Each location has its own unique character and you can choose a destination that suits your partner's temperament and your mutual interests.
Dubrovnik
The city described as the pearl of the Adriatic. Historic, unique, memorable, elegant and irrepressibly beautiful with a photo opportunity around every corner.
Where to make your proposal
Lovrijenac Fortress. High on a rocky outcrop just outside the Pile gate to Dubrovnik Old Town. The view over the roofs of the old town and to the aquamarine waters below just gets better and better as you climb the path to the Castle entrance. Once inside make your way up a level to the broad terrace facing out to sea and here with the towers of the fort behind you and the panorama of Dubrovnik Old Town and Lokrum island in front (pictured) and the sun sparkling on the blue Adriatic. This is your moment.
If you wish to return to Dubrovnik to get married Lovrijenac Fort is one of several stunning venues that can be hired for a wedding ceremony and reception.
Other places to propose in Dubrovnik
Make the short boat trip to Lokrum island for a gentle walk and swim in this relaxing haven away from the bustle of Dubrovnik. The shady cloisters of the ancient Benedictine monastery in the centre of the island will be the perfect place to pop the question.Restaurant 360°. A Michelin star restaurant with a spectacular location high on the ancient City walls. Amazing food, amazing views and atmospheric lighting as the sun goes down. Truly memorable.
Restaurant Orsan in Zaton. A taxi ride out of town, this cosy and romantic restaurant has a terrace right on the water's edge. You can even swim from here in gorgeous clear water and then change for dinner in the changing room.
Accommodation:
Villa Dubrovnik View. This two bedroom villa stands on a cliff directly fronting the sea with the classic view to Dubrovnik Old Town (pictured from the villa). A view only available to the best hotels, a handful of millionaire's mansions and you.
Dubrovnik Sensation apartment 1. A one bedroom newly built and very stylish apartment just outside the Ploce gate to the Old Town and directly above Banje beach. Views to gorgeous Lokrum island. Or choose apartment 4 which has three bedrooms and the best terrace and view.
Other things to do while you are in Dubrovnik
- Take the cable car up Mount Srd and have lunch in the Panorama restaurant looking down over Dubrovnik (pictured).
- Sit in the Hemmingway bar and soak up the atmosphere of the old town.
- Walk the walls or at least half of the wall. The inner half gives the best view over the roof tops.
- Take a tour with a professional guide who can tell you about the ancient and recent history of this remarkable city or take you on a tour of the Game of Thrones locations. See our service page for Guided Tours
Mali Ston
Mali Ston is quieter and much more relaxing than Dubrovnik and this small fortified town has history in bucket loads. A castle, sophisticated restaurants, fresh oysters and a delightful harbour front. A favourite with the cognoscenti who want first class food but to stay away from the crowds. Sophisticated, relaxing and undiscovered.
Where to make your proposal
A secret sandy beach so far off the beaten track that you can find yourself alone there even in mid summer. Absorb the colours.
Wooded hillsides with every shade of green, grey rocky outcrops reaching to the blue sky, a strip of golden sand and the vivid blue sea with patches of emerald green sparkling in the sun. Stand with your feet in the soft sand on the water's edge as you make your proposal. You will not be refused.
Croatian Villa Holidays will provide you with directions to this beach when you book your villa, but keep the secret!
Other places to propose in Mali Ston
Over dinner at Gastro Mare, a sophisticated restaurant on the water's edge in the tiny hamlet of Kobas and serving the most exquisite food. The chef, Bjelko, was born in this village, trained in top restaurants in London and the USA, ran his own restaurants in Norway and Vienna and returned to his birthplace to create some of the finest food to be found in Croatia.
On the harbour front in Mali Ston (pictured). Have dinner at Kapitanova Kuca, an excellent restaurant serving wonderful fresh fish and shell fish and vegetables picked from their own gardens. The chef, Lydia Kralj, is one of Croatia's celebrity chefs with her own TV programme. Propose over dinner or walk over to the small stone quay at the entrance to the harbour.
As the sun dips into the sea at Konobar Matusko in Borak. This simple waterfront restaurant is the perfect place to experience the most fabulous sunsets. Getting to this little restaurant is an experience in itself. You pass through a narrow tunnel under a mountain and then descend an almost vertical hillside between vineyards until the road ends at a beach and this delightful restaurant on the water's edge.
Accommodation
Villa Katarina. Charming one bedroom villa within the town walls. Wake up to glorious views over the harbour. Beach and top restaurants just one minute walk.Villa Studio. At the high point within the walls this small stone building is arranged as an open plan sleeping and living area and has a garden terrace with views over Mali Ston and the harbour.
Other things to do while you are there:
- Walk the wall from Mali Ston to Ston (pictured). Wonderful views but quite a climb. Stop for refreshment in Ston and return by the footpath beside the road.
- Ferry to Mljet island to visit the national park with its Benedictine monastery on an tiny island in the middle of a lake.
- Day trip to Mostar in Bosnia to see the contrasting culture and architecture of a region that was part of the Ottoman Empire. Walk over the iconic bridge where local lads will (for a fee) jump into the river far below.
- Wine tour and tasting at the Milos vinery. The Peljesac peninsula is famous for its fabulous red wines. Milos makes some of the best and provides an informative tour and tasting.
- Eat fresh oysters. Mali Ston has been famous for its oysters for generations. Eat half a dozen from the stall at the entrance to Mali Ston or take a boat trip across the bay to learn about oyster cultivation and taste them as you go.
Hvar
Fashionable, loved by celebrities, vibrant and lively with Croatia's best cocktail bars and night clubs but away from the centre also totally peaceful and relaxing.Where to make your proposal
Take a taxi boat to Palmizana on Sveti Klement island and walk the few hundred metres across to Meneghello Restaurant hidden in pine woods and tropical plants with a view down to the glimmering water of a delightful bay.
Swim in the bay and eat in the restaurant. The food is divine and the atmosphere magical. As the sun sets there can be nowhere more romantic.
Other places to propose on Hvar
Over dinner at Macondo: tucked away in a narrow street behind the square and with a long established reputation as one of Hvar's best restaurants.
Enjoying a cocktail at Gariful a modern and stylish restaurants in an enviable position at the end of the waterfront Riva with views to the harbour and the Pakleni islands.
Under the stars in Hvar's Dark Sky Park where the absence of light pollution provides a breath taking panorama of the night sky. What can be more romantic than to propose below the stars of the Milky Way sparkling like millions of engagement rings.
Accommodation:
Villa Juno. This historic building, just a few steps back from the Riva, has been sensitively restored and tastefuly decorated to the very highest standards.
Tropical Cottage Lily. On car free Svet Klement island. Just a few yards from the beach this quirky little villa has one of the best views in the Adriatic. Hvar town a 15 minute boat ride. Restaurant Meneghello on your doorstep.
Hotel Palace Elizabeth. A luxury hotel in th heart of Hvar town with views over the harbour. This historic building has recenty been completed renovated to create a beatiful hotel.
Other things to do while you are there
- Private boat trip to the distant island of Vis to enter the Bisevo blue cave and swim from the incomparably beautiful Stinova cove. Croatian Villa Holidays can arrange the trip.
- Visit Hvar theatre, built in 1612 and the oldest surviving public theatre in Europe.
- Take a taxi boat to Carpe Diem's Beach Club and Night club on Marinkovac island
- Take a trip to Hvar's lavender fields and the UNESCO listed ancient field system.
- Explore Stari Grad and visit the Trvdalj, a fortified renaissance summer house.
Brac Island
Authentic, rustic, wonderful beaches, pretty villages, walking, swimming, healthy living and great food.Where to make your proposal
The Blaca Hermitage. Established by monks in the 16th century this monastery clinging to the cliff face in a wild, rugged and mountainous area of the island can be reached either by a 40 minute trek from the visitors car park or for the fitter and more intrepid a two to three hour trek from sea level at Bol. But if you are staying in Dream Villa you are already on the path to the Hermitage. Once you have recovered your breath and fully taken in the remote splendour of this remarkable place pick your moment to pop the question.
Other places to propose on Brac
Over dinner in Konoba Toni in Dol. The village of Dol is an ancient farming community. Konoba Toni is a small restaurant in a 300 year old house which tells its own tale of local history and where traditional dishes are cooked from local organic produce.
While enjoying a meal at Konoba Vala in Bobovisca. A simple but romantic restaurant on the waterfront in this pretty village where fishing boats huddle in the small harbour at the end of a narrow inlet.
On the tip of the Golden Horn beach after a refreshing early morning swim before the crowds arrive. Regularly selected as one of Europe's best beaches. Like a lizard's tail this narrow spit of beach curls out into the sea and changes shape with the tides and currents.
Accommodation:
Dream Villa. This pretty stone cottage stands alone on a gorgeous stretch of coastline with a beach right below it. Just roll out of your front door of a morning for a refreshing swim from your own beach.Villa Bronzino. This pretty cottage in the town of Pučišća has a beach just below the cottage and is just a few minutes' walk to the restaurants and cafes on the harbour front in the centre of this delightful town.
Sunny Cottage. A cute two bedroom villa with pool, way off the beaten track and offering total peace and seclusion and yet just a short drive to the coast.
Other things to do while you are on Brac
- Take a private excursion by speed boat to Hvar town and the Pakleni islands.
- Visit the small museum and castle in the ancient settlement of Skrip.
- Climb to the peak of Vidova Gora (780 metres) for an unrivalled view of the Croatian islands (pictured: view of Golden Horn beach from Vidova Gora).
- Swim in the Blue lagoon.
- Make a day trip to Split to see Diocletian's Palace. The 4th century AD palace of a Roman emperor that evolved into the medieval city that inspired the Scottish architect Robert Adam.
- Sea kayaking along the coast of the island. Your guide will show you shipwrecks and sea life and off course you will stop for swimming in the prettiest bays.
Central Istria
Dreamy, extraordinarily peaceful, magical views, medieval hilltop towns, gorgeous landscapes in every season, prize winning wines and superb restaurants.Where to make your proposal
From the terrace of your villa at dusk with the sun setting the stars just beginning to show.
From Casa Celestina with a glorious sunset and the moonlight shimmering on the sea in Piran bay. From Villa Merlot with the lights of the surrounding hilltop towns glimmering in the fading light.
Other places to propose in Central Istria
Over dinner at Restaurant Zigante in Livade. In the centre of Istria's truffle region, this impressive restaurant offers high quality cuisine and excellent wines. Paradise for truffle lovers.
At Stari Podrum a homely but sophisticated family run restaurant set in one of the prettiest valleys in Central Istria. Superb food and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
On the loggia in the hilltop town of Oprtalj where the medieval atmosphere of this ancient and undiscovered fortified town is palpable and the views across Central Istria are sensational.
Accommodation:
Casa Celestina. One bedroom village house standing on a high ridge with incomparable views across the Adriatic to Venice in one direction and to the peaks of Slovenia's Julian Alps in the other.
Villa Merlot. Architect designed modern villa with breath taking views towards the iconic hilltop town on Motovun (pictured). Simply magical views in any season.
Other things to do while you are there
- Visit medieval Motovun; walk around the ancient walls and drink coffee in the town square. In late July/August go to the Motovun film festival.
- Explore the hilltop town of Groznjan, a centre for art and youth music.
- Take a trip to picturesque Rovinj on the coast; a picture postcard town with great bars and restaurants.
- Ride the zip wire across the ravine in Pazin and visit the castle museum.
- Cycle on the Parenzana trail - the scenic route of a one- time narrow gauge railway that passes through tunnels and over viaducts linking some of the most stunning hilltop towns in Istria.
- Tour and wine tasting at Kozlovic winery (pictured).
Car Hire and Boat Trips
We can arrange your car hire with pick up at one airport and return to another with no additional charges. We can also arrange all the private boat excursions we have suggested.Contact us
Give us a call on +44 (0)1494 671359 or email us if you want to book a villa or find out more about the proposal spots we have recommended.You can also talk to us about wedding venues in Croatia and view our wedding villas.
