February 5, 2021 - An important and long overdue addition to the Dalmatian capital - Split International School plans to open its doors in 2021.

One of the most interesting places to observe change in Croatia in the 18 years I have been here has been the Dalmatian capital of Split. Today, of course, it is one of the top destinations on the Adriatic coast, as well as one of the hip destinations in Europe, but it certainly was not always that way. 

When I bought my house in Jelsa back in 2002, Split was known simply as the Gateway to the Islands, a place you overnighted on the way to somewhere better. Diocletian's Palace was rather an intimidating place in parts and had its own drug issues, and tourism was nothing like as big as it is today. 

Indeed, 2002 was the year (from memory) that Split opened its first hostel. Things developed over the years, but it always seemed strange to me that a tourist city of 200,000 people had so few facilities for foreigners. 

Including a portal in English for tourists and expats, one of the reasons I started Total Split way back in 2012 with a friend. 

I remember reporting on the groundbreaking moments. A JAPANESE restaurant opening in Split in 2013 - wow!

Slowly, more and more expats started to put down roots and open diverse businesses. Some Croatians returned from abroad to bring back their foreign inspirations and add it to the mix. After a particularly intoxicating day of foreign influx and diversity in 2015, I wrote an article called Halal Restaurants, American Bars, Swinger Tours: Is Split Finally Becoming an International City?

But as popular and international as Split was becoming, there was still something essential missing, and I found myself asking the question in December, 2018 - Is It Time for an International School to Open in Split?

As yet more expats moved to the city and Central Dalmatia, the need was clearly there for a Split international school. I have probably had more than 100 emails on the subject based on the article above asking if there was any news on an international school in Split. 

Well, finally, it seems... there is!

Meet Split International School, who reached out to me to introduce themselves in the form of our of the founders, Dr John Rogosic. I asked him when and why they decided to open Split International School

"Our team began working on this project during the Summer months of 2020, when some of our founding families decided to relocate to Croatia and began looking into educational options for their children. While there are several international schools in Zagreb and Varaždin, there are none in the Split or along the Dalmatian coast. We felt it was important to offer an international curriculum in the Split area as Split is a growing international city, from its beautiful nature and climate to its unique culture, foreigners and returning Croats alike want to live in Split.

"The IB program offers a unique benefit of being offered in 156 countries worldwide, allowing digital nomads and other traveling professionals the flexibility to enroll their children in a similar program in many different locations while providing their children with continuity in their education. Founding this school now is particularly important in light of the new digital nomad visas being offered in Croatia, and as the world has continued to transition to remote work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. We also hope to offer additional support to short-term digital nomads who may be planning to stay in Croatia for less than a full school year, or plan to transition partway through a semester.

"Beyond the foreign and digital nomad clientele, we felt it was important for our school to encourage local students to join as well and learn to engage with students from different backgrounds. We aim to create a school culture where students can excel intellectually, feel safe to take academic risks, learn to celebrate cultural differences, and are well-prepared for engagement in the broader international community."

When will Split International School open its doors?

"We are on track to offer our first classes in September, 2021. We still are under consideration by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and have to complete our certification process with the Ministry of Science and Education (MZO), but both organizations have been incredibly helpful and supportive of our effort. We look forward to continuing to work closely with both organizations to bring our program to fruition. We do not expect to offer all grade levels during our first year, but our program will grow organically based on the needs of interested families. Our priority enrollment period is through mid-May 2021, at which time we hope to have the majority of families signed up for our fall program, however we will continue to admit transfer and relocation students throughout the summer to meet the needs of families."

Will local kids also be able to attend?

"We are looking forward to welcoming both local and foreign students to our school, and to creating a true international community where students from different cultural backgrounds can come together to exchange ideas and share experiences. We offer a flexible, need-based tuition program, that carefully considers each family’s financial situation and adjusts to meet their needs. We also have a couple of exciting potential partnerships in the works that we hope will allow us to offer additional scholarships to local students, but we’re not quite ready to discuss them publicly before those partnerships have been solidified. We encourage local families to contact us and discuss the program to see if it will fit their children’s needs. Although all of our classes will primarily be taught in the English language, every student will also study the Croatian language at a level appropriate to their skill level, and we plan for our school to be cross-compatible with the Croatian public education system."

I asked about fees and whether or not there would be flexible pricing for less well-off families:

"We are offering a flexible tuition program, because we want to be able to satisfy the needs of both international and domestic students. While there is a full “sticker price” for the school - which represents full tuition - we also want to be able to offer families discounts based on their current income levels. This is common practice in private schools across the globe, and is sometimes referred to as “need-based admissions” or “need-based scholarships”. For more information about our flexible tuition program, interested families should contact the school directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in order to find out more details. We will offer additional services such as school lunch, transportation options, and additional language support as well, which will be available to families who wish to select those options."

About the IB curriculum:

“The IB curriculum engages younger students in ways typically not seen before university level education, and pushes them to think deeply, ask questions, and become active participants in their own learning.”

I asked John for a quote for the article, and he offered this anecdote from his days teaching in California, with regards to teaching at an international school and the kinds of experiences that an international education offers students.

“One of my favorite memories as a teacher happened while teaching a multi-grade level introductory high school biology class at an international school in California. There were students from China, India, the UK, America, and Sweden in the classroom, all in the range of 14 to 17 years old. We were discussing ecology and pollution, and had touched upon the topic of environmental regulation. One of our domestic students mentioned that he didn’t see the need for environmental regulation, and that he’d heard from his parents that government regulations are bad for the economy. The hand of one of our chinese students shot up in disagreement, and he shared a powerful story about his experiences with air pollution growing up in a village in northern China. The class was silent for a moment. Some students were in disbelief as others shared similar stories. I don’t think I had to say a word as a teacher for the next 20 minutes, as students went back and forth discussing the topic, all the while drawing on their personal experiences related to pollution and politics from their own lives and travels. The conversation tied together the fields of biology, economics, government, society, and cultural attitudes. As teachers we live for moments like these, where our students engage with each other intellectually as mature global citizens. I think this story really speaks to the power of students learning and growing with others from different social, cultural, and geographic backgrounds, and is the kind of learning environment I hope to create in our own international school here in Split.”

Exciting news for many,  I am sure, and you can learn more about Split International School, the IB philosophy, Harkness Method, and FIRST Robotics on the Split International School official website.

February 4, 2021 - The global pandemic rages on and we’re still locked down with restrictions and social isolation. Some people are surviving and others are thriving. What’s their story? Episode #2 with… Janette Buba from France.

It’s almost one year since the World Health Organization declared covid-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Nobody expected what came next and certainly nobody expected things to last this long. But here we are, wondering when it will be over and hoping the vaccine will restore some sense of normalcy.

In the meantime, how are people filling their days? When it’s all said and done, how do they want to remember this time looking back? In this new series we’ll hear from all sorts of people in Croatia about their pandemic experience and their predictions for the future.

Episode #2 with… Janette Buba from France.

Something I’ve noticed about people who have roots everywhere is that they tend to have heart—for life, people, and community. Janette Buba is one such soul. She was born in the Philippines, where her family originates, raised in Texas (USA), and has been living in France with her Czech husband Ervin. After falling in love with Croatia during a sailing visit, the couple decided to stay for a while. It was a perfect place to escape France’s hard lockdown and severe covid-19 restrictions.Janette is an early retiree; her previous professional life includes marketing management with Johnson & Johnson. Now she considers herself a professional “volunteer,” assisting in various community outreach programs and helping where needed. She met a special VIP during a reforestation project with the Croatian Scouts Association (you have to watch the video to find out who) and she’s a regular at the No Kill Animal Centralis shelter. It seems that having a passion for people, building networks, and kindness are pretty great retirement skills.

Story and photographs ©2021, Cyndie Burkhardt. https://photo-diaries.com

For more of Cyndie's experiences, check out her Croatia Through the Eyes of a Digital Nomad column.  

Are you an expat in Croatia who would like to share your experiences during the pandemic in Cyndie's video series? If yes, please contact her on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are also keen to interview any digital nomads who have successfully applied for the new visa, after the first success in Istria - Meet Melissa Paul, Owner of Croatia's First Digital Nomad Visa. Please contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Nomad Visa. 

February 1, 2021 - As the number of digital nomads rises globally, some are choosing to spend some of their time in Croatia. Continuing our TCN series meeting international digital nomads calling Croatia their temporary home. Meet Ian and Amy Anderson, from Florida to Split. 

Searching for a coastal European town with all the amenities of modern-day living, this digital nomad couple from Tampa, Florida found the perfect place to work. This AirBNB had everything that they were looking for and best of all, it was located in an ancient Croatian palace. Take a peek into their digital nomad lifestyle and learn some tips on how you can become one too. Say hello to Ian & Amy Anderson.

Tell us a bit about you and your work.

We both grew up in Massachusetts (USA) about one hour south of Boston in a city called New Bedford. Like most people, our twenties were filled with jobs we hated. But one good thing was that we both happened to be working at one of those awful jobs at the same time. We started dating in 2001 and by 2009 we had gotten married.

At that point in time we couldn’t take working jobs that we hated anymore and we finally got the courage to venture out into the world of self-employment and started our own web design company. It was one of the scariest things we had ever done, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions that we ever made.

Eleven years later, we’ve created a thriving web design company that creates websites for small to medium-sized businesses in the USA. The best part is that we get to do it together, from anywhere in the world. We are really lucky because we don't just love each other, we actually like each other too.

Pros and cons of working remotely?

One of the biggest pros of working remotely is the freedom and flexibility that this lifestyle offers. Like any other job, some days can be stressful and make you want to pull your hair out, but the good days far outnumber the bad. At the end of the day, our clients don’t care how we get the project done, they only care that we complete the project on time and deliver a high-quality end result. This means we don’t have to work a set “9-5” schedule.

Because (for the most part) we are able to choose our own schedule, we don’t have to wake up to an alarm clock. Working remotely also means that we don’t have to drive to an office every day, which saves both time and money. We don’t have to sit in a cubicle for eight hours a day and we have zero office drama. 

Working remotely not only allows you to work from the comfort of your own home but also from anywhere in the world... such as Croatia! Once you experience this lifestyle, your days will stop being black and white copies of the day before and they will come alive with bursts of color. Your life will finally have some flavor. If you choose to add the traveling aspect to working remotely, you’ll get to see gorgeous places, have conversations with people from other cultures and eat interesting food in faraway places. You’ll become the exotic “International Traveler” in your family!

Now onto the not-so-good things.

Remember being a kid on Christmas morning? You would jump out of bed, run to the brightly colored tree in the living room, grab the biggest present you can find and yell out “Mom, can I open my presents now? Pleeeeeeeese?”

But it wasn’t time to open presents just yet and you were told to wait.

Devastated, you rolled your eyes and let out a “uuugggggghhhhhh!” as you sulked your way into the kitchen to get some cereal. 

As digital nomads we feel like this on most days.

We know that there is an amazing city just outside these AirBNB walls but we also know that we can only go out and explore it once we get all our work done. We can’t let our business suffer because we want to go outside and play. It’s like being a kid who is told to wait to open their presents, except now the presents are new cities waiting to be unwrapped. And our work is like a strict mother telling us that we have to wait to open it.

Another downside is that we also miss our family and friends. When you are a “digital nomad” you miss out on things like family dinners, holiday gatherings and birthday parties. Sure, you can make FaceTime appearances for a few minutes at each event but it’s not the same as actually being there.

Like anything else in your life, you have to make sacrifices in order to get the things you really want.

You can’t fly a plane while keeping one foot on the ground. 

How did you choose Croatia and specifically Split?

From August to November 2020 we were “digital nomading” in the Caribbean, enjoying the endless sunshine and sandy beaches of Aruba. But you can only stay in Aruba for 90 days as a tourist and that window was soon closing for us. We needed a new country to visit but as US Citizens traveling during a global pandemic, our options were limited. 

While researching which countries US Citizens could travel to, we found an article in Forbes magazine that featured Croatia. It sounded like an interesting country, so we looked more into the top travel destinations within Croatia.

One of the locations that immediately caught our attention was Split. 

It seemed to have an old-world charm perfectly blended with modern-day amenities. We watched YouTube videos that explored the labyrinth-like alleys of Diocletian's Palace, the smooth cobblestone streets filled with lots of artisanal shops and the many cafes and restaurants located along the waterfront. It seemed to have just about anything that we would want or need (all within walking distance) plus gorgeous palm trees right along the Adriatic Sea.

Once we arrived in Split and saw the majestic views, it was love at first sight.

It was even better than what we saw in the YouTube videos! We were also pleasantly surprised that overall Split was reasonably priced and best of all very safe!

Another great thing about Split is Marjan Park. Just to the west of the palace walls there is a large elevated area of trees. If you walk up the southern side pathway and you turn around, you’ll see something you’ll never forget.

In one breathtaking glance, you’ll see all of the ancient architecture with the cream colored walls and orange roofs, the perfect blue sea and sailboats, the inspiring green trees and the faded mountains far off in the distance.

It’s one of the most spectacular views we have ever seen.

What’s important for a destination to offer to be compatible with a digital nomad lifestyle, apart from good WiFi?

While everyone has a different opinion of what is important for a destination to offer, everyone can agree that safety is very important. When traveling to a new place somewhere in your home country or a new country abroad, it’s comforting to know that you can walk around (even after the sun sets) and have peace of mind that you are safe. And that’s one of the many things that we love about Split. It is very safe at all times. We would often venture out for a late-night stroll down the Promenade or through Diocletian's Palace and we always felt safe.

After safety, the location of where you’re staying is the next most important thing to consider. For us that means close proximity to things like beaches, restaurants and historical landmarks, as well as essential services like grocery stores and pharmacies. The closer we are to those things, the less likely it is that we’ll need to rent a car, which saves us from an unnecessary expense. Another great thing about Split is that even when we wanted to venture out farther than we could walk, Uber is available in the area and there are also bikes and scooters available to rent. 

While it’s not a deal-breaker for us if a destination doesn’t offer food and grocery delivery, if they do it’s definitely a bonus. After all, us digital nomads still have a business to run which sometimes means long workdays and not having time to run out to the grocery store. So a grocery delivery service can come in handy… and yes, there are companies in Split that offer this service, which made things very convenient on days we weren’t able to venture out.

What’s your view on the future of remote work? 

When COVID-19 first disrupted our species, businesses around the world were forced to make their employees work from home. At first this was a chaotic change but after a few months companies realized that their employees were still able to get the work done remotely. They also noticed employees seemed happier as a result of not having to commute every day and no rush hour traffic!

COVID-19 has caused many companies to re-examine their business model. They are starting to see remote work as a way to not only have happier employees but also lower their overhead costs, creating a win-win for business owners. Happier employees tend to be more productive with their work and are also more likely to continue to work for a company. And the more employees that a company is able to have work remotely, the more likely it is that they can downsize their office space and in some cases completely eliminate it, which will greatly reduce their expenses.

So we think that as time goes on the ability for people to work remotely is only going to grow, making it an ideal time for anyone who is looking to travel to become a digital nomad.

Do you have any advice for people looking to make the transition to digital nomad life? 

Lower Your Expenses

Before you start your journey as a digital nomad see if you can lower your expenses. Would you believe that we’re actually saving money while travelling the world (without giving up the lifestyle that we’re accustomed to)? The reality is that this lifestyle is allowing us to travel the world while saving money that we can then use for fun adventures. Before becoming digital nomads, we typically would go on one or two week-long vacations each year because that’s all we could afford. We realized that there is a lot more to see in the world and at that rate it was going to take us many years to see it all. And honestly, how much can you even learn about a place when you’re only there for a week? So how did we actually lower our expenses? We hired a property manager and he got our house in Tampa rented. We were able to rent it for more than our mortgage (which actually puts some extra money in our pocket each month). With our house rented that means we no longer have any utility expenses (water, electric and internet; it’s all paid for by our tenant)... which saves us hundreds of dollars each month.

Since we knew we were going to be travelling long term, we sold our car which means no more car payment or car insurance, saving us even more money. 

These are just some of the ways that we were able to cut down our expenses. Obviously everyone’s personal financial situation is different, but the reality is there are lots of ways to cut down on your expenses, all while getting to explore new places around the world. Change Your Schedule

Create a work schedule that revolves around meeting a deadline. This allows for more flexible days. For example, instead of having to be at your laptop at a certain time every day to complete your work, change your arrangement to get the work completed by a certain date. This is how our business operates. When we get a project, we tell the client what day we will have it completed. Not only does this type of business model give you flexibility to create your own schedule, but it is very helpful when you are in a vastly different timezone than the people you are working with. Most of our clients are located in the East Coast of the United States and Split is six hours ahead of that time zone, so if we had to be available to work at the normal business hours of our clients, the time zone difference would make it very challenging. If you’re an employee of a company that requires you to do your work / be available on a specific schedule, working remotely from a different time zone can be challenging, but not impossible. If that’s the case, we recommend that you be mindful of the timezone when you’re selecting a destination and find a place that compliments your work schedule. 

Try To Make Yourself Smile

If you’re even a little bit interested in this type of lifestyle, do it! Give it a try on a short term basis and see if it works for you, there is no rule that says you have to do it forever. 

Even if it isn’t feasible for you to work remotely with your current job, remember there has never been a greater opportunity or demand for remote work then there is right now. You may be surprised at the remote work opportunities that are available.

Here is some final advice on making this decision (actually any decision): do the thing that will make your 90-year-old self look back and smile. Most people tend to look back in life and regret the things that they did not do, rather than the things that they did do.

Follow these digital nomads on Instagram:

Amy Anderson https://www.instagram.com/unleashingamy/

Ian Anderson https://www.instagram.com/ianrobertanderson/

Are you a digital nomad in Croatia who would like to be featured in this series? Please contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Nomad

Read more: Meet Melissa Paul, Owner of Croatia's First Digital Nomad Visa.

February 1, 2021 – A bold declaration of love that first captured hearts in the city of Split has now travelled all across Croatia, as one city resident requested the hand of his beloved in a billboard proposal

Dominating the skyline on the city's northern shores, Poljud is perhaps the best known - and most visually impressive – football stadium in Croatia. Holding near 35, 000 people and boasting sleekly curved roofs on opposite sides, you can't help but admire the relatively modern arena when it is in eyesight.

But, over recent days, the gaze of city residents has drawn by a competing spectacle nearby. In an unabashed declaration of love and intent, one Split resident has placed a billboard proposal within eyesight of the stadium and the local swimming pools. The petition for marriage has captured the hearts of any passing by.

How local media outlet Dalmatinski Portal revealed the romantic request. Their story has since been picked up by national media and captured hearts all across Croatia © Dalmatinski Portal screenshot

Translated, the text of the billboard proposal reads:

"Baby
Here's where we met
Here's where you took my hand
Here's where I ask for your hand"

The billboard proposal was pictured and the romantic request revealed by local media outlet Dalmatinski Portal. Many Split residents had already seen the billboard proposal for themselves – it is prominently positioned near the crossroads where Osmih mediteranskih igara, Put Supavla and Ulica Zrinsko Frankopanska meet, in the area of the city which is also called Poljud. But, the story has since been picked up by national media in Croatia and has now raised hearts and smiles all across the country. And they say romance is dead!

No word has yet arrived as to whether the billboard proposal has been accepted. Perhaps the response might be issued in a more private manner? Or, if the recipient is as bold in expression as the proposer, perhaps keep your eyes peeled on the billboards of Split for a joyous 'yes'.

January 30, 2021 - How is Split Airport staying busy during the COVID-19 pandemic? Mate Melvan of Split Airport talks about conditions, restrictions, and predictions. 

After Split Airport saw a substantial investment to upgrade and expand its facilities just a few years ago, all to accommodate millions of passengers in the summer, the COVID-19 pandemic has left it empty. 

Namely, Slobodna Dalmacija reports that there are only 200 to 400 passengers who pass on average in both directions a day, on five to six planes that land on the runway. During the week, passengers can fly directly to Rome, Munich, Frankfurt, and Dusseldorf, while all other destinations can only be reached via Zagreb.

With 3.3 million passengers in 2019, figures fell to 674 thousand last year. Mate Melvan, the head of the passenger reception and dispatch service, says that nothing can be worse than last year and predicts that next summer will be much better. Turnover has decreased by five times, but there is work to be done.

"Our work is more diverse and full of challenges. From hour to hour, we monitor the database with the epidemiological situation of each country, which changes the travel conditions for passengers on these flights," he says.

"Information is important because all that is reflected on us, and every day is a new rule for a country. It can be the same, similar, or completely different from ours or some other state, and coming to work does not mean that what we did yesterday will be valid today or even during the day. Passengers face changes practically just before the trip, which can be quite challenging. Many are full of understanding, cooperative, but some do not accept, resent, and think that we or the aviation industry make the rules, not the national headquarters of the states. And when they buy a ticket, they think we are obliged to transport them from point A to place B, that we are responsible. Sometimes they point out some illogicalities for a reason, but we have no choice but to abide by the regulations. Not only are measures taken in our country without prior notice, so it is within the entire Union and elsewhere," says Melvan.

Just one difficult passenger is enough:

"Last year, at one point after reopening, Germany only allowed entry if you have an “essential reason” which includes work, death, medical treatment. A few passengers on the first flight wanted to buy a car because they are engaged in resale. They bought the ticket thinking it was a good reason. We called the carrier, he called the border control, and at the same time, we contacted the operations center by e-mail. They said - no, that can't be a good reason. If he even makes it upstairs, he will be rejected and the carrier punished for bringing him up. So we had to inform the passengers, and they were not happy. For two days, one of them called the police, and then someone at the customs, trying to prove through everyone he knew that someone was to blame. Some travelers really don't understand," he added.

And that is just one example.

Melvan's associate Katarina Dujmov, the coordinator of the passenger service, says that it is increasingly difficult to meet the paperwork some countries require:

"In recent days, we have noticed that some countries have started to close in some way. They won't say 'there will be no travel from tomorrow,' but they will complicate the situation. Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands tightened the conditions, France was quite tough anyway. You need to have a fresh PCR test, so some are looking for an antigen test, and statements on why you are traveling there. A statement that you have not been in contact with a COVID patient, that you board a plane without a fever, that you have no symptoms. Every country has something of its own. All the slightly more northern countries, I guess, are thinking about the new strain of the virus. People travel for various reasons because they have to, and hardly anyone will go for tourism now. It is complicated," says Dujmov, emphasizing that they did not receive any instructions regarding passengers who were vaccinated.

However, there are still some traveling purely for tourism.

"These are people who resist the limitations of their lives and want to realize their desires. It is possible, but it requires a lot of effort and investment, and it is also risky. You can travel, and on the way back, a new measure can change the plan. No one can predict that" they added.

They say that, like the rest of the nation, they are becoming better experts in epidemiology every day.

Goran Boric, the operations center coordinator, deals with changes in the flight lists, and still has less stress than his colleagues, as changes happen within three weeks.

Mate Melvan believes that things will improve this summer and that more people will travel. His optimism is based on the experience of the last short season in which they raised traffic to 40 percent, and from twenty percent in other months.

Also, announcements for the season are excellent. Direct flights to 100 destinations in 25 different countries are open, and the European Commission's aviation industry rules are awaited to see what will be realized. By Easter, they will get a more realistic picture of how the flight schedule from Split Airport will look.

"The old normal will return, maybe the recovery will take a little longer, and this large area of the airport now benefits us because of COVID-19. There is room for space between people; the risk is reduced. Last summer, 500,000 passengers passed through here, some of whom probably had coronavirus, but no one became infected. Wearing a mask, distance and disinfection proved to be effective during the epidemic," says Mate Melvan.

To conclude, none of the 400 full-time employees of Split Airport was fired due to the reduced volume of work, but they brought a package of austerity measures which included a reduction in salaries for all.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages.

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

January 30, 2021 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Luxair returns to Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar this summer.  

Croatian Aviation reports that Luxair has announced the return to three Croatian airports in the 2021 summer flight schedule.

Luxembourg Airlines, also known as Luxair, plans to operate three international routes to Croatia from Luxembourg this summer.

The airline plans to resume international traffic to Croatia at the beginning of the 2021 summer flight schedule, but the number of weekly operations remains minimal at all Croatian airports.

Lines to Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar
In the summer of 2021, Luxair will connect Luxembourg with Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar, and all lines will operate only once a week.

The Luxembourg - Dubrovnik - Luxembourg line will be in operation from April 28 to October 2, once a week, on Saturdays. Between these two cities in the summer of 2021, Luxair will operate 24 return flights and offer a total of almost 3,650 seats.

The Luxembourg - Split - Luxembourg line will also operate once a week, on Sundays, from May 2 to October 10. Luxair will offer the same number of seats on the line to Split as to Dubrovnik.

The Luxembourg - Zadar - Luxembourg line will operate on Saturdays, from May 8 to October 2. Twenty-two return flights have been announced, with Luxair offering just over 3,300 seats between the two cities.

Luxair announced a few days ago that it is introducing the Luxembourg-Belgrade line. When asked about the possibility of introducing a line to Zagreb, the airline said that it actively monitors the market in Croatia and does not rule out the possibility of introducing a direct line to the Croatian capital in the near future.

On all routes to Croatia, Luxair will use DashQ400 aircraft with a capacity of 76 seats.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages.

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

January 29, 2021 - One fishmonger at the Split Fish Market caught an unusual creature in the Adriatic this week, a type of Mantis shrimp never-before-seen in the Adriatic, at least according to official data.

"Yesterday, we had the opportunity to get acquainted with the type of mantis shrimp (Stomatopod). This species normally lives in the Atlantic and very rarely is seen in the Mediterranean. And here it is, for the first time in the Adriatic," reads the Split Fish Market Facebook page, as reported by 24 Sata.

Little is known about this species, they say, and this discovery will certainly help detect it in the future. 

"The creature in question was caught in front of Rogoznica at some 80/100 meters depth with the MARETA 1 trawl. Since we assumed that it was rare, we contacted the Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, which immediately collected it and took it for additional analysis and research. After that, it will be placed in the Natural History Museum in Rijeka," the Split Fish Market added.

Experts claim that it is Parasquilla ferussaci, a mantis shrimp from the Parasquillidae family. It was first discovered in 1928.

This rare species lives at depths of 100 to 800 meters and had not been recorded in the Adriatic so far.

Considering that it was discovered here for the first time, the creature does not yet have a Croatian name. The Split Fish Market asked their followers for help in coming up with a name for the new species.

"Our task today is to give it a Croatian name because it does not have one, since it has never been caught here... Let's have a little imagination," they concluded.

What do you think it should be called? Comment on the Split Fish Market Facebook post and see the unique answers so far! 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

January 28, 2021 - The (mostly online) 16th Museum Night will be held on January 29, 2021. A look at the program in Split.

This year's Digital Museum Night, held under the theme 'Museum tasks in times of crisis,' will be held online, and in some cases, outdoors, following the prescribed epidemiological measures.  

Those of you in Split can enjoy the following program:

Split Archaeological Museum 
18.00 - 01.00

A virtual tour of the museum with Don Fran

Virtual 360°-degree walk through the museum https://www.armus.hr/muzej/virtualna-setnja

Museum of Fine Art

19.00 - 21.00

DISCUSSION WITH THE ARTIST: MAJA GJAJIĆ AND MAJA FLAJSIG
At 7 pm, via the Zoom platform and their Facebook profile, follow the conversation between artist Maja Gjajić and curator Maja Flajsig

20.00 - 22.00 

PRESENTATION OF THE SECOND CITY EXHIBITION
Through short conversations with curators and artists from 8 pm to 10 pm, they will present the exhibition Second City - a selection of works by Split and Dubrovnik artists on the museum's Facebook and Instagram profiles

More info HERE

Croatian Maritime Museum

12.00 - 22.00 

VIDEO ON THE "FIRST ON THE ADRIATIC" EXHIBITION
A short video presents the exhibition "First on the Adriatic" created in collaboration with the Museum of the City of Crikvenica and the Croatian Maritime Museum in Split. Authors Tea Rosić and Ljubomir Radić and narrators gave a personal contribution to this exhibition with their memories and stories. The Bodulka ferry left its mark in maritime traffic as the first ferry on the Croatian Adriatic coast.

Split City Museum

The Split City Museum has prepared several virtual programs, as follows:

- EXHIBITION "FRAGMENTS OF THE IMPERIAL PALACE IN SPLIT" - virtual presentation of the exhibition

- EXHIBITION "VENETIAN CASTLE IN SPLIT" - virtual presentation of the exhibition

- GALLERY EMANUEL VIDOVIĆ - audiovisual presentation

You can follow these and other programs on their Facebook and web pages, as well as on the pages of the Museum Night 2021.

More info HERE

Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments

18.00 - 01.00
FILM: CHURCH AND HERMITAGE OF ST. JEROME ON MARJAN
18.00 - 01.00
FILM: NUMISMATIC COLLECTION OF THE MUSEUM OF CROATIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS

18.00 - 01.00

FILM: EXHIBITION SPLIT DOORS-ARCHEOLOGY OF BRAC AND SOLTA

18.00 - 01.00
FILM: MEDIEVAL SYMBOLS

18.00 - 01.00
FILM: FORENSIC FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION

18.00 - 01.00
FILM: RESEARCH 2020 HOLLOW CHURCH

18.00 - 01.00
PODCAST #1 SECRET SARCOPHAGUS WITH HIPPOCAMPI

18.00 - 01.00

PODCAST #2 MEDIEVAL OSTROG - COMMUNITY OF FREE PEASANTS

18.00 - 01.00
PODCAST #3 VISUALIZATION OF HISTORY - EXAMPLE OF SPLIT RIVA

More info HERE

Mestrovic Gallery

16.00 - 01.00
IVAN MESTROVIC (1883 - 1962) - FILM

16.00 - 01.00
VIRTUAL WALK TO THE MUSEUMS OF IVAN MEŠTROVIĆ

16.00 - 01.00
MEŠTART

16.00 - 01.00
ARTISTS AT MEŠTROVIĆ

16.00 - 01.00
MESTROVIC: A NEW DIMENSION

16.00 - 01.00
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION "IVAN MESTROVIC AND ALL HIS LOVE"

More info HERE

Split Cathedral Treasury

09.00 - 17.00
PRESENTATION OF THE SPLIT CATHEDRAL TREASURY

More info HERE

Academy of Arts

19.00 - 23.00
NIGHT OF THE ACADEMY OF ARTS

More info HERE

Star Village Mosor

18.00 - 23.00
BLACK HOLES - NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS IN 2020

More info HERE

Since the first city edition in 2005 with six Zagreb museums, Museum Night in Croatia has recorded almost 3.5 million visitors. Last year, 240,540 visitors enjoyed the museum exhibitions in more than 250 locations in 110 cities and municipalities in Croatia.

Due to the specific situation, there will be no program booklets, posters, or banners, as all registered programs will be visible on the event's digital platform. As a longtime partner, Croatian Radio Television will prepare a special show on its first channel, using material from the digital platform.

Museum Night began in Croatia in 2005 with several Zagreb museums and has grown into the most important event of Croatian museums and one of the most significant cultural events in Croatia. The Croatian Museum Association, the organizer of the event, reminds us that the past 15 years have been marked by increased visits to museums, which exceeded 300,000 visits during one night.

Besides almost all museum institutions in Croatia, interesting programs attracted many visitors to other heritage institutions, archives, libraries, cultural centers, religious communities, associations, and educational institutions.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

January 28, 2021 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Windrose operates to four Croatian destinations this summer. 

Croatian Aviation reports that Windrose Airlines, a Ukrainian airline that has made a major expansion in the region in the past few months, has announced a summer flight schedule for Croatia.

Windrose will operate at four Croatian airports this summer, connecting Kyiv directly with Pula, Split, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb.

Kyiv to Pula
The Kyiv - Pula - Kyiv line will operate from June 5 to September 25 this year. Three flights a week will be available on this route every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from mid-June. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, A321 aircraft will operate between Kyiv and Pula, while on Thursdays, the two mentioned cities will be connected by smaller capacity aircraft - E145.

Kyiv - Split
On the same date, the line to Split will start operating, and as the line to Pula, it will operate three times a week, on the same days (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays). A321 aircraft have been announced on Thursdays and Saturdays, while E145s will operate on Mondays.

Dubrovnik only once a week
In the summer of 2020, Windrose launched the Kyiv-Dubrovnik line, which will continue to operate this summer. The first flight is announced on June 18, once a week, every Friday. E145 aircraft will operate on the route.

There is no increase in Zagreb
The Kyiv - Zagreb line was introduced in the winter flight schedule 2020/2021. The company currently operates on this route twice a week, and although it had announced an increase in the number of weekly flights, it never came to fruition. The company has temporarily given up on that plan and will continue to operate between Zagreb and Kyiv twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, this summer as well. On the route to Zagreb, Windrose will use E145 and ATR75 aircraft.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages.

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

January 28, 2021 - The global pandemic rages on and we’re still locked down with restrictions and social isolation. Some people are surviving and others are thriving. What’s their story? Episode #1 with… Mahesh Herath from Sri Lanka.

It’s almost one year since the World Health Organization declared covid-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Nobody expected what came next and certainly nobody expected things to last this long. But here we are, wondering when it will be over and hoping the vaccine will restore some sense of normalcy.

In the meantime, how are people filling their days? When it’s all said and done, how do they want to remember this time looking back? In this new series we’ll hear from all sorts of people in Croatia about their pandemic experience and their predictions for the future.

Episode #1 with… Mahesh Herath, from Sri Lanka.

Mahesh is the owner of Antaari Ceylon Ayurveda Spa, located in Split’s Old Town. The spa was all set to make its opening debut last summer when pandemic restrictions forced it to close. But wait, why a Sri Lankan spa in Croatia? A bit of background…

Sri Lanka developed its own Ayurvedic system of traditional medicine based on a series of prescriptions handed down from generation to generation over 3,000 years. The ancient kings, who were also renowned physicians, sustained its survival and longevity. A well-known Sri Lankan saying comes from this legacy: "If you cannot be a king, become a healer." Mahesh became an entrepreneur, in the service of wellness, personal care, and hospitality. He was looking for a spa location when he happened to visit Istria. He quickly loved the people and the country and thought “why not here?”

Of the pandemic, Mahesh talks about positive mindset, being still, consciousness, health, and having a strong mind. Find spa information here: https://www.antaari.com/

Story and photographs ©2021, Cyndie Burkhardt. https://photo-diaries.com

For more of Cyndie's experiences, check out her Croatia Through the Eyes of a Digital Nomad column.  

Are you an expat in Croatia who would like to share your experiences during the pandemic in Cyndie's video series? If yes, please contact her on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are also keen to interview any digital nomads who have successfully applied for the new visa, after the first success in Istria - Meet Melissa Paul, Owner of Croatia's First Digital Nomad Visa. Please contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Nomad Visa.