July 18, 2022 - Trogir and Opatija have been listed as two of the most underrated European cities to visit this year. Would you agree? 

Luxury and lifestyle travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler has published a list of the 22 most underrated European cities, created by travel experts and writers living in Europe, as a way to sway travelers away from the already busy and uber-popular Paris and Rome. The list thus shines light on 'surprising destinations that will far exceed your expectations' instead. 

The list includes small towns in Sweden, lesser-known places in the Baltic states, and, not so surprisingly -  two cities from Croatia and one from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Namely, Trogir and Opatija have been named two of the most underrated cities in Europe. 

"Located on a tiny island, Trogir’s Old Town is bursting with charm. Its narrow, ancient streets form a labyrinth lined with medieval town houses. The lively seafront promenade, lined with cafes and restaurants, is abuzz with activity on a summer day. The town also boasts many beautiful and well-preserved buildings from its age of glory between the 13th and 15th centuries. In 1997, its profuse collection of Romanesque and Renaissance buildings earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Browse the market, stroll along the Riva, or explore a Venetian fortress—Trogir packs a lot into a small package! Located only about 30 minutes from Split, it is also a perfect alternative for travelers that want to see and enjoy Split but prefer not to stay in a big city. The historic seaside town of Sibenik, Krka National Park, and the ancient ruins of Solin are also located within easy reach," writes Wanda S. Radetti, President of VisitCroatia.com – Tasteful Croatian Journeys.

Radetti continued about Opatija:

"Although today it is often overlooked in favor of cities like Dubrovnik or Split, it is Opatija in the north that is the cradle of tourism in Croatia. Nicknamed “Vienna by the sea” due to its handsome Belle Époque architecture, the Opatija Riviera, a 30-kilometer stretch of land nestled between the wooded slopes of Mount Ucka and the rocky coastline of the Kvarner Gulf, was once the most visited seaside resort of the Austro-Hungarian elite. The area was hailed as a health and wellness retreat, its unique micro-climate offering the ideal ingredients for therapeutic and restorative travel. Still today, Opatija continues its tradition as a center for wellness, attracting visitors seeking to relax and rejuvenate at its numerous spas, enjoying unique treatments and therapies.

Even aside from being a health retreat, Opatija offers much to travelers. The city boasts a number of grand cafes, well-maintained public gardens, tidy beaches, fine hotels, and excellent restaurants. Opatija’s privileged position at the eastern corner of the Istrian Peninsula also makes it the ideal jumping off point from which to explore other areas of Croatia. Within an one-hour drive, you will find yourself in the truffle rich forests of Istria, the green mountains of Risnjak National Park, or the pebble beaches of the Island of Krk." 

The list also includes Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ohrid in North Macedonia, Tirana in Albania, and places in France, Sweden, Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, Italy, Poland, Ireland, Greece, England, Norway, and Spain.

You can read the full list on Conde Nast Traveler.

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

October 6, 2021 - The annual Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards are out, and the Best Island in Europe is once again Croatia's premier island of Hvar.

One of the most prestigious traveller awards lists is out, after more than 800,000 votes, and the results confirm what many people in Croatia already know - Hvar is the Best Island in Europe. Again. 

The annual Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards, now in their 34th year, placed Hvar at the top of the Best Islands in Europe category, beating no less than 7 Greek islands in the top 20. With a total score of 96.56/100, Hvar was also voted the 6th best island in the world, behind Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique (98.20), Cape Breton, Canada (97.97), Siargao, Philippines (97.77), Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia (97.67), and Palawan, Philippines (97.54).

The Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards are also responsible for Hvar often being described as one of the world's top 10 most beautiful islands, after making the list back in 1997, just two years after the Homeland War. 

Hvar's position as the best in Europe is a repeat of 2019, when it also topped the Conde Nast Readers Choice Awards. 

You can see the full list of top 20 islands in 2021 here.

Petar Razovic, Hvar Tourist Board Director, was delighted with the award:

"This is the crown to our successful season that is behind us. We are honorred to be in the company of the world's best islands - this is a reward for all tourist stakeholders in our city and our island. Special thanks to the Government of the Republic of Croatia, led by Prime Minister Plenković, our Hvar local man, and the relevant Ministry, for their help in preparing for the challenging tourist season. The tourist boards of the island of Hvar in the post-season will continue to position our island on the world map of year-round destinations with a diverse offer, and we believe in further tourist growth."

There was a great result for Croatia too, which made the top 10 top destinations in the world, coming in at number 9. 

Learn more about Hvar in the TC Hvar in a Page guide. 

October 6, 2021 - After being snubbed by The Guardian as one of the 10 of the best half-term holidays in Europe, Croatia's loyal American tourists came through once again, as the country found its place on Condé Nast Traveler's 2021 Top 20 Countries in the World.

Croatia is recognized as one of the world's top destinations, taking an excellent 9th place on the list of 20 best destinations chosen by readers of the popular American travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.  The list is part of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler's 2021 Readers' Choice Award, reports HRTurizam.

The list is led by Portugal, New Zealand, Japan, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Italy, Iceland, and Greece, followed by Croatia and Turkey, Norway, Maldives, Kenya, Ireland, Israel, Australia, Switzerland, Indonesia, Botswana, and the Philippines.

"We are extremely pleased to hear that the readers of Condé Nast Traveler have recognized Croatia as one of the most popular countries in the world. This is a confirmation of the exceptional reputation of our country among American travel enthusiasts who perceive Croatia as a quality, attractive and safe destination," said Ina Rodin, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Representation in the US, adding that this recognition is a great motivation to further position Croatia as one of the most popular destinations for Americans.

Let’s add that the Readers ’Choice Awards represent the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are awarded based on the votes of more than 800,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers who submitted responses and ratings based on experience gained while traveling around the world.

So far this year, U.S. travelers have recorded a growth of 454 percent in arrivals and 304 percent in overnight stays over the same period last year.

It was recently officially announced that visas would no longer be needed for Croatians to travel to the USA, which was welcomed with open arms. However, the United States CDC announced on October 4 that they do not recommend traveling to Croatia. If this will slow down the arrival of American tourists, it is challenging to say, but if we take the European ECDC, for example, it will have little or no effect.

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

October 7, 2020 - On October 6, 2020, Condé Nast Traveler published the results of the 2020 Readers' Choice Awards survey, ranking the 35 best islands in the world outside the U.S. Thus, Hvar is one of the best islands in Europe this year!

HRTurizam reports that the island of Hvar received another international award, namely the recognition of the readers of the renowned Condé Nast Traveler, whose votes this year ranked the five-best islands in Europe.

This year, Condé Nast Traveler organized the selection of the world's best islands for the 33rd time, and more than 715,000 voters participated in the Reader's Choice Award.

The announcement of the awards took place on Monday, October 5, 2020, when the laureates were announced by continent. It was the island of Hvar that shone in fourth place in the European list of the best islands.

Along with Hvar, the three best islands are the Greek islands of Folegandros, Zakynthos, and Crete, while the Greek islands of Mykonos and Skiathos, the island of Jersey in the United Kingdom, the Italian island of Ischia, the Spanish island of Mallorca, and the Turkish island of Bozcaada are behind Hvar.

"This award is proof of the right direction in which the tourism of the town of Hvar is developing as a world-famous and luxurious tourist destination. With 50,000 arrivals and 280,000 overnight stays this year, the award is a kind of crown, and from the view of the COVID-19 pandemic, of our successfully organized season in which we achieved our goals. We are honored to be in the company of the world's best islands - this is an award to all tourist stakeholders of our city and our island. Thanks to all faithful lovers of the island of Hvar who gave us their vote," said Petar Razovic, director of the Hvar Tourist Board.

Condé Nast Traveler points out that Hvar is an excellent destination to visit all year round, especially due to warm summers and mild winters, and points out the well-known Hvar statistics - that it is the sunniest island in Croatia, with more than 2800 sunshine hours per year. This world-renowned magazine also emphasizes the rich historical and cultural heritage of the town of Hvar - emphasizing Fortress Fortica, Arsenal, and the Hvar Theater as must-see cultural monuments. The editors also wrote about the famous Hvar lavender harvest and the Lavender Festival, which is becoming one of the main attractions in the summer months and which, despite the COVID 19 pandemic, was organized this year as well.

The Hvar Town Tourist Board continues with preparations for the 2021 tourist year, which, according to Razovic, will be very challenging.

"I hope that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Croatian National Tourist Board will take over the guarantee of credit debt of local tourist boards with new amendments to the Law on Tourist Boards and promotion of Croatian Tourism and that HBOR will provide financial resources with commercial banks to work as successfully and readily as possible on the global promotion of Hvar, but also of the whole of Croatia in the tourist markets," concluded Razovic.

You can see the full list on Condé Nast Traveler HERE.

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ZAGREB, Aug 7, 2020 - The prestigious US Conde Nast Traveler magazine has included the Nugal beach on the Makarska riviera and Zlatni Rat beach in Bol on the island of Brac among the top 25 best beaches in Europe, the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) said on Friday.

Conde Nast Traveler highlights the beauty of Nugal beach with its spectacular view and crystal clean sea, adding that a 40-minute walk to the beach was well worthwhile.

The magazine notes the advantages of Zlatni Rat, saying that it stands out because of its shape and that it is ideal for water sport enthusiasts, notably sailing or board sailing.

HTZ Director Kristjan Stanicic underlined that the latest report by this prestigious American magazine is confirmation that Croatia has retained its visibility and positive image on the US market.

"Despite the current situation, because of which we are not expecting a large number of American guests, it is important to continue maintaining their interest and the perception of our country as a safe and attractive tourist destination," underlined Stanicic.

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Conde Nast Traveler continues their love affair with Croatia.

Conde Nast Traveler’s Katherine LaGrave has a meal at Monte, Croatia’s only Michelin-Star restaurant.