Dalmatia is the name for the central and southern stretch of Croatia's Adriatic coast, running roughly from Zadar in the north to Dubrovnik in the south. It is one of the most visited parts of the Mediterranean: a long limestone coastline broken by peninsulas and dotted with hundreds of islands, fronted by clear warm water and backed by the Dinaric Alps.
The main cities are Split — built directly around the vast retirement palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian — and Dubrovnik, whose intact medieval walls are among the finest in Europe. Between them, the Makarska Riviera offers beaches backed by the dramatic Biokovo massif, and the islands of Hvar, Brač, Korčula, and Vis are served by regular ferries. Further inland, Krka National Park protects a series of travertine waterfalls on the Krka river.
The climate is classic Mediterranean: hot dry summers and mild wet winters. The peak season runs from June to August, when the coast is crowded and prices are high. May and September offer warmth without the crowds.
