Croatia has more than 1000 verdant offshore islands

Croatia delivers more fun-in-the-sun for your buck than any other Mediterranean nation.

Green, pristine and still relatively unseen, Croatia is blessed with 5790km of coastline and more than 1000 lush offshore islands bobbing in its crystal clear Adriatic Sea.

Croatia is much like Italy before tourism and enjoys the low prices of Eastern Europe and the elegant architectural gems of Western Europe. It has some of the cleanest waters in the Mediterranean, secluded coves to rival the loveliest of the Greek islands and the tastiest seafood cooking this side of the equator. Throw in stately Austro-Hungarian buildings in the thriving capital Zagreb, arguably the world's most impressive Roman ruins in the coastal city of Split and an efficient ferry service that will drop you on any number of laid-back, sun-soaked islands, and it's only a matter of time before Croatia is Europe's hottest summer playground.

Despite enduring a debilitating war in the early 1990s, Croatia has bounced back with a vengeance. War-damaged cities have been restored to their former glory and this new nation is brimming with optimism and vitality. Despite the odd bullet hole and varying shades of roof tiles in the exquisite walled city of Dubrovnik, you'd never know this medieval jewel was under intense enemy bombardment for three months.

Survival guide

The best time to visit Croatia is between May and September. Croatia's Adriatic coast enjoys a balmy Mediterranean climate with long, hot, dry summers and mild and drizzly winters. Inland, the country experiences a temperate continental climate; there is winter snowfall in its mountainous interior.

While Croatia's ocean is among the most unpolluted and inviting in the Mediterranean, don't come expecting miles of sweeping beaches ringed by soft golden sand: most of the coastline is rocky and many beaches consist merely of giant slabs of rock.

Croatia is still a country where you can eat, drink, sleep and travel relatively cheaply, although that could all change in 2010 when Croatia is expected to join the European Union. The currency is the kuna. The language spoken in Croatian.

Old-world attitudes still prevail in Croatia and solo female travellers are more likely to be stared at or sexually harassed here than in most other parts of Europe.

Regular summer ferries and hydrofoils ply Croatia's Adriatic Coast, servicing coastal cities and numerous offshore islands. Jadrolinija is Croatia's main ferry line, operating between Bari in Italy and Dubrovnik. The service is less frequent in the winter. Croatia's rail network connects all the major cities bar Dubrovnik. There is no coastal rail line. A high-speed train connects Split with Zagreb in under six hours. From Zagreb, there are rail connections to Vienna and Salzburg in Austria, Budapest in Hungary, Zurich in Switzerland, Munich and Berlin in Germany, Venice in Italy, Llubljana in Slovenia, Sarajevo in Bosnia and Hercegovina and Belgrade in Serbia and Montenegro.

Croatia's bus network is cheap, efficient and frequent.

Its national airline is Croatia Airlines and there are major airports in Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, Rijeka, Zadar and Pula.