For a taste of Game of Thrones architecture without the massive crowds of Split or Dubrovnik, Šibenik has a magnificent medieval heart. The town is filled with alleys that crisscross white stone structures and towers, begging visitors to get lost among the cobblestone nooks, hidden gardens, and secret food stalls. Climb the remains of St. Michael’s Fortress (originally constructed by the Venetians to protect against the Ottomans) for a bird’s eye view of over the red tiled roofs, domed 15th-century basilica, and brilliant sunsets.

According to legend, after being shipwrecked on Mljet (an island just off Dubrovnik) Odysseus found refuge in this cave where he met the nymph Calypso and remained under her captivity for seven years. While the myth was later attributed to the island nation of Malta, the fact remains that this hidden spot provides one of the most striking swimming caves in the world. It requires a 15-minute hike down a steep cliff, but visitors are rewarded with calm, neon-blue waters filled with iridescent fish and few tourists. For the most intense experience, arrive at midday when the sun’s rays produce a spectrum of electric colours that illuminate the cave.

Rich in vineyards, olive groves and small villages, and harbouring a glorious old town, the island of Korčula is the sixth-largest Adriatic island, easily accessible by ferry from Split. In contrast to the rest of Dalmatia (which is known mostly for its red wines) the island of Korčula is renowned above all for the quality of its white grape, in particular the ‘Pošip’ varietal which has grown in popularity in recent years. Take a scenic vineyard and tasting tour, which can be done by car or bike, snaking through quiet villages including Lumbarda, Smokvica, Čara, and Vela Luka. The island’s best beach is Pupnatska Lukaon the south coast.

Brač is famous for two things: its radiant white stone used to build Diocletian’s Palace in Split, and Zlatni Rat, the pebbly beach at Bol extending into the Adriatic, named as one of the best beaches in Europe that often adorns Croatian tourism posters. However, the island’s other stunning beaches that dot the south coast are largely empty. Take note – some cater to nudists. For an even more remote adventure, hike across the abandoned Franz Joseph bridge which was built by the Austrian Empire over a river that no longer exists, and is now popular with free climbers.

Nestled deep in the hillside of the Peljesac peninsula (near the island of Korčula) is the picturesque ghost town of Nakovana. Formerly a bustling farming village, most inhabitants were driven out by Italian and German troops during WWII, and it was completely abandoned during the nation’s civil war of the 1990s. Visitors can stroll along cobblestone streets lined with stone houses dating back hundreds of years, and meander through plots full of olive and pomegranate trees where feral cats are the only inhabitants. The town makes for an ideal day trip for hikers, but bring enough food and water to last the day.