It seems everybody’s going to Croatia these days, whether they have a residual fascination for George R. R. Martin’s fantastical world-building or they’re simply drawn to the Adriatic’s postcard-ready beaches.
Whatever it may be, it’s one of 2 cities they’re headed: Dubronvik, the ‘real-life King’s Landing‘, or Split, the Roman palace turned British stag do backdrop. It probably doesn’t help that they’re precisely the only two Croatian hubs Americans can fly to nonstop.
What if we told you, however, there’s a lesser-known duo of coastal spots set to take center stage real soon? In fact, there’s maybe, maaaybe even a new Transatlantic flight on the horizon…
Before you fly to Europe this summer, make sure you familiarize yourself with the ever-changing entry regulations affecting American travelers on the Entry Requirement Checker (from fingerprinting to new mandatory travel permits).
Croatia’s Top 2 Rising Coastal Destinations
1. Zadar
The Challenger To Split’s Crown
The first Croatian city you should keep a watchful eye on is Zadar, located a little further north of Split along the coast.
Your quintessential Dalmatian coastal town, Zadar revolves around an ancient Historic Center peppered with Roman ruins and family-owned taverns. Its main street, Kalelarga, is lined with pastel-hue buildings and lively cafés.
Over on the waterfront, the Sea Organ is a unique installation where waves rush through the underwater pipes to create some haunting music. It’s best experienced around sunset, and speaking of sunsets, Alfred Hitchcock himself claimed in 1964 that they are more beautiful here than over in Key West.
Much like the now-popular Adriatic resort, it’s an ancient port city doubling as a beach getaway with a lot of unexplored potential. For decades, it was considered a relatively minor regional hub, until Ryanair came in and went hard on expansion.
Zadar Airport is now connected to a growing list of European destinations, 70-plus to be precise, which helps boost not only Zadar’s portfolio, but all of Northern Dalmatia and neighboring islands.
Dugi Otok is one of them: this 44-square-mile chunk of paradise, only a 90-minute ferry hop away from the Port of Zadar, offers dramatic beaches, pine forests, and quaint stone-built villages frozen in time.
U.S. demand for Croatia vacations continues to grow, too, and in April 2026, United Airlines held meetings with Zadar Airport officials in New York to discuss a potential third Transatlantic gateway to Croatia, after Dubrovnik and Split.
We’re far too early in the summer schedule to see a launch taking place in the immediate future, but it should be noted Zadar Airport is in the midst of a major expansion, including runway and apron upgrades, and we couldn’t help but notice these are specifically designed to better accommodate wide-body aircraft…
Like the ones typically used by United on their Transatlantic routes. Just, you know, watch this space.
Pula
Rome By The Sea
Rome’s sooort of on the sea, if we’re counting the ancient port at Ostia, but what if we told you you could visit an actual colosseum right by the sea, not some 20 miles inland?
Welcome to Pula, Croatia’s most Roman city, and an ancient marvel most Croatia-bound tourists are still sleeping on.
Pula is best known for its Roman Arena, built back in the 1st century, and still open as a concert venue to this day, but the Old Town is not to be overlooked, either:
The Temple of Augustus is a perfectly preserved Roman temple dating back 2,000 years, comparable in grandeur to the Pantheon over in the original Rome, and the cobble-paved Forum is perfect for a chill early-evening stroll, or just people-watching over an espresso or Aperol Spritz.
Pula is served by Pula Airport, which handled about 554,000 passengers in 2025, a 9% increase over the previous year, which had already seen a 20% rise over the preceding year.
Naturally, we don’t have the full 2026 picture yet, but this summer, every existing route has been retained, new ones have been added, and the season even started earlier in some cases, with EasyJet in particular launching flights to Pula as early as late March.
In general, however, Pula is very careful about how it deals with mass tourism. They definitely don’t want to reach Dubrovnik-levels of overtourism, where cruise liners are strictly regulated, and even dragging your bag on the ancient cobblestones can land you in trouble.
The goal is more quality tourism, not necessarily millions more.
Those who do swap the usual Dubrovnik-Split itinerary for Pula and the wider wine-growing region of Istria are probably looking to slow down and experience a more authentic side of Croatia.
Croatia is also one of the safest destinations across the pond this summer, as seen on the Traveler Safety Index, where different countries get a score based on reports from travelers, not some anonymous government officer churning out vague travel advisories based on old cliches.
It posts an impressive 82 out of 100:
Regarding Transatlantic flights, there have been discussions for several years about making Pula Airport capable of handling nonstop North American flights, much like what’s now happening with Zadar.
Back in 2023, airport officials even pitched a runway extension and considered further infrastructure upgrades to turn the somewhat small, seasonal regional hub into a mid-size international airport.
For the time being, those plans haven’t left the drawing board, and unlike Zadar, which looks set to move forward with United for summer 2027, there have been no reported talks with any specific U.S. airline about launching service.
Doesn’t change the fact Pula is having a moment, and it’s growing fast.
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
