Travel

December 2, 2022 - When two luxury tourism pioneers collide, as Tasteful Croatian Journeys founder Wanda Radetti meets Hotel Ambasador, the first luxury waterfront 5-star hotel in central Split. It was quite an evening.  It only takes a few good people, those with vision and a pioneering spirit, whose efforts, dedication and passion can truly bring change.  I was reflecting this as a sipped on an excellent glass of Babic after the main course of deer rumpsteak, Roman gnochhi roll with cranberry cooked in Port wine, Jerusalem artichoke cream, butter glazed Brussel sprouts, and demiglace. Opposite me was a lady I had…

November 30, 2022 - The well-known wine walk along the undiscovered paths of Baranja is getting its winter edition for the first time this year on Saturday, December 10, 2022 – Winter Wine & Walk. As SiB writes, on the nine km-long route through the villages of Suza and Zmajevac, the famous wine meccas of Baranja, the participants will be welcomed at 14 points by Baranja winemakers and restaurants with top-quality wines and traditional snacks. The organisers will equip the walkers with a map, a wine glass, and a winter hat, and the participants will need to bring comfortable clothes…

November 29, 2022 - The fairy lights are on, and the smell of mulled wine, sauerkraut, and gingerbread fills the air wherever you go. The famous Advent in Zagreb is already attracting visitors, as are Split, Zadar, Opatija, and many other cities. Make sure you don't miss out on the fun in the east, though! Visit some of the Advents in Slavonia, and we promise you'll want to stay and live in the winter wonderland in the east. Adventiranje Osijek Advent Osijek official website The long-awaited Adventiranje in Osijek is officially kicking off on the 2nd of December at the beloved…

November 28, 2022 - The Slavonia hiking trail is an interesting story that started on July 27, 1957. The trail is the oldest and longest hiking trail in Croatia. As written by the Turističke Priče portal, the trail is 300 kilometers long, and you can hike it in one piece or separately through a total of 5 sections. For the whole trip in one piece, even a well-prepared hiker must account for nine days or 85 hours of walking, and not many can boast of having crossed it. This interesting route has a circular shape with 31 mandatory and four…

November 28, 2022 - Another day, another Hvar reccommendation, this time as Travel + Leisure's only Croatian entry in its top 50 places to visit in 2023. Another week, another list, another mention of Hvar.   Croatia's premier is rarely out of the media when it comes to the best places to be - it is famously known as one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world. So it is little surprise that the recently-released Travel + Leisure 50 Best Places to Go in 2023 included the island of Hvar.  Also encouraging is that this year's inclusion did not…

November 27, 2022 - And so we go back in time to a pre-pandemic world, as the award-winning Advent in Zagreb returns to its former glory with last night's opening. It is a very cosy feeling walking out of your apartment on a crisp November evening to find Christmas lights all the way down the street - a reminder somehow of a world we used to know just a few years ago.  Walk through the imperious Tunnel Gric, whose 500m under the old town of Zagreb is steeped in history, only to find it transformed.  Emerging from the tunnel was…

November 22, 2022 - It is less than 4 months since Croatia became one contiguous country with the opening of the Peljesac Bridge, and vehicle number 1 million will close around lunchtime today.  An historic milestone in the timeline of Croatia's signature infrastructure project, the Peljesac Bridge, will be marked between 12:00 and 13:00 today as the one-millionth vehicle will cross the Chinese-built bridge since its official opening on July 26 in a ceremony that reflected on the pride Croats felt at finally having their country connected. Prior to the bridge, road travellers had to pass through the so-called Neum…

November 21, 2022 – Wherever you find yourself around the 18th of November, Vukovar will be with you. Whether you like it or not, the name will follow you like a shadow; it will keep calling you, whispering, "Think about me." This year’s day has passed. The visitors have all gone, and the city once again remains. It is time for the first TCN Vukovar 2022 Remembrance Day reflections through the eyes of a resident. Big ask. As a tourist guide here and someone who has written about the city many times before, thinking about what to say to contribute…

November 20, 2022 - The international media love affair with the island of Hvar continues, with Croatia's premier island nominated in 3 categories doe the prestigious 2023 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards.  When I bought my house in Jelsa on the island of Hvar way back in 2002, I had not heard of the island 2 days before I arrived. It looked very pretty, but I had no idea just how pretty. While walking by the harbour, there was a board with a map of the island, on which was written that the island of Hvar was one of…

November 20, 2022 - Good things are happening in the food and wine scene in Zagreb County, with Dani Okusa (Days of Flavours) currently underway and offering a delightful introduction.  One of the many joys of moving to Zagreb last year has been the chance to be able to explore Zagreb County in greater detail. It is a county which is often ignored, but as I quickly realised, one full of several surprises. Who would have thought, for example, that you do not have to go all the way to Istria to hunt for truffles - they are right there…