The development of tourism infrastructure is the "condicio sine qua non" of the development of the tourism sector. The demands of modern tourists are becoming more complex. Today's tourists do not settle for simple formulas, but are looking for a high-profile product that can satisfy the feeling of a superior and authentic experience. A new form of infrastructure developed to meet such a requirement are the so-called interpretation centers. The Interpretation Centre is an institution for disseminating knowledge about natural, historical or cultural heritage. Interpretation centers are museums of a new style, often associated with visitor centers or eco museums, and are located in such a way that they are directly or indirectly related to cultural, historical or natural sites. In Croatia in recent years, a fair number of such centers have opened, but only a small number, unfortunately, are designed to be sustainable. Spaces belonging to interpretation centers must serve society and its development. The acquisition, maintenance, research, dissemination and exposure of the heritage of humanity and its environment, for research, study, aesthetic culture and society. These are spaces for presentation, renewal and improvement social memory and tangible cultural heritage. Entire micro-areas can be developed by establishing interpretation centers that become focal points of interest of visitors, i.e. the beginning or end of visits to a particular area. The aim of this paper is to describe the context of the development of interpretation centers and their role within cultural tourism and to analyze their effects on local communities on the example of successful interpretation centers in Croatia.