Soundwave Croatia 2016

Win tickets to Soundwave Croatia 2016!

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The eighth edition of Soundwave (4th – 8th August 2016) returns to the wonderful location of The Garden Tisno with a fantastic line-up – and here’s your chance to win tickets to Soundwave, plus tickets to a boat party and entry to the legendary on-site nightclub, Barbarella’s!

Soundwave Croatia 2016

Soundwave Croatia

Known for the eclectic range of acts on its bill, Soundwave brings together a mix of broken beat, reggae, afro, acid jazz, hip-hop, soul, funk, drum and bass and more to the Adriatic coast – but also sets itself aside from some of the other festivals in the region with a more edifying and spiritually enriching experience for festival-goers.

Soundwave Croatia 2016
Credit: Dan Medhurst

Soundwave is held at The Garden Tisno – and anyone who’s been there before can attest that it’s one of the most idyllic places in the world for a festival! With beautifully clear waters, a private sandy beach and endless hours of sunshine by day and star-lit skies by night, nature really plays its part. And with the incredible water-side beach bar, stages built around their surroundings (including the Olive Grove stage, nestled under a canopy of trees) and the open-air night-club Barbarella’s, you’ll have an amazing time practically any time, day or night.

Soundwave 2016 Line-Up

The headline act at this year’s Soundwave is Pharoahe Monch, formerly a member of New York City duo Organized Konfusion. Having developed a reputation as one of underground hip-hop’s preeminent lyricists, Pharoahe Monch is also an incisive political and social commentator, using hip-hop as a platform for political engagement. Calibre will also be headlining; with his distinctive sound that takes on elements of jazz, funk, dub and techno, Calibre is responsible for some of the most beautiful and sublime tracks in drum and bass.

Soundwave 2016 - Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch

But that’s just the start of things when it comes to the line-up! Digital Mystikz’s Mala will be returning, as will funk and soul DJ and one of 6 Music’s lead presenters, Craig Charles. Fatima & The Eglo Band will be performing live, and Gentleman’s Dub Club will also bring their energetic and exhilarating live show to Tisno. Channel One Sound System will also be at Soundwave – they’ve been regulars at the Notting Hill Carnival for over 30 years and are the UK’s most prominent and respected reggae crew; the Red Bull Culture Clash winners will bring their ground-shaking bass to the festival.

The Riot Jazz Brass Band will swoop in with their peace-lovin’ aggro jazz, hip-hop samples, funked-up favourites and re-interpreted dubstep too, dropping drum and bass and dancefloor bangers that always have everyone dancing. Romare blends Afrocentric beats and global inspirations, as encapsulated in his brilliant Projections album. The incredible voice of Harleighblu – one of the UK’s brightest new names – will enchant the Soundwave crowds. Italian producer C. Crisci’s Clap! Clap! project samples African tribes, bands and singers, creating tribal rhythms through drum machines and synths. And BAFTA and MOBO award winning artist Akala is a rapper with heart, soul and steel, a historian who brings a touch of lyrical grace and edge to Soundwave.

Soundwave Croatia 2016 - Gentleman's Dub Club
Gentleman’s Dub Club

But that’s not all! Other names on the bill include Rinse FM presenter and DJ Josey Rebelle, Eglo Record’s boss Alexander Nut, Henry Wu  from 22a Records, Dan Shake, Jordan Rakei, Harvey Sutherland, Flo Real (Mahogani Music), Chunky, Werkha, Eva Lazarus, Bambooman, Sarah Williams White, Bobbafat, Gilla, DJ Mylz, Tehbis, Normanton Street, Chiminyo, CC Disco, Taste The Difference, So Fresh So Clean, Plates and Tuckshop.

Win tickets to Soundwave Croatia!

If all of the above is whetting your appetite, here’s a wonderful opportunity to win a pair of tickets to this year’s Soundwave Festival. And that’s not all – included as part of the prize will be two tickets to the boat party of your choice, plus entry for two to Barbarella’s every night of the festival!

To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer this question:

What is the name of the festival site in Tisno, Croatia, where Soundwave takes place? 

a) The Field
b) The Park
c) The Garden

To enter, email us on webmaster@visit-croatia.co.uk with the answer, as well as your name and country of residence.

Only one entry per person. The competition will close at 12pm (midday) on Friday, 27th May 2016. The winner will be notified by email soon after this date.

More on Soundwave

If you’re not lucky enough to win tickets to this year’s awesome Soundwave, you can snap up a festival pass at www.soundwavecroatia.com for £125 for 5 days (club and boat parties extra).

Or if you’ve already snapped up tickets and want to know more about getting to Soundwave, check our our guide to the festival.

Be sure to also look up Soundwave on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

A unique, fun and sexy event – Allure Music Festival, 21st – 23rd July on Zrce Beach, Pag

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Another new festival event for Croatia this summer – the Allure Music Festival, which takes place from 21st to 23rd July on the island of Pag!

Allure Music Festival

Set in Zrce Beach’s Kalypso Club – one of the hottest destinations for summer partying in Croatia – Allure Music Festival has a unique twist and something that sets it apart from all other dance music events taking place this summer in the country. Women will be at the centre of the Allure experience, as all DJs, dancers, hostesses and promoters at the event will be female. Allure will truly be a celebration of women!

Allure Music Festival

DJs that will be performing at Allure include DJ Mari Ferrari, DJ Sherezade, DJ Dea, DJ Gila and DJ Lady Dee with more ladies to be announced very soon.

Allure Music Festival is sure to be one of the sexiest events of the summer, as great music will combine with a unique vibe of spirituality, sensuality and seduction.

The Festival will be taking place at Kalypso Club in Zrce Beach on the island of Pag, the top party destination in Croatia that’s on an island that attracts more than 2 million visitors each year. Kalypso Club has a huge open air dance floor, go go platforms, lots of different levels, and plenty of bars so there’s everything you could possibly need for a fantastic night out.

Early bird tickets for Allure Music Festival are currently available, priced at €25 – making the festival not just a sexy and unique event, but excellent value for money! Tickets can be purchased online here.

For full details on Allure and to find out more line-up details, check out the official website at allure-music-festival.com. Do also follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all the latest Allure Music Festival goings on!

Allure Music Festival
21st – 23rd July 2015
Kalypso Club
Zrce Beach
island of Pag

Kalypso - Color Sensation

The 2015 party season at Zrce Beach’s Kalypso club, including brand new Stereo Forest Festival

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Novalja’s Kalypso Club – the very first beach club in southeast Europe that now has nearly thirty years of clubbing experience – has announced a very exciting party season for 2015! Alongside a number of exciting festivals – including the first edition of Croatia Rocks, little sister to Ibiza Rocks, Kalypso will be hosting its own festival for the first time this year. Named Stereo Forest, the festival will held on the dance floors, stages and party pools of Kalypso from 2nd to 6th August 2015, bringing together some of the best names from the electronic dance music scene.

Another special announcement for 2015 is that every Monday Kalypso will also host Garden of Art, a spectacular cirque performance art experience that will mix top DJs and live acts with talented dancers in extravagant costumes, amazing artistry and fire shows – everything to delight both your eyes and ears. Catch the spectacle as you chill at Kalypso by day, or dance away to EDM beats by night. Garden of Art will be rounded off for the summer by a BIG closing party on the 22nd August.

Kalypso - Stereo Forest

Stereo Forest Festival

Not just a festival…but a whole festival event! Top name DJs are guaranteed, as are party events day and night…you’ll barely have enough time to catch your breath!

Garden of Art will also be held during the Stereo Forest Festival (on Monday 3rd August), whilst the following day (4th August) will see a Color Sensation party. This Indian-style colour celebration will see the sky turned pink, yellow and blue as colourful ‘paint’ rains down – and with the glimmering Adriatic sea behind you and the sun or stars above, you’ll get lost in an immense party vibe. (The Color Sensation party is included in the price of a Stereo Forest ticket, although you can also purchase tickets just for the party itself.)

The first line-up announcements for Stereo Forest include R3HAB – Holland’s hottest artist, who’s been catapulted into the limelight with a string of successful original material and remixes – and Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman, two young and very promising producers from Sweden that have received a great deal of attention for their remix of Coldplay’s The Scientist, plus their new single Roll The Dice.

Kalypso - Color Sensation

Watch out for more line-up announcements plus Stereo Forest ticket news at kalypso-zrce.com.

About Kalypso

The first ever club to open on Novalja’s (and Croatia’s!) famed Zrce Beach almost thirty years ago, club Kalypso is now a world renowned party and festival destination. With a huge open-air dance floor, go go platforms, plenty of different levels and numerous bar areas, there’s something to delight everyone and plenty of space for you all! Kalypso is of course also open by day – you can lounge by the pool sipping cocktails and relaxing in the sun whilst you gear up for the party night ahead!

Kalypso Club

Kalypso has been home to some of the best festivals in Croatia for a number of years now, with Hideout, Sonus, Barrakud and Fresh Island Festival all also taking place this summer as well.

As mentioned above, this year Kalypso will host its own festival for the first time; Stereo Forest will merge the brand new visual identity of the club with its lush natural surroundings, alongside an art sculpted stage and the club’s party pools.

Kalypso Club

Latest Kalypso news

  • Kalypso has been named in the top three of Beatport’s 13 Mind-Blowing Festival Destinations from around the world! Check out details here.
  • Croatia Rocks recently unveiled the second phase of their festival line-up, which now includes names such as Clean Bandit, The Vaccines, Kate Tempest, Rudimental, Gorgon City, Zane Lowe and special guest Fatboy Slim. More details at www.croatiarocks.com.

Stereo Forest Festival
2nd – 6th August 2015
Kalypso Club
Zrce Beach, Novalja, Pag, Croatia
kalypso-zrce.com

Soundwave Croatia 2015

Latest artists added to the bill for Soundwave Festival 2015 – get all the details!

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This year’s Soundwave Festival – which is already in its seventh year – recently revealed the latest acts to be appearing at the event in Tisno this August. This builds on plenty of exciting news about new elements of the festival, as well as the announcement of the ‘Run to the Sun’ tours that will be held in Europe in the week leading up to the festival.

Names such as Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village; British producer and DJ Mr Scruff; one of the UK’s finest voices, Andreya Triana; and 6 Music’s Craig Charles, who’ll be playing the best in funk and soul, have all recently been added to the line-up of this year’s Soundwave Festival. That’s in addition to acts such as Alice Russell & Fatima; LTJ Bukem and DJ Marky; Channel One Soundsystem; Alexander Nut; and Mala that are already on the bill.

Soundwave Croatia 2015

This year’s Soundwave also has a number of exciting additional elements to it – including an art programme and film scrennings. Street artists, mural artists and illustrators from across Croatia and the rest of Europe will be on hand to transform the walls of apartments and buildings in the festival site, turning them into living and evolving pieces of art. Point273 from independent art collective BestJoinedUp and Sri McKinnon (an affiliate of The Institute of Contemporary Arts and the The Hayward and Tate Britain Galleries) are two of the artists that will be working their magic during the run of Soundwave.

The festival will also be home to an open air cinema that will show a programme of independent and Croatian cinema over the five days. This means there’s absolutely plenty to do day and night at this year’s Soundwave, besides enjoying the main line-up of acts, the club nights at the legendary open-air Barbarellas Discotheque, the boat parties, beaches and all the usual fun!

Soundwave Croatia 2015

And just in case you’re after something a little ‘kitsch ‘n’ Croatian’ – the annual and long-running Tisno International Donkey Racing Championships take place in town on the same weekend as Soundwave. Why not pop along and cheer along the entries at this global competition?!

Even more than that, in the week leading up to the Festival the five route ‘Run to the Sun’ party tours will take place. They follow five specific routes in Europe… all ending at the festival itself, of course. The routes include:

Route 1 – London (3rd August) > Amsterdam (4th August) > Munich (5th August) > Soundwave (6th)
Route 2 – London (3rd) > Paris (4th) > Milan (5th) > Soundwave (6th)
Route 3 – Berlin (4th) > Prague (5th) > Soundwave (6th)
Route 4 – Krakow (4th) > Budapest (5th) > Soundwave (6th)
Route 5 – Zagreb (4th) > Zadar (5th) > Soundwave (6th)

The parties are a great way of fully getting into the Soundwave mood; what better way of cranking up the festival spirit than by starting your holiday early and tracing a party route down to Croatia? Full details of the events taking place on each day of each route can be found at www.soundwavecroatia.com/travel-accommodation/the-run-to-the-sun.

Soundwave Croatia 2015

Soundwave also takes slightly later this year – in early August – which means the summer holidays will have well and truly started by then. That’s great news for revellers you and old!

Tickets for Soundwave Festival 2015 cost £125/€165 (sorry – early bird tickets have sold out!); you can also buy group tickets (5 tickets for the price of four) or packages that include entry and accommodation. See the festival’s tickets page for full details: www.soundwavecroatia.com.

There’s a range of accommodation available – from camping to apartments to airstream trailers, Shikar tents and wooden yachts – with something for all tastes and budgets. And Soundwave’s incredibly easy  to get to as well, as Tisno is located roughly halfway between Zadar and Split which are both linked to the UK and the rest of Europe with a whole heap of flights.

What have others said about Soundwave?

“One of the highlights of the Festival season” FACT
“A beach party with incredible music” GRAZIA
“Soundwave is rapidly emerging as one of the finest boutique festivals that Europe has to offer.” CLASH
“One of Europe’s biggest parties.” DAZED & CONFUSED
“More than just a festival, Soundwave is a great way to go and experience a beautiful part of the world. ” STYLIST
“One of Europe’s hottest festivals.” GQ
“You will not want to miss this extended weekend of hedonism’ TIME OUT

Do also check out our guide to Soundwave for more info on reaching the festival.

Otherwise, get all the latest Soundwave news on soundwavecroatia.com, or on Twitter and Facebook!

Soundwave Festival 2015
6th – 10th August 2015
Tisno
soundwavecroatia.com

Sonus Festival 2015

Sonus Festival 2015 returns to Novalja with a stunning line-up!

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Techo festival Sonus will be returning to the island of Pag this August, with an exciting line-up for its third edition! Names such as Apollonia, Chris Liebing, Dixon, Joseph Capriati, Ricardo Villalobos, Richie Hawtin, Sven Väth and others have already been unveiled, with plenty more to come!

Taking place from the 16th to the 20th August in Croatia’s prime party spot – Zrce Beach in Novalja – 10,000 people will be partying the day and night away to some of the most respected artists from the international house and techno scenes.

Sonus Festival 2015

Sonus Festival 2015

There will be the minimal electronica of Barac; the deep-tech of Parisian super-group Apollonia and the incredible mixing skills of Berlin mystery man Binh. Hot talent Dan Andrei, who draws on influences that range from hip-hop, soul and funk will be playing, as will worldwide favourite Dixon, FUSE head-honcho Enzo Siragusa, eclectic duo Hold Youth and emotive masetro Guti.

Founding father Sven Väth will be providing dark blends, with innovator Ricardo Villalobos and driving force Richie Hawtin both also providing immense techno sets; Chris Liebing also returns for 2015 after last year’s incredible appearance. Pan-Pot and Loco Dice will both also be on board, whilst there’s also even more global artists appearing, including Cadenza frontman Luciano; climbing star Mariano Mateljan; Slovenian tech hero Valentino Kanzyani and DJ and Panaroma bar resident Zip.

Sonus Festival 2015

The first two years of Sonus have delivered a top notch five day and five night event, with artists such as Luciano, Laurent Garnier, Richard Villalobos and Dixon all previously featuring on the bill. The festival is brough to you by Cosmopop – who are behind Time Warp – and the Croatia Sonus team; it’s an event that is carefully curated to provide a holiday and a full-blown party to discerning music followers.

Sonus Festival 2015 Boat Party

Sonus Festival 2015

To get a little preview of the festival, check out this video from last year’s event:

As early bird tickets have already sold out, first release tickets for the festival cost €149 (€169 for second release) with VIP tickets priced €229. Check out the Sonus website for more information and to buy.

There are also travel packages available which include a festival ticket, accommodation and transporation. Packages start at €279 – more information can be found on the Sonus website.

For some further details on the festival, including information on which airport to fly to and how best to reach the festival site, please see our Sonus Festival guide.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on the Sonus Festival on their website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter!

Sonus Festival 2015
16th – 20th August 2015
Zrce Beach, Novalja, island of Pag
www.sonus-festival.com

Sonus Festival 2015

Electro Dance Madness

New festival for 2015 – Electro Dance Madness, part of Spring Break Croatia

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Those looking to plan out their ‘Croatia party timetable’ for 2015 need to pay attention to this news! There’s a brand new festival for 2015, taking place in the party hotspot of Zrce Beach in Novalja, on the island of Pag – Electro Dance Madness, to be held from the 17th to the 21st June. This festival is part of an event called Spring Break Croatia which will also be held 3rd to 7th June and makes up ten days of revelry in one of the prime party destinations in Croatia.

Electro Dance Madness

What makes Electro Dance Madness rather unique is its ‘main party platform’ – which is set upon the surface of the Adriatic sea, no less! This means that while you party the night away on the platform – with its two stages – you’ve got an amazing view of the twinkling sea and can really live it up in style; this is also the first electro music festival to be hosted in this way, so it’s a really unique experience.

There’s plenty more to the festival than just the party platform – the main venue will be Noa Beach Club, where you can enjoy a central pool area and exclusive bars, plus parts of the beach in Novalja as well. The festival itself will make sure things really get into the swing of things with a state of the art sound system plus 3D projections and laser shows; there’s also exclusive VIP areas, lounge chairs, massage tables, yacht berths and a docking area and more.

The festival has capacity for 5,000 and will hosting some of the biggest DJ names, with everything from mainstream EDM, trance, progressive, electro, house and techno and more. Watch carefully for announcements of acts performing!

As mentioned, Electro Dance Madness is part of Spring Break Croatia which sees a whole host of fun events by day – pool parties, games, beach contests, water sports and more – and clubbing by night. Find out more on Spring Break Croatia at www.croatiaspringbreak.com.

We’ve got our own little guide to Electro Dance Madness in our Festivals in Croatia section, which gives full details on how to obtain tickets and how best to travel to the island of Pag. Check it out now to start planning for Pag in June!

Electro Dance Madness
17th – 21st June 2015
www.electrodancemadness.com

Animafest

25th Animafest in Zagreb to screen feature and short films!

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One of the most famous animation film festivals in the world – Zagreb’s Animafest – will return to the city in 2015 in June for its 25th edition. However, this year’s festival is proud to announce that for the very first time, both feature and short films will be shown. (Previously editions alternated each year between the two disciplines.)

Animafest

As one of the friendliest gatherings for all fans of animation and those that work in the industry, this year’s festival will see over 350 films presented across various genres. There will be a complete overview of the best from the international animation scene, which will feature powerful cinemas, great names, Oscar winners and world premieres, as well as pieces from up and coming new talent and student works, and retrospectives of animation masters.

There will also be plenty besides just film screenings at Animafest 2015. The fastest-growing form of media – videogames and interactive content – will be on show at the festival. There will also be multi-screen animation installations, water screen projections, interactive phone application and live audiovisual performances. Not forgetting the very many panels, lectures, workshops, exhibitions and case studies of recent animation hits.

Animafest will take place in Zagreb, Croatia from 9th to 14th June 2015. For full details of the festival, please see the official website www.animafest.hr/en.

Animafest
9th – 14th June 2015
Zagreb

Boutique Hostel Forum Review

Review: Boutique Hostel Forum, Zadar

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Boutique Hostel Forum in Zadar is one of the hostels that’s joining a relatively new trend in Croatia and elsewhere – of the upmarket kind. For often times much less that even a half decent hotel, you get a fun and funky place to stay that’s usually rather new, has great facilities and is well located. What’s not to like?

Review Boutique Hostel Forum

Gorgeous view from a dorm room!

The Boutique Hostel Forum is all of these things. Located right on Kalelarga/Siroka ulica, you can’t miss it. Well, actually, you can as we did – stumbling off the bus from the airport, we wandered up and down Siroka ulica a few times before we finally found a door for the hostel. And then felt a bit stupid because it was quite obvious. (The hostel’s opposite the bellower of the Cathedral, in case you find yourself equally challenged.)

Two things strike you when you first enter – ORANGE and BLUE. It’s all very orange and blue. But it’s also very friendly – the young staff check you in quickly and give you a few pointers for the premises, including a little welcome leaflet that contains hostel information, plus a map of Zadar and a few local recommendations.

Private rooms are available but the shared, mixed dorm rooms are certainly comfortable enough – albeit compact – and offer a good deal of privacy.There’s two ‘bunk beds’ either side of the room, so if you and a friend are travelling you can easily have half a room without needing to mingle much with your dorm mates. Having said that, one side of the room is home to a small toilet and the shower room is on the other – so you do need traverse over to the other side occasionally. (I suppose you can always use the ‘public’ toilets in the hallways if you want.)

Review Boutique Hostel Forum

Left: dorm hallway Right: Floor hallway…. See – orange and blue!

A couple of chairs feature in each corner of the room, plus hooks for hanging up your coats and what-not, and each guest gets a large (really a good size) drawer unit to store their ultra-private but expensive and essential travel kit- iPads, cameras, Christian Louboutin heels. (Just joking on that last one, of course.) This inventive drawer opens with your room card key, which makes it pretty secure and easy to manage.

Each bed is more like a little cubby hole than merely a bunk bed. Inside your bed unit you’ve got a light, a mirror (for checking yourself out as soon as you wake up, I suppose), a LAN socket (?) and – oh yes! – two charge points. For every traveller’s most important needs are a) wifi and b) electrical sockets! There’s also plenty of other sockets dotted around the room too, in case you’ve decided to bring every electrical item with you on holiday. These cubby hole-type beds have their own blinds, which you can shut for complete privacy. The bed and bedding is more than comfortable, although the actual duvet is perhaps a little too thick for a typical Croatian summer. (Especially as – given the tight bed space – things get a little stuffy!)

Review Boutique Hostel Forum

A bunk bed

Review Boutique Hostel Forum

Breakfast is served! (Sort of)

The rooms actually overlook Kalelarga/Siroka ulica, and beyond that you can easily see The Forum and the twinkling Adriatic sea. It’s a simply gorgeous view! Don’t forget that as good a sight as you have of the outdoors, people outdoors have a good sight in…make sure you shut the blind before you, y’know, get into your PJs or whatever. (There’s actually a friendly warning by the window to this effect!)

There’s not a great deal of storage overall in the room – you have to squeeze your backpack/suitcase into the corner or hallway of the room as best as you can and there sure isn’t a good deal of space to ‘hang’ out. But you’re in the beautiful town of Zadar – who needs to hang about indoors?

There are, of course, a number of common rooms, including kitchens where you can store your own food or opt for breakfast if you want it, although a ‘breakfast in a bag’ (see below) is included in your room price. There’s an outdoor terrace out back, and a relatively large TV room – with two TVs – that reminded me a little of a children’s soft-play zone, with the bright colours and the sofa seating on different levels.

My favourite bit – waking up in the morning, pulling up the bed bunk blind and finding a breakfast bag had been delivered by my bunk. How did they do that? Who cares, there’s a sweet burek pastry inside! Pop down to the harbourfront for breakfast with a view.

Most importantly, the hostel’s wifi is strong and FAST – yay!

I’d highly recommend Boutique Hostel Forum – friendly, clean, comfortable, fun, decent value and superb location. Give it a try if you’re visiting Zadar!

Boutique Hostel Forum
Siroka ulica 20, Zadar
en.hostelforumzadar.com

Disclaimer: Visit Croatia stayed at Boutique Hostel Forum anonymously and paid for her own stay.

Sirana Gligora Cheese - Paški sir - World Champion Cheese

Tour the world-renowned Sirana Gligora cheese dairy on Pag

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Many of you may well have heard of the famous dairy Sirana Gligora – regardless of whether you’ve travelled to Croatia or not! Based in Kolan on the island of Pag, this family-run company have been making Paski sir (Pag cheese) since 1918 and currently produce no less than four world championship winning cheeses and as well many other highly decorated products as well.

Sirana Gligora Cheese - Paški sir - World Champion Cheese

Paški sir – World Champion Cheese

Paski sir is one of the most famous products of the island of Pag, and possibly of the whole of Croatia too – a cheese that is hand made from the richest local milk from sheep that are free to roam on rocky pastures, foraging amongst hardy grasses and wild herbs. We would highly recommend that you try this wonderful and unique cheese if you come across it when visiting Croatia – you won’t be disappointed.

Pastures above local beach Sveti Duh

Pag sheep on the rocky pastures

But if you’re visiting Croatia and the north Dalmatian region – including the island of Pag – in particular this summer, you may well like to participate in one of the Cheese Tasting Tours that the Sirana Gligora dairy runs. These tours will teach you more about the history of the cheese and the production processes involved in making it, and well as giving you a prime opportunity to taste the different varieties right where it’s made!

These daily tours start off with an introduction to the heritage of cheese making on the island of Pag, as well as a history of the dairy and the cheese. You’ll then be led by an expert guide through the production rooms of the dairy, before going underground in the maturing caves. These caves house up to 200 tonnes of wall-to-wall cheese that’s at various stages of maturing, with the famous local sheep’s milk cheese sitting side by side with assorted cow, goat and mixed milk cheeses. Part of the caves are set aside as an experimental corner where you can examine mouth-watering prototypes that are awaiting official grading and tasting by affineurs. Whilst here, your guide will fully explain the laborious process and care involved into making each wheel.

A guided tour at Sirana Gligora

Aged Paski sir

After the first part of the tour (which takes around thirty minutes, although this depends upon the size of the group), you’ll then be taken to what must be the most exciting area of Sirana Gligora for many people – the tasting room! Resting on top of the dairy – with fabulous views of the island – you’ll be able to sample the award-winning Gligora cheese, washing it down with some wonderful wine.

Squid stuffed with Prušut and Paški Sir – how amazing does that sound?!

Tickets for the tours are available from Sirana Gligora’s two Cheese and Wine shops in Novalja and Kolan on the island of Pag – both of which are well worth a visit in their own right, even if you can’t make a tour. Alternatively, email Sirana Gligora direct on info@gligora.com or contact them on Facebook or Twitter for advance bookings for the tours – as they can get full up rather quickly! Tours are available in English, Croatian and German.

Paška skuta and Paški sir

Ivan Gligora and current MD Šime Gligora

Do also visit Sirana Gligora’s website to find out more about the dairy, and check out all the latest news on their blog – which also has a more in depth look at the tours they offer. Or, to check out the full list of what they produce, click here: Sirana Gligora Product Brochure.

If you’re not quite able to make it down to the island of Pag for these tours, Sirana Gligora also have Cheese & Wine shops in a number of locations across Croatia – including in Zagreb, Rijeka, Opatija, Pula, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. See this list for full addresses.

But I know I’d love to head to Pag for a tour at Sirana Gligora!

Photos of Croatia - Dubrovnik

Game of Thrones Tour in Dubrovnik

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There’s been quite a bit of press recently about an exclusive new guided tour that’s being offered in Dubrovnik – one that is sure to thrill fans of a certain hit TV series and popular set of novels. US-based tours company Viator are offering a new ‘Game of Thrones’ Walking Tour of Dubrovnik that takes in many of the locations used during the filming of the show, including the sights that double up as King’s Landing and Blackwater Bay. There’s obviously plenty of Dubrovnik’s main sights to see as well – taking advantage of viewpoints from where you can look over and imagine yourself in King’s Landing, such as from Dubrovnik’s wonderful Old Town walls or Lovrijenac Fortress. So whilst you enjoy taking in and imagining everything as it looks like in the TV series, you’re also experiencing the wonderfully historic sights of Dubrovnik, one of the most beautiful and most popular places to visit in Croatia. The tour also teaches participants a little more about the Targaryens, Baratheons, Starks and other noble families featured in Game of Thrones. And maybe, just maybe, it’s a way to comfort yourself after a recent unexpected and violent plot in the TV show!

Photos of Croatia - Dubrovnik
Looking out to Lovrijenac Fortress from the Old Town Walls

This walking tour is clearly a must for any Game of Thrones fans that are visiting beautiful Dubrovnik, but we can imagine that it would be plenty of fun for those that aren’t even that well acquainted with the show. Join the tour and make your friends jealous at having seen the “real” locations from Game of Thrones!

Viator’s tour takes three hours and departs at 10.15am. It includes entrance fees (for the town walls and Lovrijenac Fortress) as well as the facilities of a local guide. Hotel pick-up and drop-off isn’t included, but since it’s so easy to get around Dubrovnik’s Old Town and Dubrovnik itself, that’s hardly needed!

As mentioned, this tour is exclusive to Viator so can’t be found anywhere else! It takes place daily and costs £47.33/$72.66/€55.00 for adults or £23.67/$36.33/€27.50 for children aged 4 to 11. Children under 4 go free.

Viator

To find out more details about the tour or to book a place, please see Viator Exclusive: ‘Game of Thrones’ Walking Tour of Dubrovnik.

Check out the following press reports on the Game of Thrones tours: