Croatia Travel Blog

Archive for the ‘Zagreb’ Category

Taxis in Zagreb are among the most expensive in Europe; the meter drops at 19 kuna (almost 3 euros). That should change soon.

Taxi Cammeo has long operated in Rijeka, offering a five km trip for only 20 kuna, and now the company plans to move in on the Zagreb market.

“How can this work?” say irate taxi drivers in Zagreb. They claim that there are already too many taxis for too few people. True, but maybe that’s because Zagreb taxis are TOO EXPENSIVE for the average Croatian!

The company faced substantial hurdles in entering the protected Zagreb market but finally succeeded in overcoming opposition. On October 1 the new taxi fleet will be navigating Zagreb streets.

See more on Zagreb transport.

I don’t know about you but I find it reassuring to be able to hit the tourist office as soon as I arrive in my destination. Maps, hotel bookings, general orientation: there’s always plenty of enlightenment to be found in a tourist office.

Now flight-born visitors to Zagreb can enjoy the same convenience. The Zagreb tourist office has just opened a branch at Zagreb Airport. The working hours are:
Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm; Sat and Sun 10am-4pm

The tourist office publishes several helpful brochures and also distributes a free street map of Zagreb.

It’s been a long time in the making, but finally “The Beautiful and the Damned” is ready to begin filming. Keira Knightly will play wildwoman Zelda Fitzgerald in this pic based on F Scott Fitzgerald’s life. Rumours are that Leonardo di Caprio will play F Scott.

Croatians are excited that portions of the film will be shot in Zagreb and Opatija. Were the Fitzgeralds ever in Croatia? Dear readers, I don’t think so. So I wonder which European cities Zagreb and Opatija will represent? My bet is Paris and Nice. The Fitzgeralds did spend a fair amount of time boozing it up in Paris and also spent some time on the Cote d’Azur. Opatija is often called “Croatia’s Nice” for the dramatic coastal scenery. Architecturally, the towns aren’t dissimilar as Opatija’s architecture dates from the late 19th-century Austrians who took the waters there while Nice was a seaside favorite of 19th-century Brits who left a strong architectural imprint. Getting Zagreb to pass as Paris could be tougher. With clever camera angles and lighting, I suppose that certain streets in Zagreb’s medieval Upper Town could suggest Paris’ Left Bank.

Shooting is scheduled to begin this spring and should shed a well-deserved spotlight on two of Croatia’s most underrated destinations: Zagreb and Opatija.

Zagreb is no slouch on the arts scene. In December a brand new Museum of Contemporary Art will open which should be the cultural event of the season. As a lead-up, Zagreb just hosted a highly successful Film Festival that broke all attendance records. Next up is the Vip Zagreb Jazz Festival which will boast an extraordinarily strong line-up. In only three nights (November 5-7) jazz lovers get to hear the Sonny Rollins Sextet, the Branford Marsalis Quartet and the Terence Blanchard Quintet. The Jazz Festival is only in its 5th year but to attract such a star-filled lineup, they must be doing something right.

Get more information about the Vip Zagreb Jazz Festival and more festivals in Zagreb.

I try to encourage my consultation clients to take a good look at Zagreb but to little avail. Most want to rush down to the Croatian coast as fast as possible. Yes the Istrian and Dalmatian coasts are dazzling but to experience the real Croatia you really have to experience Zagreb.

Fortunately the NYTimes travel section has given me good ammunition in the form of an article by Zagreb resident Alex Crevar. Titled “36 hours in Zagreb, Croatia”, the article does an excellent job compressing the Zagreb experience for hurried travellers. I love his recommendation of the Zagreb City Museum for an overview of Zagreb’s history and he hits all the right spots for coffee sipping, clubbing, dining, drinking and even a little excursion out of town to Medvednica Nature Park.

Only the two hotel recommendations–the Regent Esplanade and the Hotel Dubrovnik–hint at the downside of Zagreb. Accommodation is expensive! There are four and five-star hotels in Zagreb centre but most three-star Zagreb hotels are at least a tram-ride away. There’s little private accommodation in central Zagreb but there are a few, good, centrally-located hostels.

Read more about Zagreb sights, dining, nightlife and accommodation.