Pearls of the Dalmatian Coast

From magical waterfalls to medieval gems, the southern Croatian coast beckons

Skradinski Buk, the most famous of the waterfalls in Krka National Park, ends in an enormous natural swimming pool. Shutterstock

SINJ, Croatia—Life is slower on the Dalmatian Coast.

That’s thanks to the idea of “fjaka,” a local guide told me on a sunny afternoon in the town of Sinj, as we strolled past a plaza full of people lounging about. She said that visitors would often ask her, “Is there some national holiday? Why is everyone just sitting and drinking coffee?” “No, no!” she would reply. “This is just our ritual! We like to enjoy coffee for a long, long time.”