14 March 2022 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Monday said on Twitter that he had spoken with Defence Minister Mario Banožić and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Admiral Robert Hranj, about investments in strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces.

Shortly before that, he said that a meeting had been held with members of the government and relevant institutions about the facts established so far about the crash of the military aerial vehicle in Zagreb.

The competent bodies are conducting an investigation that will shed light on all circumstances. We are intensively communicating with NATO allies, PM Plenković said in the tweet.

14 March 2022 - Croatia has recorded 141 new coronavirus cases and 18 COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team reported on Monday.

The number of active cases currently stands at 8,497. Among them are 774 infected people who have been hospitalised and 51 of them are on ventilators, while 6,441 people are self-isolating.

A total of 4,585,240 people have been tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to date, including 1,348 in the last 24 hours.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 1,073,527 people have been registered as having been infected with the novel virus, of whom 15,354 have died and 1,049,676 have recovered, including 1,456 in the last 24 hours.

By Saturday, 5,209,291 COVID vaccine doses have been administered, with 56.89 per cent of the total population, or 67.66 per cent of adults, having been vaccinated. A total of 2,308,535 people have received at least one dose and 2,234,396 of them have been fully vaccinated, which is 65.61 per cent of the adult population.

March 14, 2022 - The Zagreb Fair, which from the beginning was the main mass vaccination point in the Croatian capital, will no longer fulfill these functions, according to the "Dr. Andrija Štampar" Institute, which also announced new vaccination points and schedules.

The Institute of Public Health "Dr. Andrija Štampar'' informed on Monday that the point for mass vaccination at the Zagreb Fair will no longer be operational, and the working hours of vaccination places in health centers are also changing, reports Večernji List.

The Zagreb Fair, located on Dubrovnik Avenue in Novi Zagreb, was the main point of mass vaccination in the Croatian capital to this day.

According to the new working hours, the vaccination sites of the NZJZ "Dr. Andrija Štampar", without prior order, will be at two locations: Mirogojska cesta 16, Great Hall, will be open on Mondays and Fridays from 16 to 19 hours. While Avenija Većeslava Holjevca 22 at the Health Center Zagreb - Center, will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2 to 6 p.m.

Vaccination is available, according to "Andrija Štampar", other days of the week in the Vaccination Clinic of the Epidemiology Service, Mirogojska cesta 16, with a mandatory pre-order by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Vaccination points at the Health Center Zagreb - East (Sesvete, Ninska 16) and the Health Center Zagreb - West (Prečko 2a) will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2 pm to 6 pm. Vaccination is also possible at the vaccination point organized by HZJZ and ŠNZ Andrija Štampar (Rockefellerova 4), on Wednesdays from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Drive and testing at NZJZ “Dr. Andrija Štampar” (Mirogojska cesta 16) will be open from Saturday to Sunday, March 12, from 8 am to 11 am, with prior ordering via the platform.

For more information, visit the official website of the NZJZ Andrija Štampar.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language if it isn't English.

March 14th, 2022 - Soaring fuel prices have left some Croats with no choice but to head over the border to Hungary where fuel is significantly cheaper

There is a small Hungarian town called Letenje, located right next to the Croatian border. Formerly known as a shopping mecca, the town is nowadays visited by Croatian guests for one specific purpose: filling up their fuel tanks. Fuel is significantly cheaper in Hungary compared to the current prices in Croatia, writes HRT, whose reporters talked to Croatian customers at a petrol station in Letenje.

‘I come from a village five kilometres away from the border, fuel is three kuna cheaper here so we save 150 kuna per tank, then we go grocery shopping; it makes a difference’, said Ivan Kranjčec from Donji Kraljevac.

‘I came here because people are saying it’s cheaper, it’s my first time here’, said Martina Mlinarec from Čakovec.

‘A full tank, to the top, 60 to 70 litres’, said Petar from Čakovec about his purchase.

Lower fuel prices have also been attracting foreign truck drivers as of late, leading some petrol stations to limit the purchase to 100 litres per customer. Nevertheless, yesterday’s crowds had Hungarian petrol stations running out of fuel.

Apart from Croats, Hungarian petrol stations are visited by customers from Slovenia and Austria. Only recently, the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL has been selling 5 million litres of fuel a day, whereas now they sell 15 million litres per day.

Due to the large influx of foreign customers, Hungary imposed restrictions on Friday.

‘According to the new regulations, drivers of foreign trucks over 3.5 tons are no longer allowed to buy fuel at our petrol stations at a subsidised price. They have to pay the market price’, said Andras Orosz, a spokesman for MOL.

Owners of personal vehicles can still buy fuel at the more affordable price and without restrictions. Hungary's largest oil company claims that there’s no shortage to worry about.

Inflation in Hungary recently reached its highest level in 15 years, so the government froze the prices of energy, food and mortgage loans. Many have called this a pre-election move of Viktor Orban, as parliamentary elections are to be held in Hungary in April.

Either way, Croats will likely continue to flock to Hungary to refill their fuel tanks, despite having to wait in long queues.

March 14th, 2022 - Fans of retro technology have the opportunity to try out old computers and consoles in Dubrovnik until the end of the month

Last Saturday, Rijeka’s Peek&Poke Computer Museum opened a visiting exhibition in Dubrovnik, more precisely at the Youth Center, where all those interested can discover about twenty vintage computers, gaming consoles, calculators and mechanical calculators.

The opening of the exhibition attracted curious people of all generations who were delighted by the display, writes Novi list. The exhibition will remain open until March 27th.

’We’re thankful for the invitation of the Dubrovnik Association of Technical Culture, who invited us to Dubrovnik and helped organise the exhibition. We’re glad to have the opportunity to exhibit what is only a small part of our museum collection in Dubrovnik. We will certainly continue our cooperation with our Dubrovnik colleagues’, said Josip Knežević from Peek & Poke after the exhibition opening.

Until the end of the month, lovers of retro technology in Dubrovnik will have the opportunity to try out the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Schneider, along with the consoles Atari, Nintendo, Playstation, and others.

Secretary of the Association for Technical Culture Tomo Sjekavica said his personal favourites were the Spectrum and the Commodore.

‘I’m especially glad that for the second time in Dubrovnik we were able to open the visiting exhibition of the Rijeka Computer Museum Peek&Poke, where you can see old computers and calculators dating from the 1930s onwards. As a computer expert and programmer myself, I’m very glad that we’re collaborating with the Peek&Poke Museum from Rijeka and I believe that there will be more opportunities in the future for some new joint projects’, said Sjekavica.

The Peek & Poke Museum in Rijeka is known as the only Croatian museum of vintage computers. Established in 2007, it has been attracting both locals and tourists from all over the world ever since.

The museum offers an overview of the technical development of computers and the computer industry from its beginnings to the present day, with a part of the museum used for various educational programmes.

Among the exhibited computer ‘pioneers’, there are exhibits from all five continents and an enviable collection of calculators to discover, including a pocket calculator made in Croatia and known all around the world as Digitron.

14 March 2022 - Maybe you’re looking for something that’s not available locally, or perhaps the pandemic has changed the way you shop. Regardless, online stores have made purchasing more accessible, faster and at times, even more affordable compared to their brick and mortar counterparts. But how is online shopping in Croatia? Read on to find out more.

Let me rip the proverbial band-aid off first. Unfortunately American online shopping giant, Amazon, does not currently have a presence in Croatia (yet?). Whether this is advantageous or not, is highly debatable. 

While you can still order from Amazon’s main site, the costs to ship everything across the Atlantic are eye-watering! You’ll also have to factor in import taxes that will be calculated by the local delivery company (e.g. Hrvatska Pošta, DHL, GLS), increasing prices even further.

Here's an example of how shipping costs more than the item itself. Image: Amazon.com

But not to worry, this doesn’t mean you are out of options when it comes to ordering from Amazon. Their online stores are available in neighboring European countries such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, albeit with caveats. 

The most obvious disparities are that Amazon inventories in Europe are not as immense as the US site, and by nature of where they’re based, different types and brands of products are stocked. Another caveat is that not all items from these sites can be shipped to Croatia. 

Here’s an example of an item that does not ship to Croatia. Image: Amazon.de

Still, this is a better alternative to the US-based site since shipping costs are significantly lower at €9.99 per order, for delivery within a week. Special services such as fast shipping (2-3 day deliveries) exist at a premium, whereas for the same order, my shipping quote went up to €27.

So, other than Amazon, what are your online shopping options in Croatia? 

The answer is a number of smaller, more specialized online domestic and EU retailers who currently fill the gap in the market. Let me introduce you to some of my favorites. I am not affiliated with any of these sites but have used them in the past and am quite pleased with their services. 

Fashion 

While larger fashion chains such as Mango, Pull & Bear, Zara, and many more, have physical stores in Croatia, when it comes to fast fashion, I’ve personally found that ASOS has a wider selection, with quick and reliable shipping (around 3 days).

Similar to ASOS, Zalando has only recently extended its network to Croatia since July 2021. Already, this has proven to be another reliable source for all your wardrobe needs and as a plus, they offer free 30-day returns on all orders.

Between the two sites, you'll meet all your fashion needs. Image: Pexels.

Eyewear/Contact lenses

For those who require contact lenses or new prescription glasses during your time in Croatia, then bookmark adrialece.hr. 

They stock a huge range of contact lenses, frames, and optical accessories (e.g. contact lens fluid, cases etc.), including multifocal and astigmatism prescriptions at very competitive prices.

 Glasses and sunglasses are the top 10 items travelers tend to leave behind on the plane. Image: Pexels.

Shipping is free if you place an order above a certain amount, and I’ve never waited more than 5 days for my order to arrive by registered mail. Their customer service representatives are also highly responsive if there are any issues with your order or delivery.

Healthcare

For all my healthcare and supplement products, there are two online stores that I frequent every couple of months. 

Vitamins and over-the-counter medications are usually ordered from this online pharmacy. For sports supplements such as protein powder, bars, or sports aids, myprotein is my go-to. Both have competitive prices, short delivery times, and a great selection for all your healthcare needs.

Skincare & cosmetics

Last Christmas, having left Christmas shopping to the last minute, I caved and ordered from Douglas, a leading German cosmetics and lifestyle brand that has been around in the early 19th century. 

Image: Pexels.

While payment was slightly more complicated (the site did not take credit cards so I had to do a bank transfer), once the order was processed, I received my items via registered mail in 3 days. For health and beauty, I still recommend the Chewwies web site, and for healthier hair, glowing skin and stronger nails, there is this product. You can even grab a free sample pack. 

Produce

A few grocery stores here such as Ribola and Konzum provide home deliveries via their websites but for more hard-to-find ingredients, I often order from this store. 

While their main focus is on organic dry ingredients such as cereals and grains, the store also carries a variety of international spices and ingredients such as tofu, vegan meat, and curries. Delivery times are a standard 3-5 days and signing up for their membership guarantees lower prices and access to member-only deals.

Check out your local virtual market. Image: Virtualni pazar Split/Facebook.

For a truly local approach to online produce shopping, try joining Facebook groups such as this one. I’ve bought the best homemade cheeses, honey, vegetables, eggs, and more directly from farmers or producers on such sites.

Prices are more than reasonable (think €7 for a kilo of fresh cow’s cheese), although my downfall is having to occasionally converse in broken Croatian when the delivery goes awry!

Furniture/Household items

Finally, while apartments here tend to come furnished (lookout for another article that I’ll be doing on long-term rentals in Split!), you may need small household items such as towels and sheets to make it feel more like home.

IKEA currently only has a physical store in Zagreb, but if you live in other areas of Croatia, you can order online and have it delivered to a pick-up location (free) or to your home (for a fee of about €10). Another Scandinavian alternative to IKEA is the Danish brand, JYSK which has more stores dotted around Croatia and offers free deliveries that take about 5-10 days.

Buying online means you get to bypass getting lost in the maze of products at IKEA. Image: Pexels.

Local alternatives to these are stores such as mall.hr or Emmezeta, which also carry larger household appliances such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and stoves for those intending to stay longer term.

So if you’re a visitor, digital nomad, or long-term resident of Croatia, I hope you’ll find this list helpful in your online shopping needs!

March 14, 2022 - What if some of Croatia's best and most authentic experiences were made more accessible?  Join the CROMADS Travel Club at this year's Ston Oyster Festival. 

Croatia is a unique place in many ways. But one of the things I have come to appreciate over the years is just how many incredible (and incredibly local) things there are to do in this country, many of which are hardly known outside the local area. 

We would like to change that, and to make the very best of those experiences more available to expats, digital nomads, and yes, locals too. 

Having been an expat in many countries, I know how easy it is to get sucked into the expat way of life, surrounded by other expats and experiencing little of the county around. The CROMADS Travel Club aims to address that issue, if only a little. 

Hand-picked events showcasing the best of Authentic Croatia, often experiences that even locals do not know too much about. Take a look at the first CROMADS Travel Club to Velika Gorica, for a truly GINcredible opening event. 

Next up, the amazing world of Ston and Mali Ston, and its fabulous oysters. Join the CROMADS Travel Club on a fabulous day at the Ston Oyster Festival, departing from Split. 

Immerse yourself in the world of oysters

What: Festival of Oysters

When: 19 March 2022

Where: Ston & Mali Ston, located on the Pelješac peninsula in southern Croatia.

Celebrating the return of the popular Oyster Festival after a two-year break.

Every year March is looked forward to by many as the time for the freshest and tastiest oysters to be enjoyed straight from the sea. Wine, salt and oysters, you can sample all three at the Festival of Oysters.

While traditionally held in Mali Ston, this year the festival will take place at three different locations, Brijesta, Luka and Bistrina. Three locations where oysters are actually grown. At each location visitors have the chance to taste oysters, muscles and other shellfish together with top quality wines from the Pelješac region at promotional prices.

Exclusive Experience

We will start our tour from Split and drive to the Ston area where we will stop off at one of the promoted oyster tasting locations. Here as a group we will indulge ourselves with an oyster tasting while enjoying local wine and live music.

There will also be free time for you to simply sit back and take in the atmosphere of the festival or enjoy a pleasurable lunch at one of the local restaurants making the most of local dishes at promo prices.

From here we travel a short distance to Ston, for all to enjoy a short stop to explore the village and learn about its local traditions and history. Then on to capture the quaintness of Mali Ston before beginning our drive back to Split.  These two short stops will have you wanting more as you will learn why a longer visit to Ston is a must on your future itinerary.

Indulge

2022 looks like being a bumper year for oysters, an amazing time for you to immerse yourself in the world of oysters, the freshest and tastiest oysters in Europe. We can’t wait to have you join us! 

For more information and to book, check out the CROMADS event page. 

March 14, 2022 -  At the beginning of March, about 20 hotels in Central Dalmatia were currently for sale. A closer look at the hotels on offer from Split to Brač and Omiš.  

Hotels make up a small percentage of the Croatian real estate market and, unlike residential properties, do not arouse the general public's interest.

The exceptions are, of course, significant transactions, such as when Eagle Hills Zagreb Real Estate bought a 70 percent stake in Sunce Hoteli, owned by Jako Andabak's family. However, this does not mean that this part of the market is not attractive, both in supply and demand and the level of asking prices. Slobodna Dalmacija digs into the situation in Split-Dalmatia County.

At the beginning of March, the real estate portal Njuškalo offered about twenty hotels located on the islands and the coast. 

Two are currently for sale in Split, one in the city center with 13 rooms and an asking price of two million euros, and the other in Bačvice for 1.2 million euros. In Supetar on Brač, a mini-hotel is on offer for 1.6 million euros, while a boutique hotel in Bol is going for 2.7 million euros.

In Seget Donji, Villa "Panorama" is for sale for 2.2 million euros and a hotel in Dugi Rat for 2.9 million euros. In Podstrana, the asking price for the hotel built in 2017 is 3.3 million euros.

There is no lack of hotels in the Trogir and Čiovo area. One apart-hotel is asking 2.1 million euros, and a second with 11 rooms is going for 2.5 million euros. In Okrug Gornji on Čiovo, a six-story hotel is on offer for 1.8 million euros.

"There are always hotels for sale, but not placed on the website, so the actual offer is much higher," commented Jasminka Biliškov from the agency "Biliškov nekretnine," president of the Real Estate Association at the Split County Chamber of Commerce and vice president at the national level, adding that only her agency is currently mediating the sale of ten facilities located in different parts of the county, but none have been publicly announced.

"Part of the owners do not advertise the sale but hire agencies that will do the job discreetly, in a way that the owner of the hotel changes, without even knowing it," Biliškov explains.

According to her, there is interest in buying, but not excessively, which is confirmed by the advertised hotels having been on sale for some time.

The reason to sell is that some owners no longer want to engage in this activity and have other priorities. At the same time, potential buyers see that there is no quick profit in the hotel industry, that work is reduced to a few months a year, and that they need another source of income, such as a good restaurant.

However, hotels for sale have excellent occupancy for several months and bring profit to their owners. One such example is a hotel in Makarska with a well-established business, with an asking price of 3.35 million euros. Unofficially, Slobodna learns that the owners live abroad, are about to retire, and their descendants have no interest in engaging in this activity.

Hotel management is also a family business in Nemira near Omiš, where an apart-hotel with a restaurant and a swimming pool is going for 2.3 million euros. The owners are older and need help with their work, and as it is challenging to find workers, it was best to sell. 

"I do not know why hotel "Lipa" in Postira is for sale, but I can tell you that it is sold for 4.8 million euros," said Mario Špičić from the agency "Marlimat Nekretnine" in Zagreb, adding that they had only two or three inquiries, even though the sale notice was forwarded abroad.

This is a common practice when a potential buyer from other countries applies to invest in the hotel industry and requests a state of supply in the market.

"The reason may be the price, given the capacity it offers, is high for negotiations," Špičić says, and emphasizes that the most sought-after land this spring is in camps.

When asked if the number of hotels on the market is known and for what reasons, Špičić replied:

"As far as we know, they are all more or less for sale; only they have not been announced. The condition of the sale is a reasonable price.

Gone are the days when hotels were a family business. Now, the situation is entirely different. First of all, it's not that someone needs the money. There is no force to sell, it was not the pandemic, and for now, it is not the war in Ukraine.

Today, the approach to sales is simple: 'I invested in a hotel, made a business, sold it and went on with another business," he added.

According to the data published on the County Tourist Board website, there were 276 hotels in 2020, including subdivisions such as apart-hotels, hotels, boarding houses, heritage hotels. Out of this, there are 170 hotels, most of them with four stars (111), then three stars (88), and one with one star. It is unofficial that last year the number rose to 280 hotels.

For more on business in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.