WHY VISIT CROATIA

A new touristic destination since the end of the conflicts, the pearl of the Adriatic deserves the reputation it has for many reasons.

The capital, Zagreb, offers many attractions: The Cathedral, the Croatian Museum of Natural History, Saint Marc’s Church, the Arts Pavilion, the Mimara Museum and the beautiful mausoleums of Mirogoj Cemetery are just a few examples.

The old city of Dubrovnik, surrounded by walls, will seduce you as well: The beautiful stone used in its construction can be found in the houses, fountains, squares, and palaces. You can stroll on the Placa, a promenade for pedestrians only, visit the museum of the Franciscan Monastery, admire the St. Blaise Church, and relax on Lokrum Island, classified as a National Park, that you can reach by ferry.

Split also has a lovely old city which boasts wonders like Diocletian’s Palace, the Archaeological Museum and the Mestrovic Gallery! Nearby, a beautiful beach is waiting for you after your cultural visits.

Korcula Island is a worthy place to visit: Vineyards, charming coves, olive groves, but also the city with its typical red roofs, making it an attractive and serene destination.

Source: http://www.thebesttimetovisit.com/

WHAT TO SEE IN CROATIA

Top destinations in Croatia are:

• Zagreb
• Dubrovnik
• Plitvice National Park
• Split
• Poreč
• Trogir
• Šibenik
• Pula
• Rovinj
• Zadar
• Makarska
• Rijeka

WHEN TO GO TO CROATIA

Weather in Croatia

The best period to visit Croatia is from May to September.

Croatia’s climate follows two patterns: the Mediterranean on the coast, with warm summers and mild winters, and continental inland – slightly hotter during the summer, and extremely cold in winter, with average daily temperatures barely scraping freezing from December to February. July and August constitute the peak season on the Adriatic, and this is definitely the best time to visit Croatia if busy beaches and lively café society are what you’re looking for. Many Croats make their way to the coast at this time, and social and cultural activity in the inland cities tends to dry up as a result. Peak-season daytime temperatures can be roasting, however, both on the coast and inland, and dawn-to-dusk sightseeing can be a grueling experience. Hotel accommodation soon fills up at the height of summer, and it may be more relaxing to travel in June or September when there is significantly less pressure on facilities. From October to May the coast can be very quiet indeed, and many hotels and tourist attractions may well shut up shop for the winter. Autumn is a good time to enjoy inland Istria and national park areas like the Plitvice Lakes and the River Krka, when the woodland colors produced by the mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees are at their best. Given the innocuous winters on the Adriatic coast, urban sightseeing in historic centers such as Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik can be enjoyable at this time, and it’s also worth bearing in mind that hotel prices on the Adriatic may be up to fifty percent cheaper than in peak season. Winters inland is a different kettle of fish entirely: snow is common here over this period, and transport in highland areas is frequently disrupted as a result – though it can also be a picturesque backdrop to sightseeing. Spring is well into its stride by mid-March: warm, dry weather makes this a great time to go cycling, hiking or touring the cultural sights, and in southern Dalmatia, the sea might be warm enough to swim in by mid- to late May.

Following a list of typical festival and celebrations of Croatia

[su_spoiler title=”January” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Snow Queen Trophy snowqueentrophy.com. World Cup downhill skiing on Mount Sljeme, with a big-screen broadcast on the main square. First and second weekends in Jan; Zagreb.

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[su_spoiler title=”February” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Feast of St Blaise (Sveti Vlaho) tzdubrovnik.hr. Processions and pageantry in honor of Dubrovnik’s patron saint. Feb 3; Dubrovnik.

Carnival (Karneval; fašnik; pust). Processions, fancy dress, and festivities in Rijeka (www.tz-rijeka.hr), Velika Gorica (tzvg.hr), and Samobor (tz-samobor.hr). Weekend preceding Shrove Tues.

Zagrebdox zagrebdox.net. A feast of documentary films from around the globe, with a packed week of screenings. Late Feb/early March; Zagreb.

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[su_spoiler title=”March” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

RAF (Review of Amateur Films) revijaamaterskogfilma.hr. Celebration of amateur, student, and no-budget film-making, showing work in all styles and of all lengths. Zagreb.

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[su_spoiler title=”April” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Easter Religious processions on the islands of Hvar, Korčula, and in many other parts of Croatia. April or late March.

Music Biennale (Glazbeno biennale) mbz.hr. Ten days of contemporary classical music featuring new work by major international composers. Every odd-numbered year; Zagreb.

Test! test.hr. Festival of Student Theatre, with a healthy dose of experimental performance. Zagreb.

Days of Croatian Film (Dani hrvatskog filma) dhf.sczg.hr. A major review of Croatian films made during the previous twelve months, including features, shorts, and documentaries. If you are on the lookout for new talent, this is the place to find it. Zagreb.

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[su_spoiler title=”May” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Feast of St Domnius (Sveti Dujam) Church processions, craft fairs, and feasting. May 7; Split.

Subversive Film Festival subversivefestival.com. A wide range of films and lectures on contemporary political topics, followed by the usual after-party drinking. Zagreb.

Roč Accordion Festival (Ž armoniku v Roč) tz-buzet.hr. Accordion bands from Croatia and beyond. The second weekend in May; Roč.

Festival of One-Minute Films (Revija jednominutnih filmova) crominute.hr. Exactly what it says in the title, with plenty of eccentric, experimental work. Late May; Požega.

Jewish Film Festival (Festival Židovskog Filma) jff-zagreb.hr. A week of feature films, documentaries, and post-screening concerts addressing wider issues of race and tolerance. Co-founded by Holocaust survivor and Oscar-winning producer Branko Lustig. Late May; Zagreb.

Festival of the European Short Story (Festival Evropske kratke priče) europeanshortstory.org. Engaging and accessible lit-fest attracting major international participants (and big-screen English-language translations). A two-centre festival based in Zagreb and at least one Adriatic city. Late May/early June.

Contemporary Dance Week (Tjedan suvremenog plesa) danceweekfestival.com. Croatia’s premier dance event, with a strong contemporary edge. Late May/early June; Zagreb.

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[su_spoiler title=”June” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Cest is d’Best cestisdbest.com. Live bands and street entertainment on stages throughout the city center. Early June; Zagreb.

Mediterranean Film Festival (Festival mediteranskog filma Split) fmfs.hr. New features from the Mediterranean region, screened on Split’s Bačvice beach, with an accompanying after-show DJ program. Early June; Split.

Strossmartre (Ljeto na Štrosu) ljetonastrosu.com. The summer-long sequence of gigs, puppet shows, and open-air art in Zagreb’s Gornji grad. June to early Sept; Zagreb.

Animafest animafest.hr. Among the animation world’s most important and longest-running festivals, screening a week’s worth of arty and edgy films. Early June; Zagreb.

Dan-D (“D-Day”). A long weekend devoted to contemporary design, with local creatives displaying their wares and DJ events in the evening. Mid-June; Zagreb.

Summer Nights (Riječke ljetne noći) rijeckeljetnenoci.com. Classical music and drama in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues. Mid-June to late July; Rijeka.

Eurokaz Theatre Festival eurokaz.hr. Challenging avant-garde drama with an impressive roster of international guests. Late June/early July; Zagreb.

Valamar Jazz Festival valamarjazz.com. Top international names performing in atmospheric indoor and outdoor venues. Late June; Poreč.

In-music w inmusicfestival.com. Three-day rock-and-pop fest on the shores of Lake Jarun, featuring major international bands and DJs. Attracting a daily average of 30,000 people, it’s big enough to feel like a major event but small enough to preserve a laid-back vibe. Late June; Zagreb.

International Children’s Festival (Međunarodnji dječji festival) mdf-sibenik.com. Puppet shows, street entertainers and musicals, with a young audience in mind. Late June/early July; Šibenik.

Hideout hideoutfestival.com. Festival of cutting-edge DJ music takes over Zrće beach for a long weekend. Late June; Novalja, Pag island.

Fantastic Film Festival fantastic-zagreb.com. A week-long event devoted to fantasy, horror, and sci-fi genres, with open-air screenings and DJ events. Late June/early July; Zagreb.

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[su_spoiler title=”July” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Kastav Cultural Summer (Kastafsko kulturno leto) kkl.hr. Concerts in the streets and squares of Kastav, near Rijeka. July/Aug.

St Donat’s Musical Evenings (Glazbene večeri u sv. Donatu) donat-festival.com. Classical soloists and ensembles performing in an early medieval church. Early July to early Aug; Zadar.

Đakovo Embroidery (Đakovački vezovi) tz-djakovo.hr. Folklore groups from all over Croatia celebrate traditional costumes, music, and dance. Early July; Đakovo.

Garden Festival thegardenfestival.eu. Eight-day DJ-driven extravaganza with a capacity of 3000 and a beach-party feel. Early July; Tisno.

Omiš Klapa Festival fdk.hr. Traditional choirs (klape) from all over the country, with prizes for the best performances. Omiš.

Dubrovnik Summer Festival (Dubrovačke ljetne igre) dubrovnik-festival.hr. Prestigious classical music and theatre event that makes full use of Dubrovnik’s historic buildings and atmospheric open spaces. Early July to late Aug; Dubrovnik.

Electric Elephant electricelephant.co.uk. Five-day fest for connoisseurs of quality dance music old and new, based at the Garden summer HQ. Mid-July; Tisno.

Vanka Regule (“Outside the rules”) vankaregule.com. Sports- and activity-based festival with an imaginative range of everybody-can-join-in competitions, followed by outdoor gigs. Mid-July; Sutivan, Brač.

Hartera hartera.com. Weekend rock-fest in an adapted old factory complex. Mid-July.

Split Summer (Splitsko ljeto) splitsko-ljeto.hr. Opera, orchestral music, and a host of other high-cultural delights, with many performances taking place in Split’s ancient piazzas and squares. Mid-July to mid-Aug; Split.

International Folklore Festival (Međunarodna smotra folklora) msf.hr. Highly enjoyable display of ethnic music and dance from all over Croatia, plus a range of international guests. Mid- to late July; Zagreb.

Seasplash seasplash-festival.com. Reggae fest in the Punta Christo fortress, just north of Pula. Late July.

Ethno Ambient Live w ethnoambient.net. A two-day world music festival with a mix of Croatian and international stars, in ancient Salona’s amphitheater.

Soundwave w soundwavecroatia.com. Another long weekend of DJ-orchestrated bliss at the Garden’s Tisno site; late July.

Osor Music Evenings (Osorske glazbene večeri) osorskeveceri.org. International chamber music. Late July to late Aug; Osor, Cres.

Night of Diocletian (Noć Dioklecijana). Locals dress up as ancient Romans for a night of city-center swords-and-sandals partying, symbolically welcoming third-century Emperor Diocletian back into town. Late July; Split.

Pula Film Festival pulafilmfestival.hr. The country’s annual crop of feature films screened in the Roman amphitheater. Pula.

Rab Fair (Rapska fjera) tzg-rab.hr. Huge medieval pageant featuring parades, archery contests, fine victuals, and hearty drinking. July 25, 26 & 27; Rab.

SuncéBeat suncebeat.com. The Dalmatian offshoot of well-known UK DJ event the Southport Weekender, held at the Garden. Late July; Tisno.

Motovun Film Festival motovunfilmfestival.com. A high-art film festival that also functions as a five-day open-air party. Late July/early Aug; Motovun.

Supertoon Festival Hugely enjoyable animation fest with outdoor screenings of kids’ films, music videos, and arty stuff. Late July/early Aug; Bol.

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[su_spoiler title=”August” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Stop Making Sense stopmakingsense.eu. The cream of cutting-edge London club culture descends on Dalmatia for another long weekend of round-the-clock partying. Early Aug; Tisno.

Saljske užance dugiotok.hr. Seafood feasts, donkey races, island madness. The first weekend in Aug; Sali, Dugi otok.

Alka alka.hr. A sort of medieval joust held in celebration of the 1715 victory over the Ottomans. Early Aug; Sinj.

Terraneo terraneofestival.com. With international indie-rock and alternative DJs, this is the Adriatic’s premier hipster hop, with decent food and camping on site. Early Aug; Šibenik.

Zadar Dreams (Zadar Snova) zadarsnova.hr. Festival of alternative drama and performance art. Early to mid-Aug; Zadar.

Neretva Boat Marathon (Maraton lađa) maraton-ladja.hr. Teams in traditional rowing boats race through the Neretva delta towards the sea. Second Sat in Aug; Metković.

Tilting at the Ring (Trka na prstenac) barban.hr. Competition in which horsemen attempt to spear a ring on the end of a lance. Third weekend in Aug; Barban, Istria.

Špancirfest spancirfest.com. One of the few festivals to light up inland Croatia during the month of Aug, Špancirfest takes over the center of Varaždin with a week of outdoor variety performances alongside pop, rock, and folk concerts. Late Aug; Varaždin.

Vukovar Film Festival vukovarfilmfestival.com. New features from southeastern European countries, screened on a barge in the River Danube. Late Aug; Vukovar.

Outlook outlookfestival.com. A spectacular treat for fans of jungle/dub/dubstep and beyond, with sound systems and live music stages in and around the Punta Christo naval fort. Late Aug/early Sept; Pula.

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[su_spoiler title=”September” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

PIF International Festival of Puppet Theatre (Međunarodni festival kazališta lutaka) pif.hr. Puppet productions from all over Europe. Early Sept; Zagreb.

Dimensions dimensionsfestival.com. Held the weekend after Outlook on the same site, here is more of the same, but with a more eclectic, experimental line-up. Early Sept; Pula.

Korkyra Baroque Festival (Korčulanski međunarodni barokni festival) korkyrabaroque.com. Ten-day festival of early music, with many of the performances taking place in historic churches. Early to mid-Sept; Korcula Town.

Buzet Saturday (Buzetska Subotina) tz-buzet.hr. Gastronomic and musical fiesta dedicated to the opening of the truffle-hunting season. Second weekend in Sept; Buzet.

Festival of World Theatre (Festival svijetskog kazališta) zagrebtheatrefestival.hr. Seriously worthwhile drama festival attracting the big European names. Mid- to late Sept; Zagreb.

Split Film Festival splitfilmfestival.hr. Shorts, documentaries, and art-house films. Mid- to late Sept; Split.

Varaždin Baroque Evenings (Varaždinske barokne večeri) vbv.hr. One of Europe’s most prestigious early music events, with performances in Varaždin cathedral and other city churches. Mid- to late Sept.

International Festival of Experimental Film and Video (Internacionalni festival eksperimentalnog filma i videa) 25fps.hr. Moving pictures from the cutting edge. Late Sept; Zagreb.

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[su_spoiler title=”October” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Perforations (Perforacije) perforacije.org. A top regional showcase for performance art and genre-bending theatre, from Croatia and southeastern Europe. Zagreb.

BIT (Blind in Theatre) novizivot.hr. International festival for visually impaired theatre groups. Extraordinary and unique. Odd-numbered years only. Early Oct; Zagreb.

Zagreb Film Festival zagrebfilmfestival.com. Outstanding documentaries and art movies from around the world. Generates a genuine festival atmosphere: free access to the late-night DJ parties is well worth the price of your cinema ticket. Mid-Oct.

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[su_spoiler title=”November” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

St Martin’s Day (Martinje). Festivities in all wine-producing regions of the country, with the chance to taste and buy the season’s new produce. Nov 11 or the nearest weekend.

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[su_spoiler title=”December” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Human Rights Film Festival humanrightsfestival.org. Politically engaged documentaries from around the globe, plus the inevitable after-parties. Early to mid-Dec; Zagreb and Rijeka.

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Source: http://www.roughguides.com/

HOW TO REACH AND TRAVEL THROUGH CROATIA

To travel around the country, buses are quite efficient and cheap. The train is slower but more comfortable. Ferries also connect Islands in the Adriatic to the continent, and between some of the islands themselves and they are an enjoyable way to discover parts of the country.

by plane, the main airports are:

• Zagreb
• Split
• Dubrovnik
• Zadar
• Pula
• Rijeka
• Osijek
• Bol
• Mali Lošinj

by train

by car

GENERAL INFORMATION ON CROATIA

health tips & vaccination: none

local currency: Croatian kuna

local time zone: GMT+1 (+2)

electricity: [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/C_plug.png”]type C[/su_lightbox] and [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/F_plug.png”]type F[/su_lightbox] (230 V – 50 Hz)

mobile phone operators:

• Hrvatski Telekom
• Vip
• Tele2

WHAT TO DO IN CROATIA

typical food in Croatia

• Pršut i paški sir: air-dried ham similar to Italian prosciutto and sheep’s cheese from the island of Pag;
• Salata od hobotnice: octopus salad with potato, onion, chopped parsley, garlic, and lemon;
• Crni riýot: black risotto made from cuttlefish, cooked in its own ink;
• Janjetina: roast lamb, often cooked whole on a spit;
• Tartufi: truffles, found widely in Istria;
• Fuži: pasta, where the dough has been rolled into a cylinder and often filled, typical in Istria;
• Salata od jastoga: salad of lobster served with herbs and olive oil;
• Grah: soup of paprika-spiced haricot beans with sausage pieces;
• Pariški odrezak: pork or veal schnitzel fried in batter, or stuffed with cheese and ham;
• Strukli: boiled parcels of dough filled with cottage cheese, or baked in earthenware, resulting in a kind of cheese lasagne-cum-pastry;
• Rožata: a type of crème caramel;
• Beer: Best known brands include Pan, Karlovacko and Ozujsko (lagers), plus Tomislav (a dark beer);
• Wine: including Plavac Mali (red) and whites such as Malvazija, Grasevina, and Posip;
• Rajika: fruit brandy of different tastes such as walnut, plum or grape;

souvenirs from Croatia

• Neckties said to be invented here in the 17th century;
• Licitar Heart, typical in Zagreb, red hearts made of honey and gingerbread decorated with different decorations and phrases;
• Chocolate, wine, olive oil
• Rakija (fruit brandy) or Maraschino (a Zadar’s cherry distillate)
• Samobor hand-made glass art makings;
• Plaques with Glagolitic writings;
• Wooden toys form Hrvatsko Zagorje
• Croatian hand-crafted laces
• Sestine umbrella, Zagreb bright red umbrellas lined with colorful lines;

SIMPLE DICTIONARY

Hello: Zdravo

Goodbye: Doviđenja

How are you?: Kako si?

Thank you: Hvala ti

What is your name?: Kako se zoveš?

How much is it?: Koliko je to?

Sorry: Oprostite