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Trget is a relatively remote town in Istria, on the south-eastern coastline. Driving there, it seemed like the road was about to end right at the sea, but we rounded a corner and arrived at a pleasantly casual tavern. Fresh anchovies, a seafood salad, tagliatelle with scampi, and delicious grilled scampi followed. All simply and expertly prepared, and all extremely fresh.

I found the best area to take in the sunset from the city of Split was from a small jetty on the west side of the Riva. If you follow the Riva west you’ll see the point at where the dock will extend out into the harbor. There is some seating but you might bring a blanket, as the sea breeze drastically dropped the temperature. Colin Roohan traveled to Croatia courtesy of Croatian National Tourist Board, Istria Tourist Board, Split Dalmatia County Tourist Board, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations and Delta Air Lines. His highlights are part of AFAR’s partnership with The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), whose members provide travelers with unparalleled access, insider knowledge, peace-of-mind, value and freedom to enjoy destinations across the entire globe. See more about Colin’s trip at the USTOA blog

I recently had the pleasure of partaking in a cycling tour on the Croatian islands of Brac and Hvar. The tour, which was sponsored by VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, was a great way to see the Croatian islands as I was able to take in the sights and make stops when as I saw fit. Pictured here is the beautiful harbor in the village of Postira; the views were great, but what was even better was being able to dip my sore muscles in the cool Adriatic! Colin Roohan traveled to Croatia courtesy of Croatian National Tourist Board, Istria Tourist Board, Split Dalmatia County Tourist Board, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations and Delta Air Lines. His highlights are part of AFAR’s partnership with The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), whose members provide travelers with unparalleled access, insider knowledge, peace-of-mind, value and freedom to enjoy destinations across the entire globe.

Klapa singing is something that is highly popular around the Dalmatia region of Croatia. Klapa, a form of a cappella singing, can often be heard in public areas during peak hours of day; so it isn’t to hard to find a performance. I would recommend asking your hotel concierge about performances in the area as they may know of scheduled performances. I was able to sit in and listen to a performance from the local Motovun Klapa club at the Church of St. Stephen where the groups melodies echoed throughout the church and carried onto the quiet streets outside. Most of the songs were in Croatian but the group also sang a few popular English ballads as well. Colin Roohan traveled to Croatia courtesy of Croatian National Tourist Board, Istria Tourist Board, Split Dalmatia County Tourist Board, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations and Delta Air Lines. His highlights are part of AFAR’s partnership with The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), whose members provide travelers with unparalleled access, insider knowledge, peace-of-mind, value and freedom to enjoy destinations across the entire globe. See more about Colin’s trip at the USTOA blog

Every July and August, the artsy town of Grožnjan swells with visitors who come for classical music concerts and the annual Jazz Is Back festival, held July 13 through August 3 this year. This appeared in the August/September 2013 issue. Image: Zolakoma/Flickr.com

The Subotina Festival in Buzet (held September 7–8 this year) revolves around white and black truffles, but there’s also abundant local olive oil, prosciutto, and herb-infused rakija, homemade brandy popular throughout the Balkans. The weekend’s main attraction will be the making of an omelet with 2,013 eggs (for the year 2013) and, of course, truffles. This appeared in the August/September 2013 issue. Image: StockFood/Meier - StockFood Munich

A contemporary take on a classic 1970s Adriatic resort, Hotel Lone is Croatia’s first and only member of the Design Hotels network. The gleaming-white, Y-shaped building may sit amid the forests of Zlatni Rt Park (a 10-minute seafront stroll from the Old Town of Rovinj), but its five-story lobby forgoes nature for flowing golden fabrics, rich murals, and a suspended steel sculpture. The Scandinavian-style accommodations are decidedly more minimalist, with lots of wood and natural light aplenty—plus plunge pools on park-facing terraces in the 16 Jazz rooms. Facilities include an 18,300-square-foot spa with an indoor pool, eight treatment rooms, and a unisex sauna complex, as well as the stellar ResoLution Signature Restaurant.

Zlatni Rat beach, our Croatian friend told us, is one of the most photographed beaches in Croatia. It took no more time than our arrival there to convince me. “Zlatni Rat” means “the Golden Cape,” and the beach is made up of shining white pebbles that warm quickly in the sun and give the beach its name. There are plenty of roped-off areas for swimming, and speedboats charging tourists for tube rides fly in and around the beach, which reaches out into the clear blue water like a curving tentacle — I guess “promontory” is the real word for it — from the island. The beach is just a 20-minute walk away from Bol, one of the more happening towns on Brac island, where there are plenty of restaurants and shops to while away an afternoon if sunning isn’t your thing. But if you do want to stay on the beach, it’s absolutely lovely, with mountains and water all around you. There is a wooded area with shade, where you can buy all kinds of snacks. If you’re in the mood for spending some time au naturel, there is a nudist section of the beach closer to the main part of the island, separated by trees from any giggling children. It’s a gorgeous place. I highly recommend it if you’re out and about on Brac.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, this 1,700-year-old palace sits on the Adriatic seafront, serving as the focal point of Split. It was built by the Roman emperor Diocletian as a seaside retirement home and has served as a refuge for many a conqueror over the centuries. Today, some 2,000 locals reside within the compound’s thick walls, making it a lively urban quarter. Getting lost in the labyrinth of surrounding streets is the best way to explore downtown Split—as you meander around, you’ll stumble across lively cafés and shops tucked into millennia-old buildings. Be sure to check out the Peristil, an imperial square framed by two colonnades, where Diocletian used to address the public. Towering above the square is Split’s major landmark—a 187-foot-tall belfry that you can climb for panoramic views of town.

Located on the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, this rugged nature park is the perfect place to set off with a backpack and be active for the day. You can follow in the fossilized footprints of the dinosaurs at Cape Grakolovac, visit an Istrian ox farm and have lunch at a family-owned agritourism operation, lounge at the funky seafront Safari Bar overlooking the Mala Kolombarica cove, ride a bicycle along the orchid trail, kayak or windsurf along the coast, or swim in coves with crystal-clear water. To learn more about the park, head to the House of Nature Kamenjak in the nearby town of Premantura.

For as long as anyone can remember, locals have frequented this mainstay in the heart of Zagreb for special family meals. Even when the tourists caught on, Vinodol remained at the top of its game, serving cuisine from all over Croatia, including Zagorje štrukli (a type of cheese dumpling), Istrian fuži pasta with black truffle, and Zagreb steak (which is really veal stuffed with ham and cheese). For the ultimate meal, order the juicy lamb or veal, roasted with potatoes under peka (a traditional baking dome). Choose a table in the elegant, vaulted-ceiling dining room, or on the covered terrace along a passageway off Teslina Street.

Konoba Tramerka serves some of Kvarner’s freshest seafood and locally sourced meats, all expertly prepared with a dash of soul. The restaurant is tucked away on a narrow cobblestone street just steps from the seafront in the tiny fishing village of Volosko, which has come to be known as Kvarner’s foodie haven. There are just four tables outside, but the rustic dining room is equally enticing with its vaulted ceilings and exposed stone walls. Short but exciting, the menu showcases dishes like smoked anchovies with red onion marmalade, boškarin (beef) and teran (local red wine), goulash with homemade gnocchi, and the famed Kvarner scampi.

The only town on the Istrian peninsula to remain within the Italian border, Muggia sports a distinct Venetian style that is punctuated by a quirky character all of its own. The central focus of town is Piazza Marconi and its two architectural landmarks: the Duomo dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, with its striking Venetian-Gothic trilobed façade, and the Palazzo dei Rettori, currently home to Muggia’s town hall. On the orange and yellow palazzo, a stone relief of the winged lion of Saint Mark (symbol of the Venetian Republic) reveals a clue to Muggia’s long tradition of humor and satire. Look closely at the lion’s face—the sense of disgust is apparent as he sticks out his tongue at the town’s former rulers. From Trieste, take bus #20 from the train station or, for a more scenic approach, the boat from the Molo dei Bersaglieri.

In this week’s episode of Unpacked by AFAR, an AFAR editor—and digital nomad—explores the dark side of working remotely.