Croatia Travel Blog

Archive for the ‘Zagreb’ Category

It would be a dream come true for Croatia-bound North Americans. So far there are no direct flights  to Croatia from the USA but, fingers crossed, that may change next year. According to the Croatian newspaper, Jutarnji list, the director of Zagreb airport has confirmed that he is negotiating with an as-yet-unnamed American airline to start a direct New York to Zagreb flight sometime next year. Hoping to make Zagreb a transfer point for flights throughout the region, the airport is ready to offer substantial financial incentives to encourage a New York to Zagreb flight. In addition to waiving landing fees, the airport would, in effect guarantee payment for a certain number of seats whether sold or not. How could they say no?

See more on flights to Croatia and flights to Zagreb.

As previously reported, the days of exorbitantly priced Zagreb taxis are about to end. The City Council has voted to open the lucrative taxi monopoly to competition which will of course drive down prices. Taxi Cammeo, based in Rijeka is willing to offer services at a fraction of the price Zagreb taxi drivers charge. Prepare to see taxis actually moving on the streets of Zagreb rather than lurking for hours at taxi stands waiting for that elusive customer ready to pay €5 for a short taxi ride. Taxi drivers are not happy. Earlier this week, over 50 taxi drivers blocked the narrow streets of Zagreb’s Upper Town with their taxis, effectively shutting down the neighbourhood. To little avail, claim authorities, determined to make taxi services more available to the middle class. See more on taxis in Zagreb.

Zagreb should soon attract more visitors as Easyjet has announced new routes to Croatia’s capital. Starting November 1, the low-cost carrier will fly four times weekly from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and will fly five times weekly from London Gatwick to Zagreb.

Germanwings, Wizz Air and Norwegian are other budget airlines that fly to Zagreb and Croatia Airlines, the country’s national airline also handles the routes from London and Paris but Easyjet’s entrance into the market should help drive down fares. That may not be good for Croatia Airlines which is already losing money but it will be good for Zagreb tourism and other sectors of the Croatian economy.

Just to recap, Easyjet already flies from Rome, Milan, Geneva, Paris Orly, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Liverpool and Berlin to Dubrovnik and from Split to Rome, Milan, Geneva, Basel, Paris, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Bristol, Amsterdam and Berlin.

See more on cheap flights to Zagreb and cheap flights to Croatia.

The gay and lesbian community in Croatia is preparing for the annual Pride Parade to be held on June 19 in Zagreb. The theme of this year’s parade is “Freedom of sexual expression and diversity of sexual practice”. Although there is certainly a lot of the latter in Croatia, the “freedom” part of the theme is a long way from being achieved. For historical and religious reasons, Croatia has long clung to rigid definitions of sexual identity which has disadvantaged the LGBT community. Discrimination is rampant and violent attacks on gays are not rare.

The Pride Parade has taken place yearly since 2002 and often draws angry and hateful crowds. This year may be no exception, particularly since a proposed constitutional change will protect sexual orientation. Introduced under pressure from the EU to bring Croatia’s human rights legislation into line with European standards, the proposed change has already provoked a public outcry.

The Pride Parade is the culmination of “Zagreb Pride” a series of local events celebrating LGBT identity and agitating for political change. This year’s schedule includes a roundtable with government representatives to discuss the proposed constitutional change. Despite this year’s slogan, “Croatia can swallow this”, it’s not at all clear that it can.

See more on Zagreb Pride and on gay travel in Croatia.

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.