Hotel rates are less expensive off season and easier to book. These are high-season prices.

HOTELS

Jagerhorn Hotel, Ilica 14, Zagreb, Croatia, 385-1-4833877, www.hotel-jagerhorn.hr. Double rooms $153-$160 with breakfast.

Hotel Peristil, Poljana kraljice Jelene 5, Split, Croatia, 385-21-329-070, www.hotelperistil.com. Double rooms $153-$185 with breakfast.

The Pucic Palace, Od Puca 1, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 385-20-326-222, www.thepucicpalace.com. Double rooms $344-$574 with breakfast

Hotel Michele, Ivana Cankara 27, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina, 387-33-560-310, hotelmichele.ba. Double room $91 with breakfast.

FOOD

Konoba Didov San, Mletacka 11, Gornji grad, Zagreb, Croatia, 385-1-485-11-54, www.konoba-didovsan.com. Go for lunch after the museums. The cuisine is Dalmatian and offers both “grandma’s pan’’ and “grandpa’s pan’’ (home cooking).

Restoran Tip-Top, Ivana Gudulica, Zagreb, Croatia, 385-1-4830-349, www.gostionica-tiptop.hr. Soups, stews, good seafood.

Vinodol www.vinodol-zg.hr. Big, beautiful restaurant in center of city with curved stone arch ceilings, large covered patio, and Croatian specialties like slow-cooked lamb and veal baked under a cast-iron lid.

Hotel Gacka, Licko Lesce 315, Otocac, Croatia, 385-53-787510, www.hotel-gacka.com.hr. Trout, trout, and more trout, all from the river near your table.

Wine & Cheese Bar Paradox, Poljana Tina Ujevica 2, Split, Croatia, 385-21-395-854. Lovely spot, knowledgeable staff, fine wines, and food.

Kapetanova Kuca Obala dr. Ante Starcevica 9, Mali Ston, Croatia, 385-20-754-264, www.ostrea.hr/en_restorani.html. Delicious seafood on the water in a family-run place. For dessert, order the pasta cake, Stonska Torta.

Taj Mahal Bosnian Cuisine, Nikole Gucetica 2, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 385-20-323-221, www.tajmahal-dubrovnik.com. Soups, stews, and hearty Bosnian fare served by a gracious staff.

Kazamat, Teodora Kolokotronisa bb (in Kastel fortress), Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovenia, 387-51-224-460, restorankazamat.com. Refined cooking in a lovely setting on the river. Hard to locate; it’s behind the Kastel fortress.

SHERYL JULIAN