beyond belief.

As Lider writes on the 19th of April, 2019, the British-American agency Unforgettable Croatia has announced a competition in which the task is to guess the ending of the wildly popular Game of Thrones (GoT) series and the reward for the one who manages to decifer the unfolding of the series' events will be rewarded with a trip to no less than GoT heaven - Croatia. So far, more than 5,000 people have sent Unforgettable Croatia their thoughts about who will take the throne at the end of the hit series.

The winner will be awarded a tourist-style tour of the various locations where the popular series was filmed across Croatia, more specifically Dalmatia, including Split, Klis, Hvar, Vis and Dubrovnik. Game of Thrones took off like few could have ever imagined, and the promotion that brought to Croatia was and remains unquantifiable. The first episode of the final season alone, which broadcast on Sunday attracted a record 11.8 million viewers.

Graham Carter, the owner of the British-American Unforgettable Croatia agency which launched the this GoT inspired competition, had his business in mind, which would further flourish by increasing the overall interest in travelling to Croatia. Every year, this agency brings about 5,000 passengers travel to Croatia, and they're hoping to increase that figure to 6,500 next year, as Carter revealed for Večernji list. Carter is currently residing in Split, where he is trying to establish a Croatian office for his the Unforgettable Croatia agency.

The winner of Unforgettable Croatia's competition will be offered half-board accommodation for a seven-day trip for two to Croatia, a tour of the Game of Thrones sites accompanied by a professional guide, and a visit to Hvar and Vis by sea. But there is, of course, a catch - the winner will not win the airplane tickets for travel, and they'll need to foot the bill for that themselves. 

GoT fan? Have your say! Click here.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

April 13, 2019 - 'Summer is coming' has never been a more appropriate choice of words. Continuing our series Things to Do in Croatia, we turn to a massively popular niche: Game of Thrones

Knowing a good part of the show was filmed at several locations on the Croatian coast, thousands of visitors have been flocking to Dalmatia in recent years, eager to explore King's Landing or the City of Meereen in real life. While you won't have any trouble finding an agency offering GoT-themed tours these days, we bring you a selection of four leading teams whose experienced guides will take you on an unforgettable journey through Westeros, along with one suggestion on how to make the trip on your own.

One last warning before we start: keep in mind that all featured tours involve a good deal of walking and stair climbing in the summer heat, so don't forget to bring along a bottle of water and wear sunscreen. Better safe than sorry!

1. Game of Thrones Dubrovnik Tour

Have a couple of stats to see why this particular crew has the honour of topping our GoT list: they rank no.1 among all Croatian GoT tours on TripAdvisor, and have seen more than 10.000 satisfied guests in the five years they've been doing the tour. The expert guides have all participated in the filming in some way, either as extras or as production staff, so they have many an inside story to share. They seem like a spirited bunch with a good sense of humour - see for yourself.

Here's the itinerary, starting from the meeting point in front of Pile Gate in Dubrovnik:

Red Keep
Climb the stairs of Fort Lovrjenac for magnificent views of the Old City and experience multiple scenes filmed there – Joffrey’s Nameday Tournament, Tyrion slapping Joffrey, Sansa saved by the Hound, 'Power is Power' dialogue, the Purple Wedding.

Docks of King’s Landing
Just seconds away from Pile Gate, in a hidden corner of the City, find the beach where Myrcella embarked on a journey to Dorne and where Sir Robert Baratheon's bastard kid was killed, and visit the spot where Sansa wondered whether to elope with Littlefinger.

Gates of King’s Landing
Enter the City through the same gates Jaime did when he came back home, and stroll down the street where the rebellion against Joffrey took place.

Littlefinger’s Brothel
Passing through the narrow streets of the Old City, arrive to the Brothel and see what Oberyn, Tyrion and High Septon were doing there. Enjoy the views of the House of Undying as we keep ourselves at the safe distance…

Sept Baelor
There is only one word that can be said here, and the word is: “SHAME”!

Spice King of Qarth Palace
Time to leave Westeros and cross the Narrow Sea: just a few steps to enter Rector’s Palace and we are in Qarth alongside Daenerys pleading for a fleet of ships.

Walk of Shame
Follow the footsteps of Cersei as the Walk continues and see her enter another Red Keep in the City, far away from the first one…

Views of Qarth
Arrive to the terrace in front of the powerful Revelin Fortress and enjoy the views of Lokrum Island, Duel Arena, and learn more about Qarth, Oberyn, the Mountain, and the Dothraki desert…

Those who are eager to spend some more time in the GoT realm have a cool option at their disposal: The Ultimate Tour for the Ultimate Fans, a combination of the walking tour described above and a visit to several filming locations outside the city of Dubrovnik. This one is a bit more challenging - prepare for a 3km walk and some 300 steps along the way.

After you're done with Dubrovnik, you'll be picked up by a minivan and head on to...

King’s Road and King’s Landing panorama
Photo stop at the slopes of Srđ mountain where Tyrion was waiting for Oberyn and where Jaime says goodbye to Brienne.

Gardens of King’s Landing
Visit Trsteno Arboretum where Oberyn was writing letters to his daughters, walk the same path as Cersei and Oberyn did, sit at the fountain where Sir Loras and Sansa discussed their upcoming marriage and where Brienne told Margaery about the Shadow killing Renly. Take a necklace from Sir Dantos in the hidden corner of the gardens and enjoy beautiful views from the pavilion where Olenna had her meetings.

More details on both tours are available here, along with location photos. 

2. Dubrovnik: DU the Tour!

Dubrovnik Private Tours, also known under the encouraging motto DU the tour!, has three charming ladies at the helm: Ivana, Marina, and Ana. All three have years of experience with guided tours, both group and private, and their Game of Thrones Walking Tour will enable you to see the most distinguished GoT locations in Dubrovnik in under two hours.

This is your perfect opportunity to visit locations in Dubrovnik that you’d certainly miss out on if you were strolling around by yourself. You will unveil a different face of Dubrovnik by visiting the most memorable scenes from HBO's greatest TV show ever! Let us take you down the Walk of Shame, see where Joffrey died and find out what was going on behind the scenes.

Explore what Game of Thrones looks like in real life and also learn about similarities between Dubrovnik’s real history and the TV series. All of our tours are accompanied by an expert tour guide who has a booklet with screenshots from the series, with the purpose of reminding you exactly what happened and where.

You'll discover why HBO chose Dubrovnik for the capital of Seven Kingdoms and learn about the filming process - find out how crowds were handled, how the company selected the extras, and other juicy stories from the set. Locations you'll visit include the Red Keep (Lovrjenac Fort), the City of Qarth (Lokrum) and the sites which hosted the Purple Wedding (Gradac Park), the Riot in the Streets (Pile Gate), and the Walk of Shame (the Jesuit staircase in the Old Town).

The tour takes place three times a day, at 12:30, 16:00 and 18:00. There's no need to book your spot in advance - you just have to show up at the meeting point 5 minutes before departure. Learn more about the tour and the prices here.

3. Game of Thrones Split Tour

We're heading a bit north to Split, another major GoT hotspot on the Adriatic coast. The ancient basement of Diocletian's Palace hosted Daenerys's throne room and the dungeon where she kept her dragons locked up for a while. The streets of Split have also hosted the Slave Rebellion, along with a couple of other memorable scenes you've seen in the series. You'll also visit Klis Fortress, a majestic historical site which played the City of Meereen, and end the tour with a visit to the water mill which hosted Missandei's bathing scene.

At the Game of Thrones Tour in Split, you are guaranteed a truly authentic experience. They have a great staff of tour guides, all completely obsessed with both the television series and the books - you may even get stumped by a few of their questions during the tour, when they test your knowledge on all things GoT.

This is the tour for casual watchers, hardcore GoT nerds and everyone in between. Since you’ll visit several notable Croatian landmarks, your knowledgeable guides will also give you background on the local history of Split, providing you with two tours rolled into one.

As their reputation precedes them, they're sure to have a full plate in the coming months, so you're advised to book your desired date at least two weeks in advance. Click here to see more details about the tour, and check out why their satisfied guests made them the highest ranked GoT tour in Split on TripAdvisor.

4. Game of Thrones 5 Days Experience

If you know in advance a simple half-day walking tour won't satisfy your GoT cravings, you can go all out with a 5-day round trip of all major GoT filming locations on the Croatian coast, prepared by Vetus Itinera Travel Agency. The tour doubles as a remarkable opportunity to see plenty of renowned tourist destinations on the Adriatic in less than a week - here's a rundown of the itinerary:

Day One: Welcome to King’s Landing

Welcome to the legendary City of Dubrovnik. A republic of its own and a beacon of diplomacy for most of its history, Dubrovnik’s independent spirit nowadays remains as strong as ever. You already know this city, for this is King’s Landing, host to the revelries of Robert Baratheon, the excess lifestyle of Prince Joffrey, and the cunning wit of Tyrion Lannister. Walk onto the Red Keep, here known as Lovrjenac Fortress. Follow the trails of Arya Stark and see where Daenerys, the Queen of Dragons, gave freedom to her fire-breathing flying creatures.

Day Two: The Path to Meereen

Following Daenerys on her path to Meereen, where she seeks revenge upon the vicious slave-owners for crucifying hundreds of slave-children, you will walk through Arboretum Trsteno - the palace gardens of King’s Landing, where gossip and intrigue foreshadowed battles. This luscious combination of greenery and superb architecture of yesteryear tells tales of royalty in the oldest arboretum in this part of Europe.

On to the Walls of Ston, a 3.5 miles-long defensive construction dating back to the 14th century that was also part of King’s Landing. Ston is a Dalmatian town you will fall in love with, and as playwright George Bernard Show once said, ‘there is no love sincerer than the love of food’ - an appropriate quote, as Ston is known as the home of one of the rarest, most delicious oyster species.

Day Three: Daenerys Finds Comfort on the Islands and the Sea

On her conquest of Slaver’s Bay, as shocked and angered as Daenerys was upon witnessing the evil doing of the Meereen slave owners, she couldn’t help but pause and take comfort in the magnificent seaside view that was laid in front of her. Meet the sunniest place in Europe, the lovely island of Hvar, a favorite destination to those who know how to travel well, and a perfect backdrop to the Game of Thrones. A peaceful retreat, or perhaps Slaver’s Bay? The island’s capital is an ancient town of the same name, rich with history and a thriving art scene.

Hell’s Islands, or ‘Paklenjaci’ is a group of small picturesque islands just outside of Hvar, and a destination easily reachable by speed boat. Many have found peace and seclusion on Hell’s Islands, as they are home to charming taverns and small family hotels. Time moves slowly here.

Moving on with your nautical journey, you will arrive on the island of Vis – raw, isolated from the mainland, charismatic and beautiful. Your tour of Vis wouldn’t be complete without visiting a tiny nearby island called Biševo. With an official population of fifteen souls, the limestone Island of Biševo is home to the Blue Cave, one of the most magical places in the Mediterranean. Located in the Balun Bay, the Blue Cave was initially described and painted by Baron Eugen von Ransonet, and used to be accessible only by diving until the 18th century. Illuminated by both the sun and the moon, the inside of the cave glows with an incredible aquamarine light.

Day Four: The New Throne

Another treat! We welcome you to the New Throne, so to speak - the City of Šibenik, whose fortified walls and ancient architecture were seen in the fifth season of the Game of Thrones. Šibenik is known as The King’s City, for it was the court of Croatian King Krešimir IV in the 11th century; a perpetual stronghold for many following rulers, Šibenik is protected by four fortresses on each of its side: the Fortress of St. Nicholas, St. Michael, St. John and the Šubićevac Fortress (Barone).

Move away from the city and return to nature, as we welcome you to Krka National Park, the backdrop to numerous scenes in the show’s fourth season. It is a breathtaking place, and its cascading waterfalls will leave you mesmerized and refreshed, as you swoon into the greens of its flora and the blues of its crystal clear water.

Now, you’re ready to visit agro tourism Kalpić, in the village Konjevrate, another natural backdrop to the fourth season of the show. These stone houses speak tales of Dalmatian ancestors, while the food and beverages you’ll enjoy make for true hedonistic perfection.

Day Five: Setting the Slaves Free - Meereen Belongs to the Queen of Dragons

Follow the path of Daenerys as she seeks to conquer Slaver’s Bay and free the slaves of Meereen. The 1700-year-old Mediterranean metropolis of Split transforms into Meereen, as you start the final chapter of your tour at Diocletian’s Palace, its ancient basements and narrow streets, where freed slaves sought revenge upon their masters. Travel to the suburbs, to the town of Žrnovnica, whose green mill was used for Missandei’s bathing scene, and then continue to the town’s quarry, where the Unsullied battled for Daenerys. Finally, walk the path to the top of Klis Fortress, as it transforms into the Meereen throne, where Daenerys set the slaves free and crucified their wicked owners. At the end of the tour, you will enjoy an authentic Game of Thrones dinner.

Learn more about the 5-day trip and other boutique tours offered by Vetus Itinera here.

5. Walk your own GoT path!

And finally, for the GoT-loving adventurers who aren't that fond of guided tours and prefer to explore new destinations on their own. Last year, Wanderu came out with a guide on how to create your own itinerary and see all major GoT filming locations in Croatia for less than $100 in total!

The Ultimate Game of Thrones Tour of Croatia by Bus will take you from Zagreb to Šibenik and Krka National Park, then on to Trogir, Split, Makarska, Trsteno, and Dubrovnik, before you head back to the Croatian capital. While some of the prices seem too good to be true - you're not likely to get from Trogir to Split for $1 on average, for example - the suggested itinerary will definitely come in handy when you start preparing for your Croatian GoT adventure. One small caveat to keep in mind: the listed sums relate to bus tickets only, so don't forget to add other expenses such as tickets to NP Krka and Lovrjenac Fortress in Dubrovnik.

Click here to explore the route suggested by Wanderu.

April 10, 2019 - Unless you belong to the 1% of people who have never seen an episode of Game of Thrones (enter meme here), we’re pretty sure you’re aware that the final 8th season of the wildly popular TV series begins on April 14th. While you’re busy recapping the last seven seasons and brushing on the characters and powerful families in the medieval fantasy epic, we thought we’d offer you help by looking at one of the many Game of Thrones filming locations in Croatia - Klis fortress. 

Long before it was known as the city of Meereen in the popular HBO series, the 2,000-year-old medieval Klis fortress was one of Croatia’s historic symbols, with a stellar view overlooking Split to boot.

Located less than 30-minutes away from the Dalmatian capital in the town of the same name, Klis fortress is essential to the history of Split and boasts a world of history itself. A strategically important structure thanks to its location between the Kozjak and Mosor mountains, the fortress controlled access to and from Bosnia, Dalmatia, and Inland Croatia. 

The fortress was first inhabited by the ancient Illyrian tribe of Dalmatae, followed by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Croats and the Ottoman Turks who famously conquered it in 1537. Onto the Venetians, the Austrians, and the Axis powers during WWII, the Klis fortress has seen it all - and you could see it all too. 

The popular attraction is not much further than the town of Solin and the archaeological site of Salona and is also easily reachable by bus lines 22, 34, 35, and 36 from Split. 

And thanks to its accessibility, the Klis fortress registers an increase in domestic and foreign visitors from year to year. Namely, last year, more than 70,000 people visited the famous fort, which is 40% more than in 2017. A positive growth trend continues in 2019, and during the first three months of this year, the number of visitors increased by 46%, and revenues by 66% over the same period last year. Consequently, the revenues of Klis fortress increased by over 3 million kuna, which is an unprecedented amount so far.

But that’s not all for the favorite fortress. Thanks to EU funds, Klis fortress will be illuminated at night this tourist season. Croatia’s first capital is part of the project financed by the European Union - the IPA Interreg ‘Fortress ReInvented’ project submitted by Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The project focuses on the reconstruction of the historical fortresses in the area and the Klis fortress portion of the project is worth 2.4 million kuna (350,000 euro). Most of all those funds will go towards illuminating the fortress at night. 

The mayor of Klis, Jakov Vetma, explained that illuminating the fortress at night is no new idea. In fact, all the documentation for the project was done several years ago. Vetma is confident that the fortress will attract even more visitors once it's illuminated. The deadline for the works to be completed is 90 days, meaning it should be finished right in time for the high tourist season.

TCN wrote back in February that Klis fortress is also considered an archaeological paradise, with renewed interest by experts since a new, yet unknown site was found near the St. Vid Church. The wealth of the archaeological findings in the area is the only real danger to setting up the new lights at the fortress, as the process itself might be slowed down if something yet unknown is discovered while construction is underway. Also in the plans for this famous fortress is a summer stage. Specifically, the Klis municipality plans to reconstruct the artillery barracks and acquire a mobile stage with 3D mapping, which should be ready for next year. 

While the fortress is Klis’ main attraction, the municipality is on its way up, too. Not only is Klis is part of Inland Dalmatia, which was declared the best destination of rural tourism last year, but mayor Jakov Vetma believes that few places in Croatia have such a rich history like Klis, and even claimed that it shouldn't be named a municipality, but a town. The Municipal Council and the Council of Split-Dalmatia County agree, and have even supported that petition. Although the current number of inhabitants wouldn't support the decision, Vetma believes that it’s the people in the past and the present that make a town, not buildings. 

“The city is made up of people, not buildings. And the important people throughout the history of our people who ruled, lived, and battled in Klis give us that right,” said Vetma.

It would also be easier to get European funding for future projects if Klis was considered a town, which would improve visibility, development and a better standard for the inhabitants. 

Nonetheless, Klis is continuously raising the standard of living of its local community, arranging kindergartens and schools, sports facilities, transport, and tourism infrastructure, purchasing textbooks, increasing the number of newborns and encouraging and developing new economic and entrepreneurial initiatives. And in the development of cultural tourism, Klis will continue being branded as a historical town with a series of sites around the Klis fortress.

Apart from its spotlight in Game of Thrones, Klis is a Dalmatian destination you shouldn’t pass up on your next trip to the region, and its future is only getting brighter. 

While you’re already visiting Klis, make sure to check out some of Dalmatia's other Game of Thrones filming locations, which you can find listed below: 

Ulica Sv. Dominika in Dubrovnik: Inside the untouched walls of the Old Town, this winding alley in Dubrovnik was ideal for the murder of King Robert's illegitimate sons and the ‘walk of shame’ by Cersei Lannister.

Ethnographic Museum: The impressive Dubrovnik building from the 16th century acts as a brothel where Tyrion Lannister meets Oberyn Martell in the fourth season. 

Pile: The western entrance to Dubrovnik and one of the most beautiful locations overlooking the fortresses of Bokar and Lovrijenac is Blackwater Bay in the GoT series. In the third season, Shae and Sansa Stark watched ships sail here before Littlefinger made plans to escape with Sansa.

Bokar Fortress: This Dubrovnik fortress appears in the second and third season of the series, and is particularly apparent when Varys and Tyrion talk about their battle strategy for defeating Stannis Baratheon's army as they look to the sea. In reality, the medieval fortress on the city walls of Dubrovnik is open to the public all year long.

Lokrum island: Six hundred meters from the mainland, GoT fans will find the city of Qarth. It is, in fact, the island of Lokrum, where Daenerys Targaryen awaits the Spice King, knowing that he is in danger. In reality, Lokrum is no less mysterious and fascinating. Legend states that King Richard the Lionheart sought shelter here in 1192 after returning from the Crusades.

Arboretum Trsteno: The oldest arboretum in this part of Europe was built in the 15th century, has a spectacular view of the Adriatic and is only 20 minutes away from Dubrovnik. You might recall scenes from the gardens of King's Landing, and memorable scenes with Lady Olenna. 

Diocletian’s Palace: Many scenes with Daenerys were filmed in Split, inside Diocletian's Palace. It is where she sits on her throne, trains her dragons, and where her slaves contemplated whether they should fight for the 'Queen of Dragons'. 

Trogir: The best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic city of Central Europe with an impressive cathedral and Kamerlengo fortress was conceived as the trade port of Qarth. There, the rulers of Qarth captured Daenerys' dragons.

Kaštel Gomilica: The medieval castle and its surroundings were transformed into Braavos, a town on the sea that Arya Stark was sent to at the end of the fourth season. You might recall Arya taking the name 'Cat' and living with Brusco and his daughters. 

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

February 11, 2019 - Inland Dalmatia is one of the fastest growing tourism areas in Croatia. Find out why in this new promo video.

Of all the tourism regions in Croatia, I have the biggest soft spot for inland Dalmatia, a magnificent region a short drive behind the mountains from Split and the Makarska Riviera. A region that has been largely ignored by tourists until the last few years. These days tourists are learning that Inland Dalmatia has a wealth of treasures which can be easily explored in a day trip (or longer) from the beach. 

My soft spot for inland Dalmatia stems from my first connections with the region. An invitation for lunch and tour of Sinj by the then Sinj Tourist Board director led to other invitations and the realisation that here was an absolute jewel that people needed to hear about. The local tourist board directors were all very supportive of an idea to connect all the potential into one English-language website, and the website Total Inland Dalmatia was born. It was the first time that any tourist board had supported any of the Total projects.

And it was truly a job to tell the world about. Some people were saying I was a great writer, full of fascinating stories. In truth, I was just telling people what was available to visit, often for the first time in English. There were other favourable factors too, such as HBO choosing Klis Fortress to be a key filming location for Game of Thrones, and the opening of the tunnel from the Makarska Riviera to the hinterland has revolutionised tourism in the region, particularly Imotksi, which has probably benefited most from all this positive change. 

What makes inland Dalmatia so special for me, apart from the friendliness of the people and lack of tourist crowds, is the sheer variety of things to see and do - nature, adventure tourism, heritage, tradition, food and wine. And can I mention nature again? There is SO much to see and do there, and the local tourist boards have worked hard in recent years to bring their various towns together to present one cohesive product. It is also a fabulous team building destination, as TCN writers found out a couple of years ago. 

And then a beautiful video from AS Media, uploaded this morning to the Trilj Tourist Board Facebook page, encapsulates much of the magic. 

To learn more about the inland Dalmatian region of Zagora, here are 25 things to know. An incredible region.

Starting later this year, during the upcoming tourist season, the Klis fortress (best known around the world as the place where Khaleesi kept her dragons in the HBO's mega-hit show Game of Thrones) will be illuminated during the night!

The fortress of Klis has been an amazing place to visit not only for the Game of Thrones fans in the past several years but also for all those in love with the medieval archaeology, fortresses, historical armed forces and the tourists who expect to get more out of the vacation experience. Recently, a contract was signed in Klis which guarantees that the fortress will become even more interesting in the future when it becomes illuminated during the night. The former Croatian capital is a part of the project financed by the European Union, IPA Interreg ‘Fortress ReInvented’ project submitted by Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The whole project is about the reconstruction of the historical fortresses in the area, and it was submitted by Šibenik Museum for their St. Michael's fortress reconstruction. The Klis fortress portion of the project is worth 2.4 million kuna (350 thousand euros), and almost of all those fund will go towards the illumination of the fortress during the night.

Slavica Vuković writes for Večernji list about the plans, and the municipal prefect of Klis Jakov Vetma explains that the plans for the night-time illumination have been around for a while. All the documentation for the project has been done several years ago, he says, and now the project will be finalized. The illumination will make the fortress even more attractive, and more visitors will come. In 2018, there were 70.000 visitors at the fortress (an increase of over 50% compared to 2017, which also held a record!), and the prefect is sure that the fortress will be able to attract even more people, once it's illuminated. The deadline for the works to be completed is 90 days, so even in Croatia, that means that everything should be finished right in time for the high tourist season.

Klis fortress is considered to be an archaeological paradise as well, with renewed interest by the experts since a new, yet unknown site was found near St. Vid Church. The wealth of the archaeological findings at the area is the only real danger to the setup of the illumination on the fortress, as the process itself might be slowed down if something yet unknown is discovered while digging for the lighting.

Thanks to the winter cyclone that passed through the Adriatic last night, much of Dalmatia is covered in snow. 

October 28, 2018 - The incredible inland Dalmatia tourism success story continues, as Dalmatinska Zagora is named as the best destination for rural tourism at Days of Croatian Tourism 2018.

I am often asked where my favourite destination is, a question I find impossible to answer. There are so many great places to visit and live in this country, as well as such a variety of experiences that no one place would be a clear winner. Hvar, of course, will always be my first love, but other islands such as Korcula are fighting hard for my affections, while life in Varazdin Country with access to fabulous Zagreb has been a revelation. But there is one region in Croatia for which I have a real soft spot. 

Inland Dalmatia. 

It was with immense pride and almost a tear in my eye that I watched the fantastic inland Dalmatia team pick up a much-deserved award as the best destination for rural tourism at the 2018 Days of Croatian Tourism awards. It has been a real pleasure to watch tourism in inland Dalmatia blossom since my first visit there at the invitation of the Sinj Tourist Board, back in February 2013. 

I loved the energy of the young tourist board directors in this gorgeous region just behind the mountains near Split. One thing led to another and before long, I found myself doing a presentation (see above) to the tourist board directors of inland Dalmatia about a partnership for a new website called Total Inland Dalmatia. It would have been nice of Google not to choose that particular moment to show a Google Ad for Thai brides, but you can't have everything. There was support from the Central Dalmatia Tourist Board and even - ah, those were the days - a small grant from the Ministry of Tourism. Everyone agreed there was a need to better promote the richness of Klis, Sinj, Trilj, Dugopolje, Imotski, Vrgorac and Vrlika as one. 

And while Total Inland Dalmatia played a small part in the rise of inland Dalmatia as a destination, the local stakeholders have played a major role in developing the destination as one brand, and with an increasingly enticing tourism offer. And the progress is extraordinary.

Inland Dalmatia Destinations - the Rise of Imotski

Few destinations in all Croatia have experienced growth like Imotski in the last five years. Certain infrastructure projects such as the opening of a tunnel to the Makarska Riviera have helped immensely, but so too has the innovative tourism promotion, such as Austrians slacklining over the Red Lake. The increase in tourism overnights and the accompanying number of new villas with swimming pools has transformed Imotski into a very attractive destination - a chance to enjoy traditional Dalmatian hospitality and accommodation while being a short drive from the beach.  

Inland Dalmatia Destinations - the Rise of Sinj

The driving force for inland Dalmatia in the last few years has been the historic town of Sinj, most famous for its Alka knights' tournament, which has taken place each year to commemorate the victory against the Ottomans in 1715. 2015 saw the historic 300th Alka, and the Sinj Tourist Board took the Alka story as far away as New York, while the outstanding new Alka museum is the latest attraction in this fascinating historic town just 30 minutes by car from Split. 

Inland Dalmatia Destinations - the Emergence of Vrlika

I am a little embarrassed to admit I had never heard of Vrlika before I started getting involved with the region, but it did not take me long to realise what I had been missing. Check out the latest promotional video from Vrlika above, to see why you too should be heading to Vrlika next summer. For now you can stay - although the numbers are small, the first tourist accommodation rentals have become available in Vrlika in the last two years,a process of patience and encouragement from the Vrlika Tourist Board.  

Inland Dalmatia Destinations - the Roman Heritage of Dugopolje

Some imaginative diversification from Dugopolje, known by many as the motorway exit for Split, but also home to some great Roman heritage. Dugopolje was the first destination in Central Dalmatia to take part in the Roman roads initiative by Central Tourist Board Director, Josko Stella (pictured above).

Inland Dalmatia Destinations - From Roman Heritage to Trilj Blues

One of the things I quickly learned about inland Dalmatia is that the unexpected is always around the corner. A great addition to the Trilj calendar these past two years - the Thrill Blues Festival.  

Inland Dalmatia Destinations - Klis and the Game of Thrones Factor

If you are trying to develop a tourist destination, it always helps with the promotion is Game of Thrones decides to film there. And while the hit HBO series put Klis Fortress on the map, local authorities have done much in recent years to turn it into a fantastic tourist attraction. And one you can get to easily by bus. Here's how.

Inland Dalmatia Destinations - Vrgorac and a Unique Wine Festival

Thought you had experienced every type of wine festival possible? How about one which celebrates a distinctly Dalmatian beverage - red wine and goat milk, or bikla. You can top up your glass straight from the goat at the annual biklijada in Vrgorac. 

An amazing region with great energy. And where else would TCN choose for a teambuilding session? Here is what you can get up to on a day out in the region they call Dalmatinska  Zagora. . 

Congratulations to all the inland Dalmatia team both on the award and the progress you have made. I, for one, am looking forward to the next chapter.  

Want to learn a little more about inland Dalmatia? Here are 25 things to know about Dalmatinska Zagora.

The view from the Klis fortress towards Split and the central Dalmatian islands is something special indeed.

The Dalmatia Ultra Trail is held from October 19 to 21, 2018. 

The Klis Municipality in Dalmatia has taken the initiative and provided the complete infrastructure for potential investors, and on the same plot, it has been made possible to build additional ten villas as well as the hotel itself.