10 reasons why you need to visit Northern Dalmatia in 2018

This majestic national park's centrepiece is the Krka River. Its 73 kilometres are lined with gushing, glittering waterfalls. The land surrounding it is an intensely well-nourished green, and the variety of dazzling wild flowers is matched only by that of the birds. You can swim, white-water raft, or just listen to golden eagles squawking overhead as you gaze at the view.

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This coastal city is famed for its crumbling, intricate architecture. The old town is an antiquated patchwork of Roman and Venetian ruins, with churches dating from the 8^th, 9^th and 11^th centuries and a soaring 12th-century cathedral. And while the city still bears war-scars, genuiniely innovative new attractions distract: go to the beach to listen to the ethereal song of the sea organ as you watch the solar-powered 'Sun Salutation' light display. 

An especially dramatic national park, the Paklenic Karst river canyon sits at the southern slopes of the Velebit Mountain near Zadar. It has two spectacular canyons, Mala (small) Paklenic and Velika (large) Paklenic. Standing at a rocky peak and looking out into the vast abyss is breath-taking. The park is crawling with rock-climbers because of its sheer stone cliffs, but the central part is largely covered in dense forest. Make sure to venture into the icicle-lined cave of Manita Peć, the only one open to the public.

These islands are dry little deserts dotted across the sea, just to the west of Murter. Some are alabaster-white and some are tawny-brown, but there’s little green to be found  – their once heaving forestry was burnt down to make pasture for sheep, but they no longer live there either, and most Kornati people live in Murter. It’s fascinating to stroll across these barren lands, which also happen to be perfect for scuba-diving.

With its stretches of dry landscape set against the rich blue of the Adriatic, its two mountain ridges and a scattering of villages, Pag has a distinctively dramatic look. It’s worth going just for the food: meat and milk are extra flavoursome because of the sheep's herbaceous diet, and the island speciality is paški sir, a tangy olive-oil doused cheese, aged in stone. Try the rich stuff with a class of expertly produced local wine. 

Croatia’s ever-expanding festival scene grew from Northern Dalmatia. Though the original – and beloved – Garden Festival went out with a bang in 2015, the Garden is host to all manner of exuberant electronic music festivals: among them Love International, Suncebeat and Soundwave. The ultimate escapist spot for music lovers and party-goers. 

This history-drenched island centres on an enchanting old town. Sandy beaches and the cool blue lagoon draw in family holiday-makers, and there are several other unlikely sights too – Roman salt pans which still work today, and the swampy wetlands where wildlife thrives.