Croatia is rather...

[Jana]

I mean overall but if you wish me to give importance to one of those, I would say culture.

Historically - far closer to the west (CE and Med). Even CRO dinarics are culturally distinct from other Balkanites due to their religion and everything that goes with it.
Croatia experienced reneissance, baroque, humanism and made important contributions in it - these things didn't exist in Balkans.
Modern Croatian culture - pretty similar to other ex-Yugoslavian countries + americanisation, overall predominately Balkanic but with local flavor.

[sean]

Balkans.

[Blondie]

Central Europe, and Dalmatia is mediterranean.

[Victor]

Central Croatia and Slavonia are Central European, all the rest is Mediterranean + Dalmatia is also Balkan.

[Jankec]

Central Croatia and Slavonia are Central European, all the rest is Mediterranean + Dalmatia is also Balkan.

Generally agree, but Slavonia is mix of people from different regions, mostly southern parts (Herzegovina, Lika and Dalmatia). Central European characteristics are strongest in the north-western parts.

[Kiel]

Balkans light.

[Catnip]

Rather Balkans.

[Sylvanas]

Honestly, I don't know. It's complicated. Geographically is Balkan.

[Jana]

Today it is surely rather Balkan.

Hmmm, I would rather disagree with that today. I mean, I don't know. I have never been to any Balkanic country except Bosnia, and Bosnia is not similar to Croatia.
but than, if I came from border region Bosnia would probably be more familiar, Islam/Orthodoxy aside.

[Jana]

Oh sorry, I've been to Romania, if that qualifies as Balkanic (also a bit of gray zone). Romania is very alien to Croatia as well.