Croatian Cheeses: Paški Sir & the Best Cheeses to Try in Croatia
Croatian cheeses explained: Paški sir from Pag, Krk sheep's cheese, sir iz mišine, cheese in olive oil, škripavac, Istrian sheep's cheese, and where to taste them.
The short version: Croatia’s most famous cheese is Paški sir from the island of Pag, a hard sheep’s cheese with a salty, herbal flavour from sheep grazing on wind-blown, salt-sprayed pastures. Beyond Pag, look for Krk sheep’s cheese, Dalmatian cheese aged in lambskin (sir iz mišine) or preserved in olive oil, squeaky škripavac from Lika, Istrian sheep’s cheese, and Zagreb’s fresh sir i vrhnje. Here is what to try and where.
At a glance
| Cheese | What it is | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Paški sir | Hard, aged sheep’s cheese, salty and herbal | Island of Pag (Zadar area) |
| Krčki sir | Sheep’s cheese from the island of Krk | Kvarner |
| Sir iz mišine | Cheese aged in lambskin, sharp and crumbly | Dalmatian hinterland |
| Sir u ulju | Cheese preserved in olive oil | Dalmatia |
| Škripavac | Fresh cow’s cheese that squeaks on the teeth | Lika |
| Istarski ovčji sir | Istrian sheep’s cheese | Istria |
| Sir i vrhnje | Fresh cottage cheese with sour cream | Zagreb and the north |
Paški sir
On Pag, sheep graze on bare limestone where the bora wind coats the wild sage, immortelle and grasses with sea salt. The result is Paški sir, a firm, golden cheese with a nutty, salty bite that deepens with age. It is served in thin wedges with pršut, olives and figs, and is the cheese every Dalmatian table is proud of. Zadar is the easiest base: its market sells Pag cheese, and Pag itself is about an hour’s drive away.
How to eat Croatian cheese
Order a plata (platter) with cheese, pršut and olives with a glass of local wine before any Dalmatian meal; in the north, start the day with sir i vrhnje at Zagreb’s Dolac market. For the dishes that follow, see Croatian dishes explained, and for what to drink, Croatian wine grapes explained. Finish with dessert: see Croatian desserts.
Our pick: the Zadar Food and Culture Tour starts at the city market, with Pag cheese among the tastings alongside pršut and local specialities.
Visit Pag on one of our food lover’s day trips from Zadar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous cheese in Croatia?
Paški sir, a hard sheep’s cheese from the island of Pag.
Why does Pag cheese taste salty?
Pag’s sheep graze on herbs and grasses covered in sea salt carried by the bora wind, which flavours the milk.
Where can I taste Croatian cheese?
At markets such as Zadar’s and Zagreb’s Dolac, in konobas as part of a platter, and on food tours in Zadar, Split and Zagreb.
Taste Croatian cheese on a food tour
Compare Zadar food tours and Split food tours, or see all Croatia food and wine experiences.
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