July 12, 2022 - "Dubrovnik Pass," a project to digitize the well-known Dubrovnik Card, is a bilingual application that brings visitors benefits and discounts in at city institutions and landmarks. 

Presented on Monday in Dubrovnik, the new model offers simple use of the included content and more economical management of funds and time. In addition, it brings to the Dubrovnik city administration more effective marketing and networking of the offers as well as management of visitor flows, reports T.portal.

The city's head of culture and heritage, Julijana Antić Brautović, pointed out that the bilingual digital system unites all electronic cards under one QR code, so users will have access to all benefits with one medium.

"As an innovative solution, the system aligns with the EU Green Plan. It significantly reduces the costs we previously had to create an analog card, and it is possible to create a new offer and prices quickly. Our employees no longer waste time on support but can now focus on product management and new development," said Antić Brautović.

She added that the "Dubrovnik Pass" should also bring savings to promote the destination, as it will be advertised directly to Dubrovnik tourists on social networks.

Siniša Lukač from the company RAO, which technically prepared the project, stated that the system would be used massively and at all times, so its design was demanding.

"The system offers the city's offer, from sights to shops and excursions, to keep tourists in the city as long as possible. The advantage is that it will be possible to monitor the use of the application and thus adapt it to users. In addition, it will be possible to plan visits to locations in times of fewer crowds, that is, to have an overview of which locations are visited more or less," Lukač pointed out.

Marjan Palić from the Atomski marketing agency presented the Dubrovnik Pass digital advertising campaign and emphasized that the strategy is aimed at those users who are already in Dubrovnik, while the final figures of the campaign, which started in June, will be presented in September. "The goal is not to collect 'likes', but to increase the sale of Dubrovnik Pass. The campaign's next phase will involve creating a community," said Palić.

The project was redesigned by Studio Flomaster, following the logic of the old visual identity of the Dubrovnik card, since the basic color code derived from the traditional "Dubrovnik colors" concept was retained. In addition, the logo was shortened by creating the name "Dubrovnik Pass" to "D Pass." The "Dubrovnik Pass" project in the first phase cost HRK 200,000.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 11 July 2022 - The 73rd Dubrovnik Summer Festival opened on Sunday evening with the hoisting of the Libertas flag and the Hymn to Freedom, recited by two Ukrainian actresses.

The opening ceremony commemorated the 750th anniversary of the Dubrovnik Statute.

Mayor Mato Franković said the Dubrovnik Statute had constantly changed through time but remained a guarantor of progress and security through social order.

"Thirty years ago, with the great sacrifice and heroism of our knights, we defended our homes and chased the heartless aggressors from our doorstep," he said, referring to the Serbian military aggression.

Today, as we watch the war from afar, we sympathize and deeply understand the determination to preserve the independence and identity of one people, regardless of the losses, because peace and freedom are absolute values and eternal aspirations one does not trade, which we know well, Franković said, referring to Ukraine.

The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, presidential envoy Zdravko Zima, European Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica, members of the Croatian and European parliaments, participants in the Dubrovnik Forum, representatives of the diplomatic corps and many others.

The festival lasts until 25 August and will feature 40 programs at 16 locations.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

7 July 2022 – The 73rd Dubrovnik Summer Festival will open on Sunday, 10 July at 9 pm, in front of St. Blaise’s Church, with the traditional raising of the Libertas flag to the verses of Ivan Gundulić’s Hymn to Liberty.

The rich and diverse programme, which both local and foreign audiences of all ages will enjoy in the coming 47 festival days, was presented at the press conference held on Wednesday, 6 July in the Sponza Palace by the Festival’s POA Paulina Njirić and Artistic Director Dora Ruždjak Podolski, where the City of Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković and Head of the Administrative Department for County Affairs and the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Assembly Leader Žaklina Marević showed their support for the Festival as well.

"It is especially important to say that this 73rd edition of the Festival is actually a return to how things were before, for the first time after two years. I have to emphasise also the importance of the support we received in 2020 and in 2021, from the Ministry [of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia] as well as the City and the County. If the Festival hadn’t been held then in its full format, I am not sure that we would have been able to have such a rich programme now or be able to strategically look at the future that is certainly ahead of us – pointed out Artistic Director Dora Ruždjak Podolski. 

The direction of the opening ceremony was entrusted to Aida Bukvić who co-wrote the script with dramaturge Marijana Fumić. Accompanied by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra under the baton of maestro Ivan Hut, soprano Kristina Kolar will be joined by the Pro musica Mostar Academic Choir, Libertas Mixed Choir, Dubrovnik Chamber Choir, and Blasius Choir, with the Festival Drama Ensemble and the Acting students of the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Arts and Linđo Folklore Ensemble also performing. Alongside the large audience and important dignitaries gathered in front of St. Blaise’s Church, the opening ceremony will be followed by viewers and listeners of the Croatian Radio and Television who will be broadcasting it live.

The drama programme includes two premiere titles and three hit reprise productions, performed by the Festival Drama Ensemble. One of the most famous 17th century Dubrovnik prose comedies (the so-called smješnice), the juicy play Lovers with a plot that does not lose any of its relevance even three hundred years after publication, directed by Aleksandar Švabić and sponsored by OTP Bank, will be staged on 19 July at a new festival location – in front of St. Jacob’s Church. The relationship between masters and servants, the ridiculing of covetousness, miserliness, artifice and superstition, all revolving around the theme of courtship, will be presented by the best actors of the younger generation Marin Klišmanić, Andrej Kopčok, Boris Barukčić, Kristijan Petelin, Josipa Bilić and Veronika Mach, led by Nataša Kopeč and Dražen Šivak. Set design and costume design are done by David Morhan and Mia Popovska, stage movement by Damir Klemenić. Maro Market is the composer of the music, the lighting designer is Martin Šatović, and the advisor for Dubrovnik's speech is Maro Martinović.

August brings the culmination of the drama programme in the premiere staging of the cult Federico García Lorca tragedy Blood Wedding directed by the award-winning Franka Perković Gamulin. Despite being tied to the rural environment in the first half of the 20th century, the play bears universal values, considering the story it tells. Goran Ferčec did the dramaturgy, Igor Vasiljev set design, Doris Kristić costume design, Elvis Butković lighting design. Matija Ferlin is in charge of stage movement and Toma Serdarević is the director's assistant. With an impressive creative team, the doubly-cursed dramatic characters confined within their own limits and enslaved by their own passions will be embodied on stage by an impressive festival ensemble led by Ksenija Marinković, Jadranka Đokić and Nikša Butijer together with Lana Meniga, Luka Knez, Nikola Baće, Iva Kraljević, Tanja Smoje and Mojmir Novaković, who also composed the music. On 17 August the play will premiere at two locations on the island of Lokrum, sponsored by Hrvatska elektroprivreda (Croatian Electric Company).

To the delight of the audience, reprises of Festival hits are on the programme. Starting on 13 July, the drama programme will open with the award-winning staging of Shakespeare's Hamlet directed by Paolo Magelli which premiered at the anniversary 70th Festival with Dubrovnik's own Frano Mašković playing the title role. Last year's success Lion House will follow, based on the eponymous debut novel by Ivan Salečić and directed by Aida Bukvić, its strong cast narrates the story of Dubrovnik, portraying it as a place where burdened history and burlesque transition clash. By now the audience favourite Mara and Kata, an original project by director Saša Božić done in collaboration with actresses Nataša Dangubić and Doris Šarić Kukuljica as the titular gossipmongers, is an indispensable part of the summer. The Festival will also host the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb and their stage adaptation of the world-renowned novel My Brilliant Friend by the mysterious writer Elena Ferrante, directed by the young Marina Pejnović already known well by the festival audiences. On the programme as well is the traditional performance by the Lero Student Theatre who will present a select scrapbook of faded pages of lost and lonely owners, their sadness, foreboding, suffering and silence in the play Ladies’ Park directed by Davor Mojaš.

The festival audience will enjoy listening to the great names on the Croatian and world music scenes as part of the music programme, which will be opened by one of the most respected voices in the baroque and classical milieu, the acclaimed soprano Nuria Rial, who will perform together with the distinguished Fahmi Alqhai and his Accademia del Piacere ensemble in the Rector’s Palace and bring an inspiringly fresh early music oeuvre. The same stage will see a concert dedicated to Croatian music by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble under the baton of maestro Ivan Hut, joined by soloists Franjo Bilić on the harpsichord and Lovro Merčep on the saxophone, after which the music programme continues with an integral performance of Liszt's Transcendental etudes by a musician of tremendous focus and energy Lovro Pogorelić. The Zagreb Quartet with bassoonist Žarko Perišić and clarinettist Milan Milošević will perform at the Rector’s Palace too, where the pianist Fazıl Say will play a Bach piece consisting of an aria and 30 variations, as well as his own original recital in the same week.  After many years Roman Simović, violinist of brilliant virtuosity and limitless imagination, will return to the Festival. Vadym Kholodenko, one of most musically dynamic and technically gifted young pianists to recently emerge on stage, will first have a solo recital in the Rector’s Palace atrium where he will then perform with the violinist Alena Baeva two days later. Magnificent baroque compositions performed by the Antiphonus Vocal Ensemble will also echo through the Rector’s Palace, as well as the melodies played by the world's most respected classical guitarists Miloš Karadaglić who will also be performing there. Furthermore, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra with the young and promising soloists Lucija Stilinović on the flute and Veronika Ćiković on the harp under the baton of one of the most charismatic conductors of the new generation Dawid Runtz will hold a concert there. The unique project Dubrovnik on a Rock of Music will once again gather brilliant Dubrovnik musicians in an exciting ensemble of accomplished soloists under the direction of Tomislav Fačini, in this year’s edition featuring two soloists – flautist Đive Franetović Kušelj and mezzo-soprano Dubravka Šeparović Mušović.

A big jazz concert in the Gradac Park sponsored by Mastercard® will be held by keyboard and organ virtuoso, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and Grammy award winner, Cory Henry, who will be accompanied by talented musicians, reveal to the festival audience an unusual combination of jazz, funk, gospel and soul. Fans of world music will enjoy the performance of Indian musician Arnab Bhattacharya, who will present the deep and introspective sound of the sarod in the Sponza Palace atrium, on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the celebration of 75 years of Indian independence, which is joined by the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, under the auspices of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Embassy of India in Zagreb. The opera gala, the magnificent finale of the Festival on 25 August in front of the Cathedral, will bring one of the most interesting young soloists, the American soprano who has already had numerous performances on the world's most prestigious stages Nadine Sierra, and this year's Boris Papandopulo National Competition for Young Musicians winner Croatian tenor Filip Filipović accompanied by the indispensable hosts of the final concert, Croatian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, this time conducted by maestro Ivan Repušić.

Ballet and dance lovers will relish the acclaimed neo-romantic staging of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice in Gradac Park, choreographed and directed by Leo Mujić and performed by the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb Ballet, as well as the performance of frequent festival guests, the Zagreb Dance Ensemble, with a contemporary dance show Revel Revel by the Spanish choreographer Roser López Espinosa, in which five women question the limits of their own freedom. A key part of the festival programme is the Linđo Folklore Ensemble, whose performances at the Festival celebrate the rich Croatian folklore, dance, and music heritage.

The rich accompanying programme includes Response, an exhibition by the exceptional Dubrovnik artist Izvor Pende, who will put up his large-format abstract oil paintings of strong colouristic expression in two locations, in the atrium of the Sponza Palace and in the Lazareti, and Livio Badurina’s Diary of an Actor – Rehearsal Room/Space of Appearance and Disappearance which will open at the Public Library Grad on the first day of August. The film programme brings the premiere of the Croatian Radiotelevision documentary Time of Aretej at the Jadran Open-air Cinema on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the premiere of the legendary play Aretej at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, and the screening of the recently premiered documentary film 80 Years of Radio Dubrovnik directed by Vedran Benić at the Slavica Open-air Cinema. On the same big screen, the festival audience can catch the winning domestic film from the Pula Film Festival, brought in cooperation with Dubrovnik Cinemas.

With the Behind the Stage programme in the Sponza Palace atrium, composers Ardian Halimi and Nina Perović will present themselves and their work as part of a two-week residency on the project #synergy: Sharpening the capacities of the classical music industry in the Western Balkans. The project is co-funded by the EU Creative Europe programme, with the aim of strengthening cultural cooperation and the competitiveness of cultural and creative industries in the Western Balkans. The main partner of the project is the KotorArt Don Branko’s Music Days from Montenegro, and alongside the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, the project partners are: the Belgrade Festivals Centre (CEBEF) from Serbia, the Festival Ljubljana from Slovenia, the Kosovo Chopin Association from Kosovo and the Vox Baroque International Festival from Albania.

Always an important part of the Festival is the programme intended for the youngest audience, and this summer's the Festival is happy to announce real treats: one of the few plays in Croatia for children under two years of age – The Story of the Wheel, and for the slightly older kids the playful and interactive The Princess and the Pea, both of which will be staged by the Mala scena Theatre at the Bunić-Kaboga Summer Villa. The highlight of the children's program however will be put up at the Lovrjenac Fort, where the musical-stage work The Enchanted Forest will be premiered, with the support of the Caboga Stiftung foundation. The adaptation of the novel of the same name by the writer Sunčana Škrinjarić is directed by Lea Anastazija Fleger, the dramaturge is Nikolina Rafaj, the music composer Frano Đurović, and the conductor is Mateo Narančić.

"I would like to thank all the sponsors and donors who have been with us for years, and none of whom have given up on us in the last two years of the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, besides the financing which is always very important, I can't help but thank all the people and all departments of the City who have, I would rather say fulfilled our wishes, than just worked with us – concluded the POA Paulina Njirić, extending special thanks to the citizens who have been suffering and loving the Festival for all these years. 

The full programme of this year's Festival and as well as tickets to all performances are available online at the official website https://www.dubrovnik-festival.hr/en/agenda and through the service www.ulaznice.hr, with the latter also available Festival Palace Box Office (Od Sigurate 1), which is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. Purchases made with Mastercard® and Maestro® cards provide a 10% discount, while purchases over HRK 500 receive a 30% discount voucher on festival souvenirs.

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival – the centre of Croatian and global spirit and culture, a place of creation and not just a place of visit, a place of community, ideas, and new artistic expressions, is traditionally supported this year by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik-Neretva county, Dubrovnik Tourist Board and numerous sponsors Euroherc, Mastercard, HEP, ACI club, ALH, Kraš, Coca-Cola, Croatia Airlines and TuttoBene and donors Caboga Stiftung foundation, OTP bank, and other benefactors who helped bring this most prestigious cultural event in Croatia to fruition.

To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

July 4, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Iberia Croatia flights are boosted from Madrid to Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik, running daily by the end of the month! 

Spanish airline and OneWorld alliance member Iberia has increased the number of flights to Croatian airports this month, reports Croatian Aviation. 

Compared to June, Iberia offers a greater number of weekly operations to three Croatian airports from its main hub in Madrid this month. Namely, Iberia will increase the number of operations to Split and Dubrovnik at the end of July, and for now, daily flights to these two cities have been announced in August.

Between Madrid and Zagreb, Iberia plans to operate a total of 14 return flights in July, and flights are available three times a week, on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. From July 30, flights are available daily until the end of August.

Between Split and Madrid, Iberia currently operates on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and from the end of July, an increase in weekly operations has been announced on this line as well, from the existing 3 to a total of 7 flights per week (daily)! 

Unlike Split and Zagreb, Iberia already operates daily to Dubrovnik Airport, and 7 flights per week are planned until the end of July. Since the beginning of August, the Spanish airline has offered two daily flights on this route (14 per week), but there is still a possibility of reducing the announced number of flights on this route for August. 

In total, 58 return flights are available on Iberia's routes between Madrid, Dubrovnik, Split, and Zagreb in July, mostly with A320 aircraft, which in the fleet of this carrier have a capacity of between 136 and 171 seats. In July alone, more than 18,000 seats are available on the mentioned lines! 

Before the global pandemic, Iberia operated in the winter months to Dubrovnik and Zagreb, but after the end of the lockdown in Europe, the lines operated as seasonal. 

For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

July 3, 2022 - The NomadList 2022 State of Digital Nomads report is out - and there is lots of good news for Croatia.

It is hard to imagine that a little over 2 years ago, the term 'digital nomad' was almost unheard of in Croatia. An open letter to the Prime Minister from a Dutch entrepreneur in Split asking for a digital nomad visa changed all that, setting in motion a chain of events where the term 'digitalni nomadi' is now a widely recognised term in the Croatian language by the majority of the population. 

And the nomads are coming... and liking what they see. Award-winning events such as the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence programme and Zagreb Digital Nomad Week have helped to put Croatia on the remote work map, and Croatia is now featuring regularly in the top places to enjoy the remote work revolution. 

Getting accurate data about how many digital nomads there are, where they travel to, and what their preferences are, has been a challenge, however, as such data is not captured by traditional data collection methods. One of the most respected sources of data, collected in real time from actual registered nomads, comes from one of the leading websites catering to the digital nomad community - NomadList. 

Last year, NomadList released a major survey about the digital nomad lifestyle, extrapolating data from their members, and there was plenty of good news for Croatia. As TCN reported at the time, Croatia was placed second as the most liked country for nomads behind Japan, while Zagreb made it to the top 5 most-liked cities in the world (and the first in Europe).  You can read more analysis of last year's survey here.

The NomadList 2022 survey has just been released, and there is LOTS of good news for Croatia, as well as evidence that the remote work revolution is spreading around the country. In addition to Croatia being named as the most-liked country in Europe again (and globally number 2 behind Japan), no less than five Croatian destinations make it into one of the top 10 lists in the survey - Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Hvar. 

An explanation about the data for the NomadList 2022 survey from the website itself:

In this report, we try to figure out who these people are, what work do they do, and how they spend their life based on data from tens of thousands of Nomad List members. In this report, we try to figure out who these people are, what work do they do, and how they spend their life based on data from tens of thousands of Nomad List members. This page is built LIVE with data pulled straight from the database every day, so it's always up-to-date. Conclusions you can derive from this are always limited and merely indicative but possibly interesting. Nomad List is a paid membership community, which means there's a selection bias as people who do not or cannot pay are not in the dataset. On the other hand, free digital nomad communities, like on Facebook, require no commitment to join, therefore it's not clear if these people are merely aspirational or active nomads or not. On Nomad List we can confirm they are active based on their travel logs.

You can see the full report here. 

I won't pretend I fully understand the criteria behind what defines attractive men and women, but I include it as it shows that other destinations such as Hvar are now being discovered. There is a real buzz about Croatia at the moment, and several destinations are now joining the remote work revolution, and I would fully expect several more Croatian destinations to be part of the 2023 survey. 

One interesting list was that of Croatia's inclusion at number 5 in the destinations where female nomads go more than male nomads, a nod I think to the fact that Croatia is a very safe country in general, with many female travellers commenting on how safe it feels to travel around. 

Perhaps the most satisfying find of all, however, is the rise of Zagreb, Europe's fastest-growing remote work hub in the last 5 years, and the fourth fastest in the world. With much of that growth coming last year and coinciding with the inaugural Zagreb Digital Nomad Week, it is hoped that this year's ZDNW in October will continue that trend. 

For more news and features on digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.  

July 1, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Air France Croatia flights are significantly boosted this month to Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik airports. 

French national airline Air France will significantly increase the number of weekly operations to Croatian airports in July from its main hub in Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport, reports Croatian Aviation. 

In the first 10 days of July, Air France significantly increases the number of weekly flights to three Croatian airports. A second daily flight to Zagreb is being introduced, traffic to Split is being restored, and the number of weekly operations to Dubrovnik is increasing.

Second daily flight to Zagreb
Throughout the year, Air France operates daily between Paris and Zagreb in the afternoon hours. Until now, HOP operated on the route with E90 aircraft, and from July 9, Air France aircraft will also operate on this route, namely A318, A 319, and A320.

Additionally, from the same date, a second daily flight to Zagreb will be introduced, which will operate every day, except Saturdays, in the morning hours. Only Air France aircraft, A319, and A320, were announced on this line in July.

From the mentioned date, Zagreb will have three daily flights from and to Paris, and one daily flight on this route is operated by Croatia Airlines, on which Air France has code-share cooperation with the Croatian national airline.

Return to Split Airport
Air France is returning to Split Airport at the beginning of July. Six flights a week have been announced, every day except Saturdays. HOP with E90 aircraft will operate on the route for Air France. 

Croatia Airlines also operates on this route with A319 aircraft, as well as low-cost airlines such as easyJet.

More operations to Dubrovnik
The French airline has operated to Dubrovnik Airport for some time. The first flight of this season took place on May 1, but from July 10 the number of flights will increase from two to a total of seven flights per week. In addition to A319 and A320 aircraft, A321 aircraft, which in the Air France fleet have a capacity of 212 seats, will also frequently fly to Dubrovnik.

Additionally, Air France will introduce a second daily flight between Dubrovnik and Paris, on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so it will operate between the two cities 11 times a week. In addition to Air France, Croatia Airlines and British easyJet operate on this route.

In total, from the beginning of July, Air France will operate between Paris and the three mentioned Croatian airports more than 30 times a week, which exceeds the figures from the record summer season of 2019, especially in terms of the capacity offered.

For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

June 28, 2022 - The latest flight news as Croatia flight cancelations in July from Eurowings, Austrian, Lufthansa, and easyJet have been announced. 

Eurowings, Lufthansa, and Austrian Airlines have canceled a total of 55 return flights to Croatian airports announced in July this year, all to ensure regular operations due to a lack of staff within the airlines and at the airports to which they operate, reports Croatian Aviation. 

The three mentioned Lufthansa Group carriers canceled 55 return flights to Zagreb, Rijeka, Pula, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik.

Lufthansa has reduced the number of flights on only one route to Croatia, between Zagreb and Munich, so in July, it will operate 6 instead of 7 times a week on this route, for a total of 28 return flights.

Low-cost airline Eurowings reduces traffic on 10 international routes to six Croatian airports:

Cologne - Rijeka, instead of 13, announced 9 flights (canceled 4),

Cologne - Zadar, instead of 13, announced 9 flights (canceled 4),

Cologne - Zagreb, instead of 26, 14 flights announced (12 canceled),

Cologne - Dubrovnik, suspended line, last flight performed on June 12,

Dusseldorf - Rijeka, instead of 14, 11 flights announced (3 canceled),

Dusseldorf - Zagreb, instead of 13, 9 flights announced (4 canceled),

Stuttgart - Pula, instead of 7, 6 flights announced (1 canceled),

Stuttgart - Rijeka, instead of 9, 6 flights announced (3 canceled),

Stuttgart - Split, instead of 41, 38 flights announced (3 canceled),

Stuttgart - Zagreb, instead of 23, announced 14 flights (canceled 9),

In July, Austrian Airlines continues to operate daily to Adriatic airports, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik, but significantly reduces the number of flights to Zagreb airport. 

Instead of 53 scheduled return flights in July, Austrian has canceled 9 and now plans 44 flights on this route for July.

The Lufthansa Group is no exception among carriers. Companies and airports were not ready for high demand this summer, resulting in a shortage of workforce in all segments of air transport, from a lack of flight and cabin staff to the crew at airports (check-in, loading, and unloading of luggage, general reception and departure of passengers and aircraft). There are also standard problems with the workforce in air traffic control, which is why aircraft in the summer months rarely take off (and land) according to the planned flight schedule.

Given that the number of monthly flights by the Lufthansa Group to Croatian airports is relatively large, 55 canceled flights to Croatia in July is not a huge number, especially if this will relieve the pressure on the previously mentioned stakeholders and enable some normalization of air traffic in the peak season. 

Furthermore, Croatian Aviation reports that British low-cost airline easyJet canceled 15 return flights previously announced to three Croatian airports - Pula, Rijeka, and Split. The airline also cites major operational problems at airports in London (Gatwick) and Paris (Charles de Gaulle).

On the route from London (Gatwick) to Pula, easyJet offered 27 return flights in July until Sunday, but three flights were canceled, and 24 are now available for booking.

There were supposed to be 13 return flights between Paris and Pula in July, but easyJet canceled four return flights, and only nine are now available.

easyJet has the largest number of summer flights to Split Airport, to which only six flights are currently canceled. Namely, between Gatwick and Split, 95 return flights are planned in July (previously 99), while between Paris and Split, 38 return flights are now available (previously 40).

easyJet continuously cancels flights on the new route between Rijeka and London, originally announced twice a week. The airline also cut the weekly operations in July and canceled announced flights on Tuesdays, leaving only flights on Saturdays on sale. For now, only flights on July 5 and 12 have been canceled, but the carrier has not yet revised the flight schedule for the second half of July, so further reductions may happen. 

For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

June 21, 2022 - In the newest TCN series, we take a look at the destinations you can visit by ferry from the main Croatian ports. In this second installment of the Croatia Ferry Guide 2022, where to go from the port of Dubrovnik?

When advertising the Adriatic Sea and the Croatian islands abroad, the experience of being on board a sailboat, yacht, or catamaran is usually highlighted. However, there is no destination a Croatian ferry can't reach, and why not mention that it's totally worth saving a good amount of Euros on sailboat rentals and crews?

Today we tell you more about the island destinations you can reach from the ferry port of Dubrovnik.

Photo: Mario Romulić

First of all, how to buy your ferry tickets? There are three ways. The first is via the official Jadrolinija website. In it, you can not only see the updated sailing schedules, but you can also buy your tickets online. Simply choose the port of departure, the port of destination, and the date of your trip, and you will find the available times. Once you have chosen the time and the number of tickets, in addition to completing all your personal information, you can proceed to pay for your tickets online with a credit or debit card.

The second way is through the official Jadrolinija mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Playstore for Android. The application is very easy to use and, just like on the website, just select the port of departure and you will be able to see the ports that you can travel to from the one you selected. The process is very similar, and you will find that it is even more comfortable and intuitive to use. Payment also allows the use of credit and debit cards.

Finally, the third type of payment is the most traditional and has its benefits. All ferry ports in Croatia have a Jadrolinija office, where you can go to buy your tickets in person. Sometimes one can be a bit confused before buying their tickets both on the website and in the app, so having a Jadrolinija agent to guide you is a great help.

Where is the Dubrovnik ferry port located? Unlike previously covered cities like Split or Rijeka, the port of Dubrovnik is not located in the old part of the city. The port of Dubrovnik is located in Gruž Bay, a 10-minute drive from the Old Town.

Bari

Apart from Ancona, Bari is the other destination in Italy that one can reach from Croatia by sea. However, Bari can only be reached from Dubrovnik. The ferries that depart from the Pearl of the Adriatic to Bari depart on Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays through line 54 (Dubrovnik-Bari). Just one per day. On Sundays, they leave Dubrovnik at 12:00 pm and arrive in Bari at 19:30 pm, while on Mondays and Fridays they leave Dubrovnik at 21:00 pm and arrive in Bari at 8:00 am. Passengers can travel from Dubrovnik to Bari in three ways: deck passenger, seat, or cabin. For the adult ticket (from twelve years old or older), the deck passenger ticket price is 528 kunas, the seat ticket is 588 kunas, and there are two types of cabins: outdoor shower and WC (1193 kunas) and indoor shower. and WC (1097 kunas). For the child ticket (from 3 to 12 years old), the deck passenger ticket price is 303 kunas, the seat ticket is 363 kunas, and there are two types of cabins: outdoor shower and WC (228 kunas) and indoor shower. and WC (208 kunas).

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Bol

Bol is one of the most sought-after island destinations in Croatia, and it is possible to get there from Dubrovnik. Every day, a catamaran leaves the port of Dubrovnik for Bol on the island of Brač. Through line 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korčula - Hvar - Bol - Split), the catamaran leaves Dubrovnik at 7:00 am and arrives in Bol at 11:40 am. The price of tickets, both for adults and children, is 280 kuna.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Hvar

One would think that to visit the wonderful island of Hvar, it is necessary to be in Split. However, if you are in Dubrovnik, you can do it too. Via line 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korčula - Hvar - Bol - Split), a catamaran departs from Dubrovnik at 7:00 am and arrives in Hvar Town at 10:30 am. Ticket prices for both adults and children are 280 kuna.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Koločep

The island of Koločep is one of the three inhabited Elaphiti Islands situated near the city of Dubrovnik. It is the southernmost inhabited island in Croatia. Two ferry lines go to Koločep: 831 (Dubrovnik - Suđurađ - Lopud) and 807 (Šipan - Lopud - Koločep - Dubrovnik). From Monday to Sunday, ships of line 807 depart for Koločep 5-6 times a day. The trip takes 30 minutes. Ferry line 831 departs from Dubrovnik on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and only one trip per day. It leaves at 9:00 am and arrives in Koločep at 9:45 am. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 31 kunas for both lines. Ticket prices for children vary. On line 831 it costs 15.5 kunas, and on line 807 it costs 12 kunas.

Photo: dronepicr/Wikimedia Commons

Korčula

Among the islands of Dubrovnik, the island of Korčula is surely the most popular. A catamaran of the line 9811S (Dubrovnik - Korčula - Hvar - Bol - Split) departs from the port of Dubrovnik every day, with only one trip per day. The catamaran departs at 07:00, arriving in Korčula at 09:00. Ideal for a day trip. The price of the catamaran ticket, both for adults and children, is 160 kuna.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Lopud

Lopud, like Koločep, belongs to the Elaphite Islands archipelago. Lopud is the central island of the archipelago, well known for its sandy beaches, and is also the most developed of the three Elaphiti islands in terms of tourism. Like Koločep, two ferry lines go to the island of Lopud: 831 (Dubrovnik - Suđurađ - Lopud) and 807 (Šipan - Lopud - Koločep - Dubrovnik). From Monday to Sunday, ships of line 807 depart for Lopud 4-6 times a day. The trip usually takes 55 minutes. Ferry line 831 departs from Dubrovnik on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and only one trip per day. It leaves at 9:00 am and arrives in Lopud at 10:25 am. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 31 kunas for both lines. Ticket prices for children vary. On line 831 it costs 15.5 kunas, and on line 807 it costs 13 kunas.

Photo: dronepicr/Wikimedia Commons

Suđurađ (Island of Šipan)

Šipan is the largest island of the Elaphiti Islands archipelago. Those going from Dubrovnik will arrive in the town of Suđurađ. In the case of Suđurađ, and compared to Lopud and Koločep, ferry line 831 is more frequent. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, two ferries of line 831 depart from Dubrovnik to Suđurađ (9:00 am and 15:30 pm), while on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, they make a single trip. Travel time can vary from 65 to 110 minutes. Ships of line 807 make up to 4 trips every day from the port of Dubrovnik to Suđurađ. Trips take 75 minutes. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 31 kunas for both lines. Ticket prices for children vary. On line 831 it costs 15.5 kunas, and on line 807 it costs 14 kunas.

Photo: Dmitry Mozzhukhin/Wikimedia Commons

The ferry lines mentioned above are those with confirmed schedules for the next three months. Prices are subject to change. Visit the official Jadrolinija website for more information on other ferry lines from Dubrovnik.

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

June the 24th, 2022 - Dubrovnik hosts the 12th International Conference on Anthropological Genetics and Forensics, which saw 550 scientists, doctors and other experts from across Europe and the rest of the world descend on the Pearl of the Adriatic.

As Morski writes, the 12th International Conference on Anthropological Genetics and Forensics brought together the above-mentioned number of individuals from various prestigious European and international universities and institutions to discuss forensics and personalised medicine in Dubrovnik on Thursday.

The conference was organised by the International Society for Applied Biological Sciences ISABS, the American Mayo Clinic and the Sv Katarina (St. Catherine) Special Hospital. ISABS President Dragan Primorac pointed out that the congress will primarily answer what the medicine of the future will look like.

''First of all, I'm referring to the development of pharmacogenomics, gene cell therapy in the treatment of a number of degenerative diseases, as well as cancer. The future of medicine is to break out of the clichés of the medical tradition. The new concept is personalised medicine, and that means that the right therapy goes to the right patient at the right time, which we can find out more about by analysing glycomics, genomics, proteomics and epigenomics. Those who don't accept that will not be competitive on the global market,'' said Primorac.

Dubrovnik hosts many famous names, and this time three Nobel laureates also took part in the congress: Sir Richard Roberts, Thomas Südhof and Aaron Ciechanover, and Primorac has announced that they will work with about 200 students from the USA, Europe and Croatia.

Minister of Science and Education Radovan Fuchs pointed out that, in addition to the level of scientific thought and new achievements, the congress opened up opportunities for students to network and gain some new experiences.

''It's very important for young people. I'd especially like to emphasise forensics, but personalised medicine is also becoming more and more popular across the world, and that is certainly the future,'' said Fuchs.

Minister of the Interior Davor Bozinovic noted that the Ivan Vucetic Police Academy and the Centre for Forensic Investigations, Research and Expertise are scientific institutions within the Ministry of the Interior (MUP).

''Perhaps it's less known that these organiaational units of the Ministry of the Interior have scientific licenses, and in terms of forensics, the Ivan Vucetic Centre has an important role to play. The chief is a member of the American Academy of Forensics. We're at the very top of the global scale and we're certainly a leader in this part of Europe,'' said Bozinovic.

In cooperation with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the conference discussed new forms of cancer treatment, pharmacogenomics, translational and personalised medicine, gene and molecular therapy and diagnostics, regenerative medicine and the use of stem cells in treatment, as well as other achievements of modern scientific research.

For more on conferences and congresses Dubrovnik hosts, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

June 16, 2022 - Continuing the new TCN series exploring beyond the Dubrovnik walls, an escape from the crowds to one of the top treasures of the Adriatic - the island of Lokrum. 

For those who tell me that Dubrovnik is just a 2-day destination and that there is nothing really to do outside the old town, I smile. I don't think I have ever come across a destination in Croatia which has so much more to offer than the stereotype it possesses. There are so many things to do in and around Dubrovnik that I would argue a week is not enough. Indeed, the inspiration for this new TCN series, Beyond the Dubrovnik Walls, were last year's 10 Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence, who proclaimed that they were not ready to go home after a month in the city, and that one of the key messages Dubrovnik had to develop was the rich offer for tourists 'beyond the walls.' Yes, the old town is unmissable, but so too is the magic that is all around. Including one of my favourite places in all Croatia... 

The island of Lokrum. 

I knew little about the island of Lokrum before I visited, except that it was one of the most-visited attractions in Dubrovnik, a place where locals (and tourists) went to escape the summer crowds and heat. But, as I quickly learned on my first visit a couple of years ago, Lokrum is so much more than that. In addition to being the cleanest place I have ever seen in Croatia, the wealth of nature, culture, heritage and overall magnificence is quite astonishing. Do not go to Dubrovnik and miss out on a trip to Lokrum. Your visit would be all the poorer. 

Let's start with the cleanliness. Lokrum is a nature reserve which is taking itself very seriously. It is forbidden to smoke or light a fire on the island, dogs are not allowed, and it is not permitted to spend the night on the island. Indeed, only two members of the Lokrum Fire Brigade sleep on the island. The island is immaculate! And the beautifully maintained horticultural and botanical attractions serve to give Lokrum an even more squeaky clean feel. 

Just 10 minutes by boat from the old city (regular departures from the old harbour take place every 30 minutes during the day from April to November),  the island of Lokrum is truly a world away, and the journey on the restored 50-year-old wooden boats is an experience in itself, as you watch the majestic old city disappear into view behind, before approaching the island from the far side, with the city out of sight. 

Welcome to Nature!

Lokrum has its own biodiversity and unique climate, a fact that has been noted since ancient times, and the rich diversity of its plant life was enriched in 1959 when two hectares of land were allocated to the Botanical Garden, where the first exotic species were planted. Walk around today, and you can find about 400 indigenous species from Australia, South America, Africa, other parts of the world and the wider region. An extraordinary collection, and combined with the island's carefully manicured hedges and gardens, this is one area where Lokrum stands out from other islands. But only one, for there is so much more to this exceptional island. 

The legacy of Game of Thrones is massive in Dubrovnik, with more than a few visitors knowing the city by its screen name of Kings Landing. Not only was the island of Lokrum also used as a filming location, but the hit HBO show  The garden of the old Benedictine Monastery was used to shoot scenes depicting the fantasy city of Qarth in Season 2 of the show. In this scene Daenerys Targaryen introduces herself to a few members of local society. Later on, just before she enters the House of the Undying, she is standing on the stairs that are part of Lokrum’s Gardens of Maximilian.

The most important area for Game of Thrones lovers is a tin GoT museum in the former Benedictine Monastery. There sits the Iron Throne, the most important seat in the Kingdom of Westeros. Not only that, but it is free for visitors to sit in and take pictures.

While Game of Thrones may not be real, there is plenty of actual history on the island of Lokrum, which was first mentioned in 1023, with the founding of the Benedictine monastery and abbey. And it is the Benedictines who are responsible for the so-called Curse of Loktum, which is animated in the museum in the monastery basement. 

The last Benedictines left the island in 1808, when the island was sold to new owners. On their last night, the monks placed a complex curse on the island. Since then, anyone who tried to seek Lokrum for their own has met an unexpected and untimely death.

The night before the monks left, they gathered in their hoods, lit their candles, turned them upside down, and with their heads bowed, whispering prayers and murmuring songs, slowly walked around their ancient holding, mourning their loss and saying goodbye to their beautiful home.

The legend, of course, adds drama to such a goodbye.

The dark and mysterious line of monks in the end cursed the future owners of the island under the flickering light of candles. The legend, to which certain deaths and accidents that happened to local sellers and owners were associated, would have faded away if not for the tragedies which befell the family of the Austrian emperor and the Croatian king Francis Joseph I, whose family members owned Lokrum.

The execution of the emperor’s brother, Archduke Maximilian, in Mexico, the assassination of his wife Elisabeth at Lake Geneva and the suicide of his son and heir Rudolph in Mayerling violently and forever impressed the legend in collective memory and enshrouded the island in dark shadows.

A happier legend took place more than 500 years earlier, when English King Richard the Lionheart's ship got into trouble in storms on the way back from The Crusades. Vowing to build a church on the land that might save him, the famous English king finally found shelter on Lokrum where he was shipwrecked, but survived. Keeping true to his promise, Richard built the promised church, although locals persuaded him to do so in the old town of Dubrovnik, rather than the island of Lokrum. It is said that the ensuing church was built on the site of today's Dubrovnik Cathedral.  There is an exhibition to the episode in the basement.

One of Dubrovnik's more unusual claims to fame is that it is the birthplace of quarantine, with the first State-sanctioned quarantine stations set up on two nearby islands in the Dubrovnik Republic back in 1377. This concept was extended to the Lazareti, just outside the city walls, a beautiful stone complex which served as a 40-day quarantine area for traders, and which today is a multi-purpose event and entertainment centre, including arguably Europe's most beautiful co-working space. 

Lokrum has its own Lazareti complex which is well worth a visit, if only for the incredible precision of the 16th-century stone walls, which are straight as an arrow and 100 metres by 100 metres. Inside the walls, it was intended to house a large quarantine facility, and you can still see the remnants of the toilets, fireplace and ventilation in the individual cubicles, but the complex was in fact never completed.  Some time later, the authorities realised that such a construction could be used against the republic if the island was successfully invaded. Some of the stone was therefore transferred to the city and used in the construction of Dubrovnik's iconic old town walls. 

That strategic importance was not lost on the French when they successfully invaded in 1806, and they began to erect a fort on Glavice hill, some 97 metres above sea level. The impressive fort, complete with ramparts and ditches, was then further developed by the Austrians in the 1830s. The legacy for the tourist today is a wonderful hike along Lokrum's narrow streets to the top of the fortress, where you will be rewarded with quite the magnificent views of the old town and surrounding area. I was fortunate enough to be on an official trip, and the Lokrum Fire Brigade had time to give me a rather magical tour. Get a flavour in the video below. 

Looking to swim? There are some great beach options on the island, including the best naturist beach in the world last year.

For a more unusual experience, how about a drink and swim by the Dead Sea - not perhaps as famous as its Middle Eastern counterpart, but a cool place to swim and actually part of the Adriatic and once a cave. An ideal spot if you want to have a drink and relax while the kids splash around.  

One of the many things I loved about Lokrum is how the island is being used to blend nature with work and education. Local schools regularly have classes and workshops here, a wonderful outdoor environment which can only inspire young minds. The recent Work. Place. Culture conference in Dubrovnik also took advantage of the stunning natural setting, with a relaxing day including workshops on wellbeing being held in the monastery gardens. 

Even the resident peacocks decided to take part. 

There are a couple of bars and a snack bar on Lokrum, but the best place to dine (and in idyllic botanical surroundings) is Lacroma Restaurant, a short walk up from the ferry. There is an excellent local menu, and the gin combinations with local herbs are a definite trip highlight.

And then, at the end of the perfect day in nature and relaxation, time for the short and picturesque journey back to Dubrovnik for the evening entertainment. Dubrovnik Beyond the Walls is indeed a magical place.  

Tickets to enter Lokrum, including the return boat journey, are 200 kuna. 

Dubrovnik beyond the walls, a new way to look at the Pearl of the Adriatic. And with so many different options available, tailor your Dubrovnik experience to your specific needs. 

To learn more about the Beyond the Dubrovnik Walls series, follow the dedicated section.