January 29, 2020 - Dozens of Zagreb and Split museums, in collaboration with FlixBus, have created new added value and synergy through encouraging travel and elevating culture by providing unique benefits for travelers and visitors to museums.

Namely, HRTurizam reports that the rich offer of 160 Croatian general, artistic, technical, archeological, historical, ethnographic, natural, and other types of museums were visited by more than 5.5 million foreign and local lovers of museum exhibitions in 2018, according to the Museum Documentation Center.

To make the most of Croatian cultural heritage, FlixBus and a dozen museums in Zagreb and Split have presented the Flix & Art project with exclusive benefits on tickets or souvenir shops and discounts on their next FlixBus trip. Therefore, if you're visiting for a one-day or weekend visit to Zagreb or Split, lovers of travel and exploration can enjoy unique and different experiences of permanent exhibitions and other exhibitions of selected museums and galleries.

FlixBus discounts are 10% to 50% off when you purchase a ticket on a museum to museum basis, and a Flix & Art booklet will be created with a listing of all museum amenities and instructions.

The following museums are included in the Flix & Art project: Nikola Tesla Technical Museum, Croatian Museum of Naive Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Mimara Museum, Museum of Hangovers, Museum of Arts and Crafts, Croatian Museum of School, the Ivan Mestrovic Museums in Zagreb and Split, Museum of Senses in Split, and the Croatian Maritime Museum Split.

Don’t forget, Museum Night will be held across Croatia on Friday, January 31, 2020. This year will be the fifteenth edition of the event that began in 2005 with several Zagreb museums. Over the past few years, it has become the most significant event in Croatian museums. 

This year, Museum Night is commemorating two major anniversaries: the 200th anniversary of the Split Archeological Museum, founded in 1820, and the 140th anniversary of the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb, founded in 1880.

Thus, the theme of Museum Night 2020 will be an opportunity for Croatian museums to once again remind the general public about the importance of 'museum history, present and future'. Communicating various content to the public - from museum collections, professional, scientific, educational and entertaining content to virtual tours of museum exhibits, historical buildings and protected heritage sites, and digital technologies have opened up unprecedented possibilities for presenting the museums. 

You can find the program in your city here.

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

January 27, 2020 - Thousands of handball fans and Croatian citizens gathered at Ban Jelacic Square in Zagreb on Monday to welcome the Croatia handball team after taking the silver medal at the 2020 European Championship.

After a surprise welcome at Zagreb Airport, where 500 fans gathered to greet the team at 1 am, the party continued to the capital’s central square on Monday, where a reception was held for the Croatia handball team to congratulate them on a job well done at the 2020 European Championship.

Just after 12:30 pm, the team was announced on stage, followed by the coach and crucial members of the staff and federation.

Coach Lino Cervar was the first to address the crowd. 

"Dear citizens of Zagreb, I am proud to have led our team with passion and immense love. I am grateful to all the generations and this team that has shown incredible unity. I look forward to seeing many children and many young people here. That's why I say, parents guide your children and help them when it is difficult for them. And I also ask the children for their endless gratitude to their parents so that you can say thank you to them. No one will take away our family, as the family is the cradle of life. And these guys showed how to fight when it's the hardest.

I wanted to say something else.

We have fewer and fewer children in our country. That is why we need communion, every day. To go into the future, universal values must be respected, namely truth, righteousness and love."

Igor Karacic, a member of the All-star team at the Euro, was the next to take the microphone.

“This is beautiful. I think that in these 20 days we delighted our people, and it was wonderful to be a Croat in those moments. It’s a shame that we just missed it, but when we see these people, we are happy and we can move forward. The worse team didn’t lose, but that’s sport. We were all together, as one, and the team breathed like a family,” said Karacic.

"I'm not a talker like Lino, but I’m sorry that we made you guys so nervous. Thank you on behalf of the whole team. We hope this is not the last reception,” the MVP of the European Championship and Croatia captain Domagoj Duvnjak concluded.

You can watch the reception in its entirety below.

Source: HRT

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

January 27, 2020 - The Croatia handball team arrived in Zagreb early Monday morning as the European Championship silver medalists.

The Cowboys have landed!

24.Sata reports that around 1 am on Monday morning, the Croatia handball team returned to Croatia with a silver medal around their necks. The flight arrived later than scheduled, but the cheerful Croatian fans in attendance didn't seem to mind.

Namely, fans started gathering at the airport around 11:30 pm, and by the time the Cowboys landed, as many as 500 had arrived at the airport. The fact that Monday is a working day didn’t bother those up past their bedtime - and the team was truly elated to have such a warm welcome home.

“Phenomenal, I thank these wonderful people. It's 1 am and I thank you on behalf of the whole team. These images will remain with us for a lifetime,” said Euro MVP Domagoj Duvnjak upon leaving the plane, adding:

“We were very sad, we felt like we were close to gold. But when you come here and see so many people, you know you've done a great thing.”

The Croatian fans welcomed the handball players with song and dance. One group of young men even brought a loudspeaker to warm up the atmosphere with patriotic songs.

“It was difficult after the defeat, but when we see how many people came to greet us at 1 am, we thank them. The reception will not only be at Ban Jelacic Square, but there will be a lot of parties, and in my Mostar. There will be a lot of work tomorrow, but most importantly, we are proud, and especially for the fans we played for. What this team did at this championship… I tip my hat,” said the best midfielder Igor Karacic.

The Cowboys, accompanied by fans, boarded their bus, waved goodbye, and headed to the hotel. The European Championship silver medalists will stay in Zagreb where a big reception will be organized at Ban Jelacic Square on Monday at 12.30 pm.

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

Our intrepid Zagreb University interns continue their series of tips for new student arrivals in the Croatian capital, with some useful money-saving tips to make that meagre student income stretch a little further.

It is one of the eternal questions facing students: how to save money, but still manage to have some fun or eat something delicious. We live in a time when time is money, we want everything right now, and we don’t want to wait for anything. Then it happens that we end up with things which are not suitable for us or our wallet. Sometimes it is good to slow down a little bit.

Here are 10 tips to save a little cash during your student life in Zagreb.

1. Buy a ticket for the tram/bus

This might seem a ridiculous place to start as, rather than saving money, we are already spending. Maybe the transport company ZET’s motto will make this clearer: “A ride without a ticket/pass - the most expensive ride. “A pass for a bus and tram costs HRK 4 (for up to 30-minute trip) and HRK 10 (up to 90 minutes). Monthly student pass costs HRK 100. If you get caught without the pass, you can be charged up to HRK 800, which is, we believe, way more than you planned to spend on public transport in a month.

2. Food

As we said in the beginning, we all live a fast life, and often we don't have time, for example, to have a proper meal. But if you want to spend less money, try to cook for yourself. It will take 30, 60, or 90 minutes of your day, but during the cooking, your body will get some rest. Furthermore, buy food at a discount or at the market place (if the price is lower than in stores). We are students, and we are fortunate to have mothers who send us vegetables, meat, and the rest of the groceries we need for a proper meal. Also, if you are a student, eat in student restaurants. It's cheaper than McDonald's, it's more delicious than a bakery, and your stomach will be full for just HRK 6.

3. Gym or gym at home?

A monthly subscription in the gym can cost you around HRK 200. That is a pretty nice amount of money you can save by working out at home. If you find this boring, you can always work out with your friend(s). Is there anything better than not leaving your home, spending time with your friends while doing something great for your body and mind? We think not.

4. Where and when to watch movies

We all know that feeling when the lights in Cinestar go out, everybody stops talking, and your nose is fulled with the smell of freshly made popcorns. But, when you buy a ticket, popcorn or nachos and the soda, the price can ruin that sweet feeling. To avoid that, we recommend you to go to the cinema on My Cine Wednesday. They have a discount on movies, and you can save up to HRK 20. If you are a student or a pensioner, we recommend you get their card for a discount.

There are also ART cinemas which tickets are around HRK 25, but you can also find a movie ticket for HRK 20. If you want to save every coin, watching movies at home is a thing for you. There are many movie sites on which you can find whatever genre you want.

5. Events in clubs

It would be better if you don't spend that much money on events in night clubs. We know it is great to go out when there is a themed party or when there is some famous singer or a band. But when you add your ticket, drinks which you have to pay inside, in the end, you spend a good amount of money in just one night. So our advice would be to check Instagram or Facebook pages of night clubs to see if they charge you for an entrance in a club, and perhaps they have a list of cheap drinks. There are night clubs in Zagreb which don't ask for money at the entrance, and there are also some student clubs which are relatively normal with prices. And also if you want to drink, buy in a store and drink at home, trust us, it's a lot cheaper.

P.S. Don't make so much noise, or your neighbors will call the police.

6. Coffee

We know it's great when someone serves you a coffee, and you enjoy with your friends, and you have a great view, but wouldn't it be better to save money for something else? If you really can't imagine your life without coffee, make it at home and invite your friends over. At that time you can talk more privately because nobody can hear you and you can be super relaxed.

7. Cigarettes

This part is for smokers or future smokers. Now we live in a world where cigarettes are very expensive. You should try and quit, but if that's too hard for you, there are other solutions, such as buying cheaper cigarettes. You don't have to buy Marlboro, but you can buy Chesterfield. They even last longer when you smoke them than Marlboro. That's one of the solutions. The second is to buy tobacco and to wrap them yourself. It's a lot cheaper and they last longer.

8. Clothes

Clothes are a weak spot for some people. Try clothes that you like at the store, wait for the sales and hurriedly buy it. Or you can watch when stores have a discount on online sales. Some of them (Mango and Zara) have free delivery up to a certain price, so you don't have to pay delivery. Also, you can collect your package at the store which you put on your delivery, so you don't have to be afraid if your post will be lost.

Also if you love clothes so much, you can buy them in the second-hand shop. It is a lot cheaper and maybe better quality. There are a lot of second-hand shops in Zagreb where you can also sell your clothes if you don't want to wear them anymore. And after all, vintage clothes are back in fashion. Speaking of vintage clothes, ask your family if they have some old clothes so you can wear them if you are the same size. Furthermore, some stores have outlets, and they have a discount of up to 80%, which is great so that you can get great clothes at a reasonable price.

9. Make a financial plan

It sounds like a cliche, but it is a good thing to do. You know how much disposable income you have at the start of the month, so write it all down. Pay attention during the week on how much money you spend and on what in particular. At the end of the month, you will see when and on what did you spend money when maybe you shouldn't. And that is okay because we learn from our mistakes. Make sections like rent, public transport, groceries, hygiene stuff, entertainment… It will help you see how much do you spend on certain things and where you can you spend less.

10. Don't go in shopping when hungry and other shopping tips

It may seem crazy, but pay attention when you go shopping hungry rather than when you just ate. If you are going to buy things with your empty stomach, you may buy things you don't need at the exact moment. Furthermore, make a list of the things you need to avoid purchasing unnecessary items (especially if you are hungry). Another fun fact about spending money, it is always better to pay with cash than with the card because we tend to spend less when we have actual cash in our hands. Lastly, keep an eye on discounts which every store gives once in a while. You can find a lot of things at a lower price and save money daily that way.

ZAGREB, January 25, 2020 - The national day for prevention of cervical cancer, known as Mimosa Day, was marked in Zagreb's Cvjetni Trg square on Saturday with a traditional charity sale of branches of mimosa flowers.

The event, organised for the 13th year in a row to raise public awareness of the importance of cervical cancer prevention, was attended by Mayor Milan Bandić, who called on women to undergo regular medical check-ups and get vaccinated against the HPV virus.

The secretary-general of the Croatian Anti-Cancer League, Neda Ferenčić Vrban, called on parents to have their children, both girls and boys, vaccinated against HPV in eighth grade, as recommended by the national HPV vaccination programme.

Cervical cancer is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) in 99.7 percent of cases. Since there is no effective cure against HPV, regular medical examinations are important to detect HPV infection as early as possible. The cervix is one of the most frequent cancer sites in women aged 20-49, and the most critical period for infection is adolescence.

About 300 women in Croatia are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and every third day one woman dies from it, the event was told.

Mimosa Day is organised by the Croatian Anti-Cancer League and the City of Zagreb Office for Health.

More health news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

After 13 long years, Zagreb will finally get its aerial tram. Here's what the ride will look like. And, like it or not, we’ll have it for the next 50 years. Zagreb residents will soon be able to take the aerial tram to Sljeme again. And four months before it opens, RTL has a preview of the ride.

The Sljeme aerial tram (cable car) is almost beginning to resemble the plans for the massive project, according to Petra Mlačić/RTL Direkt on January 23, 2020. Over 11 months ago, before the first shovel broke ground, and even before that first shovel, the gondola came with a 375 million HRK (50.4 million EUR) price tag. In December 2019, ZET secured a loan for 537 million HRK (72.2 million EUR) to complete the costly endeavor. So, Zagreb will finally have an aerial tram, and it will be like no other in Europe!

Massive Zagreb Base Station Will House Offices and Parking

The massive building will be the base station, which will have a stylish glass exterior, and will be surrounded by a beautifully landscaped lawn. It will also feature a bear statue and parking for bicycles. The entire project began at the base station and that is why most of it has been completed.

There will be 80 gondolas running each day, and the entire turntable is already set up. In the evening, when the aerial tram ceases operation, everything will go to into the garage.

The gondola garage is located on the ground floor and offices will be housed on the second floor. There are also two underground floors for parking spaces. The 280 parking spaces will be available to the public after March 1.

The steel poles have been installed by the Brestovac intermediate station, the terrain protected, and track installations finished. The poles, which secure the gondolas, are from six to 38 meters high. UPDATE: See an aerial video of the project below, which was released by the City of Zagreb on January 23, 2020.

Brestovac Station Source of Controversy

The Brestovac intermediate station has caused the most public controversy. There has been talk for months about whether this station was necessary or if someone had an interest in the property. A large part of the land around Brestovac belongs to the Srebrnjak Children's Hospital, so it had to handed over to the City of Zagreb to allow that station to be built.

The Brestovac station will be much smaller than initially planned but will still function as an entry/exit station. After Brestovac, the aerial tram continues for another 800 meters to the top. The final station is currently the furthest from completion, but it was also the last to begin construction. Nevertheless, they say it will be ready by the deadline, which is May 31.

Follow our Lifestyle page to keep updated on ambitious construction projects in Croatia.

January 23, 2020 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for new flights to Croatia with updates from Zagreb and Rijeka.

Avio Radar reports that the new Danish carrier Great Dane Airlines will fly on a new charter line from Denmark to Rijeka. Namely, the line will operate this offseason between Copenhagen and Rijeka, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from September 10 to October 15. 

This service is operated by Best Travel tourist agency, and is also the airline's first charter flight to Croatia. The Embraer ERJ-195 will fly on this route. It is also currently the only direct route from Denmark to Rijeka. 

Avio Radar also reports that Tunisia’s national carrier Tunisair will again fly on the Zagreb-Monastir charter service, which will operate once a week, on Wednesdays, from May. 27 to October 7, 2020. The line was last in service in 2014, and will currently be the only direct line from Croatia to any destination in Tunisia. An Airbus A320 aircraft will operate on this line.

Furthermore, HRTurizam writes that beginning May 4, 2020, Air France is offering another direct flight from Zagreb to Paris.

In addition to the existing two direct flights, one of which is in cooperation with Croatia Airlines, a total of three flights to Paris are on offer on daily. The new flight allows passengers to depart and return to Paris in one day, but also to board a flight to North America.

Namely, the new airline will provide quality connectivity to North America for all travelers continuing to these destinations, which is certainly an interesting combination and a benefit for Croatian tourism.

"I am very pleased to introduce this additional flight with a night stop in Zagreb. This flight offers excellent connectivity via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to other destinations. Going to Paris and returning to Zagreb on the same day is an added benefit for Croatian travelers. With the new Alloff flight schedule, you can more easily access - among other things - North American destinations, such as New York, Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle and Vancouver,” said Ildiko Kiss Country Manager for Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia.

The new flight will be operated by Airbus 319/320 with 137/166 seats.

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

ZAGREB, January 22, 2020 - Zagreb mayor Milan Bandić appeared before County Court on Wednesday morning and pleaded not guilty to irregularities relating to waste management.

Also accused are the owner of the CIOS waste management company, Petar Pripuz, and another 15 defendants. They all pleaded not guilty to charges that the City had awarded the job of waste disposal to CIOS without a tender.

The trial was watched by civil society activists, including Dario Juričan, who recently ran in the presidential campaign and publicly criticised Bandić for corruption.

A group of activists met Bandić outside the courthouse, booing at him and calling him a thief. They brought him a gift for prison: a toothbrush, a towel with his name, a bar of soap, a roll of toilet paper and a bag of mandarins.

Activist Gordana Pasanec of the Siget civil society group said the group wanted the court to finally pass a final and fair judgment. "It's impossible that he is never found guilty. It is disgraceful that witness testimonies and indictments are constantly changed because of somebody's interests," she said, adding that citizens would show today that they were fed up with bribery and corruption.

The anti-corruption investigating agency USKOK submitted the indictment against the mayor of Zagreb and his associates and business partners to the court back in December 2015. Seven counts of the indictment were upheld by the court in March 2018 and three were returned to the prosecution for completion.

In late March 2019 the Zagreb County Court suspended proceedings against Bandić in the part of the indictment that charged him with defrauding the budget by not paying taxes on donations he had received after the 2010 presidential elections.

At the end of October 2019, the court upheld the part of the indictment against Bandić and Pripuz relating to waste management.

More news about Milan Bandić can be found in the Politics section.

January 22, 2019 - As more tourists discover the diverse attractions of Zagreb, 10 reasons why it is becoming an increasingly popular destination for the digital nomad revolution. 

It has been another great year for tourism Zagreb, with 12% more arrivals and 11% more overnight stays during Advent in Zagreb the icing on the cake for a successful 2019. But in the increasingly competitive world of tourism, one must always stay ahead of the game and adapt to trends for the future. And the good news is that Zagreb is ideally placed – and already enjoying the early benefits – to take advantage of a growing tourism trend of the future.

Digital Nomads.

Before we investigate why Zagreb is fast becoming a digital nomad hotspot, it perhaps makes sense to define what a digital nomad is, how this type of tourism works, and what the size of the potential market is.

People often confuse digital nomads with bloggers and influencers. And yes, these types of people are digital nomads, but they make up just a tiny piece of this nomadic community. A digital nomad is simply someone who works digitally, or remotely. As long as they can plug in to an internet connection and do their job, they are considered a digital nomad. That could be a journalist, such as myself, who spends most of his time working from cafes and friends' living rooms, or it could be an IT specialist whose company allows him to work from home.

The clearest example of how this works in the Croatian context was demonstrated by two digital nomads I met in Jelsa on Hvar last year. He was Russian, she was Ukrainian, and they both worked for an IT company in Munich. Their boss had told them that he only needed them physically in Munich 2 months a year, and they were free to work from home, or anywhere else, as long as they were available and online from the working hours of 09:00 to 17:00.

They decided to do a European tour of Croatia, Italy, Spain and Portugal, choosing Jelsa from April 1 to June 30. Their day started with a swim and coffee on the main square, then to work online in Munich. Lunch in a Jelsa restaurant, back online in Munich until 17:00, then off for a swim and an evening of entertainment in Jelsa.

Working in Germany, living and spending in Croatia. For three months, out of season.

(Photo credit: S. Kastelan/Zagreb Tourist Board)

With the rise of the remote workplace, it is estimated that there will be one BILLION digital nomads in the world by 2035. With fewer places in Europe offering a better lifestyle that Zagreb and Croatia, imagine if 3% of that number chose Croatia – the 30 million longer-term arrivals (not dependent on a peak season) would stay longer, spend more, and contribute more to the community than the correct record number of tourists.

Tanja Polegubic is a Croatian-Australian returnee at the forefront of the digital nomad revolution, and she believes Croatia to be one of the up and coming digital nomad destinations in Europe, and a stop in Zagreb essential.

“Zagreb is a strong symbol and the heart of Lijepa Nasa. It’s also an eco-friendly city, with the iconic blue trams and a very walkable centre an ideal place for the car-less and carbon-conscious digital nomad.”

Tanja founded Saltwater in 2017, catering to digital nomads coming to the Croatian coast. On a remote working mission, she has also launched Virtualis Group (an IT, finance and engineering outsourcing partner) working remotely with clients in Australia, and partnerships with Zagreb-based businesses.

(Tanja's Saltwater co-working space)

“Our business meetings in Zagreb in October and November 2019 were very fruitful. Zagreb is easy to get around, meet clients and find talented collaborations. The connections into the country through the new airport are good - everywhere from Europe to the Middle East and Australia.

“The internet speeds are actually quicker than Australia’s nightmare of “NBN”- so it was with pride to actually show how ahead it is, compared to a country which should be áhead.”

Tanja has been coming and going from Australia for years, often stopping in Zagreb. She was able to base in Croatia as a remote working digital nomad early on in this now mainstream flexible work style. The many benefits to being a digital nomad in Croatia made her decide to service this audience, and ensure remote working is a possibility for all - Saltwater is for incoming digital nomads, and through Virtualis, which employs locals - enabling them to work remotely, and not forced to migrate.

(Photo credit M. Vrdojak/Zagreb Tourist Board)

A special note on women:

“For women, Croatia in general - and of course it’s capital Zagreb - feels very safe and easy to get around. People are exceptionally helpful, and the level of English proficiency is high. Another advantage is certain beauty services are cheaper than in Australia. I often advise nomads, be they from the UK or New Zealand, to wait on getting things like hair done until here. It works out about 4 times cheaper.

“The other advantage across Zagreb is the numerous cafes - sitting, taking in the jovial atmosphere and getting a caffeine fix is fantastic. There’s also a growing number of specialty coffee places popping up - in Zagreb, I’m often at Cogito."

So what are the key things that digital nomads are looking for and Zagreb has to offer?

Schengen. A significant number of digital nomads from outside the EU, including many from North America. With the current visa regime of 90-day stays, this means that these high-spending nomads have to leave the EU for three months. Schengen visa holders can stay a maximum of 90 out of every 180 days, and so nomads are on the lookout for great destinations close to Schengen borders where they can hang out. With the likes of Budapest, Vienna and Ljubljana three Schengen capitals close by, it is not hard to see why Zagreb is an attractive destination for these kinds of nomads. Croatia is of course on the road to Schengen entry, but even after entry, the Schengen factor will still make Zagreb attractive, as it will be in the country closest to the border, and a last stop for those exiting.

(Photo credit M.Vrdoljak/Zagreb Tourist Board)

Safety. Croatia is simply one of the safest countries in the world, with a very low crime rate. Zagreb is incredibly safe for a European capital city, and walking around late at night is not a problem. Many returnees from the diaspora cite the safety as one of the prime reasons to return and bring up children here. As Tanja mentions above, Zagreb and Croatia are increasingly attractive to single female nomads due to safety.

English language. The level of English spoken in Croatia, especially in the younger generation, is excellent. Already a tourist country with decades of experience with foreign visitors, English is also taught from an early age in schools. A recent global study found that Croatia had the second-best English in Central and Eastern Europe, and its rate of improvement was the second best in the world. German is also widely spoken.

Accessibility. The opening of the new 330-million-euro airport terminal in 2018 finally gave Zagreb an airport worthy of the Croatian capital. The expansion of intercontinental routes in recent years means that Zagreb is connected to the world via the global networks of the likes of Qatar, Emirates and Turkish, while seasonal routes to far-flung places such as Toronto and Seoul add to the intercontinental connectivity. Zagreb is also served by several other big airports which increase arrival options, including Budapest, Ljubljana and Split.

Affordability. Zagreb is one of the most affrodable capital cities in Europe, and tourists are often pleasantly surprised at the affordability of essentials, from beer to public transport. For a detailed look at the cost of living in Zagreb, where better to look than this detailed video breakdown from a digital nomad couple?

Thriving tech scene. Given the nature of the digital nomad lifestyle, it is not surprising that a significant number of nomads come from the IT sector. This is another reason why Zagreb is increasingly attractive, as the city is a lively hub for a start up culture which is growing in importance.

A great tourist destination. Nomads are looking for great lifestyle and things to do, and so the fact that Zagreb is a top tourist destination in its own right, as well as being part of one of Europe's most exciting tourism countries only adds to the attraction. Zagreb itself offers tourism attractions and events right through the eye, culminating in its now-famous Advent in Zagreb. But the proximity of the Adriatic coast, Plitvice Lakes and range of historic towns, makes it an enviable base. It is said that Zagreb has the most museums per capita of any city in the world, and there are certainly some unusual ones to check out – The Museum of Broken Relationships, Museum of Illusions, and the newly-opened Museum of Hangovers spring to mind.

Great food and wine. Legendary food critic the late Anthony Bourdain famously called himself an idiot for knowing nothing about Croatia's 'world-class food, world-class wine, world-class cheese.' He is not alone, and visitors are often blown away by the quality and diversity of the regional cuisine of offer in Zagreb. A rapidly expanding international restaurant scene is helping to deal with expat cravings. As with the food, so too does Croatian wine stun the visitor. Among the 130 indigenous grape varieties is the original Zinfandel, and a short drive outside Zagreb will bring you to the sparkling wines of Plesivica, as good a bubbly as anything you will find outside Champagne. And if you are a wine-lover, how many other cities have you visited which have their very own wine road?

(Bagatin Clinic was named International Cosmetic Surgery of the Year 2019 at the International Medical Travel Journal Awards in Berlin last month)

World-class medical tourism for your budget. Medical tourism is on the rise, as people look for affordable healthcare with international quality. Perhaps you have never heard of the excellent reputation of Croatian medical tourism, but Zagreb boasts some world-class products at Zagreb prices. In the Croatian capital, for example, you can find the International Cosmetic Surgery Clinic of the Year 2019 (as voted by 20 independent experts from International Medical Travel Journal), three of the top six dermatological clinics in Europe, the first hospital in Europe performing the revolutionary Mayo Clinic co-sponsored RightMed pharmacogenetic test, and an outstanding eye surgery which has performed successful surgeries on the likes of Ivana Trump and Tim Roth.

(Photo credit M. Vrdoljak/Zagreb Tourist Board)

The relaxed cafe lifestyle. But ultimately, it comes down to lifestyle. And there are few people who would disagree that the cafe culture lifestyle in Croatia is among the best in the world. As the Western world rushes into Starbucks for coffees to go, locals and laughing and gossiping in the cafes of Zagreb over an espresso which takes an hour. Along with safety, the lifestyle in Croatia is its biggest attraction. And lifestyle is the thing that digital nomads want most of all. As long as the internet connection is there and those jobs can be performed in Munich, London, Tokyo or San Francisco, why would you want to be a digital nomad anywhere else?

To read more about being a digital nomad in Croatia, especially for women, here is a great article Tanja wrote for TCN recently. 

We’ll never get there! Due to a detour, an early morning Croatia Bus from Split to Zagreb went astray yesterday, and passengers were on the edge of their nerves. “We've gotten lost ten times, and I'm afraid we will end up in the sea!” one outraged passenger reported from the lost vehicle.

“It is 9:40, and we should have arrived at our destination by now, but we are 300 kilometers from Zagreb. Your drivers demonstrate an inadequate, irresponsible and disinterested approach to their jobs. Worst of all, they don't even help each other solve problems. We’ve gotten lost at least ten times so far!” 

Tell us where and who you want to travel with! | Croatia Bus

Angry Croatia Bus Passenger Gave Location Updates

The angry passenger, one of many who was extremely late to his destination, wrote to the management of Croatia Bus. He left yesterday morning at 4:30am on the bus from Split to Zagreb, and as things stood at 9:40am, they would not arrive until 1pm, according to Slobodna Dalmacija on January 20, 2020.

The Croatia Bus drivers were forced to take a detour due to the bura (or bora, which is an extremely high Adriatic coastal wind), which closed the section of the A1 motorway between Posedarje and Sveti Rok for all vehicles except passenger cars. All others, including buses, were diverted to state roads via Gračac, Obrovac and Karin.

Maslenica Bridge Closed 10 Cumulative Months Since 2008

TCN has written about the frequent closures of this section of the A1 motorway due to high winds, which frequently make crossing the Maslenica Bridge unsafe for most, if not all vehicles. This section of motorway, which includes the Maslenica Bridge, has been closed for 10 cumulative months since 2008 due to unsafe winds.

“As Sveti Rok tunnel was closed, we exited the motorway and the drivers veered onto the Adriatic highway towards Karlobag. We almost reached Sveta Marija Magdalena! There, the drivers turned back after they were informed that the road was closed. We've turned around, and what do you think happened next?” wrote the dumbfounded passenger.

Posedarje - Crvka Sveta Marija Magdelena - Skradin - Karin - Gračac | Four Hour Detour Route

After Heading Toward Karlobag, Croatia Bus Goes to Skradin

“To Skradin, yes, you heard right - Skradin just above Šibenik, and 90 kilometers from Split, our departure station. Now we're finally driving to Zagreb, and we're around Karin. There is a lot more I could write, but I'm afraid we’ll get lost again, I don't know which direction we'll head next time, maybe we’ll end up overseas,” seethed the furious passenger.

His story was confirmed to at the traffic office of Croatia Bus later that morning. At that time, they verified that the bus was somewhere around Gračac, which was 250 kilometers away from Zagreb. The Croatia Bus official acknowledged to that the drivers couldn’t find their bearings after being sent off on a detour before Sveti Rok tunnel, so they went the wrong direction (several times).

Croatia Bus was asked if passengers, many of whom certainly had to be in Zagreb yesterday morning due to urgent obligations, would be compensated. Because who else would take a bus at 4:30 in the morning? An employee of Croatia Bus recommended contacting their legal team. 

Follow our Travel page to keep track of lost buses and wind-related road closures.