October is a month in which many Croatian delicacies are celebrated and enjoyed and this weekend it is the turn of chestnuts. The small town of Sveti Ivan Zelina (around 40 kilometres northeast of Zagreb) will be celebrating the 26th edition of the Chestnut Festival this Sunday, 13th October 2024.
If your only experience with chestnuts is having a conker fight (tell me you’re British without telling me you’re British) and you’ve never experienced roasted chestnuts, this festival will be the perfect introduction for you. Roasted chestnuts are one of the tastiest autumnal snacks and – trust me – Croats know how to roast chestnuts to perfection.
The majority of the action will take place in amongst the beautiful nature of Kladeščica, the peak of Zelinska Gora mountain. The centre of all the activities is around a 20-minute drive from Sveti Ivan Zelina, but the first 200 visitors to reach there on foot will receive a free portion of hot roasted chestnuts. What an excellent reward!
Chestnut Festival Fun
What will there be to see and do? Well, there will be plenty of tasty treats to sample – roasted chestnuts, of course, but other items made from chestnuts, mushroom and bean stews, BBQ food, chestnut cake, the craft beer “Angelus” and local wine too. Indulge in these treats at this outdoor festival – there will be plenty of seating – and take in the aroma and excellent natural surroundings. Not forgetting live music! The band Faringaši will be performing on the day as well. All in all, an excellent way to enjoy Autumn.
This year’s wide-ranging food offering is thanks to the Amanita Association and Restaurant 4M. In addition to this tasty food to eat, there will also be an exhibition of mushrooms for those who want to learn a little more.
The local hunting lodge will be hosting a competition for the best hunting stew. Participants will be given the required food and wood for participating, and stews can be tasted after a winner has been announced at 2pm.
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Something for the kids
No gastro – or indeed, any kind of festival – in Croatia is complete without something to entertain the younger generation too The Chestnut Festival is no exception, with outdoor activities and fun and games planned from 12pm.
Pre-Chestnut Festival Walk
On Saturday 12th October 2024, there will be an additional celebration. The newly renovated educational trail “Through Zelinska Gora” will be opened with a 6 kilometre hike to Kladeščica starting at 10am. The hike will be led by Mountaineering Society Izvor and Mario Valentić who will be running his educational and entertaining fitness programme HealthyFIT Experience. Expect body and mind training and breathing exercises during the walk…and be rewarded at the end with a free outdoor lunch at Kladeščica.
Remember to wear comfortable hiking shoes!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Zelinska-kestenijada-3.jpg7501000annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-10-07 13:37:522024-10-07 23:48:3226th Chestnut Festival in Sveti Ivan Zelina
The ever-popular Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale returns to Croatia’s capital city later this month at its usual venue of Studio Katran. Taking place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October 2024, the sale is a great opportunity to update your wardrobe for autumn and winter with some stylish vintage fashion finds. Each day the sale will be open from 10.30am to 6pm.
BeThrifty’s Vintage Kilo Sales work on the principle of purchasing bundles of items by the kilo. At these Zagreb BeThrifty sales, the cost will be €49 per kilo – although you don’t, of course, have to purchase a full kilo.
There will be a wide range of high-quality vintage clothing items for sale, including sportswear, dresses, t-shirts, denim, streetwear, coats, jackets and much more, in sizes from XS to Plus Size.
Tickets for the Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale
The first 500 tickets for the sale are free so get your hands on them now! You can get tickets online at bethrifty.events/en/products/zagreb-19-20-listopad-vintage-preloved-sale. After these free tickets get snapped up, tickets are priced at €3 and can also be purchased online or at the sale on the day.
Each day the sale is divided into one-and-a-half-hour time slots and tickets are timed. However, this gives you plenty of chance to have a good browse through all the items and ample time to buy.
Children aged 14 and under do not need a ticket.
Be a part of the Zagreb BeThrifty Team!
If you’d like to support BeThrifty at these Zagreb sales, join the BeThrifty WhatsApp group for more information. You could help out at set up or clean up or even during the event itself. In return, you will receive one kilo of clothing for four hours of support.
Other BeThrifty Sales
BeThrifty regularly holds its vintage kilo sales all over Central Europe – other upcoming sales will take place on cities such as Warsaw, Budapest, Prague, Graz and Vienna.
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/zagreb-bethrifty-oct24-1-scaled.jpg17072560annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-10-04 18:58:092024-10-04 18:58:10The next edition of the Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale, 19th & 20th October
If you’re a fan of gourmet burgers (who isn’t?!) and are heading to Dubrovnik later this month, you’ll be delighted by the news that the popular gastro festival Burger Fest will be held there from 20th to 30th June 2024. A mix of incredibly tasty good, top quality drinks and a great atmosphere, it’s absolutely the place to head to during these summer days.
Brought to you by the same people behind the incredibly popular Burger Fest in Zagreb – which is enjoyed by over 150,000 people every year – and the Pizza Festival in Dubrovnik – where over 100,000 pizzas were eaten during the event (that’s some hungry people!) it is now the turn of the tasty burger to shine in Dubrovnik. This also follows burger festivals held in other towns and cities in Croatia, including Zadar, Pula, Varazdin and Bjelovar, which has really enabled Burger Fest to up the game in the local burger scene.
Trust us, that’s quite a list! Burgers crafted by Mate Jankovic have been declared the best at previous burger festivals, and his meat and vegan burger options are sure to delight the Dubrovnik crowds.
The “Crispy Kapula” burger by Chef’s Burger/Ivan Pazanin is another previous festival favourite that’s delighted the hungry masses.
Dubrovnik brand Guloso Burgers&More will be showing what the locals can do with their burger offerings, including the “Cheesy Special” – pure beef topped with two types of cheese, caramelised onions and a special Guloso sauce made from 11 secret ingredients. I mean, my mouth’s just watering at the thought of this one!
A burger by Kenova
But then I’d equally go for Kenova’s “Blue Cheese” burger which is made up of beef, cheddar, BBQ blue cheese sauce, caramelised onions, bacon, iceberg lettuce and pickles. YUM!
Picnic – mingle&fun’s tasty dishes
Zadar will be represented by Picnic – mingle&fun whose specialities include the Blackie burger, the prawn burger, the Snow Burger and the Frenchie burger.
If you love burgers but meat isn’t your thing at all, then you need to try Beg’s Plant Based offerings, made by chef Eduard Beg. For example, his Beg’s Chicky Burger consists of a plant-based brioche bun filled with Amaze Food’s chicken that’s been marinated in agave syrup with tzatziki sauce, fresh cucumbers and iceberg salad.
kDog will be offering something entirely different – American-style corn dogs (a hot dog dipped in batter and deep fried) and and a half hot dog half cheese dish. And they also offer tasty desserts with their brioche filled with soft serve ice cream speciality.
To wash down all this burger goodness, a great range of drinks will be provided Beer&Cocktail Bar and Gingle Bells. And to add to the atmosphere, DJs will be spinning tunes all throughout the festival.
Come down to Lazareti in Dubrovnik to see what the amazingly successful Burger Fest is all about! Entry is free.
The return of the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb next month (on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March 2024) offers up an excellent opportunity to snap up some vintage and second-hand fashion for an fantastic price.
Instead of purchasing clothes items by price, BeThrifty works on the concept of weight – select the pieces you’d like to buy and they’ll be weighed at the end to determine how much you’ve got in your haul. At the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb event, you then pay a price of €20 per kilo – although you don’t, of course, have to buy a full kilo.
There will be an excellent selection of high-quality vintage pieces from brands with items for both women and men including dresses, jumpsuits, sweatshirts, trousers and jeans, jackets and coats, bags, belts, hats and much more. Brands that BeThrifty come across include Fila, Lacoste, Nike, Reebok, Burberry, Levi’s, Wranger and others. Only the top grade of clothing makes its way to BeThrifty sales, with pieces being collected from old clothes collections across Europe. All clothing items are sorted and chosen at established recycling centres and checked thoroughly before being offered for sale.
The BeThrifty event in Zagreb is one of the many upcoming BeThrifty sales across Europe – take a look at bethrifty.events/en to see where other events are taking place!
Tickets for the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb
The BeThrifty event in Zagreb will take place on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March 2024.
BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb 1pm – 7pm, Friday 29th March 2024 and 10.30am – 6pm, Saturday 30th March 2024 Dom Sportova Trg Kresimira Cosica 11 10000, Zagreb bethrifty.events/en
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Press-3-1.jpeg6671000annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-02-29 14:55:552024-02-29 14:57:59The return of the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!)
ZagrebZoo – 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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September seems to have whizzed by and we’re already on the doorstep of the tenth month of the year. If you plan on visiting Croatia in the next few weeks, take a look at our guide to October in Croatia to make the most of your visit to the country.
The Plitvice Lakes National Park in October
Getting to Croatia in October
If you’re travelling to Croatia from the UK and Ireland, there are still plenty of flights this month. And we do mean plenty!
British Airways operate their London Heathrow to Zagreb flights year-round, and will also fly from Heathrow and Gatwick to Dubrovnik until the end of October.
Simiarly, Croatia Airlines fly from from London Heathrow to Zagreb year-round, and this year will also continue their flights from London Heathrow to Split until early January 2024. They also fly from London Gatwick to Split until mid-October.
Easyjet will continue to fly from London Gatwick to Pula and Rijeka until the end of October, and from the same airport to Split until early November, and to Dubrovnik until (amazingly) the end of November. They will also fly from London Luton to Split; from Bristol to Pula, Split and Dubrovnik; from Manchester to Split and Dubrovnik; from Edinburgh to Dubrovnik; and from Glasgow to Split. All of these flights will continue until the end of this month.
Ryanair from London Stansted and Dublin to Zagreb year-round, with the former route operating daily – great news for those aiming to reach Croatia’s capital. They will also fly from London Stansted to Osijek and Manchester to Zagreb until the end of October, and from Dublin to Split until early November.
Wizzair have extended their service from London Luton to Split and will now operate it until the end of October.
TUI will operate flights from London Gatwick, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds Bradford to Dubrovnik until mid-October.
Jet2 meanwhile continue their strong flight network to Croatia into October too! They will have flights from London Stansted to Split and Dubrovnik until the end of October; from Birmingham to Split also until the end of October and to Dubrovnik until early November; from East Midlands to Dubrovnik until the end of October; from Manchester to Split until the end of October and to Dubrovnik until early November; from Newcastle to Dubrovnik until the end of October; from Leeds Bradford to Split until the end of October and to Dubrovnik until early November; and from Edinburgh to Dubrovnik until the end of October. Phew!
What to do in October in Croatia
Well, aside from eat (see the events section below – you’ll see what I mean), there’s plenty to enjoy in Croatia in October. Most amenities will still be fully open although some (such as waterparks) close for the season at the end of September. You will likely still be (just about) able to swim in the sea, particularly if you visit early in the month,
Other attractions become cheaper to visit in October, which is undoubtedly good news for visitors. For example, entrance to the Plitvice Lakes National Park is €23.50 for adults in October, compared to €40 during summer.
Having said that, Plitvice actually celebrates a special promotional week in early October every year – this will happen from 1st to 8th October 2023. Celebrating the 44th anniversary of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site, tickets will cost just €10 for adults, €6.50 for students and €4.50 for children aged 7 to 18 years old. More details here: Promotional October Week In Plitvice Lakes National Park!
Best Events in October in Croatia
Gastro Delights
October is essentially gastro month in October! There’s a whole heap of wonderful food-based festivities taking place this month, particularly in the region of Istria. One of the best-known events is Truffle Days which takes place every weekend in October, starting on 30th September and 1st October. Centred around Livade just north of Motovun in Central Istria, Truffle Days is brought to you by the team behind Zigante Restaurant and offers a wide range of truffle-rated fun – as well as plenty of opportunities to taste this spectacular food item and other truffle-based products. To really immerse yourself in this delicacy, board the truffle train to Motovun forest (that sounds rather fantastical, but it’s real!) to take part in some truffle hunting yourself.
If they’re not celebrating truffles in Istria in October, they’re celebrating chestnuts! The 48th Marunada Festival takes place in Lovran on the eastern side of Istria from 13th to 15th October, as well as in the wider region on subsequent weekends. As you will expect, all sorts of sweet chesnut treats will be on offer for you to try, from cakes to liquer event to chestnut beer! There will also be live music as part of the celebration and kids events too.
In inland Croatia, in Ivanic-Grad to be precise (which is southeast of Zagreb), the 19th Bucijada Pumpkin Festival will be held from 6th to 8th October. October is of course pumpkin month for many of us thanks to Halloween…aside from that, it’s pumpkin month because it’s harvest time! Again, there will be all manner of pumpkin and squash related foodstuffs to try, including cakes and pies and (the obligatory) beer. Live music abounds too, and this event includes plenty of fun activities for children for children too. I think the pumpkin-kremsnite eating competition sounds like fun!
Let’s take a look at what you can treat yourself to in Dalmatia now, There will be an amazing offering at Dubrovnik’s Good Food Festival (9th to 22nd October) including special menus at participating restaurants, wine tastings, dessert workshops and more. Enjoy a “bottomless bubbles brunch” at Park Orsula or a rose wine tasting at Love Bar; learn more about Croatian baking with workshops on pastries, baked goods and desserts; have dinner with a Michelin-starred chef…all of these experiences are amazing! For general fun, head to Dubrovnik Beer Company on either Saturday or the first Sunday for good food, beer and live music, or to Stradun on Saturday 21st October to sample all manner of food items and wine (€6 for a good voucher, €3 for a wine one). Take a look at the programme on the Good Food Festival event page for full details of the line-up, and to find out how to book certain events.
And even more amazing Croatian food is on offer at the Taste the Mediterranean Festival in Split from 4th to 8th October. It’s a slightly more specialist event with many items on the programme being invitation only, but we can’t not include it here!
Events for active types
In sports and activities are more your sort of bag – or perhaps you want to get your heart rate going after sampling all that fine food – there are a number of active events taking place in October too. One of the best known is the 31st edition of the Zagreb Marathon which will hit the city’s streets on 8th October. Baska on the island of Krk, will host the Baska Outdoor Festival from the 13th to 15th October; this event includes a variety of activities for active types (such as running, climbing, cycling, and hiking) aimed at different levels of ability. That weekend (on the 15th October) will also see the Ironman Triathlon event take place in Porec.
Other events
Many cities in Croatia host a film festival, and October sees two such events take place.
Split’s Film Festival will be on from 12th to 21st October with both Croatian and international films being screened. Meanwhile, the Dubrovnik Film Festival will be on from 19th to 22nd October; you can take a look at the films that will be screened here.
Live music lovers will be delighted by the Zagreb Jazz Festival taking place in the city throughout the month; take a look at the website to find out which concerts will be taking place.
Finally, the 25th Biograd Boat Show is on in the town from 25th to 29th October; this is Croatia’s largest boat show.
The weather during October in Croatia
Of course, what the weather is like during October in Croatia will affect the happiness of many a visitor – and that’s fair enough! It’s hard to predict the weather for a full month, but general gentle summer temperatures (i.e. not 30C+!) tend to hang on into October. Certainly, it’s been a pretty hot September in Croatia, with temperatures reaching the high 20s Celsius (often more) at times.
The start of October looks to be a few degrees cooler in most places, although that will still bring very pleasant conditions with plenty of sunshine.
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Excellent news for all fans of shopping and lovers of vintage and second-hand fashion! The BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale is making its way to the Croatian cities of Zagreb and Zadar in June.
What is BeThrifty? The Austrian online store specialises in unique vintage pieces for both men and women, selling a wide variety of clothing items and accessories with a good range of brands – including Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren and many more. This summer they will be hosting their Vintage Kilo Sales in cities all across Central Europe – from Pilsen to Bratislava, Maribor to Stuttgart…and in the two fine Croatian cities of Zagreb and Zadar as well!
The BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sales allow shoppers to purchase BeThrifty’s vintage stock at a special price per kilo – in the case of the sales in Croatia, this will be €39/kg. The sales themselves will also offer clothing from across 60 different categories – everything from windbreakers to leather jackets, sweaters and hoodies, crazy print shirts and much more – in sizes ranging from XS to XX. Changing rooms will be on hand so you can be sure you look good in whatever you plan to buy!
The clothing found at the Vintage Kilo Sales has been taken from assorted old clothes collections from across Europe. All clothing items are sorted and chosen at renowned recycling centres. Only the highest quality vintage items make their way to BeThrifty. Clothes and accessories are also checked thoroughly and repaired if necessary by BeThrifty staff before being offered for sale.
These sales are a wonderful eco-friendly way of adding to your wardrobe; they’re also a stark contrast to the usual practices of the fashion industry. BeThrifty’s Vintage Kilo Sales embody environmental consciousness, thriftiness, individuality and a wide selection of the trendiest and most unique clothes and accessories.
There is a limited number of 200 free tickets per event; after these are sold out, tickets cost €3. For both locations, the price of purchasing items is €39/kg.
Cash and card are accepted as payment.
BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Croatia Dom Sportova, Zagreb, 10th & 11th June 2023 Sportzentrum Visnjik, Zadar, 23rd & 24th June 2023 bethrifty.store
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The eighth edition of the celebrated Brac Film Festival will be hosted in the lovely Supetar on the island next week, from 10th to 13th August 2022. With a programme richer than ever, the festival will show a variety of screenings at the outdoor summer cinema in town, from feature-length films to shorts, as well as a good selection of kids’ films. Brac Film Festival will offer a wonderful cinematic experience on one of Croatia’s most beautiful islands!
Short Films
Short films will proceed the main feature each day, starting at 9.30pm. These short films have been produced by students of local film academies, and the Brac Film Festival gives them an excellent opportunity to screen their works. 2022’s festival will see shorts such as “Pištolji i kacige” (“Gunz and Helmets“), “Kriza” (“Crisis”), “Džonika” and “Sound Mixer” shown.
Main features at Brac Film Festival
The opening evening of the festival will see the screening of the film “Divljaci” (“Savages“), directed by Dario Lonjak. This action comedy tells the story of three Croatian football fans who accidentally end up in a terrorist camp!
The second evening the outstanding “Strahinja Banović” (titled “As Far As I Can Walk” in English), directed by Stefan Arsenijević, will be screened.
On the third night “Zbornica” (“The Staffroom“), by Sonja Tarokić, will be shown; this film has been declared “one of the best Croatian films in recent times” by critics.
The sports drama “Zlatni dječak” (“Golden Boy“) is the main feature screening on the final night of the festival. Directed by Ognjen Janković, the film tells the story of a 20-year-old promising soccer player who, upon entering the professional world, finds it increasingly difficult to reconcile his private life with the demands of sport at the very top.
Films for children
Children’s films will be screened at the festival every day at 9pm. Aimed at kids aged 6 and upwards, both Croatian and foreign films will be shown – these include “Ljeto kada sam naučila letjeti” (“The Summer I Learned to Fly“) which tells the tale of 12-year-old Sofija who enjoys an adventure she couldn’t have dreamed of during her summer holiday on Hvar.
The other kids’ films that will be shown are “Comedy Queen”, “Nelly Rapp: Monster Agent”, “Even Mice Go To Heaven” and the well-known “The Egg“.
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More info on Brac Film Festival
Full details on the festival can be found on the official website – bracfilmfestival.hr/en.
Tickets for all film screenings can be purchased at the box office on the Riva in Supetar. Tickets start being sold from 8th August.
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This Sunday, 24th April 2022, the 12th Marco Polo Challenge triathlon will take place on the gorgeous island of Korcula – the reputed birthplace of the famous explorer after whom the triathlon is named.
About The Marco Polo Challenge
The middle distance triathlon, which will cover 1.9 km, 90km and 21km of swimming, cycling and running, takes place over the whole island of Korcula. This main event is to be held alongside a sprint distance triathlon, a sprint team relay and a 5km charity-fundraising run event.
The Marco Polo Challenge marks the opening of triathlon season in Croatia, and the event also hosts the middle distance Croatian championships. It is being jointly organized by Triathlon Club Split, Korcula Tourist Board and the town of Korcula in cooperation with Vela Luka and Smokvica municipalities and their tourist boards.
The organisers have prepared cash prizes and athletes will also have the opportunity to raise money for charity.
Nika Silić Maroević, Korčula Town Mayor, says:
“Welcome to Korcula – the island of Marco Polo that will enchant you with its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Discover our beautiful island; enjoy wandering around streets shaded by old stone houses, the most romantic sunrises, beautiful beaches and unique sword dances. Discover the taste of traditional local seasonal food and the finest Korcula wines and the extra virgin olive oils. Korcula is an ideal year-round triathlon holiday destination, as you will see for yourself during the competition.”
Hana Turudić, Korcula Town Tourist Board Director, says:
“Croatia has more than a thousand islands, and Korcula is different because of its wide range of activities. Korcula has been declared the safest Croatian island for a paradise vacation by Forbes magazine, which placed it on a list of the 12 safest islands in Europe. Get your bikes, running shoes and wetsuits ready for the challenging race and have a great time in Marco Polo’s home town. We invite you to extend your stay on Korcula and enjoy everything a warm springtime in the south of Dalmatia can offer.”
Korcula – an ideal location for a triathlon
Korcula offers good weather conditions all year round, with open water swimming without wetsuits possible for most of the year.
Additionally, as the race is taking place in early season, the event’s accommodation sponsor, Aminess Hotels & Campsites, is offering participants top-of-the-line accommodation at extremely affordable rates.
Ivan Pavić, Race Director and General Secretary of Triathlon Club Split, says:
“We are thrilled to be bringing the championships in middle distance triathlon to this beautiful island of Croatia, and we are confident that athletes will have not only a great race experience but also a wonderful weekend in Korcula at the end of April.”
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/marco-polo-challenge-swimming.jpg9981500annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2022-04-21 21:31:152022-04-22 09:07:3112th edition of Marco Polo Challenge on Korcula this Sunday, 24th April
Summer may have finished, by visiting Croatia in October is still possible…and highly recommended! We take a look at what you can see and do this month in Croatia, as well as what you need to know for travelling there.
Travelling from the UK to Croatia in October
Negative tests NO LONGER REQUIRED for double vaccinated travellers from the UK
Latest update As of 24th October, fully vaccinated travellers returning to England from Croatia (or indeed, from anywhere else) can book a cheaper lateral flow test or a PCR test for the required day 2 test. See Travel to England from another country during coronavirus on the GOV.UK website for more details – and to check the rules for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Latest update As of 1st October, double vaccinated travellers from the UK no longer need a negative test to enter Croatia…great news! Obviously, if you are not fully vaccinated and/or cannot prove you have had covid in the previous 365 days, you do still need a negative test to enter the country. Full details of this here: Double vaccinated UK travellers to Croatia no longer need a negative test.
New travel rules for England from 4th October
On Monday 4th October at 4am, the travel rules for England change. The green and amber lists are being combined into one ‘safe list’ whilst the red list remains…red. Croatia is currently on the green list, so will definitely be on the new safe list from this date.
The rules for travelling back from a safe list country – including Croatia – from 4th October vary depending on whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
If you are fully vaccinated, to travel back from Croatia to England, you need:
book and pay for a day 2 PCR test (a test to get back into England is no longer required) – we recommend Randox
This is a change as, up until 4th October, non-vaccinated and vaccinated had to do a pre-departure test to return to England…and non-vaccinated travellers did not have to quarantine for 10 days.
Travelling from elsewhere to Croatia in October
As well as the major change mentioned above – that double vaccinated travellers from the UK no longer need a negative test to enter Croatia – there have been some additional rule changes as of 1st October 2021:
If you are entering Croatia using a vaccination certificate, the second dose of your vaccine (or single dose in the case of single-dose vaccines) must have been administered within the previous 365 days. (This number of days has changed – it was previously 270 days.)
If you are entering Croatia using a positive test result from a previous covid infection (at least 11 days must have passed the test result!), this is valid if the test has been taken in the previous 365 days (also previously 270 days)
There’s absolutely loads on in Croatia this month! Take a look at some of the highlights below:
Autumn is truffle season in Istria! Zigante Truffle Days actually stretches out from 18th September to 14th November 2021; this year, it’s primarily centred around Restaurant Zigante in Livade in northeastern Istria
The Zadar Street Food Festival is on now (until 3rd October) – take your pick from food stalls offering delicacies from local restaurants
The annual professional road cycling CroRace is on from 28th September to 3rd October; there are six stages taking place across the country, from Osijek in eastern Croatia to central Dalmatia, to Istria and then finishing in Zagreb on the final Sunday. Pop along if you’re in one of these regions to watch the cyclists whizzing past (or watch it on TV for lovely scenes of Croatia!).
Northern Croatian town Koprivnica hosts the Podravski Motivi / Podravina Motfis on 2nd & 3rd October, showcasing items typical from the region (such as naive art) as well as young wine and chestnuts
Dubrovnik’s Triathlon will be taking place on land and in the waters around the city on 2nd October – there will be different races for experienced triathletes as well as first-timers
In a similar(ish) vein, the 29th Zagreb Marathon will be hitting the streets of Croatia’s capital on 10th October
On the island of Krk, the Baska Outdoor Festival offers outdoor adventures for all abilities and ages over a weekend in mid-October (15th to 17th)
Held all over Croatia, Restaurant Week (Tjedan Restorana) is on from 15th to 24th October – participating restaurants (check the website!) offer menus for a special price
The Biograd Boat Show, the largest such event in Croatia, is taking place from 20th to 24th October
Weather in Croatia in October
The weather forecast is looking exceedingly lovely for the first part of October – along the coast (and the further south you go, the better your chances of warm weather) in places such as Split and Dubrovnik, you’ll find temperatures of low to mid-20s Celsius every day. There are occasional rain showers forecast, yes, but most days will see plenty of sun. The long-range forecast for October is the same. Further north up the coast temperatures will be similar if a few degrees less; inland likewise also with more mixed weather (more rain).
October is the month that straddles the seasons in Croatia – whilst the early part of the month may well be very pleasant indeed (see under “Weather” above!) the temperature slowly declines. On the coast you’ll enjoy plenty of sunshine although it will probably be a little too cold for sea swimming; hitting the pool, meanwhile, should be okay! We would certainly recommend heading to destinations in and around Split and Dubrovnik, as well as Istria, for a holiday this month. The islands, however, will be a bit on the quiet side…so we’d suggest leaving these for another trip next year.
October is traditionally the month that ‘tourist facilities’ (restaurants, bars, cafes and similar catering to visitors) start shutting up shop towards the end of the month before the cold months set in, so you’ll still be able to enjoy these.
This October is Croatian Tourism Month (unfortunately, the website appears to be in Croatian only!). Some tourist services, facilities and venues – including accommodation, restaurants and cultural attractions – across the country are offering discounts of 35% off.
Do be aware that ferry/catamaran schedules (i.e. Jadrolinija‘s) change from high season to low season ones in early October, so take this into account if you’re planning on travelling around. Bus schedules will also see fewer buses on long-distance routes, but you’ll still have plenty of choice.
The Plitvice Lakes in autumn
October is a great month to make the most of some of Croatia’s top experiences – without all the summer crowds – particularly with the country taking on an autumnal hue. If you’re able to do, we’d certainly recommend a trip to one of Croatia’s national or nature parks, such as Plitvice or Krka.
Zagreb is an excellent choice for Croatia in October – there’s plenty to explore (sights, restaurants, experiences, even shopping) and it’s a very easy city to navigate.
We hope you enjoy Croatia in October!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/croatia-in-october-2021.jpg533800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2021-09-29 12:35:352024-04-30 10:06:46Visiting Croatia in October 2021
