November 14, 2020 - Franck Barista Club awarded nine cafes in Dalmatia for serving the best coffee in Croatia. Among them is Paradiso Bar in Split!

Dalmatinski Portal reports that to promote excellence in catering facilities, for the second year in a row, Franck awarded their best Croatian partners a prestigious award, affirming consistency in continuously monitoring and supporting their work. Among the Franck Barista Club award winners who serve guests top-quality coffee are nine cafes from Dalmatia.

The best coffee in Split, according to the expert jury from Franck, is served in Caffe Bar Clo, Caffe Bar Lerone, Paradiso Bar, and La Favela Caffe. Pirovac boasts Caffe Bar Rišpet, and Šibenik Caffe Bar Moderato Cantabile. In Zadar, as many as three cafes received awards, namely Bar & Caffe Indie, Caffe Bar Harbor and Coffe and Cake 2.

The selection of cafes that best prepare and serve hot drinks was evaluated by the method of secret guests, guided by criteria such as quality and presentation of espresso and other coffee drinks, maintenance of equipment, and serving guests.

"With projects such as the Franck Barista Club, we provide full support to our partners in the hospitality industry, further encourage and promote excellence and confirm our commitment to creating trends and raising the quality of espresso and other coffee drinks in restaurants in Croatia," said Mislav Žižanović, Head of Trade Marketing for HoReCa channel.

Last year, when the Franck Barista Club award ceremony was launched for the first time, 31 restaurants were nominated, and a total of 17 in 10 Croatian cities received the awards. This year, the number of nominees rose to 58, and each of them was visited four times by Franck's evaluators, otherwise baristas with rich professional experience. A total of 13 catering establishments received the highest score of 45 points, and 38 catering establishments acquired the conditions for receiving the Franck Barista Club award.

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November 13, 2020 - After receiving smart parking, Split welcomes e-ticketing for public transport and thus continues their smart city journey. 

Gradonačelnik.hr writes that in accordance with world trends, in recent years, Croatia has been investing more and more in the development of smart city concepts and smart solutions that use modern technologies and digital solutions to raise the quality of life in cities. Given the increasing traffic congestion that has become a primary problem in the daily life of large cities, one of the key aspects of smart city development is certainly ‘Smart Mobility’ which is becoming a decisive factor in the quality and competitiveness of cities. The key goal is to increase the quality - reduce congestion, provide precise and accurate timetables, introduce a simple and efficient toll system, increase the number of public transport users to relieve city roads, and, ultimately, reduce environmental pollution.

After the transformation of public transport in many European cities, such as Prague, Belgrade and Brno, where contactless payment solutions for public transport have already been implemented, using the passenger's bank or credit card, smartphone or watch as a means of payment, Mastercard wants to be a partner to both Croatian cities and public carriers.

Therefore, they conducted a study on public transport in Croatia, which showed that in Croatian society there is a great demand for public transport services and a widespread culture of card payments, which are key prerequisites for further digital improvement of public transport services. The survey conducted as part of the study showed that citizens are generally satisfied with public transport in large Croatian cities, but see opportunities for improvement, such as reducing traffic jams, more reliable timetables, ease of use of services, and ticket purchase models.

By implementing contactless payment solutions in public transport, Mastercard can help key stakeholders develop a new generation of public transport, aimed at more satisfied end-users, more efficient operation of public transport companies, and environmental protection.

After being the first in Croatia to launch a smart parking project that covered over 1,300 parking spaces in the city with sensors and introduced an application that makes it easier for drivers to find free parking spaces, and then introduced a special smart parking system for people with disabilities in the city, Split is moving forward with the development of smart solutions that raise the quality of city traffic.

The city has provided over 12 million non-refundable EU kuna for the strategic project "Implementation of the e-ticketing system in Promet d.o.o. through the ITU mechanism" worth over 25.4 million kuna. The key goal of the project is to improve the quality of public transport by automating the process of charging for tickets and informing passengers to, ultimately, increase the number of passengers in public transport.

The process of selecting the most economically advantageous bidder within the public procurement procedure of the e-ticketing system by Promet d.o.o. is currently underway, and the system should come to life in the middle of next year, if everything goes according to plan.

"In addition to the support for the existing standard technologies of the paper card system, contactless cards, the system will also provide the possibility of using modern ticket technologies, via mobile phones, as well as the possibility of paying for the ride with bank cards on the vehicle. This will simplify and make it easier for passengers to buy tickets, and at the same time speed up the change of passengers at bus stops," says Ante Ivandić, head of the service for development projects and informatics at Promet.

At major bus stops, there are plans to install five machines to purchase paper tickets and contactless value cards, top-up, and extend the validity of tickets. In this way, passengers will be able to purchase and renew travel tickets while waiting for the bus, so that when entering the bus, they independently validate travel tickets, without the participation of the driver.

Introducing e-ticketing will provide additional opportunities for buying tickets, thanks to a mobile application to purchase tickets online, and a webshop platform for buying tickets online. In this way, all users, such as pupils, students, pensioners and citizens, would have the opportunity to extend the value of their tickets without physically coming to Promet's locations and wasting time unnecessarily.

"Also, to efficiently monitor the performance of individual lines, and to optimize the traffic offer, through the system we will get information about the actual number of passengers who entered or exited at each station, i.e., we will have data on the load of the vehicle per line, and accordingly make corrections and optimizations in the timetable. On the other hand, passengers and users will be provided with much more information through this system compared to the situation so far. It will be possible to better monitor the personal costs of transportation, passengers will have accurate information about bus arrivals, as well as assistance in selecting lines for a particular route, for the purposes of travel planning. The system will also make it easier for people with disabilities to find their way around, because on buses, an announcement (voice and visual) of the arrival at a particular bus stop will be introduced, and at important bus stops a voice announcement of the arrival will be established through information displays.

By introducing this system, we will modernize and improve the quality of the public passenger transport service in the area where we provide the transport service," Ivandić points out.

E-ticketing is designed as an integral part of the future joint system with other utility systems in the City of Split such as parking fees, city services, defined interfaces to other services, and will be integrated with SmartCity Split platform.

The introduction of this system should solve a number of problems in Split's public transport that negatively affect the quality of service and thus the satisfaction of citizens, from the inability to implement precise timetables, inability to monitor vehicles in real-time, congestion at certain stops, poor ticket collection, to the non-transparent distribution of costs and revenues among stakeholders. All this causes dissatisfaction with public transport users due to constant waiting, crowds, problems with buying tickets, but also unavailable information.

Thus, the City of Split, as the host city of the Urban Agglomeration of Split and other 12 cities and municipalities that are part of the Urban Agglomeration of Split, unanimously decided to direct part of the ITU mechanism funds intended for the Urban Agglomeration of Split to Promet d.o.o. Therefore, 42 million kuna of ITU grants were provided, namely 30 million kuna for the purchase of 18 new buses that were delivered in July this year, as well as 12 million kuna for the implementation of the e-ticketing system.

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November 13, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as KLM operates between Amsterdam and Split during the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

Croatian Aviation reports that Dutch national airline KLM will briefly operate the Amsterdam-Split route in December this year and January next year.

Namely, the oldest airline in the world will operate on the Amsterdam-Split route during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Until now, KLM has not operated to Split in winter, but the introduction of this line is completely logical, especially now at the time of a global pandemic when the number of international routes is significantly reduced, and passengers do not have a large selection of connecting flights.

The Amsterdam-Split route was launched by KLM on July 4, operating 7 times a week, and since the beginning of August, there have been as many as 13 flights a week on the line. In September and October, operations were reduced to 3 flights per week, and by the end of October, the line was closed for this summer season.

In December this year and January next year, KLM will run 14 flights between Amsterdam and Split.

KLM will briefly restart this line in December this year and January next year. Four flights have been announced for the end of December, and three for the very beginning of January.

Direct flights will connect Amsterdam and Split on Saturday, December 19, Sunday, December 20, Wednesday, December 23, Sunday, December 27, Saturday, January 1, Sunday, January 3, and Thursday, January 7. E190 aircraft with a capacity of 100 seats in KLM's fleet has been announced on all flights. The planes will land in Split around noon.

This is the second airline that will briefly return to Split during the holidays. Two days ago, Edelweiss announced it would operate on the Zurich - Split route at the same time.

KLM will withdraw from Split after January 7, 2021, and re-establish the line from Amsterdam on May 1. It has been announced until the end of the summer flight schedule next year, and tickets are on sale on the airline's official website.

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

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November 12, 2020 - Drive-in COVID-19 testing at the Split port will soon begin, and rapid tests should soon arrive at the Institute of Public Health, the director of that institute, Zeljka Karin, announced.

Index.hr reports that there are about 900 patients a day being tested, and drive-in testing will soon open in the port of Split, which should relieve the queues at the hospital and the county's Public Health Teaching Institute. Split should receive rapid tests that will need to be validated first, she said, adding that these tests will be done in closed collectives where a quick result is important.

"These tests are valid for a person who has a strong clinical picture to see if it is positive. A negative result says nothing or is not relevant. We will use this where we have a large number of people with a clinical picture so we can immediately put all people in self-isolation," Karin explained.

She reiterated that residents of Split-Dalmatia County could order testing online or through a family doctor. Citizens can now be tested at the Split Clinical Hospital in Krizine and the Teaching Institute for Public Health, and in two weeks, the port of Split.

Apart from Split, testing is done in Vrgorac, Imotski, Makarska and Sinj, and on the islands of Hvar, Brac and Vis.

Regarding the county's epidemiological situation, the head of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Dr. Ivo Ivic, said that the numbers they can handle are satisfactory and that the situation - if such a trend continues - can be well controlled. They have planned for many patients and can activate an additional 30 to 40 beds within one day.

"We have not yet filled the capacity, but we are ready for an additional increase. We currently have 170 beds; if necessary, we will expand within Krizine. The epidemic is no longer at the pace it has been in the previous two weeks. This can be seen by the number of new cases in the country. A plateau has been reached, and this is not because the virus has changed. We need to be aware of that," he said, adding that he believes the measures have paid off.

Regarding the new vaccine against coronavirus, Ivic said that it is great and that its effectiveness will be achieved only when enough people are vaccinated. He pointed out that in the next six months, we will do everything we can to protect, reduce gatherings, and prevent the spread of the virus wherever possible. When asked what he thinks about Advent events, he answered that it will be better to have fewer of them and that the measures should be strictly followed.

"It is impossible to stop life; a lockdown can be done once and never again. I mean, then it must really mean that we are preparing for a catastrophe," Ivic concluded.

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

November 9, 2020 - The national teams of Croatia and Portugal will meet at Poljud Stadium in Split on November 17 for their final Nations League match this season. 

Today, the National Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia extended the Decision on necessary epidemiological measures restricting assemblies and introducing other necessary measures and recommendations to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 through gatherings.

The decision of the headquarters includes the measure of holding sports competitions without the presence of spectators.

Following such a decision by the National Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Football Federation informs the public that the Nations League match between Croatia and Portugal, scheduled for November 17 in Split, will be played without spectators. Also, the match between the youth national teams of Croatia and Lithuania in Pula will be played without fans.

The mentioned measure also refers to other competitions under the jurisdiction of HNS, which will be held without spectators until further notice.

Due to similar measures in Turkey and Sweden, the matches of the Croatia national team against Turkey (November 11) in Istanbul and Sweden (November 14) in Solna will be played without spectators.

Source: HNS

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November 9, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Brussels Airlines plans three Croatian destinations next summer.

Croatian Aviation reports that in the 2021 summer flight schedule, Brussels Airlines plans to operate to three Croatian destinations. 

Namely, the Belgian national airline, which normally operates to more than 100 destinations worldwide, plans to operate to Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik next year.

In the summer flight schedule, which ended at the end of October, Brussels Airlines operated to Split and Dubrovnik.

The line to Split started operations at the beginning of July, while the line to Dubrovnik was in traffic from June 27. Both lines operated with reduced flights compared to 2019. The airline temporarily canceled the lines to Zagreb and Zadar, and they did not operate this summer season.

The Brussels Airlines route to Zagreb was introduced in 2015, while the route to Zadar was introduced in the summer of 2018.

In the summer flight schedule next year, Brussels Airlines plans to operate from its headquarters in Brussels to Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik. The line to Zadar is currently not for sale.

The Brussels - Zagreb line will operate from March 28 to October 29, 2021, 5 times a week, every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.

Brussels 13:20 - 15:10 Zagreb 15:50 - 17:45 Brussels

The seasonal line to Split should operate from the end of April (April 24), while the Brussels - Dubrovnik line will operate from May 1 next year. 

The return of Brussels Airlines to Zagreb next spring is good news for passengers who want to continue their journey to several destinations in Europe with this airline. Until March 2021, direct flights from Zagreb to Brussels are available with the national airline - Croatia Airlines.

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

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November 7, 2020 -  Chops Grill Steak & Seafood is here for you beyond the beef. It's your go-to for birthdays, baptisms, business lunches, and more!

As we approach the most wonderful time of the year, when spending time with family reigns above all, it's good to know that family gatherings don't always have to mean we're stuck in the kitchen.

Enter Chops Grill, who will do all of the heavy lifting for you. 

"In the unique and elegant ambiance of the Chops Grill Steak & Seafood restaurant, spend moments with relatives, friends, or business colleagues that will forever remain in your memory. An exceptional offer, friendly staff, and top gastronomic specialties are what make Chops Grill Steak & Seafood restaurant recognizable.

In the #ChopsClassic or #ChopsSuperior lunch offer, we offer services for organizing birthday parties and baptism celebrations, as well as business events and socializing.

Give your loved ones and business partners unforgettable celebrations at popular prices and spend a pleasant afternoon with the flavors of the culinary magic of our chefs!" 

Namely, for 250 kn, the Chops Grill Classic menu begins with a selection of prosciutto, cheese, bruschetta, scampi pate, and steak tartar. You then get to choose between shrimp risotto and macaroni with prosciutto with truffle, or homemade soup with noodles, boiled beef, potatoes, carrots, and šalša. 

The main course includes a Chops meat platter with beefsteak, aged rump steak, veal chops, and grilled chicken, with a side of baked potatoes with ham and onion, grilled vegetables, and seasonal salad, OR, veal prepared peka style (under the bell), with potatoes and seasonal salad. 

The Chops Grill Superior menu, which is 300 kn, also begins with a selection of prosciutto, cheese, bruschetta, scampi pate, and steak tartar, followed by creamy Vichyssoise soup, and shrimp risotto and macaroni with prosciutto with truffle.

For the main course, guests can enjoy the Chops meat platter with beefsteak, aged rump steak, veal chops, and grilled chicken, with a side of baked potatoes with ham and onion, grilled vegetables, truffle mashed potatoes, caesar salad, and beef wellington (with a mushroom and goose liver cream, wrapped in puff pastry). 

Both menus end with dessert and include juice, beer, and house wine!

So, how about have your next celebration at Chops?

For reservations and more info, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit their Facebook page, or call +385 91 365 0000. You can also visit their website for all menu options here.

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November 7, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Lufthansa cancels Munich-Zagreb from December 1, and Chair Airlines announces a route between Zurich and Split next year. 

Croatian Aviation reports that German airline Lufthansa has canceled the Munich-Zagreb line from December 1. With the cancellation of this line, the airline will temporarily leave Zagreb Airport. Recall, the Frankfurt-Zagreb line was previously canceled until the spring of 2021.

Lufthansa launched the Munich-Zagreb route shortly after the lockdown and initially operated on it three times a week, gradually increasing the number of weekly flights between the two cities. During the lockdown, the airline stopped traffic on the Frankfurt-Zagreb line, and its resumption of operations was announced for March 2021.

The figures confirm how important Lufthansa is as a partner of Zagreb Airport - in 2016; this airline had a share of a high 18.25% of passenger traffic; in 2017, as much as 17.45%

Lufthansa was expected to operate the entire winter flight schedule on the Munich-Zagreb route (the only active route to Croatia). The number of operations has even increased for November, and daily flights are available. Still, from December 1, they will suspend traffic on this route, and will completely, temporarily, withdraw from Zagreb Airport, and consequently from the Croatian market.

Because Lufthansa will stop traffic on the currently only active route to Zagreb, and with previously canceled flights of Austrian Airlines, Eurowings is the only company from the Lufthansa Group will operate to Zagreb Airport this winter.

Thus, 53 years after the first flight to Zagreb, Lufthansa will temporarily withdraw from Zagreb Airport due to the global pandemic and weak demand.

From Wednesday, December 16, Croatia Airlines will offer daily flights on the Zagreb-Munich route, which will primarily depend on booking, which, after the withdrawal of Lufthansa, could be satisfactory, especially during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The withdrawal of Lufthansa from Zagreb is certainly bad news, considering that the direct connection with Munich is being lost, which, as a hub, enables the continuation of travel to numerous destinations in Europe and the world.

Croatian Aviation also reports that Swiss Chair Airlines has announced its destinations for next year's summer flight schedule. Among others, the Zurich-Split line is being introduced.

It is an airline operating under the name Chair Airlines since the summer of last year, formerly known as Germania Flug. The airline has two A319 aircraft in its fleet that can carry up to 150 passengers.

The announcement of the Zurich-Split route by Chair Airlines comes just a few days after the news that the German Condor will also operate on this route in the summer flight schedule next year.

With this new Chair Airlines route, Split and Zurich will be connected with as many as four airlines, with Croatia Airlines, Edelweiss, and Condor Airlines operating on the same route. Chair Airlines line will be in operation from April 25 to October 24, 2021, almost the entire summer flight schedule.

"After most citizens spent their summer vacation in Switzerland, we believe that next summer, popular destinations will be in demand more than ever before, that's why we decided to introduce a line to Split."

Chair Airlines between Zurich-Split-Zurich will be in operation twice a week, every Thursday and Sunday in the evening. The company has a total of 15,900 seats on sale between the two cities for the summer of 2021.

Timetable:

Thursday: Zurich 18:40 - 20:10 Split 20:55 - 22:30 Zurich

Sunday: Zurich 17:20 - 18:50 Split 19:35 - 21:10 Zurich

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

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November 6, 2020 - Big news from Split Riva favorite Brasserie on 7 today as an exciting new cake offer can be ordered from their patisserie!

Brasserie on 7 has become a staple of Split for many reasons, and their patisserie is certainly one of them. 

Boasting cakes and desserts baked and prepared fresh on the premises, B7's dedicated team transforms whole butter, cream, fresh fruits, and imported French chocolate into a variety of sweets using traditional & contemporary techniques. Likewise, the celebrated pastry chef fuses French and Croatian classics into 21st Century interpretations.

So, it was only a matter before B7 announced a constant offer of cakes from their pastry shop! 

Namely, all cakes can be ordered in two sizes:
Small - up to 6 people
Large - 12 - 14 people

Chocolate Cake: M 140kn V 280kn

Princes Polenta Cake: S 120kn L 240kn

Lemon tart: S 120kn L 240kn

Vegan Tart: S 135kn L 270kn

Cheesecake: S 130kn L 260kn

Blanc Noir Cake: S 130kn L 260kn

Carrot cake: S 140kn L 280kn

Black Forest Tart: S 120kn L 240kn

Parisian Flan: S 120kn L 240kn

A detailed description and price list will be published on their website soon. 

But that's not all.

Brasserie on 7 has recently introduced its new autumn/winter menu, full of tasty comforts for you to enjoy with the changing seasons. From white tomato essence soup to juicy filet mignon, rich seafood risotto, delicate rack of lamb, or the signature duck breast with creamy corn, praline, mushrooms, jus, you can't go wrong.

Early risers can also enjoy a decadent breakfast at B7, with eggs Benedict, cinnamon ricotta french toast, or healthy superfood options and 100% fresh juices. 

For all cake orders and inquiries, feel free to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 098217835, and have a look at the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus HERE.

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November 5, 2020 - From November 16-22, 2020, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) will be held in Split for the fifth year in a row. 

From November 16-22, 2020, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is held in over 160 countries worldwide. It is an event held once a year to celebrate entrepreneurship, innovation, and business creators who drive startups and turn ideas into reality, foster economic growth, and improve their community's wider well-being.

This year, the event will be held in Split for the fifth year in a row, organized by the Student Entrepreneurship Incubator, the Entrepreneurship Center Split, and the Faculty of Economics in Split.

Through various activities, from big competitions and events to networking gatherings, GEW encourages participants to explore their potential as entrepreneurs and innovators and connects them with potential associates, mentors, and potential investors, introducing them to new opportunities and opportunities.

GEW is, therefore, more than an entrepreneurship awareness campaign; it is a platform for networking and collaboration - involving all players across the entrepreneurial spectrum in strengthening ecosystems around the world.

Given that the pandemic is still in force in Croatia, this year's edition will be held in an online format using the Zoom platform and live broadcasts via social networks of the Student Entrepreneurship Incubator and will consist of educational lectures, workshops and panel discussions and 24- an hourly Hackathon competition called the Smart City Challenge to be held by domestic and foreign external experts, this time also in the online format.

During the Smart City Challenge hackathon, the registered competitors will solve the challenges set following the European Union's program "Digital Europe 2020." The emphasis is on building smart homes and buildings, smart transportation, smart manufacturing, smart environment, and smart health. The competition will last 24 hours without a break, and competitors will have the task of developing a completely new solution according to the competition rules.

Everyone can participate, regardless of their education or occupation. Teams will have an additional 5 minutes after the competition to present their project to an expert jury. To enable the competitors to develop an idea to prototype, they will be provided with full mentoring support, which will further guide them with its economic and technological knowledge and qualities. The best competitors will share a prize fund of HRK 20,000.00, which the City of Split provided as a sponsor this year.

Also, the best are ensured entry into the Student Entrepreneurship Incubator program where, with the support of mentors from the Faculty of Economics, they will continue to develop a business model of their solution. Applications for the Smart City Challenge hackathon last until November 15 and are made via http://spi.efst.hr/smart-city-challenge/

As for the program's educational part, there is a wide range of entrepreneur lecturers who will intrigue all participants. Thematically, it covers a wide area, from marketing, social entrepreneurship, rural development, digitalization of business processes, innovation development to student entrepreneurship.

Some of the interesting entrepreneurs and experts you will be able to listen to during the event include Ivana Čuljak from Invento Capital Partners, Ana Šunjić from Infobip, Anja Šerc from BB consulting, Oracle, Michael Freer from Ensoco, investment consultant Vanja Perić, Fran Poštenjak from ArboSMART Technologies, Peter Hopwood from Hopwood Speaker Coaching and guests of the panel on student entrepreneurship Ivana Perić (OPG Spara), Slaven Damjanović (eAgrar) and Lea Kosović (LOL agency).

The event and program were developed in cooperation with the project UIP - 2017 - 05 -7625: User-oriented (re) design of processes and modeling of information systems on the example of smart city services led by Assoc. dr. sc. Maja Ćukušić from the Faculty of Economics, which was financed by the Croatian Science Foundation.

You can view the entire program and the exact schedule of lectures and panels at http://spi.efst.hr/gew/. Participants need to register for each lecture by clicking on the selected lecture or panel in the program located at the link.

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