ZAGREB, 28 February 2021 - Zagreb Deputy Mayor Jelena Pavičić Vukičević on Sunday sent her condolences to the family of Mayor Milan Bandić, who died this morning, and underscored that he lived and died for this city.

"Milan Bandić truly lived and died for this city... For 20 years he worked selflessly for this city. I know that critics will say that he made some mistakes along they way, but let him who is without sin cast the first stone. I don't think there is someone like that among us," Pavičić Vukičević said in her address to the public.

In retrospect, each of us would perhaps do some things differently, she added. She recalled Bandić's words that people leave their deeds behind and that people who leave such great deeds behind themselves never really die.

She said that with Bandić at the helm, Zagreb had become a true European metropolis. When we are perhaps very critical because we want everything to be even better, we should remember the words of foreign statesmen, visitors to the city and numerous tourists -- that they could see, recognise and compliment the true transformation and beauty of this city, she added.

Pavičić Vukičević confirmed that in accordance with the legal procedure, she would continue to lead the City of Zagreb until the local elections in May, about which she would first contact and inform Justice and Public Administration Minister Ivan Malenica.

Pavičić Vukičević said that the Professional Service of the Mayor first had to inform Malenica.

"According to the law, the person who is the first deputy on the list, and that is me, takes over," she said.

According to the procedure, in case of the mayor's death after two years in office, one of his deputies leads the city until the elections.

Pavičić Vukičević was an associate of Bandić since the beginning of his career, and she herself has many years of experience in running the city.

ZAGREB, 28 February 2021 - The mayoral terms of Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić, who died of a heart attack aged 65 on Sunday, were plagued by many scandals, only two of which ended with non-final court verdicts, although more than 250 criminal complaints were filed against him.

In October 2014, Bandić and several of his closest associates were arrested on suspicion of crimes at the expense of the City of Zagreb, including illegal favouring and hiring, waste management, the use of official cars for private purposes and forging documents in a case later dubbed Agram.

After one month in custody, Bandić was released on HRK 15 million kuna bail. He was not allowed to return to work, sign acts nor communicate with city employees. He ended back in custody due to witness tampering and was released following a Constitutional Court decision.

Earlier this month, the High Administrative Court quashed a Conflict of Interest Commission decision under which Bandić failed to perform his duty honourably and independently because he received HRK 15 million from the Hanžeković and Partners law firm as bail to be released from custody as well as contributions from citizens after the 2009 presidential election in which he had run.

In April 2018, the Zagreb County Court upheld seven counts of the indictment in the Agram case for illegal activities at the expense of the city, while three counts relating to waste management were returned to the prosecution for elaboration and were upheld in October 2019.

The trial in the Agram case is under way. At a hearing this past Wednesday, an expert on waste management testified that the terms in a non-public tender were adjusted to the possibilities and permits of companies from the CIOS group, owned by Petar Pripuz, Bandić's co-defendant.

The Zagreb County Court also tried Bandić for favouring the In the Name of the Family NGO. He was acquitted pending appeal in October 2018. The Supreme Court has still not ruled on the appeals.

Milan Bandić served as the mayor of the Croatian capital city from 2000 until his sudden death on Sunday morning.

February 28, 2021 - Continuing our series answering the questions people also ask Google, a very common one: Is Croatia expensive? A look at cost of living, flights, travel, restaurants, rental price... and of course the price of beer. 

If I had a dollar for every time I have been asked how expensive Croatia is, I would have been able to buy my own superyacht with permanent mooring on the Hvar waterfront. Is it a simple question, with many layers of answers. Let's dive in.  

Is Croatia cheap or expensive? Where are you looking from?

As with most things, it depends on who is asking. Croatia appears much more expensive if you are living here and working on a Croatian salary. The money I earn here compared to what I was earning back in the UK means that my spending power is a lot less here. But then so are the stress levels, and one can't knock the lifestyle. But if you are a tourist from Scandinavia, for example, Croatia is incredibly cheap by comparison - the same continent, just three hours by plane with sunshine more or less guaranteed most of the year. 

Is Croatia expensive for tourists?

Again it depends to a large extent where you go. My local bar in Varazdin in the north charges me 12 kuna for a half-litre of beer, and I fondly remember paying 55 kuna on Stradun, the poshest address in the old town of Dubrovnik. Croatia is as expensive as you want to be. I know of Russians who think nothing of blowing 30,000 euro on a good lunch at Gariful on Hvar, while round the corner you can eat well for 15 euro. 

The tourist hotspots are obviously more expensive and (in some parts at least) getting more expensive. It is also the case, however, that choice is expanding rapidly, and real quality added to the tourism offer. 

Visiting Croatia and on a budget? Don't head for the top spots in peak season. There is an incredible amount to be discovered both in continental Croatia and on the coast and islands away from the popular spots where prices are much more affordable.  

How to get the 'local' price even if you don't speak Croatian?

It is illegal under EU law to have dual pricing (as I understand things), but it is common practice, not only in Croatia but in many places. The 'local' price is reserved for friends, regulars and anyone the owner feels like indulging. If you point out the discrimination, the results are hilarious to watch.

One of my favourite instances was in Split several years ago, when the waitress quickly withdrew my ripoff invoices, after my Croatian colleague arrived and asked why I had been charged so much. The justification was that her (much cheaper coffee) - served on a Sunday as the cathedral bells rang close by - was due to a discount given by the cafe to churchgoers. The fact that she had not been inside a church in 25 years had us laughing all the more. You can read the full tale in Cheap Catholic Coffee and Local versus Tourist Prices in Croatia.

Another favourite was on Korcula where I drank with local friends at lunchtime. They kindly paid the bill, which was 20 kuna a beer. I returned alone an hour later to be given a bill of 32 kuna. When I enquired (in Croatian) as to why the price had increased by 60% in an hour, my bill was hastily withdrawn, to be replaced with one at the original price. 

Now, as a semi-local, I am used to these ways, so how do you as a tourist ensure that you get the cheaper price? If you learn one Croatian sentence on your holiday, learn this:

Molim Vas, to je domaca cijena?

Excuse me, is that the local price? Even if you can't understand the reply, the message will have come across that you are aware of the dual pricing, something that is not supposed to be known by higher-paying guests. You will often be rewarded for your efforts with a smaller bill.  

Why is flying to Croatia so expensive?

Why indeed? Croatia is a very seasonal flight destination, and things used to be a lot worse. The season is much longer than it was when I first moved here in 2003. Back then, there were no budget airlines. The 'cheap' flight option out of season was Ryanair to Graz or Trieste, then bus or train/bus to the ferry in Split and then on to Hvar. Exhausting. 

Ryanair entered the market in 2007, and the floodgates opened. Obviously, we will have to see how COVID-19 affects things, but for those of you who can plan ahead, there are some VERY cheap flights usually with the like of Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings and Vueling if you book early enough. These understandably get much more expensive closer to departure. 

A key reason why the Croatian market is not more competitive is the protection given to the dinosaur that is Croatia Airlines, a loss-making State company which the powers that be refuse to let die a graceful death. As a result, there are no low-cost flights into Zagreb, for example, which would transform the capital's tourism if it were introduced.  

How expensive is Croatian food in restaurants and supermarkets?

The price of restaurant food in Croatia obviously depends on the level of dining quality you are looking for. There are a growing number of Michelin Star restaurants, for example. For people on a budget like mine, restaurant prices do vary according to how hot the tourist destination is, as well as the time of year. And things are definitely much cheaper in continental Croatia than on the coast. 

As a very rough guide, expect to pay in the region of $5- $15, main courses from $10 - $30, and desserts from $5 - $15 for a reasonable restaurant. 

Supermarket prices are reasonable, although they perhaps seem less so to people living on a local wage. 

Is Croatia cheaper in Winter and more expensive in Summer?

Yes, on very many levels. Ferry prices and motorway tolls, for example, are less expensive out of the summer months. Supermarket food is too, and I always smile when I see the summer premium on the case of beer at a large supermarket chain I could mention, but won't. 

There are big price changes outside the peak season in accommodation as well, and you can often get the same accommodation for half the price in the shoulder months. And if you want to do a longer stay out of season when it would otherwise be empty, you can almost name your price in some places.  

Is Croatia more expensive than Greece, Italy or Spain for a holiday?

Again, that depends. If you are looking for package holidays, then I really think that Croatia cannot (or rather chooses not to) compete with Greece or parts of Spain. But if you look around, you will find extremely good value in Croatia (as well as a lot of overhyped, overpriced stuff).

Is it expensive to travel around Croatia?

What's that phrase again? It depends. Driving around Croatia IS expensive IF you stick to the motorways. I think I am correct in saying Croatia has the highest tolls in Europe. A 3.5-hour drive from Zagreb to Split, for example, will set you back $30 in tolls alone. For a one-way trip. 

You don't have to use the motorways, however, and the old road from Zagreb to Split in season is a true joy. Here is my experience a few years ago. 

You also have the option of services such as BlaBla car, which are growing in popularity. 

The bus service is generally excellent and very affordable, while the train network is limited and slow, but also inexpensive. More on both in the TC Bus in Croatia and Croatian Train Travel pages. 

Taking a car ferry with car can be pricey, and it is worth considering renting a car locally on the island for the time you are there.

How expensive is tourist rental accommodation in Croatia?

Again it depends, but I would also add that there is a LOT of overpriced stuff out there. There is a lack of quality hotels for the demand, and tourists are often shocked by the prices they are faced with, especially in peak season. 

The situation with private accommodation is even worse in many respects. With no clear strategy and an insane tax policy, Croatia has tripled its private beds since 1990 from 267,000 to over 800,000 in 2018 (excellent article by Kresimir Macan in How Croatia's Tourism 'Strategy' Created Tax-Free Paradise for Private Renters).  

The pandemic has really shaken up the market, however, with more renters now open to longer-term rentals. There are far more bargains to be had. 

How expensive is Croatia compared to the UK?

The cost of everything is pretty much cheaper in Croatia than the UK IF you are talking actual amounts. However, if you factor in the disparity in salaries between the two countries, then I would say that Croatia is more expensive. 

But for UK tourists used to UK prices, your pound sterling will go a lot further in the bars on the Adriatic than in your local back home. There are other great savings to be had as well, and a growing number of Brits are coming to get their teeth fixed and other medical procedures done while on holiday. Croatian medical tourism is on the rise, and you can often get the work done, enjoy a flight and a holiday and still go home with some change compared to what you would pay back in the UK. Learn more about Croatian medical tourism in the Total Croatia health tourism guide.  

Is Croatia an expensive place to live? 

With a Western salary, not at all. There is a saying in Croatia that the idea of perfect living is to live in Croatia for the lifestyle with a Western salary earned with a foreign company. 

I have the Croatian lifestyle and the joys of running a media business with a Croatian company. I certainly would enjoy a more comfortable life in terms of buying things in the UK, but I wouldn't swap it for what I have in a million years. 

Getting by on a Croatian salary is not easy, and there is a reason why the average age of people moving out of their parents' homes is much higher here than most of the EU.

How much are basic consumer goods in Croatia?

Here is what Numbeo came up with in February, 2021.

You can see what the latest prices are when you read this article (assuming you get this far) on the Numbeo website. 

Is property expensive in Croatia?

Yes, although there are also good deals to be had. The Great Croatian Property Boom inflated places a lot in my opinion, with some foreigners paying crazy prices for derelict goat sheds and other ruins. Much more on real estate in Croatia in the Total Croatia property guide. 

Is Croatian wine any good? How expensive is it?

Did you know that Croatia is the home of the original Zinfandel, grown on vineyards just outside Split in Kastela? Or that it has over 130 indigenous varieties? Or that it was served at the inauguration of President Biden in January 2021? Or that it was served at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and you can still buy a bottle to the same 1947 vintage served on that royal occasion. Learn more in Croatia's Most Expensive Wine: Selling Well at 7,400 Euro a Bottle.

Learn all you need to know about Croatian wine in the TC guide.

Are drinks expensive in Croatia? How much is a beer?

A few years ago, Joe Orovic wrote a great article called Beer Prices in Croatia 2018: A Cost-Conscious, Inebriated Guide To Getting Hammered. It included a hilarious (and very accurate) coefficient for calculating beer prices, depending on proximity to the sea, top destination, time of year etc. I heartily recommend it if you want to understand the nuances of this important topic. 

Beer prices in Croatia vary a LOT. To give you an example, that trusty half litre in my local in Varazdin up north costs 12 kuna (less than $2), with the same bottle costing 22 kuna in my local on Hvar. Much more on beer in Croatian in our dedicated TC beer guide.

Is it cheaper to live inland or on the coast in Croatia?

Again it depends. I was shocked at how much cheaper things were when we moved to Varazdin from Hvar (see the beer example above). Salaries also tend to be lower in many cases, and there is liltle or no tourism for locals to supplement their income with. But all the money I saved in the pub was taken back to me when I got my heating bills up north. 

Overall, the cost of living is much cheaper in continental Croatia, although that is from a viewpoint of starting with the same amount. 

Is it cheaper to buy fuel in Croatia or neighbouring countries?

If there is a place in the EU which has more expensive fuel prices than Croatia, I have yet to find it. I was stunned when I visited a petrol station in Graz driving through Austria last year. Just 1.07 euro per litre. The current cost of diesel is just under 10 kuna in Croatia, about 1.30 per litre. If you are driving from Split to Dubrovnik, tank up in the Neum Corridor (the section of Bosnia you have to travel through. Your savings will buy you a good portion of a hearty lunch.  

Let's look at some of the hotspots: How expensive is Dubrovnik?

Back to that two-word answer again - it depends. 

A few years ago, I was having a coffee on Stradun with a local, and I asked if she thought Dubrovnik was expensive and how she felt about the label. 

"No, we are not expensive. For this location in Paris, Madrid and London, you would probably pay even more." More expensive than the rest of Croatia, less expensive than comparable cities of culture in Europe. We are back to that viewpoint again. 

There ARE many tourist traps in Dubrovnik, but similarly, there are more affordable places. Get to know the Pearl of the Adriatic in our Dubrovnik in a Page guide. 

How expensive is Split?

When I moved to Croatia back in 2003, Split was not so much of a destination as a transit lounge. Indeed it was more often referred to the Gateway to the Dalmatian Islands. How things have changed! I love Split now for its diverse offer, although the crowds were starting to become an issue pre-COVID-19. 

Prices have increased in the tourist areas accordingly, although they are nowhere near Dubrovnik levels. But there are still plenty of places with more reasonable prices. Learn more about the Dalmatian capital in our Split in a Page guide. 

How expensive is the capital Zagreb? 

I find Zagreb in general to be quite a bit cheaper than the big cities on the coast, and excellent value as a capital city in the EU. I can still find my trusty half litre for as little as 10 kuna, certainly for 12, something that is no longer so easy in Split and Dubrovnik. Learn more about the Croatian capital in our Zagreb in a Page guide. 

How expensive is Hvar really?

Ah, Hvar.

Having lived there for 13 years, I have a fair bit to say on the subject. Firstly, there is a huge difference in terms of pricing between Hvar Town and the rest of the island of Hvar. And within Hvar Town, you can spend tens of thousands on lunch, or get by very well on a backpacker budget. More on Croatia's premier island in our Hvar in a Page guide.

A clue in the pricing is reflected in the makeup of the tourist. In Hvar Town, for example, Brits, Americans, Brazilians, Germans, Italians and Scandinavians make up a lot of the guests, while in Jelsa, there are a lot more from Czechia, Slovakia, BiH, Serbia and Hungary. Prices are much cheaper and so attract a lower-spending clientele. But yes Hvar is more expensive than other places,  especially on the continent. But there is a reason for that, which brings us to the last point. 

Learn the Croatian phrase to explain how cheap/expensive Croatia is.

So how expensive is Croatia? We are back where we started - it depends. 

But I leave you with one of my favourite questions in Croatia, which you see a LOT on Facebook on a beautiful day. And I found myself doing the same on the terrace of our Jelsa home before we moved and turned it into the Panorama Penthouse Jelsa holiday rental.

Ko ovo more platit?

Who can afford that?

Nice view isn't it? Is it expensive or cheap?

If you have any thoughts on the above, or any corrections or suggestions, drop me a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Expensive  

To get the answers to more questions in our People Also Ask Google series, visit the dedicated section. 

Check out Croatian national television checking out the San Francisco digital nomad lifestyle on Hvar. Ko ovo more platit... 

ZAGREB, 28 February 2021 - About 400 cities and municipalities that have applied to the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund will get containers for separate collection of waste in households, a total of 1.18 million bins, by mid-June 2021.

​About 1.18 million containers of different volume for separate collection of paper, plastics, biowaste and other recyclable waste are currently being delivered. Also, the Fund has earlier delivered about 48,000 larger metal and plastic containers to local government units, so citizens can also separately dispose of various types of waste in their neighbourhoods. It is a project of about HRK 370 million of investment, which the Economy and Sustainable Ministry approved for this purpose to the Fund and ensured funding from EU funds.

"Croatia in 2019 compared to 2018 saw a 6% increase in separate waste collection, and that percentage at the national level is now 37%. Providing citizens with available infrastructure and with constant education of the public that percentage will surely continue to grow," the director of the Fund, Siniša Kukić, told Hina.

Local government units in Međimurje County and on the island of Krk are at the forefront of separate waste collection as they have been continuosly investing not only in the infrastructure but also is systemic education of citizens for many years. Prelog, Čakovec, Koprivnica have a separate collection rate above 50%, and the cities of Varaždin, Buzet, Cres and Mali Lošinj and many municipalities throughout Croatia are above the national average.

Kukić considers that once citizens receive the containers, the numbers would grow, but he underscored that informing and educating the public is key, as is responsible behaviour of each individual towards the waste generated in households. Therefore, the Fund is, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, carrying out educational campaigns, the aim of which is to point out the correct hierarchy of waste management.

According to Eurostat data for 2019, with 445 kilogrammes of municipal waste per capita, Croatia is slightly below the European average of 502 kilogrammes per capita.

Most containers were ordered by local government units in Split-Dalmatia, Istria, Osjek-Baranja and Zadar counties. To date, half of the contracted  quantities has been delivered. Despite the pandemic and the earthquake that struck Zagreb and its environs and the area of Sisak-Moslavina County, investments in infrastructure related to waste management have not slowed down.

In addition to containers for separate waste collection, EU funds also helped to co-finance the construction of recycling yards, sorting plants and composting plants, as well as the procurement of municipal vehicles. Municipal landfills are also being rehabilitated, and a part is financed by national funds of the Environment Protection Fund, while a part is provided through the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion, which also co-financed the construction of waste management centres.

The Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion is the basic programming document which implements the cohesion policy of the European Union, which for the most part finances it.

ZAGREB, 28 February 2021 - Zagreb City Assembly member and candidate for Zagreb mayor, Tomislav Tomašević, sent his condolences to the family of the deceased mayor Milan Bandić, expressing regret that they will not face off in the upcoming local elections.

"I express my condolences to the Bandić family. Since it is well known that I am his longtime political opponent, in that sense I am sorry that we will not face off in the upcoming local elections," Tomašević told a press conference.

At the press conference, Tomašević was supposed to speak about the neglect of public infrastructure and lack of investment in the Staro Trnje neighbourhood, but instead he decided to make a statement about the mayor's sudden death early on Sunday.

He said he had been shocked by the news, and the last time he saw Bandić, he said, was at a session of the Assembly's presidency, at which the next session of the City Assembly was discussed.

Then, he said, he spoke with the mayor about how to help citizens whose houses had been so damaged in the earthquake that they had to be demolished and how city companies could help.

Tomašević did not want to answer questions about the late mayor because he thinks that is not appropriate today.

"The political issue in Zagreb is difficult, the problems are big, there will be opportunities to talk about that in the coming days in the campaign," he added.

ZAGREB, 28 February 2021 - The Social Democratic Party (SDP), whose member the deceased Zagreb mayor Milan Bandić used to be until late 2009, said on Sunday that they would remember Bandić for his undeniable talent for populism.

Bandić was erased from the SDP membership in 2009 before the Croatian presidential election when he defied the then party leadership's suggestion that he should not run for the president. When he and the SDP parted their ways, Bandić ran for the country's president as an independent candidate. In the presidential runoff in January 2010, he was defeated by the SDP candidate Ivo Josipović.

After it was reported on Sunday morning that Bandić, 65, died of a massive heart attack, the current SDP leader Peđa Grbin wrote on the party's Facebook account that Bandić's mayoral terms since 2000 were marked by "many controversies, scandals and court proceedings."

"We will remember him for his undeniable talent for populism, and as a politician who passed away suddenly as 'lifelong mayor", who has not lived to see the day of his political end which should have happened in May." Croatia will hold local elections on 16 May.

Grbin said that Bandić's way of running the city today passed into history.

ZAGREB, 28 February 2021 - Over the past 24 hours, Croatia has registered 356 new cases of the infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, there have been 15 deaths, and the number of active cases stands at 3,213, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Sunday.

There are 762 COVID patients in hospitals, 67 of whom are on ventilators. There are 14,328 people in self-isolation.

To date, 1,344,652 people have been tested, including 5,810 in the last 24 hours.

Since 25 February 2020, when Croatia registered its first case of the infection, a total of 242,973 people have contracted the novel coronavirus, 5,526 of them have died, and 234,234 have recovered, 344 of whom over the past 24 hours.

February 28, 2021 - The Sinj Tourist Board helped organized a weekend eco-action to clean up the illegal landfills on the Our Lady of Sinj trail! 

Organized by the City of Sinj, the Sinj Tourist Board, and members of BK Vlaji, PD Svilaja, NOPD Koćari, HGSS station Split, Adventure Sports Club Cetina adventure, PD Sv. Jakov Bitelić and in cooperation with Čistoća Cetinska Krajina, Hrvatske ceste Split, and the support of the Split-Dalmatia County, an ecological action of cleaning illegal landfills on part of the Our Lady of Sinj Trail in the area of Kukuzovac was successfully carried out.

A second ecological action was held after cleaning and arranging 14 illegal landfills in the area of Hrvace and Sinj in the town of Zelovo. 

Namely, Saturday's environmental action cleaned up illegal landfills located on the Our Lady of Sinj Trail in the area of Sinj (Kukuzovac). Recall that the Our Lady of Sinj project (completed in 2015) arranged a 148 km long pilgrimage path that connects the Marian shrines from Solin to Our Lady of Sinj and further towards the shrine on Šćit (Prozor - Rama in BiH).

Unfortunately, parts of the trail have been devastated as well as the accompanying infrastructure. Therefore, last year, Split-Dalmatia County initiated a project to revitalize the Our Lady of Sinj trail to repair the destroyed infrastructure and develop and implement a marketing plan. The revitalization project will soon be implemented in stages.

Respecting all valid epidemiological measures, this action was attended by numerous volunteers and nature lovers, members of local mountaineering associations: PD Svilaja, NOPD Koćari, PD Sv. Jakov, members of the Cycling Club Vlaji - Sinj, the Adventure Sports Club Cetina adventure, and several pilgrims from Split who regularly make pilgrimages along the Our Lady of Sinj trail. The action was attended by members of HGSS stations Split, Čistoća Cetinska Krajina, and County Roads Split, without whose employees and mechanization, this action would not be feasible.

This action and the previous one certainly want to contribute to the development of environmental awareness and appeal to responsibility for Sinj's natural and cultural heritage.

The organizers thank everyone who selflessly took their time and helped in this environmental action.

All photos by Monika Vrgoc

To read more about Inland Dalmatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.