Are you a user of Zagreb's public transport system? We recently updated you on the fact that you can now use Google Maps to see whether or not your ZET bus is going to be late, just how late it's going to be, and whether or not it's wiser to take another, otherwise longer route to arrive at your desired destination.

Whether it's buses or trams that you use for your daily commute, you'll know that the Croatian capital city's system isn't perfect, but a new investment from ZET is set to ensure a reportedly significant improvement for passengers.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 1st of July, 2019, even on existing ZET screens that can be seen dotted along the pavements next to the city's tram lines, the information on what's coming and when isn't always accurate, but passengers can at least (usually) get a general idea of when their bus or tram is set to arrive at their stop.

ZET has announced that they're working on improving this, and that the Zagreb company's brand new displays will be set up at all of the city's tram stops, and they're now in the process of getting even more of them.

As Vecernji list writes, the sixteen brand new ''passenger information display" systems will be set up at stops in the city where it's been uncomfortably known for a while that Zagreb's residents have been able to do little else other than speculate when their bus or tram will finally arrive.

Each of the new ZET displays will cost almost 12,000 each, and it has been estimated that all sixteen new display systems will cost 190,000 kuna.

The information screens themselves, at least according to what has been stated in the tender used to select a contractor, should arrive in Zagreb within two months, meaning that after the summer, they should definitely be fully in place and operational.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more. If it's just Zagreb you're interested in, give Total Zagreb a follow or check out Zagreb in a Page for all you need to know about what's going on in the increasingly popular Croatian capital city.

July 2, 2019 - Continuing our look at the foreign entrepreneurs trying to succeed in Croatia as so many are emigrating, meet Mara Vitols - Hrgetic, from Latvia via Venezuela.

1. First and foremost, why Croatia? 

Because my husband is a Croat and because we always wanted to live some years in his country and some in mine (Latvia). We were both born in Venezuela, but our families are originally from Croatia and Latvia.

INTRO YOUR BUSINESS, what is it you do? 

Together with my husband, we run The FORUM Zagreb Congress Centre which is located in the economic and entrepreneur heart of Zagreb, the Green Gold business center. It has more than 1,560 m2 of modernly furnished space, with 9 multifunctional and dimensionally flexible conference rooms equipped with state-of-art technology, as well as with quality and customized support by our team.

2. Tell us about some of the differences in your expectations of running a business in Croatia and the reality. 

a. In Latin America the ROI is much faster, everything is faster – your daily routine is a whirlpool… So we expected the ROI a little bit earlier, but in Europe things are a little bit slower. 

b. The laws and rules concerning some details of our business (for example, that we couldn’t have long cocktail tables in the same space with banket tables!) were a surprise for us, at the beginning (in Croatia). 

c. And, of course, the taxes and other services (for example, the utility charges  “komunalna naknada”)  were much higher than we expected.

3. What (if any) bureaucratical issues have you encountered and how did you overcome them (i.e. any advice to the would-be entrepreneur?)

Congress or business centres are not categorized in Croatian laws, so we received the pleasant visit of an “inspector” and we were fined as soon as we opened. We had our lawyer and our accountant, who couldn’t help us avoiding the fine. So we just redefined our business and became a travel agency – because in Croatian laws only travel agencies appear as event organizers.

4. How is your product or business perceived in the Croatian market?

It’s perceived as a quality service, executed by a quality staff : ) The event industry in Croatia has developed in a very professional way, specially business events. The offer is very large and good. We have loyal clients who have accompanied us from the very beginning, we really try to make them feel at home – that is, at office : )

5. What were the opinions of your friends and community, were they supportive of your idea, or…?

Yes. Why not? “Sounds good, we’ll visit you…”

6. What are some of the greatest challenges you have faced in business in Croatia?

Adapting to another country and culture. We opened a congress (business) center in Zagreb, similar to the one we still have in Caracas (since 1996).  We thought that being successful in Venezuela meant by default that we would succeed in Croatia. But knowing “everything” in South America was a double-edged sword in Europe, because people aren’t the same. In Venezuela, for example, everybody preferred rooms without windows, for their events. In Croatia it is completely the other way. But I guess that’s because in Venezuela we have 365 sunny days each year : ) In Venezuela, for example, the price is the price. In Croatia, as I was later told by a colleague from a travel agency, the price list is a reference and you must give discounts on the price – at least in our segment.

7. If you knew then, what you know now, would you have come?

Yes, I would do it again. 

8. What are 3 things you love about Croatia? 

a. Personal security – better than elsewhere : ) 

b. Healthy food and excellent wines! So many wine routes… 

c. The youngest generations, very innovative – just three examples: Rimac automobile, Mrvoš smart benches and Croatian IT-phoria !

9. What are 3 things you would like to see improved in the business climate in Croatia? 

a. Lower taxes and less regulations 

b. A real and positive nation branding policy, all Croats included with enthusiasm 

c. Government actions against seasonality – this is a real challenge. During 4+ months the coast needs a huge infrastructure and lots of people and, after that, it’s partially deserted. On the other hand, the capital is almost empty and sleeping during summer time (although that’s changing and improving every year).

10. How is it working with Croatians in terms of a business mentality?

Our team is really special. Everybody likes the work we do, tries to do it as best as possible. Our colleagues are nice, hard workers, consider the company as their own and is always searching what could be improved. The only thing is the “sve znam” (I know everything) attitude : ) 

11. Advice for foreign entrepreneurs thinking of coming to Croatia?

Live in Croatia for a while. Work in a Croatian company for a while – before starting your own business. Don’t forget the due-diligence, including extensive market research (see Starbucks, for example). If your business is related to tourism, bingo – you’re on the right path!

You can learn more about FORUM Zagreb on the official website.

To learn more about the foreign entrepreneurs trying to make it in The Beautiful Croatia, check out the heroes we have covered already. 

Are you a foreign entrepreneur trying to make it work in Croatia and would like to promote your story? Contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Lumen Publishing company has been organising the event called "The Sea of Books" (More knjiga) for the past four years in the centre of Zagreb, in Zrinjevac park. For the fifth time this year, visitors will be happy to see that the park-based Zrinjevac beach is returning, in the first half of the month of July (July 1st - 14th).

Over 300 titles will be available at Zrinjevac to be taken and read on the beach, both in Croatian and in English. In addition to that, you'll be able to purchase all of their editions at a special discounts. The books are not the only thing that should attract you to Zrinjevac park in the next two weeks, as the summer atmosphere of Zagreb will be enhanced by a wealth of entertainment.

The design of the beach is again the creation by the world-renowned designer Mario Miše. This year he will turn the favourite part of the park into an intergalactic beach, taking visitors on a journey to books and galaxies far, far away.

The event will be open to public each day, from 10:00 until midnight. The idea behind it is to promote reading and make books more popular, by showing visitors just how fun it can be. To make that point clear, you'll be able to take a book, find a lounge chair, sit in it, have a book-themed cocktail and enjoy this oasis in the very centre of the city - Zrinjevac beach. The music and entertainment will be provided by Music&Books x DJ Hrwoe, as well as the intergalactic jazz by Harry Gustavson trio.

The special surprise of this year's festival is the launch party for the Croatian translation of G. R. R. Martin's newest novel, "Fire & Blood", the history of the Targaryen family from his series "A Song of Ice and Fire", published by Lumen Publishing. The most awaited title of the year in Croatia will be presented at Arkadija bookstore, on Ban Jelačić square in Zagreb on July the 4th, at 18:00. Of course, after the party and reading all day on Zrinjevac beach, you can go to Trešnjevka and enjoy an evening on the Plac Mljac there!

Ex Yu Aviation reports on July 1, 2019, that Ina Rodin of the Croatian National Tourist Office in New York has confirmed that two US carriers are interested in introducing nonstop flights to Zagreb, though it won’t happen next year, or perhaps even the year after that. 

"We are in serious talks with two large carriers and we hope that within the next two to three years we can establish nonstop flights between New York and Zagreb,” Rodin said. 

However, you might recall Croatia’s Minister of Tourism, Gari Capelli, certain that a route between New York and Zagreb would operate already next summer. 

"I hope that we will have this route operational next summer. The service to Zagreb will most likely be seasonal during its first year of operations, while year-round flights could commence during the second year,” Capelli said in June.

While the timing of this highly anticipated service remains up in the air, one thing we do know is that the new American Airlines service between Philadelphia and Dubrovnik should be just the beginning. 

Namely, Romana Vlašić of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board said that not only should American Airlines extend its seasonal operations, but it could introduce some other destinations from the United States to Dubrovnik. 

Croatia’s State Secretary of Tourism, Tonči Glavina, also said that Croatia would “most likely be linked with another city in the United States next year”. 

Zagreb Airport has also openly said they were focusing a connection with New York and were already speaking to airlines back in April. 

"Wherever we see opportunities and demand, we'll go. As with the opening of our Dubrovnik - Philadelphia line, we are very specific about demand. Central Europe has the greatest growth potential. We are preparing to add more and more new links. We want to continue to lead the market. We will look closely at the results for the first year of operations. We are always looking at new opportunities to grow our network to ensure we offer service to where our customers wish to go,” said American Airlines on choosing Dubrovnik over Zagreb and Split. 

So, could Zagreb be next? Stay tuned. 

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

Eleven projections of the Zagreb Fantastic Film Festival will be shown at the Tuškanac Open-Air Theatre this summer.

The festival will be just one part of a series of events taking place on this truly unique stage throughout the summer, more precisely over the next three months. The forest closest to the centre of the town, Tuškanac, recently became the most popular place in town in the evenings, thanks to the festival and movie fans who enjoy spending their evenings outdoors, watching movies and enjoying some fresh evening air.

The ninth edition of the festival started with the showing of Arctic, often described as one of the best survival movies ever made (and unfortunately we have to report that the Arctic scenery in which Mads Mikkelsen finds himself didn't really help in cooling the audience down on one of the hottest days of the summer!).

Stjepan Hundić, the director of the festival, greeted the audience before the projection, saying that the program will combine the newest movie hits from all over the world with the unforgettable cult classics during the next three months.

The Fantastic Film Festival will last until July the 7th, with movie screenings on the Tuškanac Open-Air Stage and in Tuškanac Theatre (the two are a couple of hundred metres apart, so it's not just the name they share). You can find the schedule of the screenings for the festival here, and the movies that will be shown outdoors include the classics The Warriors, The Terminator, Alien, and Easy Rider, an anime masterpiece Mirai no Mirai by Mamoru Hosoda, as well as the spectacular Swedish SF set in outer space, Aniara.

Tickets for each of the projections cost 30 kuna each, with a twist that I've never seen before in Croatia: each human who brings along their dog to the Tuškanac Open-Air Stage for a screening gets to watch the movie for free! (One dog gets to take one person in for free).

June 29, 2019 - When it is sizzling and almost 39 degrees centigrade in the city, and the performer is 90 years old – it is rather hard to imagine an upbeat concert event. But, against all the odds, legendary Croatian singer Stjepan Jimmy Stanić has managed to fabulously entertain the guests at Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar on the most beautiful Zagreb Rooftop bar - Lateral.

It was a special, champagne night dedicated to „the old spirit of Zagreb“ – in combination with great champagne and excellent sushi and other delicacies. The atmosphere was relaxed, the audience delighted while Stjepan Jimmy Stanić performed live – “with a little help from his friends”, the band trio Playmen bend, and his lifelong partner Barbara.

Songs from the “better past” like Prolazi sve, Pokloni svoj mi foto, Kobila Suzy, and Dimnjačar made everybody a little bit nostalgic but the happy and romantic mood prevailed. The evening was organized by MIVA galerija vina, importers of the famous Veuve Clicquot champagne.

What else is there to say but: We want more!

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

PHOTOS BY MIRKO JANKOVIĆ

Summer by Matoš will open in mid-July, and just like last year, it's an event that will revive the Zagreb of old, bringing back temporarily the things our parents used to enjoy when they were young in Zagreb. Some of those things will include dances under the stars, old Fićo cars, game shows and many other interesting events.

Summer by Matoš is a part of the group of events organized in Zagreb during the summer, taking place on the Strossmayer Promenade (Strossmayerovo šetalište) in Zagreb's Upper town, near the sculpture of Antun Gustav Matoš, one of the greatest Croatian modernist authors, who is portrayed sitting on a bench, watching over Zagreb. All over the Promenade and other nearby locations of the Upper town, a group of creative set designers has created imaginative scenes aimed at portraying what life used to be like way back when.

Many small wooden houses will be set-up and decorated, offering foods and beverages (time-appropriate!), there will be parasols and beach chairs, and the 40 days of the event (from July 19th until September 1st) will be filled with numerous programs taking place each day. In the evenings, stand-up comedy by the comedians from the Studio Smijeha will perform, and many pub-quiz evenings will also be organized, with topics from the cult movies and TV shows (such as "Tko pjeva zlo ne misli", Smogovci or ever-present Friends). Retro musical game-show sessions will also be held, if you always wanted to play Pictionary in public and make everyone else around you laugh at how bad your drawings are - Summer by Matoš will give you the opportunity! This summer, create your own memories in Zagreb's Upper Town, and then maybe sometime in the future, the next generations might want to revive those, just like we want to revive the memories of our parents! And don't forget the dances under the summer skies of Zagreb, which will also be happening almost every evening.

The legendary English alternative band The Cure, the main headliner of the 14th edition of INmusic in Zagreb, marked the final day of the biggest outdoor Croatian festival with the hits of their longstanding career - and played tirelessly for the audience for more than two hours, reports Jutarnji List on June 27, 2019.

Although they have been prevalent in Croatia since the 1980s, The Cure, led by Robert Smith, had yet to hold a concert in Croatia until now. 

Before the start of the concert, the biggest fans of The Cure, who flocked to Croatia from countries around Europe, secured their spots at the front of the main stage. The band began their set around 11 pm. 

Famous for their live performances, The Cure buzzed through a 28-song set list of timeless hits such as "Pictures of You", "In Between Days", "A Forest", "Just Like Heaven," "Lullaby" , "Friday I'm In Love", "Close To Me" and "Boys Do not Cry".

The audience followed them energetically, maintaining their enthusiasm throughout the entire concert, and did not stop even after two hours and twenty minutes! An incredible effort by band members Smith, Simon Gallup, Reeves Gabrels, Roger O'Donnell, and Jason Cooper.

Before the English legends hit the stage, the American songwriter Laura Pergolizzi, also known as LP, presented her new album "Hearth To Mouth".

The glittering vocals, recognizable whistles and the hit "Lost On You" thrilled a much larger audience than her modest Croatian debut at St. Michael's Fortress in Šibenik. 

The Croatian band Kojoti had the honor of performing between LP and The Cure, who presented material from their new album.

The main stage also featured the Italian electro/darkwave band JoyCut, whose career began their upward journey after The Cure frontman Robert Smith invited them to perform at the Meltdown Festival in London last year.

The electronic post-rock band from Bologna, led by Pasquale Pezzillo, delighted fans with the hit ”The Hanging Garden" and led them through his mostly instrumental repertoire for over an hour.

The final day of INmusic also included several local bands, such as Mangroove, the hip hop and rap ensemble of Kandžija and Gole Žene.

The 14th edition of INmusic was marked by some of the most influential names in rock and alternative scenes - and the three-day festival closed with the long-awaited Croatian performance of The Cure.

Garbage and Suede performed for the first time in Croatia, and the headliners of the first night - the indie pop band Foals, attracted the younger part of the festival audience, mainly from England, where this band is particularly popular. 

The three days of INmusic saw forty performers who adorned the festival lineup with a colorful mix of rock, electronic, alternative and pop music. Mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandić and Jakov Kitarović, the husband of Croatian president Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, even made an appearance.

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

This year is another one in a series of years when the summer in the City of Zagreb will be filled with art and culture. To announce that, a press conference was held in the centre of the city last week, where the program for the Zagrebačko kulturno ljeto (ZgKUL, Zagreb Summer of Culture) was presented, zagreb.info writes.

Events that are part of ZgKUL will be held all over the city: on Kralj Tomislav Square, in Upper Town, as well as in Novi Zagreb, and the most beautiful open-air and standard stages of the city will offer the best and the most attractive pieces of culture in Zagreb. More than two thousand artists from Zagreb, the rest of Croatia and abroad will be participating in those events, which will include music, movies, theatre, exhibitions, traditional arts and many other events. 

Milana Vuković Runjić, head of the Zagreb department of culture said at the press conference that Zagreb has done its best trying to keep everyone from going to the seaside. She said that not many cities in the world offer that much culture during the summer. She highlighted the fact that this year, Zagreb is ''going back'' to the Sava river, where, back in 1926, Miss Sava was selected.

One of the first programs was the Zagreb Classic Festival, held on Kralj Tomislav Square this weekend. The musicians were on the stage, and the people attending were sitting on the grass on one of the nicest squares in Zagreb, listening to the Fiesta Latina program performed by Croatian Radiotelevison orchestras with guests such as Los Caballeros and the band Cubismo. The program on Kralj Tomislav Square will continue with performances by Tonči Huljić, the Moscow Cadet Choir, the Croatian Army's Brass Band, the Croatian National Theatre's Opera and Ballet, LADO, and many others.

Marina Bienenfeld, the director of the Zagreb Tourist Board said that the total number of cultural events during Zagreb summer will be over 300! Some programs that are already well-known and popular, like Dvorišta, Crossover Festival on Ribnjak, and Summers by Matoš in Upper town will continue, and new, similar programs will be started this year. We've already written about the Tuškanac summer stage, and Summer on the Museum of Contemporary Arts' Roof will see the unique combination of music, film and literature, and the Atrium of the Klovićevi Dvori will host a rich classical musical experience.

And of course, it's already become a tradition for Zagreb summers to start with the InMusic festival, which starts today. One of the staples of the festival, which is always held in late June in Zagreb, is that it almost always rains, so seeing the weather forecast which says that this year the festival might, in fact, be dry (but only as far as the weather is concerned!) might come as a shock to regular visitors, who say that they enjoy the mud on Jarun as a part of the experience.

June 23, 2019 - The Run Croatia initiative enters a new phase as Bagatin Clinic becomes the first Run Friendly Clinic in the world. 

One of the most exciting things I am observing in Croatia today is how so many bubbles of positive energy and ideas are beginning to join forces. Forget the corruption of the State and the mighty State of Uhljebistan - there is a new breed of entrepreneur who just wants to get on with life. And these entrepreneurs are increasingly connecting with each other, creating a parallel Croatia of positivity and change. 

As I have written previously, one of the most interesting tourism projects currently ongoing is Run Croatia's initiative to promote Croatia as a run-friendly destination. What started out as a couple of races only 2 years ago is quickly mushrooming into a serious business, which is attracting running tourists from all over the world. You can check out the in-depth TCN interview with Run Croatia on what they are trying to achieve - and have achieved already. 

Improving the local Croatian tourist offer, as well as expanding the Croatian tourist offer in general;

Organizing various events/introducing novelties into the existing Croatian tourist offer aimed at extending the peak tourist season;

Increasing revenues, especially off-season;

Promoting Croatia as a top-tourist destination for athletes internationally;

Creating a distinguished and recognizable image of Croatian tourism.

But the ambitions of Run Croatia are much wider than promoting tourism and organising races. They are working with various organisations and businesses in Croatia to partner with them in order to create a healthier environment in general. Their Run Friendly World initiative includes hotels, employers and clinics. 

These week, Run Friendly World welcomed the first clinic in the world - another bubble of Croatian positivity, Bagatin Clinic in Zagreb, one of the leading clinics in the region and named last year as the best dermatology clinic in Europe. 

Already a Run Friendly Employer and a strong supporter of the initiative, Bagatin is now the first official run friendly clinic. 

Run Friendly Clinics are medical institutions that welcome Run Friendly Employers by making sure their employees are healthy and have available monthly  / yearly check ups depending on their needs.

Moreover, not only do Run Friendly Clinics recognize the importance of being active and living a healthy life style, however also motivating their staff to engage in various sporting events and realizing the benefits of being active.

As a Run Friendly Clinic, your goal is to tend to your patients needs to become a better athlete and a healthier person. In addition, to ensure detailed check ups that will manage to treat (mostly) sporting injuries, to advise patients on other healthy approaches and most of all to become part of a community that values active lifestyle.

To learn more about Run Croatia, visit the official website.

And to learn more about the world's first run friendly clinic, visit the Bagatin Clinic website.