The return of the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb

The return of the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb next month (on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March 2024) offers up an excellent opportunity to snap up some vintage and second-hand fashion for an fantastic price.

BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb

Instead of purchasing clothes items by price, BeThrifty works on the concept of weight – select the pieces you’d like to buy and they’ll be weighed at the end to determine how much you’ve got in your haul. At the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb event, you then pay a price of €20 per kilo – although you don’t, of course, have to buy a full kilo.

There will be an excellent selection of high-quality vintage pieces from brands with items for both women and men including dresses, jumpsuits, sweatshirts, trousers and jeans, jackets and coats, bags, belts, hats and much more. Brands that BeThrifty come across include Fila, Lacoste, Nike, Reebok, Burberry, Levi’s, Wranger and others. Only the top grade of clothing makes its way to BeThrifty sales, with pieces being collected from old clothes collections across Europe. All clothing items are sorted and chosen at established recycling centres and checked thoroughly before being offered for sale.

The BeThrifty event in Zagreb is one of the many upcoming BeThrifty sales across Europe – take a look at bethrifty.events/en to see where other events are taking place!

Tickets for the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb

The BeThrifty event in Zagreb will take place on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March 2024.

Entry is FREE for the first 500 tickets to be sold – snap these up at bethrifty.events/en/products/zagreb-sale-29-30-ozujak-vintage-preloved-sale now! After the free tickets are sold out, tickets will be priced at €3 which you can also purchase online or at the door on the day.

BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb
1pm – 7pm, Friday 29th March 2024
and
10.30am – 6pm, Saturday 30th March 2024
Dom Sportova
Trg Kresimira Cosica 11
10000, Zagreb
bethrifty.events/en


BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb

Advent in Zagreb 2023

Advent in Zagreb – the city’s epic Christmas celebrations – returns to Zagreb on Friday 2nd December 2023, running until 7th January 2024. Here’s our rundown on what’s happening during Advent in Zagreb and where, and the best of what there is to see and do.

Advent in Zagreb

What is Advent in Zagreb?

Advent in Zagreb is essentially a Christmas market…but in fact, so much more than that! Having first been held in 2010, it is a large-scale celebration of Christmas that takes place in many locations all across the city. So many of Zagreb’s squares, streets, parks, shopping areas, museums, attractions and more will be adorned with beautiful lights or other festive decorations and will be used as venues for Christmas fun. There will be food and drink (oh so much food and drink!), concerts and live music,

The celebrations have received so much positive press and visitor comments over the years, often being called one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. In fact, Advent in Zagreb even won the “Best Christmas Market” category for three years straight (from 2016 to 2018) awarded by European Best Destinations.

Here’s a video preview of this year’s celebrations from Zagreb Tourist Board:

The main fun at Advent in Zagreb

Zagreb’s main square Trg Ban Jelacic will – as to be expected – have a giant, decorated Christmas tree in place during Advent in Zagreb. In fact, the tree is already in place, as of 27th November, awaiting decoration. The main square is also were the traditional Advent candles are situated, around Mandusevac Fountain.

Christmas celebrations aren’t Christmas celebrations without an ice rink, are they? Thankfully, Zagreb will indeed have an ice rink once again this winter with the Ice Park situated on King Tomislav Square – in front of the very impressive Art Pavillion. Open from 2nd December, the rink will be open daily from 10am until 11pm or 12pm (although only until 5pm on Christmas Eve). Should you like to see in the New Year on a pair of skates you can even do so – that day, the rink will be open until 2am!

Advent in Zagreb - Ice Park - Ice Rink
The Ice Park

The very cool Gric Tunnel is often kitted out for various events and this Christmas it will host the Polar Dream, offering visitors the chance to “experience” the Northern Lights.

City Break in Croatia - Advent in Zagreb
Gric Tunnel during Advent in Zagreb

A wonderful experience would be to join the gas lamp lighters for Advent Under the Lantern. Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (from 6th to 23rd December) at 4.30pm they depart from the Lotrscak Tower to continue this 160-year-old tradition. They will be joined by vocal groups such as the gospel group The Messengers or the female vocal ensemble Cipkice.

Festive Food and Drink

This will be everywhere, ha ha!

One of the absolute best places to try some Christmas treats (and then some) is at Fuliranje (which translates to “Fooling Around”!). Located on Josip Juraj Strossmayer Square, there is a wide range of food vendors offering up some very tasty, filling grub, and plenty of warming drinks, from mulled wine to brandies. But Fuliranje is so much more besides – there will be live DJs, children’s choirs, magical decorations and Santa himself. Fuliranje is one of the most popular elements of Advent in Zagreb, and is also a top place to see in the New Year.

A previous edition of Fuliranje

Sweet Zrinjevac in Zrinjevac Park will have all manner of street food stalls selling hearty and warming winter food and drink. (Sausages! Mulled wine!). Set amongst the beautifully decorated trees of the park, it’s one of the top places to go during Advent in Zagreb. This year, it will be open from 12pm to 11pm or 12am daily from 29th November.

Be sure to head to Zagreb’s main Dolac Market from 6pm on 22nd December for the Christmas Pop-Up of PLACe Market. Local chefs and restaurants will be offering all sorts of tasty treats to go along with the festive and fun atmosphere.

Musical Delights

One of the first events of Advent in Zagreb will be a concert performed by the famed Zagreb Soloists at the Okotogon at 12pm on Wednesday 29th November.

The Advent Symphony of the City is a performance that will take place in several locations across Zagreb on different days. First taking place at Trg Petrice Kerempuha (just above Dolac market) at 8pm on 7th December, it will certainly put a smile on your face.

The 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall will be celebrated from 28th to 30th December with a very full programme of plays, performances, concerts and even guided tours. The grand concert takes place at 7.30pm on Friday 29th December when the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra Symphony and the Symphony Orchestra of Croatian Radiotelevision will perform.

Advent in Zagreb - Zrinjevac
Zrinjevac Park

Advent in Zagreb for kids…and for pets?!

What kid doesn’t love anything Christmas? They’re sure to have a good time just being at the Advent in Zagreb celebrations, but if you’re looking for some activities specifically aimed for the younger members of your family, you’re in luck.

Probably one of the most fun events for kids will be the Ice Fairy Tale at Ribjak Park (from 16th December). Fully decorated in icy style, the Snow Queen will be fulfilling the dreams of all children. But if your kids like all things icy, don’t forget about taking them skating at Ice Park (mentioned above) which they will surely be thrilled with.

The Croatian Chamber of Trade at Ilica 49 will be hosting a Craft Advent (2nd to 31st December) where handcrafted wooden toys and games from days gone by will come to life. “Big kids” (i.e. adults) will surely also delight in this, perhaps reminiscing about their childhood.

Certain museums will also have fun events that will delight kids. The Backo Mini Express Train Museum will be running their model trains daily during the Christmas period whilst the Chocolate Museum will be showing off sculptures made of…chocolate! (Of course!)

Zagreb Zoo – such a great place to take kids any time of year – will also have its own Christmas celebrations, and Santa might even drop by!

And yes, what about pets? The Time Out Heritage Hotel will be holding lectures and treats – for four-legged and two-legged friends – with pets even being able to take a photo with Santa. Altogether now – awww!

Not quite for pets, per se, but for pet lovers – Zagreb’s Cat Caffe will be offering a wonderfully festive hot drinks menu; the perfect way to warm up after enjoying all the outdoor fun.

More Info

Advent in Zagreb is so chock-a-block full of happenings that we’ve really only just covered the surface…phew!

You can of course find the full rundown of all the festivities taking place on the official Advent in Zagreb website and we would highly recommend you take a look to learn about all the fun things taking place.

Don’t forget to check out our guide to Zagreb for advice on accommodation, transport, restaurants and cafes, things to do with kids and much, much more!

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October in Croatia

October in Croatia: The best events and more

September seems to have whizzed by and we’re already on the doorstep of the tenth month of the year. If you plan on visiting Croatia in the next few weeks, take a look at our guide to October in Croatia to make the most of your visit to the country.

October in Croatia
The Plitvice Lakes National Park in October

Getting to Croatia in October

If you’re travelling to Croatia from the UK and Ireland, there are still plenty of flights this month. And we do mean plenty!

British Airways operate their London Heathrow to Zagreb flights year-round, and will also fly from Heathrow and Gatwick to Dubrovnik until the end of October.

Simiarly, Croatia Airlines fly from from London Heathrow to Zagreb year-round, and this year will also continue their flights from London Heathrow to Split until early January 2024. They also fly from London Gatwick to Split until mid-October.

Easyjet will continue to fly from London Gatwick to Pula and Rijeka until the end of October, and from the same airport to Split until early November, and to Dubrovnik until (amazingly) the end of November. They will also fly from London Luton to Split; from Bristol to Pula, Split and Dubrovnik; from Manchester to Split and Dubrovnik; from Edinburgh to Dubrovnik; and from Glasgow to Split. All of these flights will continue until the end of this month.

Ryanair from London Stansted and Dublin to Zagreb year-round, with the former route operating daily – great news for those aiming to reach Croatia’s capital. They will also fly from London Stansted to Osijek and Manchester to Zagreb until the end of October, and from Dublin to Split until early November.

Wizzair have extended their service from London Luton to Split and will now operate it until the end of October.

TUI will operate flights from London Gatwick, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds Bradford to Dubrovnik until mid-October.

Jet2 meanwhile continue their strong flight network to Croatia into October too! They will have flights from London Stansted to Split and Dubrovnik until the end of October; from Birmingham to Split also until the end of October and to Dubrovnik until early November; from East Midlands to Dubrovnik until the end of October; from Manchester to Split until the end of October and to Dubrovnik until early November; from Newcastle to Dubrovnik until the end of October; from Leeds Bradford to Split until the end of October and to Dubrovnik until early November; and from Edinburgh to Dubrovnik until the end of October. Phew!

What to do in October in Croatia

Well, aside from eat (see the events section below – you’ll see what I mean), there’s plenty to enjoy in Croatia in October. Most amenities will still be fully open although some (such as waterparks) close for the season at the end of September. You will likely still be (just about) able to swim in the sea, particularly if you visit early in the month,

Other attractions become cheaper to visit in October, which is undoubtedly good news for visitors. For example, entrance to the Plitvice Lakes National Park is €23.50 for adults in October, compared to €40 during summer.

Having said that, Plitvice actually celebrates a special promotional week in early October every year – this will happen from 1st to 8th October 2023. Celebrating the 44th anniversary of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site, tickets will cost just €10 for adults, €6.50 for students and €4.50 for children aged 7 to 18 years old. More details here: Promotional October Week In Plitvice Lakes National Park!

Best Events in October in Croatia

Gastro Delights

October is essentially gastro month in October! There’s a whole heap of wonderful food-based festivities taking place this month, particularly in the region of Istria. One of the best-known events is Truffle Days which takes place every weekend in October, starting on 30th September and 1st October. Centred around Livade just north of Motovun in Central Istria, Truffle Days is brought to you by the team behind Zigante Restaurant and offers a wide range of truffle-rated fun – as well as plenty of opportunities to taste this spectacular food item and other truffle-based products. To really immerse yourself in this delicacy, board the truffle train to Motovun forest (that sounds rather fantastical, but it’s real!) to take part in some truffle hunting yourself.

If they’re not celebrating truffles in Istria in October, they’re celebrating chestnuts! The 48th Marunada Festival takes place in Lovran on the eastern side of Istria from 13th to 15th October, as well as in the wider region on subsequent weekends. As you will expect, all sorts of sweet chesnut treats will be on offer for you to try, from cakes to liquer event to chestnut beer! There will also be live music as part of the celebration and kids events too.

In inland Croatia, in Ivanic-Grad to be precise (which is southeast of Zagreb), the 19th Bucijada Pumpkin Festival will be held from 6th to 8th October. October is of course pumpkin month for many of us thanks to Halloween…aside from that, it’s pumpkin month because it’s harvest time! Again, there will be all manner of pumpkin and squash related foodstuffs to try, including cakes and pies and (the obligatory) beer. Live music abounds too, and this event includes plenty of fun activities for children for children too. I think the pumpkin-kremsnite eating competition sounds like fun!

Let’s take a look at what you can treat yourself to in Dalmatia now, There will be an amazing offering at Dubrovnik’s Good Food Festival (9th to 22nd October) including special menus at participating restaurants, wine tastings, dessert workshops and more. Enjoy a “bottomless bubbles brunch” at Park Orsula or a rose wine tasting at Love Bar; learn more about Croatian baking with workshops on pastries, baked goods and desserts; have dinner with a Michelin-starred chef…all of these experiences are amazing! For general fun, head to Dubrovnik Beer Company on either Saturday or the first Sunday for good food, beer and live music, or to Stradun on Saturday 21st October to sample all manner of food items and wine (€6 for a good voucher, €3 for a wine one). Take a look at the programme on the Good Food Festival event page for full details of the line-up, and to find out how to book certain events.

And even more amazing Croatian food is on offer at the Taste the Mediterranean Festival in Split from 4th to 8th October. It’s a slightly more specialist event with many items on the programme being invitation only, but we can’t not include it here!

Events for active types

In sports and activities are more your sort of bag – or perhaps you want to get your heart rate going after sampling all that fine food – there are a number of active events taking place in October too. One of the best known is the 31st edition of the Zagreb Marathon which will hit the city’s streets on 8th October. Baska on the island of Krk, will host the Baska Outdoor Festival from the 13th to 15th October; this event includes a variety of activities for active types (such as running, climbing, cycling, and hiking) aimed at different levels of ability. That weekend (on the 15th October) will also see the Ironman Triathlon event take place in Porec.

Other events

Many cities in Croatia host a film festival, and October sees two such events take place.

Split’s Film Festival will be on from 12th to 21st October with both Croatian and international films being screened. Meanwhile, the Dubrovnik Film Festival will be on from 19th to 22nd October; you can take a look at the films that will be screened here.

Live music lovers will be delighted by the Zagreb Jazz Festival taking place in the city throughout the month; take a look at the website to find out which concerts will be taking place.

Finally, the 25th Biograd Boat Show is on in the town from 25th to 29th October; this is Croatia’s largest boat show.

The weather during October in Croatia

Of course, what the weather is like during October in Croatia will affect the happiness of many a visitor – and that’s fair enough! It’s hard to predict the weather for a full month, but general gentle summer temperatures (i.e. not 30C+!) tend to hang on into October. Certainly, it’s been a pretty hot September in Croatia, with temperatures reaching the high 20s Celsius (often more) at times.

The start of October looks to be a few degrees cooler in most places, although that will still bring very pleasant conditions with plenty of sunshine.

Keep an eye on the Croatian Meteorological Service website for 3-day and 7-day weather forecasts for Croatia.

BeThrify Vintage Kilo Sale in Croatia – in Zagreb and Zadar – in June

Excellent news for all fans of shopping and lovers of vintage and second-hand fashion! The BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale is making its way to the Croatian cities of Zagreb and Zadar in June.

What is BeThrifty? The Austrian online store specialises in unique vintage pieces for both men and women, selling a wide variety of clothing items and accessories with a good range of brands – including Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren and many more. This summer they will be hosting their Vintage Kilo Sales in cities all across Central Europe – from Pilsen to Bratislava, Maribor to Stuttgart…and in the two fine Croatian cities of Zagreb and Zadar as well!

The BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sales allow shoppers to purchase BeThrifty’s vintage stock at a special price per kilo – in the case of the sales in Croatia, this will be €39/kg. The sales themselves will also offer clothing from across 60 different categories – everything from windbreakers to leather jackets, sweaters and hoodies, crazy print shirts and much more – in sizes ranging from XS to XX. Changing rooms will be on hand so you can be sure you look good in whatever you plan to buy!

The clothing found at the Vintage Kilo Sales has been taken from assorted old clothes collections from across Europe. All clothing items are sorted and chosen at renowned recycling centres. Only the highest quality vintage items make their way to BeThrifty. Clothes and accessories are also checked thoroughly and repaired if necessary by BeThrifty staff before being offered for sale.

These sales are a wonderful eco-friendly way of adding to your wardrobe; they’re also a stark contrast to the usual practices of the fashion industry. BeThrifty’s Vintage Kilo Sales embody environmental consciousness, thriftiness, individuality and a wide selection of the trendiest and most unique clothes and accessories.

BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Croatia - Zagreb
BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Croatia - Zadar

BeThrify Vintage Kilo Sale in Croatia

Zagreb’s BeThrifty event will be held at the Dom Sportova on 10th & 11th June 2023. Tickets can be purchased at https://bethrifty.events/products/zagreb-10-11-lipanj-vintage-preloved-sale which allows entry to the sale for one and a half hours.

Zadar’s BeThrifty event will be held at the Sportzentrum Visnjik on 23rd & 24th June 2023. Tickets can be purchased at https://bethrifty.events/products/zadar-23-24-lipanj-vintage-preloved-sale which also allows entry to the sale for one and a half hours.

There is a limited number of 200 free tickets per event; after these are sold out, tickets cost €3. For both locations, the price of purchasing items is €39/kg.

Cash and card are accepted as payment.

BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Croatia
Dom Sportova, Zagreb, 10th & 11th June 2023
Sportzentrum Visnjik, Zadar, 23rd & 24th June 2023
bethrifty.store

Brac Film Festival

8th Brac Film Festival starts next week

The eighth edition of the celebrated Brac Film Festival will be hosted in the lovely Supetar on the island next week, from 10th to 13th August 2022. With a programme richer than ever, the festival will show a variety of screenings at the outdoor summer cinema in town, from feature-length films to shorts, as well as a good selection of kids’ films. Brac Film Festival will offer a wonderful cinematic experience on one of Croatia’s most beautiful islands!

Brac Film Festival

Short Films

Short films will proceed the main feature each day, starting at 9.30pm. These short films have been produced by students of local film academies, and the Brac Film Festival gives them an excellent opportunity to screen their works. 2022’s festival will see shorts such as “Pištolji i kacige” (“Gunz and Helmets“), “Kriza” (“Crisis”), “Džonika” and “Sound Mixer” shown.

Main features at Brac Film Festival

The opening evening of the festival will see the screening of the film “Divljaci” (“Savages“), directed by Dario Lonjak. This action comedy tells the story of three Croatian football fans who accidentally end up in a terrorist camp!

The second evening the outstanding “Strahinja Banović” (titled “As Far As I Can Walk” in English), directed by Stefan Arsenijević, will be screened.

On the third night “Zbornica” (“The Staffroom“), by Sonja Tarokić, will be shown; this film has been declared “one of the best Croatian films in recent times” by critics.

The sports drama “Zlatni dječak” (“Golden Boy“) is the main feature screening on the final night of the festival. Directed by Ognjen Janković, the film tells the story of a 20-year-old promising soccer player who, upon entering the professional world, finds it increasingly difficult to reconcile his private life with the demands of sport at the very top.

Brac Film Festival

Films for children

Children’s films will be screened at the festival every day at 9pm. Aimed at kids aged 6 and upwards, both Croatian and foreign films will be shown – these include “Ljeto kada sam naučila letjeti” (“The Summer I Learned to Fly“) which tells the tale of 12-year-old Sofija who enjoys an adventure she couldn’t have dreamed of during her summer holiday on Hvar.

The other kids’ films that will be shown are “Comedy Queen”, “Nelly Rapp: Monster Agent”, “Even Mice Go To Heaven” and the well-known “The Egg“.

S

Brac Film Festival

More info on Brac Film Festival

Full details on the festival can be found on the official website – bracfilmfestival.hr/en.

Tickets for all film screenings can be purchased at the box office on the Riva in Supetar. Tickets start being sold from 8th August.

Brac Film Festival
10th – 13th August 2022
bracfilmfestival.hr/en

Marco Polo Challenge

12th edition of Marco Polo Challenge on Korcula this Sunday, 24th April

This Sunday, 24th April 2022, the 12th Marco Polo Challenge triathlon will take place on the gorgeous island of Korcula – the reputed birthplace of the famous explorer after whom the triathlon is named.

Marco Polo Challenge, Korcula

About The Marco Polo Challenge

The middle distance triathlon, which will cover 1.9 km, 90km and 21km of swimming, cycling and running, takes place over the whole island of Korcula. This main event is to be held alongside a sprint distance triathlon, a sprint team relay and a 5km charity-fundraising run event.

The Marco Polo Challenge marks the opening of triathlon season in Croatia, and the event also hosts the middle distance Croatian championships. It is being jointly organized by Triathlon Club Split, Korcula Tourist Board and the town of Korcula in cooperation with Vela Luka and Smokvica municipalities and their tourist boards.

The organisers have prepared cash prizes and athletes will also have the opportunity to raise money for charity.


Nika Silić Maroević, Korčula Town Mayor, says:

“Welcome to Korcula – the island of Marco Polo that will enchant you with its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Discover our beautiful island; enjoy wandering around streets shaded by old stone houses, the most romantic sunrises, beautiful beaches and unique sword dances. Discover the taste of traditional local seasonal food and the finest Korcula wines and the extra virgin olive oils. Korcula is an ideal year-round triathlon holiday destination, as you will see for yourself during the competition.”

Hana Turudić, Korcula Town Tourist Board Director, says:

“Croatia has more than a thousand islands, and Korcula is different because of its wide range of activities. Korcula has been declared the safest Croatian island for a paradise vacation by Forbes magazine, which placed it on a list of the 12 safest islands in Europe. Get your bikes, running shoes and wetsuits ready for the challenging race and have a great time in Marco Polo’s home town. We invite you to extend your stay on Korcula and enjoy everything a warm springtime in the south of Dalmatia can offer.”

Korcula

Korcula – an ideal location for a triathlon

Korcula offers good weather conditions all year round, with open water swimming without wetsuits possible for most of the year.

Additionally, as the race is taking place in early season, the event’s accommodation sponsor, Aminess Hotels & Campsites, is offering participants top-of-the-line accommodation at extremely affordable rates.

Ivan Pavić, Race Director and General Secretary of Triathlon Club Split, says:

“We are thrilled to be bringing the championships in middle distance triathlon to this beautiful island of Croatia, and we are confident that athletes will have not only a great race experience but also a wonderful weekend in Korcula at the end of April.”

More info

All the details about the Marco Polo Challenge triathlon can be found on the official website: www.marcopolo-challenge.com. Learn more about Korcula on the Korcula Tourist Board website.

Marco Polo Challenge
24th April 2022, Korcula
www.marcopolo-challenge.com

Croatia in October 2021

Visiting Croatia in October 2021

Summer may have finished, by visiting Croatia in October is still possible…and highly recommended! We take a look at what you can see and do this month in Croatia, as well as what you need to know for travelling there.

Croatia in October 2021

Travelling from the UK to Croatia in October

Negative tests NO LONGER REQUIRED for double vaccinated travellers from the UK

Latest update As of 24th October, fully vaccinated travellers returning to England from Croatia (or indeed, from anywhere else) can book a cheaper lateral flow test or a PCR test for the required day 2 test. See Travel to England from another country during coronavirus on the GOV.UK website for more details – and to check the rules for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Latest update As of 1st October, double vaccinated travellers from the UK no longer need a negative test to enter Croatia…great news! Obviously, if you are not fully vaccinated and/or cannot prove you have had covid in the previous 365 days, you do still need a negative test to enter the country. Full details of this here: Double vaccinated UK travellers to Croatia no longer need a negative test.

New travel rules for England from 4th October

On Monday 4th October at 4am, the travel rules for England change. The green and amber lists are being combined into one ‘safe list’ whilst the red list remains…red. Croatia is currently on the green list, so will definitely be on the new safe list from this date.

The rules for travelling back from a safe list country – including Croatia – from 4th October vary depending on whether you are fully vaccinated or not.

If you are fully vaccinated, to travel back from Croatia to England, you need:

  • book and pay for a day 2 PCR test (a test to get back into England is no longer required) – we recommend Randox
  • complete the passenger locator form in the 48 hours before returning to England
  • do the day 2 test

If you are NOT fully vaccinated, to travel back from Croatia to England, you need:

  • take a pre-departure test in the 3 days before returning to England
  • book and pay for day 2 and day 8 PCR tests – we recommend Randox
  • complete the passenger locator form in the 48 hours before returning to England
  • quarantine at home/your place of stay for 10 days
  • do the day 2 and day 8 tests

This is a change as, up until 4th October, non-vaccinated and vaccinated had to do a pre-departure test to return to England…and non-vaccinated travellers did not have to quarantine for 10 days.

Travelling from elsewhere to Croatia in October

As well as the major change mentioned above – that double vaccinated travellers from the UK no longer need a negative test to enter Croatia – there have been some additional rule changes as of 1st October 2021:

  • If you are entering Croatia using a vaccination certificate, the second dose of your vaccine (or single dose in the case of single-dose vaccines) must have been administered within the previous 365 days. (This number of days has changed – it was previously 270 days.)
  • If you are entering Croatia using a positive test result from a previous covid infection (at least 11 days must have passed the test result!), this is valid if the test has been taken in the previous 365 days (also previously 270 days)

Take a look at our Croatia Travel Restrictions page for other regulations, and do also take a look at the rules posted on the Ministry of the Interior website.

Flights from the UK & Ireland to Croatia in October

There are still plenty of flights to Croatia if you fancy an October break! They include:

To Zagreb

  • British Airways 5x then 4x/week from London Heathrow for the rest of the year
  • Croatia Airlines 3x/week from London Heathrow for the rest of the year
  • Croatia Airlines 2x/week from Dublin for the rest of the year
  • Ryanair daily from London Stansted for the rest of the year
  • (Note: Ryanair will start flying 2x/week from Manchester, and 3x/week from Dublin from 2nd December)

To Pula

  • Easyjet 1x/week from London Luton until 30th October
  • Easyjet 2x/week from Bristol until 30th October
  • Ryanair 3/x week from London Stansted until 28th October

To Zadar

  • Ryanair 5/x week from London Stansted until 30th October
  • Ryanair 2/x week from Manchester until 30th October
  • Ryanair 2/x week from Edinburgh until 27th October
  • Ryanair 2/x week from Dublin until 27th October

To Split

  • Easyjet 3x then 2x/week from London Gatwick until 30th October
  • Easyjet 4x then 3x/week from London Luton until 31st October
  • Easyjet 5x/week from Bristol until 30th October
  • Easyjet 2x/week from Manchester until 30th October
  • Easyjet 2x/week from Glasgow until 24th October
  • Easyjet 5x/week from Belfast until 30th October
  • Ryanair 3/x week from Dublin until 29th October
  • Wizzair 2x from London Luton until 30th October
  • TUI 2x/week from Manchester until 8th October
  • Jet2.com 1/x week from London Stansted until 31st October
  • Jet2.com 1/x week from Birmingham until 31st October
  • Jet2.com 3x then 2/x week from Manchester until 30th October
  • Jet2.com 1/x week from Leeds Bradford until 16th October

To Dubrovnik

  • British Airways daily from London Heathrow until 31st October
  • Easyjet 3x/week from London Gatwick until 30th October
  • Easyjet 2x/week from Bristol until 31st October
  • Easyjet 2x/week from Manchester until 9th October
  • Easyjet 2x/week from Edinburgh until 6th November
  • TUI 1x/week from London Gatwick until 24th October
  • TUI 1x/week from Manchester until 24th October
  • Jet2.com 3/x week from London Stansted until 31st October
  • Jet2.com 1/x week from Birmingham until 30th October
  • Jet2.com 3/x week from Manchester until 31st October
  • Jet2.com 1/x week from Newcastle until 31st October
  • Jet2.com 2/x week from Leeds Bradford until 31st October
  • Jet2.com 2/x week from Edinburgh until 24th October
  • Aer Lingus 3x/week from Dublin until 30th October

That’s a lot of flights! Take a look at our Flights to Croatia from the UK & Ireland 2021 page for the full schedule.

Events in Croatia in October

There’s absolutely loads on in Croatia this month! Take a look at some of the highlights below:

  • Autumn is truffle season in Istria! Zigante Truffle Days actually stretches out from 18th September to 14th November 2021; this year, it’s primarily centred around Restaurant Zigante in Livade in northeastern Istria
  • The Zadar Street Food Festival is on now (until 3rd October) – take your pick from food stalls offering delicacies from local restaurants 
  • The annual professional road cycling CroRace is on from 28th September to 3rd October; there are six stages taking place across the country, from Osijek in eastern Croatia to central Dalmatia, to Istria and then finishing in Zagreb on the final Sunday. Pop along if you’re in one of these regions to watch the cyclists whizzing past (or watch it on TV for lovely scenes of Croatia!).
  • Northern Croatian town Koprivnica hosts the Podravski Motivi / Podravina Motfis on 2nd & 3rd October, showcasing items typical from the region (such as naive art) as well as young wine and chestnuts
  • Dubrovnik’s Triathlon will be taking place on land and in the waters around the city on 2nd October – there will be different races for experienced triathletes as well as first-timers 
  • In a similar(ish) vein, the 29th Zagreb Marathon will be hitting the streets of Croatia’s capital on 10th October 
  • Dubrovnik Film Festival is on from 14th to 17th October
  • On the island of Krk, the Baska Outdoor Festival offers outdoor adventures for all abilities and ages over a weekend in mid-October (15th to 17th)
  • Held all over Croatia, Restaurant Week (Tjedan Restorana) is on from 15th to 24th October – participating restaurants (check the website!) offer menus for a special price
  • The Biograd Boat Show, the largest such event in Croatia, is taking place from 20th to 24th October  

Weather in Croatia in October

The weather forecast is looking exceedingly lovely for the first part of October – along the coast (and the further south you go, the better your chances of warm weather) in places such as Split and Dubrovnik, you’ll find temperatures of low to mid-20s Celsius every day. There are occasional rain showers forecast, yes, but most days will see plenty of sun. The long-range forecast for October is the same. Further north up the coast temperatures will be similar if a few degrees less; inland likewise also with more mixed weather (more rain).

Take a look at the Croatian Meteorological Service website for forecasts.

What to See and Do

October is the month that straddles the seasons in Croatia – whilst the early part of the month may well be very pleasant indeed (see under “Weather” above!) the temperature slowly declines. On the coast you’ll enjoy plenty of sunshine although it will probably be a little too cold for sea swimming; hitting the pool, meanwhile, should be okay! We would certainly recommend heading to destinations in and around Split and Dubrovnik, as well as Istria, for a holiday this month. The islands, however, will be a bit on the quiet side…so we’d suggest leaving these for another trip next year.

October is traditionally the month that ‘tourist facilities’ (restaurants, bars, cafes and similar catering to visitors) start shutting up shop towards the end of the month before the cold months set in, so you’ll still be able to enjoy these.

This October is Croatian Tourism Month (unfortunately, the website appears to be in Croatian only!). Some tourist services, facilities and venues – including accommodation, restaurants and cultural attractions – across the country are offering discounts of 35% off.

Do be aware that ferry/catamaran schedules (i.e. Jadrolinija‘s) change from high season to low season ones in early October, so take this into account if you’re planning on travelling around. Bus schedules will also see fewer buses on long-distance routes, but you’ll still have plenty of choice.

Plitivice Lakes in autumn
The Plitvice Lakes in autumn

October is a great month to make the most of some of Croatia’s top experiences – without all the summer crowds – particularly with the country taking on an autumnal hue. If you’re able to do, we’d certainly recommend a trip to one of Croatia’s national or nature parks, such as Plitvice or Krka.

Zagreb is an excellent choice for Croatia in October – there’s plenty to explore (sights, restaurants, experiences, even shopping) and it’s a very easy city to navigate.

We hope you enjoy Croatia in October!

What's on in Croatia in October

What’s on in Croatia in October

October may not exactly be prime beach weather, but there’s still plenty to see and do in Croatia in October! Read on below for some of the most interesting events taking place in Croatia this month.

Croatia in October

The CroRace

Formerly known as the Tour of Croatia (and having previously taken place in April in the last four years), CroRace will tour Croatia from 1st to the 6th October. Starting from Osijek and ending up in Zagreb, this year’s race will feature a number of Croatia’s beautiful national and nature parks (fourteen in total!) – including Plitvice, Krka Paklenica national parks, and Papuk, Ucka and Medvednica nature parks. A number of top teams, including last year’s winner Bahrain Merida, will be taking part as will cyclist Maciej Paterski who won the first event in 2015. If you’re in Croatia during this time and near the route, pop along to cheer on the cyclists! If you’re not, you can still view beautiful Croatia on TV – the race will be televised all over the world; in Europe, Eurosport will have coverage.

Croatia in October – Chestnuts Galore

October is a top month for a number of food-related festivals in Istria. One of the most popular is Marunada in Lovran (close to Opatija), which is dedicated to sweet chestnuts. First held in 1973, this festival is dedicated to a special type of chestnut – ‘Maruni’ – which grows in the Opatija Riviera; these chestnuts are larger, sweeter and can be peeled more easily than other types of chestnuts. Marunada offers the chance to sample all sorts of products made from chestnuts – cakes, pancakes, puree, pies, even chestnut goulash! And if you haven’t even ever tasted roasted chestnuts, you’re really missing out! There’s also plenty of other food to sample at this festival, and other things to enjoy – including live music and sports. Marunada will be helf in Lovran from 11th – 13th October 2019, and then in nearby Dobrec on 19th & 20th October and in Linganj on 26th & 27th October. Ask locally for more details, or see some more info at the Lovran Tourist Board website or the official Marunada website.

Croatia in October – Truffle Season

Istria is rich in truffles and October is the best month of the year for white truffles, which are the most valuable kind. Although events celebrating truffles are held in various locations throughout autumn, it’s in October when you have plenty of choice for different festivals – these include the Zigante Truffle Days held in Livade in inland Istria, close to Motovun. Actually held over ten weekends from the 14th September to the 17th November (which means every weekend in October!), you can sample all sorts of delicacies made from truffles as well as other gastronomic delights from Istria. You can even enjoy a guided truffle hunting tour in the Motovun forest, and on one weekend (19th & 20th October) there’s the International White Truffle Hunt Competition at which you can watch the master (human and dog!) at work, searching for truffles.

Motovun itself hosts the one-day Festival of Teran Wine and Truffles (19th October 2019) which showcases the local Teran wine as well as truffles.

Gastro Delights in Dubrovnik

So, your mouth may be salivating at the thought of all the above mentioned culinary masterpieces…but what if you’re visiting the opposite end of the country to Istria i.e. Dubrovnik? You’re still in luck! The Good Food Festival (14th – 20th October 2019) is now in its sixth edition and will feature a number of tours, lectures, presentations and workshops (for example, on making special Croatian dishes). Numerous Dubrovnik cafes, bars and restaurants will also take part, either hosting special tasting events or offering special menus for the week-long event. One of the main components of the Festival is the ‘Dubrovnik Table’ (usually on the Sunday) in which a table the length of Stradun (!) is used by local restaurants and businesses to show off their gastronomic delights – you can buy a reasonably priced ticket and then sample many of these delicious items!

More details can be found on the Dubrovnik Tourist Office website.

The Dubrovnik Film Festival (15th – 20th October) also takes place in the city at roughly the same time as the above!

Istra & Craft Beer Festival

If you don’t care so much about food and a cold beer is more your kind of thing, the second Istra & Craft Beer Festival will take place in Porec in the first week of October (actually, 28th September to 6th October). The best Croatian independent and craft brewers will showcase their beers; live music and food will also be there for you to enjoy! See the official website for more details: www.istracraftbeer.com.

Boating and Sailing Enthusiasts

Croatia’s largest boat fair (and, in fact, the largest in Central and Eastern Europe) is the Biograd Boat Show, taking place in this sweet little town, famous for its expansive marina, that’s close to Zadar. The 21st Show will be held from the 17th to 20th October 2019 and will likely have over 300 exhibitors and over 300 boats on display.

Outdoor events

If you’re an outdoorsy-activity kind of traveller, you may well be interested in the Baska Outdoor Festival held in and around Baska on the island of Krk, 11th to 13th October 2019. There’s mountain biking, zipling, trekking and more! A full programme of all the events of the Festival can be downloaded from the Baska Tourist Office website.

Other Events in Croatia in October

Here’s a few more events taking place in Croatia in October!

  • International Prosciutto Fair, Tinjan, Istria (18th – 20th October)
  • The 28th Zagreb Marathon takes place in the city on 13th October – pop along to see elite athletes pounding the streets.
  • Close to Zagreb is the town of Ivanic-Grad where the 15th ‘Bucijada’ Pumpkin Festival will take place on the weekend of 4th to 6th October. As well as a fair showing pumpkins and pumpkin products, there’s workshops, music and fun for kids.

Do also check out our Events in Croatia page for more events taking place in the final months of the year!

British Croatian Society Annual Dinner

British Croatian Society Annual Dinner, 4th November 2016

This year’s British Croatian Society Annual Dinner will take place on 4th November at the wonderful Queen’s Club in West London. The private members club is the first multipurpose sports complex ever to be built anywhere in the world, and is situated in a both tranquil and charming setting.

British Croatian Society Annual Dinner 2016

A drinks reception will be held from 6.30pm, followed by a dinner at 7.30pm. Dress code is lounge suit/smart casual.

Tickets for the annual dinner cost £45 for members or £50 for non-members.

If you’d like to book a ticket, please email britishcroatiansociety@gmail.com with your name and that of anyone else in your party. Payment for tickets can be made on the British Croatian Society website at www.britishcroatiansociety.com/events.

The British Croatian Society hopes to see you at the dinner!

British Croatian Society Annual Dinner
Friday 4th November 2016
The Queen’s Club
Palliser Road
London
W14 9EQ
www.britishcroatiansociety.com

British Croatian Society on Facebook

Membrain Festival comes to Croatia’s coast this August

There’s another new name on the Croatian festival scene this summer – Membrain Festival (18th to 21st August 2016)! Taking place near Sibenik, Membrain is a festival of bass culture with some of the best-known names of the European Underground bass scene appearing on the bill. The festival’s rich line-up will also include educational lectures and workshops, a wonderful location making the most of the local environment, and catering consisting of the best local Dalmatian produce.

Membrain Festival

Membrain will be taking place in the bay of Minerska, which is around 10km from Sibenik. The festival site is an abandoned ex-military base surrounded by thick pine forest; next to the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic sea and a beautiful beach, there’s plenty to do all day long.

Membrain Festival

Membrain Festival

Membrain Festival’s Line-Up

The artists on Membrain Festival’s line-up will all be performing for the very first time on Croatia soil, solidifying Membrain’s unique concept. The bill will see a very wide spectrum of bass music genres; on the festival’s three main stages and a solar stage there will be more than sixty European and regional artists. Drum and Bass, Liquid, Dubstep, Dub, Ragga, Jungle, Jump-up, Grime, Global and more will all entertain the bass addicted audience.

The best-known headliner is surely UK duo Hybrid Minds. Having gained considerable critical acclaim over the last few years, they’ve reached the top of the underground scene with their recognisable liquid dnb sound.

Membrain Festival 2016 Promo 02 from Membrain Festival on Vimeo.

Sub Zero is the UKBass champion of the danceable Drum and Bass, known in wide circles of the scene around the world and performing regularly at festivals & clubs.

Levela is a Drum and Bass producer best known for his collaborations with some of the biggest names on the dubstep scene including Datsik. He’ll be at the Membrain Festival as part of his fully booked summer Sensory Tour.

Italian DJ/Producer/MC collective Numa Crew is the main representative of the Italian independent bass scene. They are known for their collaborations with artists such as Dub FX, General Levy, DJ Vadim, and many more.

Membrain Festival

Tickets for Membrain Festival

Regular tickets for the four day event cost €80, whilst you can splash out on VIP tickets for €120. You can also attend any one day of the festival for €40. Buy all these ticket options below:



Membrain Festival

More on the Membrain Festival

Check out the official Membrain Festival website and do also look them up on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!