Luxury Holidays to Croatia

Come for the beaches, stay for the luxury

A two and a half hour flight are all that stands between you and Croatia’s glam-packed shores.

With waterfront hotels, five-star dining and some of the best beaches in the world, Croatia knows a thing or two about luxury holidays. You’ll be hard pressed to escape this country’s deep historic and cultural roots, so getaways here are always tinged with a glamorous, retro edge. With hundreds of years of history to its name, Croatia has this whole ‘treat yourself’ atmosphere down to a fine science.

No two luxury holidays in Croatia look the same – that’s the beauty of this Balkan destination. It’s versatile to the core, with mornings along award-winning shores, afternoons in palaces and evenings along the coast sipping Croatian wine. Split is a top spot to start any deluxe holiday, especially the waterfront when it’s aglow at night. UNESCO World Heritage Site Diocletian’s Palace is a massive Roman monument whose regal walls have been converted into bars, restaurants and shops. If you really want to live like royalty, this is the place to do it.

Living the high life in Croatia

Much of Croatia’s luxury is gathered around the coast and there’s plenty to keep you busy. The Makarska Riviera is a charming seaside town that satisfies with glasses of wine at waterfront restaurants, while over in cosmopolitan Rovinj, palaces have been transformed into art galleries and studios, adding that extra tinge of the royal treatment. And then there’s Split, anchored by the monumental Diocletian’s Palace, a retirement home built for an emperor and your latest shopping stop, should the shoe fit.

The opulent allure also reaches Pula, another waterfront town dominated by its rich history and architectural throwbacks. You can join a number of wineries and wine tasting tours here too, helping you sample all this resort has to offer. The Makarska Riviera, on the other hand, is where you can slow down during the day with spas, yoga classes or just relaxing days by the harbour, all so you can gear up for the night. Neon-lit caves and cosy cellars dominate the after-hours scene here, hitting all the right notes for an exclusive evening fit for any VIP.

Other luxury holidays to take a look at

If you’re still hyped about a luxury holiday but unsure where you’d like to go, we’ve got lots of other deluxe spots to fit the bill. Check out the likes of Croatia’s sisters Bulgaria and Cyprus, or further afield in Spain and Italy. If you’re still set on a luxury holiday to Croatia, take a look at our travel guide for more information on how to plan your upscale adventure down by the Adriatic. In the meantime, here are our top hotels you can stay in during your luxury Croatia holiday.

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Sensimar Adriatic Beach

True to the TUI Sensimar brand, the TUI Sensimar Adriatic Beach is seriously swanky, impressing holidaymakers with a whitewashed complex stacked into the hillside, which affords gorgeous vistas over the Dalmatian Coast. The hotel is adults-only and comes complete with a terrace bar and special mojito spot, not to mention its own swimming pool and pool bar, though you’ll soon forget all that once the beach – just at the foot of the hotel – comes into view. Unless you’ve got a swim-up room, in which case, the pool is just on your doorstep.

Sensimar Medulin Hotel

A nice-sized lagoon pool and a swish pool area gives this 4* hotel a glamorous edge, as it’s lined with sunbeds – no seriously, they’re actual beds – and peaceful gardens. The beach is just a two-minute walk away, plus local taxi boats are on hand to shuttle you out to nearby islands, because no luxury holiday to Croatia is complete without a stint of island hopping. Should you need a little extra pampering, the hotel offers massage and beauty treatments, as well as tennis courts and a sports centre to keep you up and running.

Lone Hotel

The Lone Hotel is elegant to its core and posh to boot, clad in a modern design that’s up to snuff with all its luxury amenities, too. In addition to the saltwater swimming pool, you’ve got a wine shop and room service on hand here, not to mention a big time spa featuring Turkish and Finnish saunas and an indoor pool with a vitality bar. The wellness centre comes complete with eight multi-function therapy areas, while further within the hotel are two restaurants and a nightclub with live jazz.

Le Meridien Lav Hotel

A sea-facing infinity pool and a private beach help this stunning 4* hotel really stand out, though the designer interiors certainly help too. Oh, and the spa – the largest in Croatia, to be exact – features a buffet-sized menu of wellness treatments. Speaking of menus, the dining scene here is not to be forgotten. You’ve got access to four restaurants dishing up everything from Italian to Dalmatian bites, plus a champagne bar, art cafe and so much more.