Croatia Travel Blog

After doing a banner business in 2011, Zadar Airport is set to be even busier in 2012. Croatia’s national carrier, Croatia Airlines, is launching a weekly flight from Zadar to Charles-de-Gaulle in Paris. And the south of France won’t be left in the lurch with Ryanair’s new flight from Marseille to Zadar, due to start on March 26. Ryanair is vastly expanding their connections to Zadar. Look for flights from Karlsruhe (Germany), Billund (Denmark), East Midlands (UK) next year to augment this year’s flights to Zadar from Brussels, Frankfurt,  London (Stansted), Dublin, Oslo , Stockholm, and Dusseldorf.

 

 

Walking Dubrovnik’s walls is easily one of the world’s most memorable experiences. In addition to admiring the Adriatic sea and the ripple of stone that encircles Dubrovnik, you will soon be able to visit a new museumin a recently excavated tower.

While working on a nearby playground in 2003, workers discovered “something strange” in Gornji ugao (Upper Tower). Excavations revealed remains of a 16th-century cannon foundry buried beneath the rubble. In the 16th century, Dubrovnik was at the height of her power but there were enemies! As a wealthy Adriatic city-state, it was essential to protect the riches secreted behind the walls with cannon fire if necessary.

After 8 years of excavation and renovation, visitors can follow the process of forging the cannons deep within the walls of this tower, built to protect the city from the potentially explosive process.

Currently the tower museum is open from 10am to 1pm for Dubrovnik residents to visit. In four weeks it will be closed for further renovations and reopened 1 May 2012 for all visitors. See more Dubrovnik Sights.

The editors of Yahoo travel voted the Split to Vis ferry ride the second most beautiful ferry ride in the world (the number one spot went to an Australian ferry line). Think of how many ferries trundle around Greece alone and you can see that it’s quite an honor! The article noted “Among the Adriatic Coast’s thousand islands and 250 miles of ferry routes, this two-and-a-half-hour ride stands out for its exceptional scenery.” The red-roofed buildings of Split recede, you pass little Solta and big Brac before gliding past a sprinkling of islets on your way to Vis Island.

I love the ride and heartily endorse the vote but before you run out and book passage, check the Split-Vis ferry schedules. There are two ferries from Split to Vis: a Split-Vis car ferry and a Split-Hvar-Vis passenger ferry. Throughout most of the year both ferries leave Split in the afternoon and return from Vis in the morning so you’ll have to stay overnight. During the summer months, there’s usually a morning ride out on the car ferry and an afternoon ferry back to Split. It doesn’t leave much time on Vis but you do get the benefit of the scenery. See more on Croatia ferries.

Good news for backpackers! The centre of Zadar is scheduled to have a new hostel by the beginning of the tourist season 2012. For too long, backpackers have been shunted out to the hostel in Borik, about 5km from central Zadar. The “tourist settlement” there developed because the woodsy Borik neighbourhood is right on a shallow cove and a narrow beach. But not everyone comes to Zadar for the beach! In fact there are far better beaches in Croatia. Zadar is a fun town, a young town and is known for its cafes, bars and clubs. Yet the only accommodation in central Zadar (aside from a smattering of private accommodation) is the four-star Hotel Bastion which is great but not exactly a budget choice.

The new hostel will include the current Cafe Forum and the renovated building should hold 90 beds. Architects and designers have been enlisted to provide an attractive and functional environment and the cost of a bed should only be 15 or 20 euros.

It’s awards season! That would be travel awards. Just yesterday the Sunday Times Travel Magazine awarded Croatia beaches a bronze medal. Well, not literally, but beaches in Croatia placed third in a reader awards for Europe’s best beaches. Only third? Competition was stiff. The first and second place winners were Spain and Greece. Tough to beat! Croatia has an enormous quantity of beaches but, it’s true that very few are sandy. Sandy beaches do exist though; I’m thinking Saplunara on Mljet Island, Lopar on Rab Island, Lopud Island. Pebbles have some benefits though. No sand in your bathing suit! Crystal-clear water is another benefit.

Croatia’s coastline is highly indented and that includes Croatia’s islands. For sunbathers, that means that rather than a big, wide strand of beach lined with rows of lounge chairs and parasols, you can stretch out on a rocky little cove with only a few other people. Brela Beach is a fine example. There are a lot of rocky coves in Croatia which is why the country has become a prime destination for naturists.

See Croatia’s best beaches.