Ziplines in Croatia

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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

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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

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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

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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 Goss, owner & 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

Advent in Zagreb 2023

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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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Croatian Point of Inaccessibility

Where’s the Point of Inaccessibility in Croatia?

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Where is the point of inaccessibility in Croatia? And more to the point – what is a point of inaccessibility?

We were contacted by traveller Chris Brown who recently visited the point of inaccessibility in Croatia – the coordinates of which are:

  • Latitude: 45° 46.9747‘N
  • Longitude: 16° 29.8791’E

which is about 55km west of Zagreb and 8km south, south east of Dubrava, meaning it is in a small rural village called Mostari. At the Croatian point of inaccessibility, the nearest border is 61.4km away.

So, what is a Pole or Point of Inaccessibility? 

Traditionally, the Pole of Inaccessibility for a large landmass like a continent, or an island, is the point furthest away from the ocean in any direction.

The easiest way to imagine it is to take a map of the land mass and draw the biggest circle you can without touching the ocean.  The centre of that circle is the Pole of Inaccessibility.

Chris has simply extended that concept to any country or state where the border is well defined and called those POINTS of inaccessibility.

Chris has made it a hobby/mission to visit as many Poles of Inaccessibility (continents) and Points of Inaccessibility as possible. And during a trip to visit the famous Rimac factory in Zagreb, he was presented with the opportunity to visit the Croatian POI.

You can see from this sketch below that any other point in Croatia is closer to the border than the centre of the red circle – that centre being in Mostari.

Croatian Point of Inaccessibility

This is Chris standing at the POI for Croatia (well, actually 9m from the exact point because it was on private land).

Chris Brown at the Croatian Point of Inaccessibility

You can learn more about points and poles of inaccessibility on Chris’ blog at inaccessibility.net and, in particular, his travels to the Croatian Point of Inaccessibility.

Croatia for Kids

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Hello kids, and welcome to the Visit Croatia website! We are a travel website all about the wonderful country of Croatia. We are kind of like experts on Croatia! On this page about Croatia for kids, you can explore and learn more about Croatia.

Where is Croatia?

Croatia is in the continent of Europe, but more specifically, it is located in southeastern Europe. Sometimes you might hear it talked about being in Central Europe or Eastern Europe too. If you’re flying to Croatia from the UK, it’s about a 2 or 3 hour flight. That’s not long at all.

Here is Croatia in Europe:

Croatia for Kids - Map of Europe showing location of Croatia

Have you noticed its shape? It’s kind of funny, right? Sometimes people refer to it as looking like a croissant!

On this map, you can see some of Croatia’s many islands. The county is home to over 1,000 islands.

Croatia for Kids - Map of Croatia

The neighbouring countries of Croatia are Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The country also has a long coastline along the Adriatic Sea.

Just under 4 million people live in Croatia. That’s pretty small for a country. That’s fewer people than live in the whole of London, for example!

What is the Capital City of Croatia?

The capital city of Croatia is Zagreb. It’s a lovely city with lots to see and do. If you visit it, you might like to read our guide to Zagreb for Kids.

Other important cities in Croatia include Split, the largest city on the Croatian seaside, Rijeka, Dubrovnik, Zadar and Osijek.

What does the flag look like? And why?

Here is the Croatian flag:

Croatia for Kids - Croatian flag

It’s kind of unusual, right?

If you watch football, you will recognise the red and white checks! Croatian football kits are based on the Croatian flag.

Why does the flag look like that? The red and white shield is the coat of arms of Croatia. The little shields above it are (from left) an ancient coat of arms of Croatia; the coat of arms of Dubrovnik; the coat of arms of Dalmatia; the coat of arms of Istria; and the coat of arms of Slavonia. The last three are different regions of Croatia.

What language do they speak in Croatia?

They speak Croatian!

In truth, Croatian can be a bit of a tricky language to learn and some of the pronunciation and spelling is a bit difficult. If you would like to learn a little bit of it, take a look at our Croatian for Travellers section.

To get you started, here are a few phrases and words that you can use on your holiday:

CroatianEnglishHow to pronounce it
Dobro jutroGood morningdoh-broh you-tro
Dobar danGood daydoh-bar dan
Dobra večerGood eveningdoh-bra ve-chair
Laku noćGood nightla-ku notch
BokHi and byebock
HvalaThanksva-la with an ‘h’ sound
at the beginning!
MolimPleasemoh-leem
sladoledice creamsla-dough led
čokoladachocolatechock-o-lada
moreseamo-reh
bazenpoolbah-zen

What is Croatia famous for?

Here are some of the things Croatia is famous for:

Croatia for Kids - Croatia is famous for...

What are some of the famous sights of Croatia?

Top Ten Destinations in Croatia - Zagreb
St Mark’s Church in Zagreb
Top Sights in Croatia - Pula Arena
The Arena in Pula
A weekend break in Croatia - Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik Old Town
St James Cathedral in Sibenik

More info

Now that we’ve taught you a little bit about the country on our Croatia for Kids page, why not send your parents over to our Family Holidays in Croatia page to persuade them to take a holiday in the country?

(If you’re not already going, that is!)

SunceBeat Credit: Hannah Metcalfe

This year’s SunceBeat could be the last ever

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The organisers behind the wildly popular festival SunceBeat (20th – 27th July 2023) – the longest-running festival in Tisno, now in its 14th year – have just announced that this year will likely be the last time the festival will be held in Croatia. SunceBeat will definitely not return in 2024, and the team are still deciding on the future – whether to return to Croatia or to continue in a new location in Europe. This is down to a combination of factors, and the SunceBeat team need to take a break after 2023 and develop other ideas. The festival’s big sister event, The Southport Weekender, will continue each Spring in the UK, however.

this year's SunceBeat

All of this means that this year’s SunceBeat will be an absolute blast! Festival founders Alex Lowes and Nick Connolly plus the whole extended team will be sure to put on an absolutely memorable event, celebrating SunceBeat’s enduring legacy with one final get-together this summer. Some of the seminal artists that have played a part in the festival’s identity as well as debut sets from Body & Soul NYC: (Joe Claussell – Danny Krivit – Francois K), Kruder & Dorfmeister (DJ SET) and DJ Spoony plus Kenny Dope, David Morales, Danilo Plessow (MCDE) and his live band Another Taste, Hunee, Antal, Osunlade, Tony Humphries, Children of Zeus (live) and many more.

We’ve made some brilliant friends on this journey which has taken us from the early Petrcane days when the whole idea of festivals in Croatia was in its infancy to the more recent years in Tisno where we’ve amped up our ambition and scale. Throughout this we’ve always kept to our roots in the artists we’ve booked and the amazing and loyal crowd we’ve cultivated through the years, essentially a distillation of The Southport Weekender in terms of our ethos and musical scope. Making so many friends, building these relationships and being lucky to come to this gorgeous part of the world each year has always been the highlight for myself, Nick and the wider SuncéBeat team, and not coming next summer is going to hurt us all. We will dearly miss Croatia’s warm welcome, Tisno’s intimacy and the fantastic festival site at the Garden Resort, the boat parties and of course Barbarella’s.

So this summer is going to be all about celebrating the good times we’ve had – and we have had many – and to party with all of our favourite guests day and night. We know SuncéBeat’s made an indelible imprint in the history of Croatian festivals and the memories will last long, and we expect July to be extra special and a chance to say goodbye to what we have created here in a suitably fitting style.

Alex Lowes, SunceBeat co-founder
SunceBeat Credit: Hannah Metcalfe
Credit: Hannah Metcalfe
SunceBeat Credit: Colin William
Credit: Colin William

Be sure to join the global partygoers at this intimate festival in beautiful Tisno for one final spectacular event – you’ll want to be there as the crowd doubtless sheds a tear or two when dawn rises for the final show at legendary open-air club Barbarella’s.

We’ve thought long and hard over this decision and we have to be realistic – myself and Nick have faced many challenges in the last three years running SuncéBeat and ever more so as we now approach this 14th and final edition. Being independent is an integral part of who we are and always will be, but it adds to all of the other factors you need to go well for any event on our festival’s level to work. It’s not been an easy decision – it’s frankly been very painful to come to – but also we know it’s the right one and the essence of SuncéBeat will continue in a new guise elsewhere in Europe. And whilst I would always say you never know, I do feel that this is our last Croatian odyssey. So we’re going to conclude SuncéBeat with as big a bang as possible for everyone and make a memorable last party which will have Tisno rocking. We want to give everyone the best memories and something to cherish. It’s been a wonderful, bonkers and love-filled journey.

Alex Lowes, SunceBeat co-founder

SunceBeat 2023

Tickets for SunceBeat can be purchased at suncebeat.com. They are priced at £255 (plus booking fee) for the entire 7-day long festival; you can also buy a 4-day weekend pass for £200 (plus booking fee).

Additionally, day passes are also available, priced at £30, £55 or £60 (plus booking fee) depending on the day you choose to attend.

Tickets for the epic boat parties go on sale at 10am (UK time) on Thursday 1st June – be sure to go to the SunceBeat website to snap them up as they’ll go quickly!

SunceBeat 2023
20th – 27th July 2023
The Garden, Tisno
suncebeat.com

This year's Suncebeat
SunceBeat Boat Parties Credit: Colin William

SunceBeat boat parties to go on sale 1st June

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Tisno’s longest-running music festival, SunceBeat – celebrating its 14th birthday this year – has just announced the 15 epic boat parties that will be accompanying the main part of the festival this summer. Being held from 20th to 27th July 2023, find out what’s in store for this year’s SunceBeat boat parties right here!

SunceBeat Boat Parties

About SunceBeat

A music adventure and amazing holiday all rolled into one, SunceBeat will take place in the idyllic hideaway that is The Garden Tisno for seven spectacular days. Spend your time partying under the hot sun by day and the twinkling stars by night, all the time right next to the glittering Adriatic Sea. The younger sibling of the long-running Southport Weekender, SunceBeat offers the same expertly-curated music experience, drawing together like-minded souls and some of the world’s finest artists.

This year’s line-up includes acts such as Body & Soul NYC: (Joe Claussell – Danny Krivit – Francois K), Kruder & Dorfmeister (DJ SET) and DJ Spoony with Kenny Dope, David Morales, Danilo Plessow (MCDE) and his live band Another Taste, Hunee, Antal, Osunlade, Tony Humphries, Children of Zeus (live), DJ Spen and Friends, Marcellus Pittman, plus many more.

An essential part of SunceBeat, this year’s boat parties will feature 15 epic voyages on the legendary boat The Argonaughty. Altogether the boat parties fully encompass the myriad sounds and genres that make up the music festival – some highlights of the boat parties include My Grooves 10th Anniversary, John Morales M+M boat party, Cabeau’s Adriatic Afro Cruise, DJ Spoony’s Elements of Garage and Chicago’s Chosen Few…amongst many others!

SunceBeat Boat Parties Credit: Colin William
Credit: Colin William

SunceBeat Boat Parties 2023 – Line-Up

Thursday 20th July

MAIDEN VOYAGE BOAT PARTY – 18:00 – 22:00
18:00 Lil Stevie
19:00 Rich Medina
20:00 Souldynamic
21:00 The Journey Men

Friday 21st July

MY GROOVES 10TH ANNIVERSARY BOAT PARTY – 13:00 – 17:00
13:00 Felipe Gordon
14:00 Ash Lauryn
15:00 Lakuti
16:00 Afshin

JOHN MORALES M+M BOAT PARTY – 18:00 – 22:00
18:00 Angel Mel
19:00 Natasha Kitty Kat
20:00 Young Pulse
21:00 John Morales

Saturday 22nd July

LIQUID SPIRIT BOAT PARTY – 12:30 – 15:30
12:30 Danny T
13:30 David Bailey
14:30 Emmaculate

CONNOISSEURS SOUL BOAT – 16:15 – 20:15
16:15 Bigger
17:15 Bob Masters
18:15 Terry Jones
19:15 Craig Smith

COSMIC LAW ALBUM LAUNCH – 21:00 – 01:00
21:00 Atjazz
22:00 Abel
23:00 Rocco
00:00 Osunlade

Sunday 23rd July

DEEP INTO SOUL BOAT PARTY – 13:00 – 17:00
13:00 The Journey Men
14:00 Frankie Feliciano
15:00 Sy Sez
16:00 Neil Pierce

CABEAU’S ADRIATIC AFRO CRUISE – 18:00 – 22:00
18:00 Demented Soul
19:00 Montoya
20:00 Helen Ting
21:00 Manoo

Monday 24th July

DANILO PLESSOW (MCDE) BOAT PARTY – 13:00 – 16:00
13:00 Sadar Bahar
14:00 Danilo Plessow (MCDE)
15:00 Antal

SUNDAY MASS BOAT PARTY WITH DAVID MORALES – 17:00 – 20:00
David Morales

DJ SPOONY PRESENTS “ELEMENTS OF GARAGE” BOAT PARTY – 21:00 – 00:00
Dreem Teem (DJ Spoony & Mikee B)
Norris ‘Da Boss’ Windross
MC Ranking

Tuesday 25th July

DJ SPEN PRSENTS SOULFUL STORM – 13:00 – 17:00
Live PA Tasha Larae
DJ Spen & Reelsoul
Additional Live PAs Aaron K Gray

CHICAGO’S CHOSEN FEW BOAT PARTY – 18:00 – 22:00
Terry Hunter
Emmaculate
Alan King
Wayne Williams

Wednesday 26th July

MI SOUL BOAT PARTY – 13:00 – 17:00
13:00 Jon Jules
14:00 Brian Power
15:00 Ronnie Herel
16:00 Tony Humphries
Gordon Mac As Master Of Ceremonies (MC)

FAREWELL BOAT PARTY – 18:00 – 22:00
18:00 Colin Williams
19:00 Andy Ward
20:00 Crackazat
21:00 Quentin Harris

SunceBeat Credit: Hannah Metcalfe
Credit: Hannah Metcalfe

Tickets for SunceBeat Boat Parties

Tickets for the boat parties must be purchased separately to the main festival ticket, and they go on sale at 1pm (UK time) on 1st June 2023. Set your alarms for that date and save suncebeat.com to buy your tickets!

There’s still a chance to buy tickets for the festival itself if you haven’t already – a ticket costs £255 (plus booking fee) for the full 7-day event. You can of course also buy tickets at suncebeat.com.

More info

For all the latest SunceBeat news, head to the official website suncebeat.com or check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube.

SunceBeat Credit: Colin William

First wave of artists for SunceBeat 2023 revealed

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The 14th edition of the epic Suncebeat is back in Tisno this summer (20th – 27th July 2023) and just a few days ago the first wave of artists appearing was announced. SunceBeat will be going back to its roots this year, as the team bring together some of the original artists as well as honing in on the global sounds which make the festival so unique – there will be the best of house, disco, Afro, Soul, Garage, R&B and funk on offer. Names on the bill include acts such as DJ Spoony, Kenny Dope, David Morales, Hunee, Children of Zeus (live), DJ Spen and Friends and more! (See more details further in this post.)

SunceBeat 2023 First Names Revealed

The Garden Resort, Tisno is the perfect venue for SunceBeat (the region’s longest-running festival) – all the usual spectacular elements such as intimate beach-side dancing, bouncing boat parties, the mesmeric Olive Grove, the open-air club Barbarella’s and headline artists on the Garden Stage will be there. And with plenty of restaurants, bars, hidden covers and intimate beaches in the general area, SunceBeat really does offer an amazing festival experience and holiday in one.

SunceBeat 2023 © Photography by Hannah Metcalfe (www.hannahmetcalfe.co.uk)
Photography by Hannah Metcalfe

SunceBeat 2023 Line-Up

The full list of artists announced so for include debuts from Body & Soul NYC: (Joe Claussell – Danny Krivit – Francois K), Kruder & Dorfmeister (DJ SET) and DJ Spoony with Kenny Dope, David Morales, Danilo Plessow (MCDE) and his live band Another Taste, Hunee, Antal, Osunlade, Tony Humphries, Children of Zeus (live), DJ Spen and Friends, Marcellus Pittman, Djeff, Da Capo, Ash Lauryn, Lakuti, DJ Emii, Helen Ting, Quentin Harris, Rich Medina, Sadar Bahar, Terry Hunter, Young Pulse and Frankie Feliciano. There are further debuts from Black Loops, Crackazat and Jihad Muhammad.

They are joined by Afshin, Alan King, Analogue Soul, Atjazz, Aura, Craig Smith, Demented Soul, Dreem Teem (DJ Spoony & Mikee B), Emmaculate, Felipe Gordon, Frankie Feliciano, Greg Gauthier, Helen Ting, John Morales, Jovonn, Kiko Navarro, Kapela, Karlainthemix, Manoo, MC Rankin, Muscle Cars, Natasha Kitty Kat, Neil Pierce, Norris ‘Da Boss’ Windross, Reelsoul, Rocco Rodamaal, Ronnie Herel, Sarah Main, Souldynamic, Sy Sez, The Journey Men and Wayne Williams.

There are live PAs Dawn Tallman, Aaron K. Gray, Tasha Larae and Michelle John over the week. And stage takeovers are revealed from Body & Soul (NYC), Cabeau Music, DJ Spen & Friends, DJ Spoony presents UK Garage In the Sun, Djoon Paris 20 Years Anniversary, Mi Soul Radio, Space Grapes Stage featuring Another Taste (live) plus Danilo Plessow (MCDE) & friends and Terry Hunter presents Chicago’s Chosen Few DJs.

“We’ve been busy behind the scenes getting ready for the 14th edition of SunceBeat and all of the team are very proud of our first wave of artists. As always, we’ve got a mix of some super-hot talent breaking through and some familiar faces who know us well; some artists haven’t played for us for some time now, and we made a decision to get back to our musical roots by bringing these guys back. There’s plenty more to come and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to SunceBeat.”

Alex Lowes, SunceBeat founder
SunceBeat Credit: Colin William
Credit: Colin William

Tickets for Suncebeat 2023

Tickets for the full 7 days of the festival are priced at £235 (plus booking fee). If you can’t quite make the full festival, it’s possible to buy a 4-day weekend pass (for entry Friday 21st to Monday 24th July) for £200 (plus booking fee).

You can also buy group versions of both of these tickets – pay for 4 tickets and get 5! The group version of the 7-day pass works out to £164 (plus b.f.) per person, whilst the 4-day version is £140 per person (plus b.f.).

Tickets can be bought online at suncebeat.com/tickets. Tickets to boat parties cost extra.

SunceBeat Credit: Colin William
Credit: Colin William

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More info

You can get full details on this year’s festival on the official SunceBeat website, and do also check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube for all the latest news!

SunceBeat 2023
20th – 27th July 2023
The Garden Tisno
suncebeat.com