The long, rugged islands off Croatia's mountainous coast make this a yachting paradise. There are plenty of deep channels, quaint ports and good steady winds. It's also a great area for sea kayaking, especially around the Elafiti Islands and the Kornati Islands. The varied topography of the coast has spurred a growing diving industry and nearly every coastal resort has a dive centre. The main attractions are shipwrecks and caves (including the famous Blue Grotto). There are excellent rock climbing opportunities, especially in Paklencia National Park and the rocks surrounding Baska on Krk Island. For landlubbers, Risnjak and Paklencia National Parks both have excellent areas for hiking.

From 21 March to 4 April, Zagreb snaps its fingers and nods knowingly to the groovy toons of Spring Time Jazz Fever. For still more improv, try Zagreb's International Days of Jazz in mid-October. It's worth checking out spotty pop Dalmatian-style at the Split Summer Festival, which goes from mid-July to mid-August, and Zagreb's Summer Festival, from early July to mid-August, where you can hear classical works by Croatian composers. Dubrovnik's Summer Festival, held in July and August, showcases the country's dramatic and classical music stars. In July and August, Omis throws its tambura out the window for a festival of acapella vocal music.

Zagreb hosts an International Festival of Animation and an International Folklore Festival in July, as well as EUROKAZ, a European theatre festival held in June. In Sibenik, the International Child's Festival is held in the first week of July.