Lastovo island

Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to

Hey there! Let me let you into a little known secret about a gorgeous country. It’s got miles and miles of beautiful coastline, over a thousand islands and islets, stunning nature, amazing ancient sights, high octane adventure experiences, intriguing events and parties and it’s name is…Croatia!

Oh wait, you already knew…?! Huh. I guess my work here is don…no wait! How about I introduce you to some places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to? Good, right? (Phew!)

Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to – the islands

The island of Vis

Sure, you have your Bracs, your Hvars, your Korculas but what about somewhere further away from the mainland where far fewer visitors go to? Let me introduce you to the gorgeous island of Vis which is an absolutely beautiful slice of heaven in the Croatia Adriatic. One of the furtherest away from the mainland, Vis was also closed to foreigners until just over 30 years ago. That means that unlike its neighbours (although neighbouring islands aren’t all that close) and regions on the mainland, the island was slow to develop tourism.

Top Ten Destinations in Croatia - Vis
A look at Komiza on the island of Vis from above

All this means a very tranquil place to visit and relax on. Spend your days exploring the island and its little coves and beaches. Spend some time in the two main settlements, Vis Town and Komiza, and make sure to stroll the promenades in both, stopping off for coffee, a glass of cold wine and some black ink risotto. (Perhaps not all at the same time.) Hike or bike up to the highest point, Hum, and see for miles around. Explore some of the unusual sights – the submarine tunnels and Tito’s “Cave”. And make like a beautiful person and rock up to Fort George which is a two hundred year old British fort because…well, why wouldn’t there be a two hundred year old British for here?!

Additionally, have you ever thought “ooh that Greek island in Mamma Mia 2 looks gorgeous, I want to go there!”. That island is actually Vis. Yes, really. So perhaps you did know you wanted to visit, you just didn’t know it was the Croatian island of Vis!

The island of Lastovo

As under the radar as Vis is, maybe it’s not enough. Maybe you’ve already heard of it, been there, explored it and bought the red and white checkered t-shirt.

So why not try Lastovo? Lastovo is in fact is similar to Vis in that it was also closed off to foreigners until 1989, and is also a little further away from the mainland. (It takes 3 or 4 hours from Split by either catamaran or ferry or around 3 hours from Dubrovnik by catamaran.)

Places in Croatia you didn't know you wanted to go - Lastovo
Beautiful Lastovo

Explore the gorgeous nature of the island – the island group makes up one of Croatia’s nature parks – and like on Vis, spend your time enjoying the little beaches and private bays that can be found here. Thanks to low levels of light pollution, Lastovo is also an excellent place for stargazing – it is actually called “the island of bright stars”.

Stari Grad, island of Hvar

Okay, so now you think I’ve lost my mind if I’m choosing somewhere on the island of Hvar for this list. But hear me out.

So many visitors to the Croatian islands swing by Hvar Town and that’s rightly so. But it can be just that little bit too popular, so if you have your heart set on the island, why not visit and stay in Stari Grad instead? Just as easy to reach, this town has a charming harbour to offer you just the right amount of laid-back, atmospheric Hvar island life.

Places in Croatia you didn't know you wanted to go to - Stari Grad on the island of Hvar
Stari Grad on the island of Hvar

The island of Ciovo

Perhaps some don’t even consider Ciovo a “proper” island…and maybe others don’t consider Ciovo at all! Ciovo is actually connected by bridge to the mainland, and by another bridge to gorgeous Trogir. Whilst Trogir is unbelieveably pretty, with its quaint cobbled streets taking up its own little island, Ciovo is more of a pure holiday destination – small villages offering holiday rentals, beaches, retaurants and cafes. You would mostly come here to holiday proper, no museums in sight! But with its location a very short drive from Split Airport, a direct boat (from Slatine) to Split and its direct connection with the mainland making it easy to get to other places (by car), Ciovo should definitely be considered for a laid-back vacation.

Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to - Slatine on the island of Ciovo

Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to…coastal towns

Omis

I feel somewhat for Omis as it’s often overlooked as a destination, which is a real shame! Omis is located just 20 kilometres from Split so perhaps it feels like its too near to Split but not far enough as a destination in its own right, as the towns of the Makarska Riviera are. Or maybe it’s the pirates of Omis keeping some people away? (I joke…although the powerful Omis pirates were long-feared, they haven’t ruled for almost 600 years.

Omis

But why not come here?! You absolutely should if you have any interest in high-energy activities such as river kayaking and rafting, canyoning, rock climbing and many more – most taking place in or near the River Cetina that flows through the town and close by. When you’ve almost exhausted yourself doing all of that, save a sliver of energy for the zipline that stretches above the river canyon – it’s one of the best ziplines in Croatia.

And with a charming beach in the centre of town, plus many excellent eateries and great accommodation options, Omis is perhaps now the place you know you want to go to!

Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to – Cities

Osijek

If you’re planning a city break why don’t you skip Zagreb for once (although that’s hard, I agree) and the larger coastal cities and head to Osijek in eastern Croatia? Croatia’s fourth largest city has a number of fine sights, from the remains of an Austrian fortress to the second tallest cathedral in Croatia, a striking building constructed using red brick. A lovely riverside promenade is just the thing on a warm day, and if it’s properly warm you’ll want to spend some time at Copacabana Beach! (Yes, really!)

Places in Croatia - an aerial view of Osijek in eastern Croatia
An aerial view of Osijek in eastern Croatia

Befitting a large city, you’ll have plenty of accommodation to choose from as well as a fine selection of restaurants for dining out. Make sure you try the local beer – Osjecko (the oldest beer in Croatia) – as well as some craft beer options at Pivnica Runda.

But Osijek is also a great base for local day trips. Kopacki Rit Nature Park is only 15 minutes away and – perhaps not something many visitors expect – some excellent wineries are based in this region too. Head to the famous Ilocki Podrumi for wine tasting.

Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to – Nature Parks

Vransko Lake Nature Park

Sure, you’ve got the highly impressive Krka National Park in this part of the world, but why not visit the unusual Vransko Lake Nature Park instead? (Or better still – as well as visiting Krka.) Lake Vrana is the largest lake in Croatia, and located just 1 kilometre inland – so it’s an unusual sight having these two large bodies of water that are almost side by side.

The park would be ideal for gentle hiking or even cycling, but if you’re a keen birdwatcher then bringing along your binoculars is a must. The northern part of the lake has been designated as an ornithological reserve, and an amazing 260 different bird species live, nest, winter or feed/rest here. Species (some endangered) for whom Lake Vrana’s ornithological reserve plays an important part in their survival include the purple heron, the Eurasian coot, the noustached warbler and the little egret.

A heron in Vransko Lake Nature Park, Croatia
A heron in Vransko Lake Nature Park

A boat operates on the lake for an easy way of making the most of visiting, or you can also explore by kayak. Kayak rental is possible at Prosika at the southern part of the lake.

Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to – Sights and Experiences

Trsteno Arboretum

Trsteno Arboretum is located close to Dubrovnik but perhaps overlooked as a potential day trip idea as it’s not one of the local islands (Lokrum; the Elafiti Islands) or a stylish little town such as Cavtat. But what the Trsteno Arboretum is is a large Mediterranean garden, the largest botanical garden in the whole of Croatia. Established as the gardens of a summer residence of a local noble family in the 15th/16th centuries, you can well imagine that today plant life is very well established. This makes for a very tranquil and even cooling experience, especially if you happen to be visiting during the height of summer. And if you are visiting during summer, you can even travel by boat from the main port in Dubrovnik.

Trsteno Harbour
Trsteno Harbour

Again, the Trsteno Arboretum is one of those places that you didn’t know you wanted to go to – but you’ve perhaps already seen! (Say what now?) The gardens “played” the King’s Landing gardens in a TV show called Game of Thrones – you may have heard of it…

Klis Fortress

Klis Fortress, close to Split, has a fascinating history that stretches far back over many centuries. Over the years, this part of the country has served as an important base to groups such as the Illyrian tribe the Dalmatae (from where the region of Dalmatia gets its name) and the Romans, before the Croats turned up to rule things from the 7th century onwards. Klis in fact served as the base for Croatia Dukes and Kings and nobility.

Klis Fortress, Dalmatia, Croatia
Klis Fortress

Last occupied during World War II, the fortress is now a fascinating place to visit to imagine its defensive role (you are free to roam the stone fortress as you like) that it played. But of course, you also come here to view Split from above, as well as other nearby towns and islands.

The Fortress is to reach from Split and can be done by public bus.

Trsat Castle

High up on a hill above Rijeka sits Trsat Castle, the largest castle on the Croatian coastline. Obviously once standing as a defensive structure that was originally built in the 13th century, although later fell into disrepair after it no longer need to serve its purpose.

You would pay Trsat Castle a visit to enjoy stunning views over the city of Rijeka and out across the Adriatic Sea to nearby islands such as Krk. Although you can reach Trsat by bus, why not make the “climb” up to it using the Petar Kruzic Stairs from central Rijeka – these consist of 561 stone steps. Make your way up using these and then reward yourself with a treat at the cafe with a view at Trsat Castle.

If you visit during December, Trsat Castle is adorned with wonderful twinkly lights as its celebrates its own Advent celebrations.

Trsat Castle
Trsat Castle

Sljeme

Sljeme is such an easy activity when visiting Zagreb that it would be a shame not to include this here! Head to northern Zagreb to the base station of the cable car to begin your ascent up to Sljeme, the peak of Mount Medvednica, the mountain that’s just north of Zagreb. The modern cable car is a fun experience in itself, but once you’re up on Sljeme you have rather amazing views in all directions over the rolling hills situated just beyond Croatia’s capital.

To keep things simple, enjoy a coffee or a warming meal at the restaurant here and head up the TV tower to go even “higher” up. If you want to spend more time here, it would be worth hiking and exploring the nearby Medvednica Nature Park. Wear your sturdy boots!

We have more information on how best to reach Sljeme and what to see and do once you’re up there here: Spotlight on: Zagreb Cable Car and Sljeme 360 Viewpoint.

Sljeme 360 TV Tower View
View from Sljeme 360

Sonus Festival 2025 announces the first acts appearing next year

Exciting news! Sonus Festival 2025 has just today announced the first set of acts that will be appearing at next year’s event (Zrce Beach, island of Pag, 17th – 21st August) – and the names on the bill are just as spectacular as ever! And if this line-up reveal has whet your appetite for summer festival fun, you’ll be over the moon to hear that tickets go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday 4th December at 6pm CET.

Even more thrillingly, the 2025 Sonus Festival will take the event to new heights thanks to a partnership with the world’s leading live events experience creator, Insomniac. Together with the mix of legends, top tastemakers and new stars on the line-up – as well as the beautiful setting of top party destination Zrce Beach – Sonus Festival 2025 will surely be the best event yet.

Sonus Festival 2025

About Sonus Festival 2025

Would you believe that Sonus will already be in its 12th year in 2025? The festival will be brought to you by heavyweight event producers Time Warp, who have no less than thirty years of experience in genre-defining programming and We Love Sound, who stand as the foremost electronic music tastemakers in the Balkans with 20 years behind their belts. Add in to the mix experience creators Insomniac – known for their EDC events and production of some of the best festivals in the world, using state-of-the-art lighting, pyrotechnics and sound design, large-scale art installations, theatrical performers and next-generation special effects – and…phew…we’ve got quite some event on our hands.

Sonus Festival 2025 - Credit: Benny Gasi
Credit: Benny Gasi

The festival’s mantra of “in music and nature we trust” is apparent with the stunning venues that are the open-air clubs in beautiful Novalja. These venues offer gorgeous views – with beautiful sunrises and sunsets – plus the opportunity for revellers to party on the sand, in the sea or under the stars. The main clubs of Aquarius, Papaya, and Kalypso will return as venues, whilst Noa Beach Club (previously just a sunrise afterparty venue) will also be an integral part of the programme in 2025. Brand new for next year will be the Noa Beach Stage; this will be Sonus’s first stage environment on the sand! Here you will be able to swim and dance in the water all week long. 

Boat parties will of course return for 2025 (how could they not?!) – previous years have seen the likes of Archie Hamilton, Ellen Allien, Enzo Siragusa, Clara Cuvé, Paula Temple, and countless more all lay down varied and vital sets. Pop-up parties will also return, as will afterparties – one of the core elements of Sonus’s identity.

Credit: Benny Gasi

And if all of that doesn’t fill up your festival timetable, there’s plenty of fun and adventure to be had in the local area. From water sports to kayaking, rock climbing to quad biking, plus bungee jumping, wind and kite surfing – all just 10 minutes from the festival!

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Sonus is produced BY ravers FOR ravers. Combining a curated soundtrack with top-tier production, blending together adventure, travel and culture, it’s no surprise that Sonus draws a like-minded, warm and welcoming crowd from all over the world.

Sonus Festival 2025 - Credit: Benny Gasi
Credit: Benny Gasi

Sonus Festival 2025 Line-Up

So who’s actually on the bill?

Well, appearing at Sonus Festival 2025 will be Drumcode boss Adam Beyer, Berghain paragon Ben Klock, German duo FJAAK, Italian titan Joseph Capriati, the melodic sounds of ARTBAT and Deborah De Luca, and the hard-edged grooves of Spain’s Indira Paganotto.

Trance and acid will be on display from DJ Heartstring and KI/KI, alongside off-kilter rave weapons from Filth on Acid label head Reinier Zonneveld live, the deft minimal of Ricardo Villalobos and Seth Troxler, and customary curveballs from Cocoon’s Sven Väth. 

House and melodic sounds are catered for by the likes of Adriatique and Anetha, the organic depths of Saga duo Bedouin, and the new school beats of Ben Hemsley and Ben Sterling. Bass-heavy sounds from Fleur Shore and Gordo are featured alongside the floating melodies of Jan Blomqvist live, weighty cuts from Loco Dice, warehouse sounds from Mau P, progressive lushness from Miss Monique, hypnotic rollers from Vintage Culture, and a hybrid DJ set from WhoMadeWho, with many more to be announced.

Sonus Croatia 2025 will also see the return of the eminent Space Miami — a name synonymous with discerning electronic music curation and unrivalled after-hours — and LA’s Factory 93, known for its deferential homage to the spirit of the 90s underground, raw warehouse aesthetic, and the myriad spectrum of techno at its heart.

Credit: Dino Ninkovic

Tickets for Sonus Festival 2025

As mentioned, tickets for Sonus Festival will go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday 4th December at 6pm CET. Set an alarm! Or better yet, sign up for a ticket alert at www.sonuscroatia.com/book.

General admission tickets are priced from €249, whilst VIP tickets (which include fast lane entry and access to special VIP areas, plus more) are priced from €349.

You can also purchase tickets with a deposit of just €19, with monthly payment instalments scheduled up to June 2025.

Sonus Festival 2025 - Credit: Benny Gasi
Credit: Benny Gasi

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Accommodation for Sonus Festival 2025

There’s a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from villas and 5-star hotels to hostels, glamping tents and apartments. Full details of all of these options can be found at www.sonuscroatia.com/accommodation.

More info

Head to www.sonuscroatia.com for all the latest Sonus Festival news, or give them a follow on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or Twitter.

Sonus Festival
17th – 21st August 2025
Zrce Beach, island of Pag
www.sonuscroatia.com

Balance Croatia Line-Up Phase 1 Revealed + Ticket News

The new music festival in Croatia – Balance Croatia (Tisno, 8th – 11th August 2025) has revealed phase 1 of its line-up…and it’s a stunning one! The progressive and melodic house event is being brought to you by the leading Australian label Balance Music who will be celebrating 25 years next year. They are teaming up with brand partners The Soundgarden, Skyline Events and Super Progressive to bring to you a party like no other at The Garden Tisno. Read on below for more details of the Balance Croatia line-up for 2025.

Balance Croatia Line-Up News

Balance Croatia will be making full use of the festival site, from The Yard Stage with its incredible visuals to the Beach Stage for dancing on the sand and in the sea – a must for a festival on the Adriatic! Party amongst the trees at the much-treasured Olive Grove Stage and save part of yourself for the infamous boat parties. Balance Croatia will have it all.

Balance Croatia Line-Up News

So…who’s on the line-up then? Take a look at the wealth of names below – and just remember that this is just the first phase of the line-up reveal! Many more names will be added in due course.

Amonita
Anthony Pappa
Armen Miran
Budakid Danny Bonnici
Danny Howells
Dave Seaman
Death on the Balcony
Eelke Kleijn
Eli Nissan
Ezequiel Arias
Fish56Octagon
Forty Cats
Franky Wah
GMJ & Matter
Guy J
Guy Mantzur
Hannes Bieger live
Henry Saiz
Hernán Cattáneo
Jamie Stevens
Jeremy Olander
Kasey Taylor
Lost Desert
Miss Melera
Nick Warren
Nicolas Rada
Niki Sadeki
Quivver
Redfreya
Rodriguez Jr. live
Roy Rosenfeld
Sasha & John Digweed
Sébastien Léger
Simon Doty
Sinca
Tara Brooks
Tim Green

Balance Croatia will be an exciting and historic showcase of progressive and melodic house, spanning the decades, genres, and with international artists – both major stars and rising talent, which I believe has never been seen before on this scale at the one event for fans of this genre. We have also launched the Balance Croatia podcast featuring festival artists, with Eelke Kleijn delivering the first mix.

Tom Pandzic, founder of Balance

As Tom mentions, a special guest mix by Eelke Kleijn has been recorded to celebrate the Balance Croatia line-up news. Listen to it below:

Can you feel the excitement about Balance Croatia building?! I sure can! Many of the acts that will be appearing at the festival feel the same:

If you like our style of music, this is the best ever line up at one festival.

Hernan Cattaneo

Hernan Cattaneo - Balance Croatia Line-Up News
Hernan Cattaneo

I’m very excited to play the Balance Croatia event at The Garden Resort next year! I have a long history with Balance and this feels like a perfect get together!

Eelke Kleijn

So excited to be part of the Balance 25th anniversary celebrations next summer as they hold their first festival in Croatia. Balance have been a real torchbearer of our scene since the turn of the century and it was an honour and a privilege for Quivver and I to mix the latest album in their incredible DJ mix series. And it’s all happening at one of the most, unique, stunning party sites in Europe – whats not to love?

Dave Seaman

Dave Seaman - Balance Croatia Line-Up News
Dave Seaman

Tickets for Balance Croatia

As of today, 2nd December, tickets for Balance Croatia have gone on general sale. (Early bird tickets sold out in no time at all!) Head over to www.balancecroatia.com to snap them up. The first release of tickets has already sold out, but you can now purchase them for the second release price of €259 (plus a booking fee of €16.83) for the full three days and three nights of the event.

You can also choose to book with a deposit of just €50 by selecting “Payment Plan” when it comes to buying your tickets.

Accommodation for Balance Croatia

The official partner hotel for Balance Croatia is the Hotel Miran, which is just a 10-minute taxi or Uber ride away from The Garden Tisno. Here, you’ll be able to sip on a cocktail or two at the hotel bar whilst Balance resident DJs play. Enjoy some festival downtime in the hotel’s two pools or at its private beach!

Festival goers will also be able to choose from the many onsite accommodation options at The Garden Tisno, from glamping tents to apartments, airstream trailers to mobile homes. Clearly, there is something for everyone.

More info

Read more about the festival and what it’s all about at New for 2025 – Balance Croatia Festival, 8-11 August.

Keep up to date on all the latest news – including more Balance Croatia line-up info – on www.balancecroatia.com, or look them up on Facebook and Instagram.

More Advent and Christmas celebrations in Croatia 2024

I recently wrote about the fantastic Advent in Zagreb that will be kicking off this Saturday, 30th November in Croatia’s capital city. Many of the favourites of this largest of Christmas events will return this year, including the beautiful tree on Ban Jelacic Square, a great atmosphere and excellent food at Fuliranje, multiple concerts and live music, special events at museums and ice skating at Ledeni Park. But let’s take a look at some of the other Christmas celebrations in Croatia being held this 2024 festive season for there are many!

Many of these Christmas events feature very similar elements – all will have regular live music sessions, plus food stalls telling typical Christmas and winter fare (think fritule – doughnuts – mulled wine and hot drinks, and bakalar – cod – in Dalmatia). New Year’s Eve is always a big event, with a free concert to see in the New Year that will normally be accompanied by fireworks!

If you’re visiting a location not mentioned here, you won’t be missing out. Just ask locally for even small towns really get into the festive spirit with Christmas food, drink, music and good cheer. (And beautiful decorations!)

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Istria

Advent Porec will largely centre around the main Matija Gupca Square. It is here the Advent will open at 4.30pm on Friday 6th December with the lighting of the first advent candle and the arrival of St Nicholas and Krampus, the two figures who will either reward good children or “punish” naughty ones! The square then hosts many events over the course of Advent Porec, from concerts to children’s plays, photo opportunities with Santa and of course the New Year’s Eve concert. Advent Porec will also offer an ice skating rink that is free for the duration of the event.

Advent Porec
Illuminated stiltwalkers at Advent Porec – watch out for them at the opening!
(Credit: Advent Porec)

Advent in Pula opens this Sunday, 1st December, running until 6th January. A highlight will surely be the Arena being covered in 1,200 square metres of snow (yes, really!), decorated with Christmas trees and pumped with mist and illuminated. This very festive setting will be the setting for Pula’s 600-square-metre winter ice rink. (Wow!) Another highlight is the merry train that will operate from 21st to 30th December. The start and end point of the train’s journey will be The Arena, and it will embark on a marvellous 30-minute journey through the streets of Pula to take in all the festive cheer. Of course, there will be a full musical programme as well as multiple fun events for kids. Watch out for a multitude of skydiving Santas landing at Uljanik Stadium on 16th December between 10am and 11am! (And handing out sweets!)

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Kvarner Region

If you like your winter fun all sparkly and twinkly, you must head to Opatija Advent. On from 29th November to 6th January, this event was placed on European Best Destinations‘ list of the “Best Christmas Lights in Europe”. Multiple locations of the town will be festooned with hundreds of lights – if you like to see a preview, take a look at this Advent Virtual Walk. Head to the famous lungomare seaside promenade which will be turned into a “Xmas Street”, or the Hotel Imperial for food kiosks selling tasty treats. The Amadria Park Opatija Hotel will also be offering festive food fun, such as Breakfast with Santa on 5th December! Finally, be sure to swing by beautiful Angiolina Park for all sorts of live performances.

Advent in Rijeka (30th November to 7th January) will be filled with gastro offerings and a Christmas market on the prettily decorated pedestrianised thoroughfare, the Korzo. An absolute must is visiting Advent on Gradina (3rd December to 6th January) at a Christmas light-adorned Trsat Castle which itself hosts live music, kids’ activities, food booths and a nativity scene.

Adent on Gradina in Trsat Castle, above Rijeka (Credit: Rijeka Tourist Board)

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – North Dalmatia

Would you believe – there’s one Christmas festival that is already under the way in Croatia! The Zadar Advent & Christmas Market actually opened this past Sunday 24th November (it will run until 2nd January). The central part of it is indeed the Christmas market on Petar Zoranic Square – come here to indulge in fritule (mini doughnuts), mulled wine and more and enjoy numerous concerts, sometimes several in one day. Head to Five Wells Square on the morning of 24th December to catch the arrival of Santa Claus! 

Adventura Sibenik is one of the loveliest Christmas festivals in Dalmatia; this year it will be on from 6th December to 4th January. A whole heap of live music events will feature including two New Year’s Eve concerts – one in front of the cathedral (featuring singer Mario Biondi), and one in the park (with Dubrovnik band Silente and local faves BluVinil). There will also be a Christmas Fair with plenty of delicious food, ice skating and more. Adventura Sibenik is also the only plastic-free Advent in Croatia!

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Split

This year’s Advent in Split (30th November to 6th January) will have the rather sweet tagline “to you and yours”. Befitting Croatia’s second-largest city, this is a very big event – live concerts in multiple locations (on the Riva, on Pjaca Square and more); kids’ activities including crafting and workshops; a Christmas bus; full-on festive decorations on the Riva, in Dioceletian’s Palace cellars, and on the Peristyle; and much, much more. 

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Dubrovnik

The Dubrovnik Winter Festival is a large-scale event that is now in its 11th year. It will kick off on 30th November and run until the 6th January. You can enjoy Santa at the Rector’s Palace; a retro fair; “Days of Codfish” and of course New Year’s Eve celebrations on Stradun. And much more, of course!

A highlight for visitors will be the free sightseeing tours in English at 9.30am every Saturday morning. Meet outside Pile Gate Tourist Office to join a tour of the Old Town and finish it at St Blaise’s Church where there will be a free folk performance at 11.30am. (Tours conducted in Croatian take place at 12.30pm.)

Dubrovnik Winter Festival - Christnas celebrations in Croatia
Christmas on Stadun (Credit: Dubrovnik Winter Festival)

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Northern Croatia

Advent in Varazdin starts on 29th November (to 6th January) – it’s where you need to head to visit “the most beautiful advent in Croatia”! Santa has his own city here which is a real highlight – board the elevator to head directly up to Santa’s house! If he’s temporarily not in when you visit, snap some festive shots and enjoy a sweet treat instead. Be sure to make time for the panoramic Advent Ferris wheel that’s open daily, a true festive treat and a great way of seeing Varazdin from above. Enjoy live music and excellent food on the Korzo – where the Advent wreath in front of the Cathedral will be lit every Saturday.

Christmas celebrations in Croatia - Varazdin (Credit: Adent Varazdin(
The Ferris Wheel in Varazdin (Credit: Adent Varazdin)

ll-on festive decorations on the Riva, in Dioceletian’s Palace cellars, and on the Peristyle; and much, much more. 

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Eastern Croatia

Advent in Osijek will take place from 30th November to 31st December and will be full of “good wishes from Osijek”. Join Santa at the Archaeological Museum or pop along to the fun fair in King Drzislav Park. Ride the fun-filled Christmas tram and have a skate at the rink!

More info on Christmas celebrations in Croatia

Take a look at the following websites to learn more about what’s happening where and when for Christmas celebrations in Croatia 2024:

Waterparks in Croatia

Sure, the Croatian coastline has kilometres and kilometres of coastline – 1,777 kilometres to be exact. (That’s 1,104 miles if you’re English.) If your family consists of water babies and keen swimmers, you’ll have an ideal time splashing about in the Adriatic and/or in a hotel pool day in day out. But you know what gets kids (and older water babies) even more excited? A water park! There’s no denying that for some, whizzing down all sorts of “death-defying” slides, aiming water cannons at already drenched relatives and then relaxing on the laziest of lazy rivers is what makes a holiday. So, without further ado, it’s time we looked at waterparks in Croatia!

Note – yes, in Croatia, waterparks are generally referred to as aquaparks.

Aquapark Dalmatia, Sibenik, Dalmatia

Let’s start with a rather unusual waterpark for Croatia. Unusual how? Unusual because this one is actually open year-round! Now before you start thinking you need to pull on your woollen hat and gloves along with your cossie for water fun in December, I’ll explain by saying that part of Aquapark Dalmatia is actually indoors.

That’s right, as of summer 2024, Aquapark Dalmatia has expanded and now includes a fairly large indoor section to go with its exciting outdoor facilities. The park now consists of a 610-metre-long lazy river, 820 metres of slides (what now?!), a large wellness club with indoor pool, family-themed indoor playroom and changing rooms and plenty of water toys and games – sprinklers, cannons, jets, waterfalls and more.

waterparks in Croatia - Aquapark Dalmatia
Aquapark Dalmatia (Credit: Aquapark Dalmatia)

This park is located adjacent to the Amadria Park Resort on the outskirts of Sibenik. It’s ideal for guests of this large-scale resort – who receive a slight discount on the entry fee – but is open to all. It costs The indoor-only area in off-season costs €15 per day for kids of 90cm to 120cm in height and €30 for anyone taller than that; kids below 90cm in height can enter for free. During the summer season, it is €20 for kids and €40 for larger kids. (2024 prices)

  • More info: aquapark-dalmatia.com
  • Best places to stay to enjoy this waterpark: one of the hotels in the Amadria Park resort (you will then be within easy walking distance); families will enjoy the Hotel Jakov or the Hotel Andrija

Istralandia, near Novigrad, northern Istria

The name Istralandia always makes me chuckle because it sounds so grand. It also sounds a little as if Istria got in a huff and separated from the rest of Croatia (please don’t do this in real life, Istria) and came up with a very important name.

But what is actual Istralandia like? There are multiple pools including the Family Pool (with a fun photo opportunity through a glass wall); a kids’ Jumping Pool (because to kids like more about pools than jumping in them); a kids’ pool with a “sunken” pirate ship and other play facilities; a wave pool and a hydromassage pool for a calmer way of life. There is also a spray arena which – well, let’s just say that kids will get a kick out of making everyone wetter than it is ever possible to be.

Moving on to slides, the four mini surf slides are ideal for younger kids who don’t want to slide down anything too scary. Bigger kids will love the 81-metre-long Sea Hole circular ride, while adrenaline-seekers will delight in the multitude of other slides such as the Crazy Hills slides. (How can you not make an immediate beeline for a waterpark attraction named like this?)

There are several snack bars and restaurants here serving mostly fast food, but that’s normally the order for the day in these kinds of places when you need to recharge.

During the peak summer months, you will also see some additional kids’ entertainment such as aqua zumba.

  • More info: www.istralandia.hr
  • Best places to stay to enjoy this waterpark: If you wish to stay reasonably near, consider places in Novigrad and Umag which would only be about a 10 to 20-minute drive away. Otherwise, Porec (30 minutes away) is also suitable.

Aquapark Cikat, Mali Losinj, island of Losinj

A smaller waterpark than the two listed above, Aquapark Cikat may in fact be where you need to head to if you prefer to avoid the crowds that waterparks in summer generally attract.

Part of Camping Cikat on the island of Losinj, this waterpark covers an area of 6,300 square metres with over 2,400 square metres of pools and other water fun. That includes a large 25-metre by 33-metre pool as well as a hydro pool and pools with water toys and a playground, as well as one with two slides. In addition to that, there are two smaller splash pools for the true water babies – as in, the guests who are literal babies.

There are snack bars for you to refuel and fun activities for children and adults – such as fitness programmes, beach volleyball, football and basketball.

Entry is free for those who stay in Camping Cikat, whilst it costs €20 for those aged 7 and over and €15 for guests aged between 3 to 7. (Kids under 3 can enter for free.) (2025 prices)

Zaton Holiday Resort, near Zadar, Dalmatia

This one’s slightly different to the waterparks in Croatia listed above as it is solely for holiday guests and on the smaller side when it comes to daredevil slides. (The pool area is very large, however!) The expansive Zaton Holiday Resort is set around a 1.5-kilometre-long sandy bay with beautiful gardens and excellent sports facilities. The waterpark element of the resort consists of 2,500 square metres of pools including a large children’s pool with a water playground, and two water slides. In fact, there will be a brand new pool complex for 2025.

Zaton Holiday Resort pool
Zaton Holiday Resort pool (Credit: Zaton Holiday Resort)

Of course, as this smaller waterpark is within a holiday resort, it is only open to guests of the complex. But if you want your summer days filled with water slides and splash zones all day every day, perhaps this is the accommodation to base yourself at?

Other Ideas for Waterparks in Croatia

Not proper waterparks in the sense of multiple pools and slide and water sprinklers as far as the eye can see, some thermal spas have indoor pool areas which also offer at least one kind of fun slide. An example of this is the Aqua Vitae resort in Krapinske Toplice in northern Croatia. Their 500 square metre indoor-outdoor pool contains a slide that’s 5 metres in height and 50 metres in length. They also have a wave pool, and a warm-water children’s pool with spouts and fountains.

Aqua Vitae Krapinske Toplice - Water Slide
The water slide at Aqua Vitae (Credit: Aqua Vitae)

Inflatable Waterparks in Croatia…of sorts

If you’ve holidayed on the Croatian coast during summertime in the last few years, you will have noticed large-ish inflatable structures moored just off some beaches in Croatia. Okay, so they’re not really aquaparks as they’re normally quite a small (comparatively), singular structure but if it involves sliding into or being flung into the sea, I’m sure your kids will be down for it.

A waterpark off the coast of Sibenik
A waterpark off the coast of Sibenik

You can’t really miss them – normally yellow and green, these structures contain multiple steps, slides, bridges and the like. It’s quite common to see groups of kids use them as a sort of assault course, trying to race around the full loop in the fastest time possible. In reality, most participants seem keenest to climb up as high as possible before flinging themselves into the Adriatic in the most dramatic fashion!

Although these waterparks on the sea are open, you absolutely do need to pay to use them. Normally you’ll see a beach hut where you can pay for an hour’s access. (Or more, if you’re somehow not exhausted by the first sixty minutes!)

New for 2025 – Balance Croatia Festival, 8-11 August

Very exciting news for all keen Croatian festival goers – there’s a brand new festival on the calendar for 2025! Taking place in one of the best festival venues in Croatia, The Garden Tisno, the Balance Croatia Festival will be held 8th to 11th August 2025. This new electronic music festival will take place over three days and three nights over three stages, with fifty-plus artists and five thousand revellers – will you be one of them?!

Balance Croatia 2025

About Balance Music and Balance Croatia

Balance Croatia is being brought to you by the Australian label Balance Music, who will next year celebrate 25 years in the music business under the visionary leadership of director Tom Pandzic. In that time they’ve gone from humble beginnings to become a global music presence in independent electronic music, shaping and documenting progressive dance music, fully deserving its status as a scene cornerstone.

The label’s iconic Balance Series mix compilation albums are truly spectacular, featuring legends such as Hernan Cattaneo, Danny Tenaglia, Nick Warren, Guy J, and Joris Voorn. Balance Music and sub-label Dawn till Dusk have also nurtured quality EP releases from both upcoming and established artists, fully showcasing progressive, melodic and organic house sounds.

The festival will be collaborating with leading brands The Soundgarden, SkylineEvents and Super Progressive to maintain the high level of music programming always associated with Balance!

After 25 Years at the helm of Balance, I thought it was time to celebrate our illustrious history! The Balance Croatia Festival will be a unique gathering of passionate music lovers, unlike anything seen previously. We will honour 25 years of memories, and the times when music meant more. We’ve invited over 50 world-class artists to soundtrack the weekend on Croatia’s stunning Adriatic Coast in Tisno… Under the sun, on the beach, with you. We are also excited to be partnering with TheSoundgarden, Skyline Events, and Super Progressive for the inaugural Balance Croatia Festival.

Balance Music Director Tom Pandzic

Balance Croatia Line-Up

The first phase of artists playing at Balance Croatia will be revealed on 21st November, so mark your calendars for that date! However, you can be sure that the best progressive and melodic acts will be appearing, from legends to the next generation of artists.

Tickets and Accommodation for Balance Croatia

Pre-sale tickets will be launched on 28th November so set your alarms! You can however sign-up to register for early bird tickets NOW on the website: www.balancecroatia.com.

Attendees to Balance Croatia can make use of many of The Garden Tisno’s accommodation offerings, including apartments, glamping tents, mobile homes and airstream trailers. There is also the official Balance Hotel (Hotel Miran) and beach cabins that can sleep 2 to 5 people.

Balance Croatia 2025 at The Garden Tisno
The Garden Tisno

About The Garden Tisno

Home to some of the most famous summer events in the country – such as Love International, Defected, Dimensions and Dekmantel – The Garden Tisno offers all partygoers a stunning festival venue and then some. Set around beautiful beaches next to crystal-clear water, there are three stages that will take Balance Croatia to the max.

At the heart of the site is The Yard Stage which dazzles with stunning visuals crafted for maximum vibes; it is surrounded by bars, food shacks, and all the essential festival facilities. The Beach Stage meanwhile provides breathtaking views and an extraordinary backdrop for all-day partying. And the Olive Grove, shaded by trees and conveniently located near the beach and amenities, serves as the perfect spot for both daytime lounging and nighttime raving.

And if you’ve ever attended The Garden Tisno before, you’ll know all about the famed Barbarella’s Discotheque. It’s just the place to dance all night under the stars.

More info

Full details about the festival can be found at www.balancecroatia.com. Do also keep tuned to their Facebook and Instagram pages for all the latest news.

Balance Croatia
8th – 11th August 2025
The Garden, Tisno
www.balancecroatia.com

Ziplines in Croatia

If you’re the sort of traveller who seeks adventure at every turn and definitely does not want to have your feet firmly planted on the floor – some of the time – ziplines are absolutely the thing for you. These days, Croatia is home to a number of amazing zip lines in some top locations, all with truly spectacular views of surrounding nature, famous sights, islands and more, They’re absolutely the sort of thing to give your holiday a thrill. Here’s our guide to the best ziplines in Croatia.

Generally, the ziplines in Croatia listed below operate daily through the high summer season (and just before/after this period), and by appointment at other times of year.

If they’re not your cup of tea or perhaps you have a fear of heights – you’re in good company, I do too! – let’s keep our feet on terra firma. Why not stick to the Top Sights in Croatia or the Best Beaches in Croatia?

On the other hand, ziplining may be just the tip of the…ahem, mountain?…for you, in which case take a look at our Activities in Croatia page for all sorts of fun adventures for you to enjoy.

Zipline Croatia, Omis

Zipline Croatia is one of the oldest established and top rated ziplines in the country, located just outside the fun town of Omis. (The company does have an office in central Omis, however, where you can book and to meet your instructors.) This high wire will see you zipping high above the beautiful Cetina River canyon, with the gorgeous natural surroundings just the thing for your high adventure activity.

Zipline Croatia is in fact a series of eight ziplines totalling 2,100 metres in length and at a height of 150 metres above the ground. The longest zipline of the eight is 700 metres in length, and the whole activity takes around two and a half hours.

Ziplines in Croatia - Zipline Croatia
Credit: Zipline Croatia

This zipline is open to participants aged 7 and above, meaning that even kids can enjoy the experience! The instructors will be able to verify whether the child in question can descend by themselves, or will need to ride the zipline in tandem with an adult.

A “flight” on this zipline costs €65 per person.

Panorama Zipline, Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is obviously one of the most stunning destinations in Croatia, and you only have to glimpse the city’s Old Town to know why. What about viewing the Old Town from high above whilst zipping along…on a zipline?! Panorama Zipline operates their experience on Mount Srd above Dubrovnik, which obviously provides the required height for this sort of adventure as well as stunning scenes of the historic part of the city and out across the Adriatic Sea to the nearby islands and beyond.

Ziplines in Croatia - Panorama Zipline Dubrovnik
Credit: Panorama Zipline, Dubrovnik

The Panorama Zipline experience offers two ziplines, 500 metres in total length, which all thrill-seekers are able to go down twice. You’ll reach speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour! The whole adventure takes three hours, which includes short transfers to the main part of the city. The whole experience costs €50 per person.

Slightly better than viewing Dubrovnik from a zipline is viewing Dubrovnik from a zipline…whilst the sun is setting! Panorama Zipline does also offer sunset tours, which are priced at €55.

Zipline Du The Wire, Dubrovnik

Another option for Dubrovnik – and the longest coastal zipline in the country, stretching out over 900 metres! The Wire zipline is one of those where to take flight in “Superman” position – essentially, exactly how Superman takes to the skies. At an altitude of 175 metres, you’ll reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres an hour…that’s pretty speedy indeed. But not so fast that you won’t be able to admire the stunning Adriatic Sea and the island of Lokrum.

This zipline is located around 4km from Dubrovnik, but it’s easy to get to as local bus number 10 goes direct from the main bus station (or just above the Old Town) to the zipline.

The Wire is priced at €60 for adults and there are four sessions (two in the morning, two in the afternoon) per day.

Zipline Split

You’re very likely to be travelling through Split on your Croatia travels, so what better place to try out a zipline than in Dalmatia’s largest city? Or close to it, anyway, as Zipline Split is located up on Mount Kozjak above Split, close to the small town of Klis. This position means you have a glorious view out to the Adriatic Sea and the famous Dalmatian islands nearby whilst you’re thundering down the wire.

Covering a total of 2,500 metres of cabling over 6 different zip lines, the whole adventure at this place takes around three hours.

This zipline adventure costs €66 per person if you’re collected from central Split, or €59 if you reach the starting point with your own means of transport. Children aged 10 are allowed (as long as they are over the minimum weight requirement) although will likely need to ride in tandem with an adult up to the age of 17.

Generally, Zipline Split offers two morning departures (at 8.30am and 10.30am) and two afternoon departures (at 3.30pm and 5.30pm)

Zipline Sibenik

Zipline Sibenik is another zipline that’s located above a river canyon with stunning nature, this time the Cikola canyon – which is about 25 kilometres from the lovely town of Sibenik itself.

This zipline comprises three separate lines of 1,400 metres in total length which are at a height of between 30 metres and 120 metres above ground. You’ll reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour! The total experience takes around 1 hour, although you will need to add transfers (organised by prior arrangement) on top.

Zipline Sibenik is priced at €50 per person, although you can also take advantage of a special package for 2 adults and 1 child for €135.

If this zipline doesn’t provide enough adrenaline for you, the same company also organises other thrill-inducing activities, such as rock climbing, quad biking and sea kayaking.

Pazi Medo Zipline, Plitvice

I mean, you hear about a zipline in the Plitvice Lakes region and you immediately think, “sign me up”! The Pazi Medo Zipline (which means “beware of the bear”) allows you to experience the beautiful nature of the heavily forested Lika region.

Almost 2,000 metres in length, the Pazi Medo Zipline will see you reach speeds of a rather staggering 120 kilometres per hour, at a height of 80 metres above the ground.

Credit: Pazi Medo Zipline

This zipline costs €39 for adults or €19.50 for children up to the age of 14. You can even rent a GoPro camera for €5 to record your zipline flight yourself! Your footage gets transferred to your own USB stick (you must bring one with you) or your phone. Rock climbing and cycling is also possible here for those of you who want to prolong the high-thrills adventure.

Edison Zipline, island of Krk

For those of you who want to maximize your time on a zipline in Croatia, Edison Zipline on the island of Krk is for you. This one is the longest zipline in the country, with its eight separate lines totalling over 2,000 metres in length.

Located in the interior of the island, between the main towns of Krk Town and Baska, you will be able to enjoy absolutely gorgeous views over the island itself and Baska, and to the smaller island of Prvic which is situated south of Krk.

Ziplines in Croatia - Edison Zipline, island of Krk

The experience is priced at €70 for children up to the age of 12, €75 for adults and €100 per person for private tours. Children up to the age of 12 must operate the zipline in tandem with an adult.

Zipline Pazin, Istria

For a zipline with a difference (one in which you zip over and near a cave and a castle), give this one near Pazin in Istria a try! Zipline Pazin sees you fly high above a natural and unusual gorge on four different lines which have a total of 660 metres in length. Reaching speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour, the last line is the one in which you can glimpse the famous Pazin Cave.

Credit: Zipline Pazin

With a total flight time of around 50 minutes, this is perhaps one of the shorter zipline experiences available to you in Croatia. However, pre-booking isn’t necessary unless you are planning on trying this out of season or if you’re in a group of ten or more.

Glavani Park, Istria

Near Barban in inland Istria, Glavani Park isn’t just a zipline but a whole adventure park with a number of aerial activities! (You may well have experienced something similar in your home country.) As well as the two ziplines that are 113 metres and 80 metres in length, you have aerial courses of three different levels of difficulty (there is also an easy one just for kids), a high suspension bridge, a 12-metre-high climbing wall, a 20 metre “high jump” (that’s the height you jump off, not the height you achieve!) and a human catapult that flings you distance of 75 metres.

For €63, you will get access to all of the activities in the adventure park for one whole day. Should you wish to experience just one element of Glavani Park, it costs €9 or €7 for children aged 10 and under.

Happy Ziplining!

How to have a great time in Croatia

You’ve got your flights and accommodation booked, you’ve got your bikini sorted and you’re busy Googling how to pronounce “Hvar”*. Almost everything’s planned for your upcoming trip but the one thing you may not have thought about is – how to have a great time in Croatia. That’s where the advice on this page comes in!

* It’s pronounced var with an h sound in front. Not Hu-var or Ha-var or anything with two syllables. Hvar. Got it? Good, there you go!

how to have a great time in Croatia

1. Make sure you’ve planned for your destination

Which sounds obvious enough, right? It’s not like you’ll be pulling your ski jacket out of the attic to go on a two-week summer holiday to Croatia. But what I mean is, make sure you’ve got all that you’ll need for your holiday to make sure it all goes smoothly. Take a look at our Croatia Holiday Essentials 2024 guide for some top tips on what to pack and remember to bring.

Yes, of course, you can buy things in Croatia. But you don’t want to be traipsing around supermarkets at 2pm on a hot day trying to find some sun cream. Pack it all in so your holiday can start from day 1!

2. Get out onto the Adriatic sea

If you’ve booked yourself onto a sailing holiday in Croatia, well – you lucky, lucky thing!

If not, I would still heartily recommend spending at least a little bit of time on the gorgeous Adriatic. You won’t regret it one bit, and there’s something absolutely magical about spending a bit of time on a boat on the sea.

There are many ways you can do this. Perhaps you’re already doing a bit of island hopping via public ferries and catamarans so you’ve got this covered already. If you can, I would recommend trying to use a ferry as part of your itinerary. Although the catamarans are certainly faster, the slower pace of the boats and the expanse of the deck for you to sit on makes watching the islands sailing by a great experience.

If you’re staying on an island, why not take a taxi boat to one of the smaller islands nearby. For example, if you’re vacationing in Hvar Town, head down to the harbour to get a taxi boat over to one of the divine Pakleni islands.

You might find there’s a local boat that for short hops up or down the coast that you can use instead of a bus. For example, travelling from Trogir to Split (with Bura Line) or from Cavtat to Dubrovnik (with Adriana Boat Tours).

Otherwise, book yourself onto a day trip that includes a good few hours on a boat.

How to have a great time in Croatia - The Adriatic Sea
The gorgeous Adriatic, sailing into Split

3. Take a day off

Go on, you deserve it. Make sure you take a day off on your holiday which is you taking some time off from your normal life.

Wait, what? What I mean by this is – don’t overplan. Whilst there’s so much to see and do in Croatia (which of course you already know about having ready through the Visit Croatia website fully…I am sure), don’t try and do it all. And, in fact, spend one day simply doing nothing. No day trips, no activities, no rushing to get the 7am bus to the next town…

Instead, have a leisurely coffee or two with breakfast, head down to the pool or beach with your holiday reading book, enjoy a long lunch with a few glasses of cola/pivo/wino (delete as appropriate) and repeat until bed.

Ahhh.

4. Enjoy the summer festivals

Almost everywhere along the coast – and in some inland towns and cities too – hosts some kind of summer festival during July and August, but in some cases in June and September too. The most famous and prestigious of these is the Dubrovnik Summer Festival which takes place each year from 10th July to 25th August. The Festival is really a series of different kinds of entertainment events, from live music to theatre, dance, folk performances and more. Most events are ticketed but some are free – and just walking around Dubrovnik you will notice assorted goings-on that are related to the festival.

How to have a great time in Croatia - Attend a summer festival, such as the Dubrovnik Summer Festival
The Dubrovnik Summer Festival

On a smaller scale, other towns will also have festivals that include music, live entertainment, kids’ events and more. Check locally to see what’s on, or simply stroll about town and join in!

Take a look at our Events in Croatia section to see details of events taking place all over the country. Perhaps you’ll discover an event that’s taking place when you’re in Croatia?

5. Do something unexpected

Okay, I know I’ve mentioned being properly planned for your holiday so everything goes off with a hitch.

But what about taking one day to do something totally unexpected? Here are some ideas:

  • If you’re staying on an island, what about taking a local bus over to the next town? In Hvar Town? Get a bus up to Stari Grad. In Bol on the island of Brac? See what Supetar is like instead.
  • Rent some bikes for the day, pick up a cycling trails map at the local tourist office and see what can explore on two wheels. (You could rent a moped instead if you feel comfortable doing so.)
  • Instead of (or as well as) exploring Dubrovnik by walking the Town Walls, join an organised kayaking tour and see the Old Town from the sea.
  • Head to the bus station in the town you’re staying in and see what destinations you can reach within an hour or two for an unexpected day trip. Bonus points to you if you can get over the border to (for example) Slovenia or Italy (from Istria), Bosnia (from Split or Dubrovnik) or Montenegro (from Dubrovnik).
  • Have your own wheels? Head for a drive inland (assuming you are on the coast!) and see what little village or town you can uncover. You might find a small winery or olive oil produce to enjoy too.
  • If sunbathing all day long is your cup of tea, why not do something totally bonkers such as zipline or a white water rafting adventure (see below)?
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6. Enjoy Croatia’s stunning nature

Croatia is of course home to eight stunning national parks and twelve intriguing nature parks. Whilst Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Park (rightfully) get all the attention, there is so much more fantastic nature to enjoy. Croatia’s nature parks in particular are less well known so why not head to somewhere such as the Lastovo Islands Nature Park, Telascica on the island of Dugi Otok or Vransko Lake Nature Park to really experience Croatian nature and wildlife.

Vransko Lake Nature Park
Vransko Lake Nature Park

If you are in the region of southern Istria, Cape Kamenjak is a wonderful place to spend a day.

7. Indulge in the cuisine

Croatian cuisine doesn’t perhaps have the best rep and those who haven’t tried Croatian wine may not think it’s anything worth bothering with. But that’s a shame on both counts!

Certainly, as befitting a coastal nation, there are a number of excellent fish and seafood dishes as well as hearty meat meals to try. Dishes such as brodet or gregada (fish stew), squid ink risotto, handcrafted pasta dishes (such as fuzi), pasticada (beef stew), peka (meat or fish slow cooked under a bell-shaped lid)…the list goes on. Be sure to sample local cheeses and prsut (local prosciutto).

Do also head to local food markets to see the impressive range of fresh fruit, veg and other products for sale. Markets are also a great place to pick up a quick and cheap – but super tasty – bite to eat such as a piece of burek or cevapcici.

The traditional Croatian dish, peka
The traditional Croatian dish, peka

As for wine – there are many options from wineries all along Dalmatia and Istria.

And let’s not forget a small glass or two of a local liqueur such as orahovac, travarica, sljivovica and the like. If it’s homemade (rather than produced by a drinks company), even better!

8. Climb high

Not necessarily related to mountain climbing – unless that’s your kind of thing. Personally, rough terrain, hiking boots and slight danger aren’t my idea of “a great time”. (But they may well be yours.)

By climbing high I mean climb up a bell tower. There are some excellent climbs to be had in places such as Split, Rovinj and Zadar. You will rewarded by truly fantastic views over the town or city you’re in, as well as out to sea and over to the local islands. You may even be able to spot another country (such as Italy) depending on where you are if the day is clear!

Split Photos - View
View from the belltower in Split

9. Pick up a bit of the language

Sure, learning a spot of the Croatian language before you go may help you have a great time in Croatia. But there’s no denying it’s a tricky language to master, particularly with some sounds and pronunciations that are difficult for English speakers.

So simple equip yourself with a hvala (thank you) and a molim (please) and you’re pretty much good to do. Because who doesn’t like a please and thank you said to them in their own language.

And then you can move on to dobar dan (Good day, said as a greeting) or a simple bok (hi and bye) and that’s practically a whole conversation! Well done you.

B

Sonus Festival 2024

Sonus Festival 2024 announces its first wave of acts

The most authentic underground house and techno festival in Croatia, Sonus Festival 2024 (18th – 22nd August 2024, Zrce Beach), has announced its first wave of acts that will be appearing on the bill this year. And it’s looking to be a truly stellar line-up – the biggest and best yet for the festival’s eleventh edition, with a mix of artists brand-new to the event and returning favourites.

Acts such as 999999999, Adam Beyer, Adriatique, Archie Hamilton, Ben Klock b2b Marcel Dettmann, Chris Stussy, Dax J, Ellen Allien, Enzo Siragusa, I Hate Models, Indira Paganotto, John Summit, Joseph Capriati, Loco Dice, Marco Carola, Reinier Zonneveld live, Ricardo Villalobos, Richie Hawtin, Robert Hood, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Seth Troxler, Stephan Bodzin live, Sven Väth, UMEK, Vintage Culture and more will all feature.

Sonus Festival 2024 Line-Up

Sonus Festival 2024 Line-Up

On the techno side of things, you’ll find Drumcode boss and global techno titan Adam Beyer, revered Berghain duo Ben Klock b2b Marcel Dettmann and hard-edged sounds from Dax J. Melodic techno will be on show from Italian star Deborah De Luca, with blistering beats from Héctor Oaks and I Hate Models, and Neapolitan loops from Music On’s Marco Carola plus tastemaking sounds from breakout Spanish DJ Indira Paganotto

Moving on to cult heroes Seth Troxler, Ricardo Villalobos and Richie Hawtin to give the crowds some mind-melting minimal, plus more from Detroit’s Robert Hood and DJ Holographic.

Sonus Festival 2024
Aquarius (Courtesy of Sonus Festival)
Sonus Festival 2024
Aquarius (Courtesy of Sonus Festival)

Cocoon ringleader Sven Väth will be serving up some colourful curveballs, hard techno and acid will be on full show with Reinier Zonneveld live, and stunning synth-heavy soundscapes will be performed to the max from the revered Stephan Bodzin live.

Ibiza favourite Joseph Capriati will be presenting house and all its variants, whilst there will be heavy low ends from Desolat founder Loco Dice and dub, tech and garage blends from FUSE man Enzo Siragusa.

UK sounds will be served up by party starter Archie Hamilton, with prog from the innovative Ukrainian Miss Monique, and house, breaks and minimal from Dutch wunderkind Chris Stussy.

And plenty more names too!

Sonus Festival 2024
Kalypso (Courtesy of Sonus Festival)

Tickets for Sonus Festival 2024

Tickets are available now at https://www.sonus-festival.com/book.

A regular ticket costs €219 (including fees) which includes access to all three clubs for the five days and five nights of the festival plus more than fifteen parties.

VIP tickets – which offer the above plus special VIP areas, separate entrances and fast lane entry – cost €350 (including fees).

You can also opt for a ticket + accommodation package, with hostels, hotels, villas and apartments all available.

You can also get tickets for a special pre-festival opening party on 17th August 2024 with Alignment, BIIA and Shlømo – tickets for this cost €35 (including fees).

Additional passes will also be available for boat parties.

Sonus Festival 2024
Papaya (Courtesy of Sonus Festival)

About Sonus Festival 2024

Sonus Festival offers up the perfect mix of adventure travel and music to give you the best holiday experience. The festival was one of the first international events to arrive in Croatia and is still at the forefront of the Adriatic movement thanks to its “in music and nature we trust” ethos.

Fans from all over the world descend on Zrce Beach on the island of Pag for Sonus to fully enjoy the event produced by ravers, for ravers. Every detail will be taken care of in spectacular fashion – from production and curation to sound and visuals. Revellers will be able to dance from dusk to dawn in stunning open-air venues in this beautiful island location, with views over the glimmering Adriatic Sea.

Sonus Festival Beach Fun
Beach fun at Sonus Festival (Courtesy of Sonus Festival)

And if you want something else to enjoy apart from the music, the local area offers all sorts of activities to suit everyone – whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or a lover of relaxation. There’s water sports, kayaking, rock lining, quad bike hire, bungee jumping, wind and kite surfing and so much more. The local town of Novalja is a beautiful town with a historic harbour, plenty of restaurants and much more to explore too.

Sonus Festival 2024
The island of Pag (Courtesy of Sonus Festival)

More info

Keep updated with all the latest news on the Sonus website, or follow them on social media: @sonusfestival (Facebook), @sonusfestival (Instagram) and @sonus_festival (Twitter/X).

Hospitality on the Beach 2024

Hospitality on the Beach 2024 reveals line-up

One of the top festivals in Croatia – Hospitality on the Beach (Tisno, 2nd – 9th July 2024) – has revealed its full 2024 line-up and there are some fantastic names playing at this drum and bass heaven on the Adriatic Sea!

Hospitality on the Beach 2024

About Hospitality on the Beach

The festival is brought to you by the leading UK drum & bass label Hospital Records, known for its focus on the drum and bass community and for covering all styles of drum and bass, from liquid to jungle, rollers to jump up, minimal to neuro and everything in between. Hospitality on the Beach debuted in 2018 and has evolved into the event we all know and love today – one that offers truly unforgettable moments in a stunning beachside setting to all party-goers. The party heads back to its routes next summer to offer an intimate experience like no other.

Once again, Hospitality on the Beach will be held at the impressive Garden Tisno resort, which has everything a festivalgoer could possibly want and need! From a sun-kissed private beach to multiple stages to immerse yourself in DnB at all times of day (especially during the unreal sunsets and epic sunrises); crazy boat parties to the world-famous open-air afterparty spot Barbarella’s Discotheque.

Hospitality on the Beach

The exclusive venue, The Garden Resort, boasts a sun-kissed private beach and multiple stages where you can indulge in DnB from across the spectrum with epic views, unreal sunsets and dazzling sunrises with like-minded music lovers. You can expect days spent under Croatia’s blissful blue skies, some of the craziest boat parties in the world and raving until the sun rises at the world-famous al fresco afterparty spot, Barbarellas Discotheque. Hospitality On The Beach truly is for everyone. It’s a movie of your own making with options to rave, relax or explore the local culture and cuisine of Croatia. Explore the town of Tisno which offers amazing seafood restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries and gelato shops; or take a day trip to the many surrounding sights, or simply chill on the beach. 

“The Garden is a really special place for the whole Hospitality family. There’s an unparalleled sense of unity among our fans from across the globe, coming together to celebrate the full spectrum of drum & bass music. There are no barriers, no VIP areas, no exclusivity – just ravers and artists sharing the best Summer D&B week of the year. We’re buzzing to return to our second home, nestled on the beautiful Adriatic shores of Tisno, Croatia”

Chris Gossowner & Managing Director of Hospital Records 

And that’s not all! The nearby town of Tisno has lots of offer (think amazing seafood restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries and gelato shops) and there are plenty of awesome day trips to other towns, cities, islands and national parks for you to enjoy too.

Hospitality on the Beach

Hospitality on the Beach 2024 – Line Up

Playing across the epic Garden Resort’s four stages next summer will be some of drum and bass’s hottest artists including A.M.C, Alix Perez, Camo & Krooked, DJ Marky, Fabio & Grooverider, Flava D, Kings Of The Rollers & Inja, Lens, LTJ Bukem, Metrik, P Money X Whiney, Sub Focus and so many, many more.

And some of the most pioneering labels, brands and artists will be curating their own soundtrack as stage hosts including Hospitality, 1985 Music, Blackout, Critical, Detonate, DJ Marky & Friends, Modus, 25 Years Of Respect, Run, 20 Years of Shogun Audio and Spearhead.

Head to www.hospitalityonthebeach.com/lineup to see all the exciting news about the line-up.

Hospitality on the Beach

Hospitality on the Beach 2024 – Tickets and Accommodation

Tickets are on sale now with the second release of tickets available to buy, priced at £190 plus booking fee.

You can also opt for a “group of 5” offer if you’re going to be heading down to Tisno with your mates – this brings down each individual ticket to £170 (plus booking fee). You can also purchase a ticket with payments available from just £28.57 a month.

Head to www.hospitalityonthebeach.com/book-tickets to see all the ticketing options and to snap up your tickets today!

There will be official Hospitality on the Beach 2024 accommodation which will be a mix of hotel and beach cabins. Located just a 10-15 minute taxi ride from the festival site, this will be the perfect way to start your festival day each day – meet like-minded festival-goers as you sip a cocktail on Hotel Miran’s terrace bar, soundtracked by Hospitality resident DJs, or take a refreshing dip in one of two swimming pools or the hotel’s private beach that overlooks the picturesque Adriatic Sea. Sounds ideal, right?

More accommodation will also be available at The Garden Resort itself, including apartments, luxury mobile homes, hostels and camping options.

Hospitality on the Beach

Getting there

The Garden Tisno is roughly halfway between Zadar and Split Airports – take a look at our Getting to Split and Getting to North Dalmatia pages for full details of all the airlines flying to these airports from the UK, Ireland and from all over Europe.

More info

Do check out the official Hospitality on the Beach website for all details about the festival, and look them up on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok for all the latest news.

Hospitality on the Beach