Sibenik

The UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St James is famous for its stone dome and its frieze of 71 sculpted heads. Dogs are not admitted inside, but the square in front, Trg Republike Hrvatske, lined with Venetian loggias, is a delight on lead early in the morning.

St Michael's Fortress crowns the old town and offers the finest panorama over the channel, the islands and the tiled rooftops. An open-air site, it generally admits leashed dogs; just check the programme, as the summer stage hosts concerts that close access in the evening.

A 15-minute drive away, Krka National Park strings together travertine waterfalls, wooden boardwalks and restored mills. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails and boardwalks, but not in the bathing areas at Skradinski Buk; carry water, as shade is scarce at midday.

Banj beach, a ten-minute walk from the riva, faces the old town across the bay, a postcard view at sunset. Dogs are banned here during the bathing season but tolerated off-season, and a dedicated dog-friendly stretch lies a little further along the shoreline.

The landscaped promenade along the St Anthony channel follows the cliffs for 4 km between the town and St Nicholas Fortress, past pines, coves and old military tunnels. Wide, partly shaded and car-free, it is Šibenik's finest dog walk, on lead and with water in your bag.

The old town is a maze of polished stone stairways, vaulted alleys and small squares climbing from the riva to St Michael's Fortress. Leashed dogs wander freely here, and many terraces bring out a water bowl; in summer, save the climb for the cooler hours.