May 2, 2020 - Tourism is on hold, but most of us have plenty of time. So let's look at the virtual resources available to explore Croatia virtually. We continue our new Virtual Croatia series with the tools to discover Brela.
A few weeks ago I wrote that being a tourism blogger in the corona era was about as useful as being a cocktail barman in Saudi Arabia. I feel less useless now, a few weeks later, and I am encouraged by the number of Croatian tourism businesses who are contacting us wanting to start thinking of promoting post-corona tourism.
One of the challenges of writing about tourism at the moment is that there is nothing positive to write about. With people confined to their homes and tourism in Croatia currently not possible, many have decided to go into hibernation until it is all over.
I think that this is a mistake, and I have greatly enjoyed the TCN series by Zoran Pejovic of Paradox Hospitality on thinking ahead to tourism in a post-corona world. You can find Zoran's articles here.
Way back on March 14 - several lifetimes ago - I published an article called Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Zagreb. The way I saw things, now was an OUTSTANDING opportunity for tourism promotion. People have time, they yearn for their freedom and former lives, so give them the tools to thoroughly research and enjoy your destinations, and you will have then longing to be there. And when they do come, they will have a deeper understanding of the destination due to their research.
South Africa and Portugal were the first to do their post-corona tourism promotion videos several weeks ago (Post-Corona Tourism Planning: Lessons from South Africa and Portugal), a trick which has been followed by other tourism countries, the latest being Croatia with the national tourist board campaign, #CroatiaLongDistanceLove, going live yesterday.
But while these campaigns create longing and market presence, they don't really educate. People now have time to really get into destinations. And dreams of escape to somewhere more exotic are high on the list of priorities of many.
So TCN has decided to help with that education with a new series called Virtual Croatia, where we will be helping you discover many of Croatia's destinations with all the best virtual tools available on your self-isolating sofa at home.
We started last week with Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Tools to Discover Hvar.
After this, we put our a press release (which you can read here in English and Croatian) offering a free article to any local tourist board in Croatia who would like the free promotion in our Virtual Croatia series.
The Sinj Tourist Board was the first to respond, and now you can see just how rich the tourism offer is in this proud Alka town - your virtual tools to Discover Sinj. This was followed by DIscover Opatija.
Next up, Valentina Vitkovic, Director of the Brela Tourist Board, who sent me some virtual tools to help us discover Brela, one of Croatia's most Instagrammable destinations.
Let's begin!
I left my heart in Brela
Discover Brela from above
Brela has some fantastic beaches, some of the best on the Adriatic. Take a tour!
More aerial magic, with Brela in 4K.
Beaches, beaches, beaches
Let's explore those beaches in greater detail. Punta Rata.
One of the most beautiful gravel beaches of the world is in a protected area, a cape covered in pine forest. In July 2004, the American Forbes magazine listed this beach among the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. Among the most famous ones, such as Copacabana, St. Tropez, Costa del Sol, and the exotic beaches in Belize, Antigua and the Maldives, there is also a small part of the Croatian beauty and for a good reason. In 2014 The Huffington Post website described Brela as a dream destination and a perfect reason to get on a plane to Croatia as soon as possible. According to Belgian website European Best Destinations - Punta Rata was one of the most beautiful beaches in 2015. The beach has been a winner of numerous prizes in Croatia as well.
Alongside Punta Rata and Podrače, one of the most delightful beaches in Brela is also Jakiruša beach. It is situated on the west end of Brela. Feeling of peace and tranquillity is guaranteed.
The Podrače beach in Brela is one of the most photographed beaches of Croatia. It is in very close proximity to Punta Rata beach. The European Parliament published a video on their Twitter profile providing suggestions on where to go swimming this summer. The first place was taken by our magnificent pebble bay – the Podrače beach in Brela. In 2015 beach Podrače was listed among the 15 most beautiful and desirable vacation destinations by the site European Best Destinations. The peak of the picturesque stone embracing this turquoise blue bay in the past was used by local inhabitants for the production of sea salt by evaporation of sea in shallow pools
The most famous and most patriotic rock in all Croatia
Brela Stone is one of the most famous rocks in all Croatia, perhaps the most famous. And one which appears in thousands of photos and Instagram feeds each year. And in 2014, just head of the opening match of the World Cup in Brazil, where Croatia took on the host nation, it assumed a very patriotic look.
An adventure paradise - parasailing
Brela is also a great adventure tourism destination - by land, sea and air. Let's start with the bird's eye view - parasailing.
Get active on two wheels
Cycling.
Or walk and bike.
Climb for the best views
You don't have to take to the air to get incredible views - how about a bit of rock climbing?
The clear waters of Brela, perfect for diving, kayaking, semi-submarines and dolphins!
But those crystal clear waters of the Adriatic will entice you back in for a swim very soon. And there is plenty to do, both above and below the water.
Discover Brela underwater - this is great diving terrirtory.
Or glide along the surface on the Adriatic above water by sea kayak.
Or combine above water with underwater with the semi-submarine tour - great fun for the kids.
But respect the locals and be prepared to share the Adriatic with them - including dolphins!
Traditional UNESCO romantic music - Klapa Brela
Nothing beats the romantic memories of your summer in Dalmatia than a fabulous dinner of local fish and great wine to the sounds of the enchanting male a capella music of Dalmatian klapa, a tradition which has been inscribed as UNESCO intangible heritage. Meet Klapa Brela.
A walking tour of Brela
Discover Brela close up with this walking tour of the town and its environs.
The Napoleonic Road
The road represents an exceptional architectural contribution in road construction from the beginning of the 19th century (built during the period 1810-1811). It was never completed so it is possible to reconstruct all phases of its construction. It was built, or rather laid, on a slope of Biokovo, between 357.41 and 443.73 meters above sea level. The rise does not exceed 6%, in order to make the road very comfortable for driving carts, horse-riding and walking. The architect Frane Zavoreo is the project engineer of the French road on Biokovo.
Interpretation boards are positioned along the road, in order to bring you closer and to provide you an understanding and to explain you the manner and purpose of building this truly exceptional and valuable road. In addition, the entire road is a wonderful viewpoint on Brela, the Riviera of Makarska and the islands!The French road is listed in the Register of Cultural Goods of Croatia on 25th September 2017.
Brela as it once was - Karavan in 1984
And finally, a step back in time - Brela and the Makarska Riviera as It Once Was back in 1984.
Official Brela Tourist Board
Discover Brela via the official Brela Tourist Board website.
THIS. IS. BRELA. When can we expect your visit?
To discover more of virtual Croatia, you can follow this series in our dedicated section, Virtual Croatia.
If you are a local tourist board in Croatia and would like your destination featured in this series for free, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Virtual Croatia (and destination name)
