5 Must See Cities In Croatia

Croatia - Top 5 Cities 

If you have been thinking or planning your trip to Croatia this summer, probably you should know which cities you want to visit.

• Looking for fun - party or want to meet a lot of international people?
• Looking for some quiet place, with good restaurants and beaches?
• Looking to discover culture, history?

1. Dubrovnik
2. Split
3. Island of Hvar- city of Hvar
4. Island of Pag, Novalja
5. Zadar

Dubrovnik - small city located southeast in Croatian coast, close to border with Montenegro. However, it's not recommended to visit Dubrovnik by car, because there are not many parking spots, especially in summer time. As Dubrovnik is historical city, with a lot of amazing restaurants, beaches and rich history, it's more of a quiet place. Young couples, families with children, people in retirement will for sure enjoy in delicious food, Crystal Clear Water, beaches and warm weather with a lot of sun.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Croatia

Split - the city where I am from.

Split is located in the heart of Dalmatia.Every year Split is becoming more and more popular for all ages. Split is offering  great beaches, amazing history as Diocletian palace, great restaurants with delicious food and a lot of events for young people. Every year in summer from Split is starting popular "Yacht Sailing Week"!

Definitely if you are in Dalmatia, You don't want miss this such a beautiful city.

Split Croatia

Hvar - located on the Island of Hvar. Hvar is known as the city with the most sunny days a in year. 

In summer time, this city lives 24h per day. The other name for Hvar is "Croatian Ibiza" and it's not hard to get there, only hour and a half with car ferry from Split. Parties are one thing that are never missing in Hvar.  Hvar also will provide you great food, beaches, clean water and a lot of fun.

City of Hvar - Croatia

Novalja - located on the Island of Pag. Just a few minutes driving from city of Novalja is located popular party destination, called Zrce. Cheaper than the island of Hvar with amazing events, DJ-s, restaurants, disco bars. Perfect for young people.

Zadar only 150 km far from Split. Greeting to the Sun at Zadar promenade is one of those thing what you must see. Zadar has great connection with highway, and it's in the middle of the Adriatic coast. 

The land of the sea and sun

It is not anymore big news that Croatia has become a popular tourist destination!

Right now its one of the 10 top destinations in the world! Are you asking yourself why? This answer you can't describe with words, the best way is if you visit Croatia!

4 years ago if I asked someone in Vancouver : "Have you ever been to Croatia?", the answer was "No I haven't, but I would like to go there, I hear it is a beautiful country"

                                                    And yes, it is the truth!

More and more people decide to go in Croatia, spend quality vacation time on beautiful Dalmatian coast!
More and more travel blogs, newspaper, travel magazines writing about Croatia! Here is one post published on  travel channel. 

Also Croatian coast is a very popular wedding destination, a lot of couples decide to come in Croatia and say their final "I do", all thanks to the beauty of the country, good food and nice people!

We are also getting married in Split, next summer, on Aug/17, and we just start organizing and helping people with their trip and accommodations! 

This is a beach in Podstrana, where Ivan grew up


If you've ever considered a trip to Croatia, or are thinking of a destination wedding it truly is a magical destination.  And remember you can always leave us a comment or keep sending us emails with your questions!

xo 

MANNING PARK, BC

Last weekend we spent amazing time on Manning Park!

Manning Park is maybe 3 h driving from Vancouver, BC, around 200 km!

Here is map and route

People who like to be outside, and who live for winter sport and recreation this is an amazing opportunity!

Because it is such beautiful Resort, not so far from Vancouver, they have good price on rentals ski or snowboards, very reasonable price for cabins and excellent trails for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing!

Few pictures from Manning Park

 

CROATIA

We had a few posts before how Croatia is becoming a more and more popular tourist destination! Here is more evidence, check out what the Huffington post has to say!!

xo

HARPSWELL, MAINE

Harpswell - a small and quaint community located on the East coast of America in the State of Maine.

A mixture of locals and summer homes, Harpswell's population seemingly doubles in the summer months.  As a touristy destination, with stunning scenery and the waves of Atlantic Ocean rolling in at each island's coast, the vibe is relaxed and very welcoming.  Some of the nicest and warmest people we've ever come across in our travels! From the born-locals to the people that have left nearby bigger cities like Boston and New York in search of a calmer, sweeter lifestyle.   

Maine absolutely lived up to its slogan for the way life should be...

Not to mention the food....especially the lobster!...to die for!  The seafood is only 1 of a million reasons to head to Maine, and to the community of Harpswell.  We have loved every second of our visit, and hope to be back one day!

xo

PICKING OLIVES IN DALMATIA

The day started with a beautiful sunny morning...we woke up extra early to get ready for everything we would need for a full day of picking olives.

Croatia - especially Dalmatia -  for those of you who don't know yet, is famous for its rich gastronomy and food traditions.

A key ingredient - homemade olive oil, often picked from locally owned trees.  Every year Dalmatians pick their olives and make a fresh batch of olive oil, from trees that are organically and sustainably maintained throughout the year. 

 

Locals invite their friends and spend the late fall going from one's crop to anothers' all together until all the olive trees are picked bare! They are chatting, smiling, enjoying the still warm & sunny days.  This is a tradition, a crop cycle that's awaited with excitement and anticipation, a chance to get everyone together while completing a rewarding and fun task! Why? Because at the end you've got an organic, high quality, freshly pressed and locally processed all natural olive oil!

There's a reason olive trees are called...the trees of peace!   

Lately this tradition, previously considered a chore, has become more and more popular for the younger generations.  Young people wanting to keep traditions from the old days, and pass it on for generations to come....

Already a popular tourist volunteer program in Turkey - we invite anyone who's interested in spending some time on the Adriatic coastal towns, and becoming a part of this tradition, learning the history and pleasure of this harvest, wanting to make new friendships and experience a new culture first hand to get in touch with us and join in next year!

A few visuals from the beginning of this year's olive picking festival a few weekends ago...

Olives looking on the sunshine Adriatic sea

Someone works while some sleep

Olives are ready to become high quality olive oil

xo

QUALITY OF LIFE IN DALMATIA

Today is October 19,2012 and the current temperature in Split is 23C, with the Adriatic Sea a warm 22C!

Day by day Dalmatia is becoming a better and better place to live, especially if you have family and small kids.  The quality of life is climbing and some of the reasons are the close proximity of everything you might need. There is no need to drive 100s of kilometers in a day half of the afternoon spent idling in rush hour traffic.  Organic food is affordable and plentiful, many people even have their own organic garden. And a very important service is a family norm, one that seems to have been lost in other parts of the world...in Croatia its nicknamed Baka service.  Grandmothers spending their days with their grandchildren, caring for them while their parents work, spending quality time and allowing them to spend days at the park playing with other kids and socializing.  Not to mention the Dalmatian coast spends most of the year warmed by the sun, which means fast passing and infrequent rainy days and cloud covers.

Yesterday I came back from a quick trip north.  The freeway entrance from the highway to Split is beautiful.  The view is amazing, driving down the mountainside just before you enter city limits you have a gorgeous view of the entire city of Split.  Words cannot quite due this view any justice, you just need to see it and take it in.  

Many tourists pass through Split as it is connected with ferries to most of Croatia's populated islands in Dalmatia. The recently built autoban, or highway, allows for quick and easy drives to Croatia's capital, Zagreb, and other coastal cities such as Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Rijeka.  If you have time, the coastal highway runs right from the tip of Croatia down to Dubrovnik and allows access to a multitude of seaside towns with break-taking views at each curve. A fantastic road trip. 

Just a 10min drive is Split's airport, connecting to many European hubs such as Frankfurt, London, Paris, Oslo, Rome, Munich and others. 

What else could you ask for?

You can have it all here.  Drink your morning coffee basking in the sun, reading the paper with a view of the Adriatic at your back, spend the day at work knowing your kids are taken care of and out enjoying the sunshine, and even go for a quick dip in the Adriatic after those long days of meetings and stresses.  All within 15min drive of each other.  Just a regular weekday between April and October.  Of course you can go for a swim from Nov - March as well, like Ivan did last year...but can't promise you 20C + temperatures!

Because of its accessability, history, culture and climate tourists flock to Split from around the globe.  In the summer its primarily Europeans from countries like Italy (a neighbour), Germany, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, England and Ireland.  Everyday bring more and more cruise ships and bus tours from Asia and North America, especially Canada.....

During the winter most of the tourism is from cruise boats that anchor for a day or two in the harbour...the Split Riva (promenade)is always buzzing with people and you'll find lots of the locals sitting in the cafes and pubs taking it all in and people watching.  

Just come and see it for yourself. You are always welcome to contact us directly for more information and recommendations.

      

xo

Vancouver knows...Croatian coast is where its at.

A one day glimpse into what a vacation on the Croatian coast should be....

                             fresh, delicious food, 

                                      stunning seascape sunsets, 

                                                exquisite accommodations and 

                                                          of course 2,000 years of history at each street corner.  

Check out what Vancouver's Metro paper had to say about the stunning small city of Rovinj.

xo

 

DALMATIAN SALSA FESTIVAL

If there's one thing that stands true for Dalmatia...it's that everyone (locals & tourists) are always having a good time!  The culture and mentality of the locals is very laid-back & social centered around music, laughter and friends.  So really it was just a matter of time that a Latin dance movement built on these 3 pillars hit the streets of old town, Split.  

First ever Dalmatian Salsa Festival set-off this past weekend and runs all the way to August 10th!  Another addition to an already-packed summer events calendar in our gorgeous Adriatic city of Split. 

Friday's kick-off to the Salsa Festival was free & open to the public with professional dancers  on-hand who got the party started in the oldest square in Split just outside the entrance to Sv. Duje! Check out the link to the coverage on our Facebook page and remember to share it with your friends and like our new page while you're at it! :)

xo

SUMMER in SPLIT 2012

35C+ Weather...
         bright sunny skies...
               warm Adriatic beaches....
                        tourists a plenty....
                                 summer festivals...
                                           & breath-taking views....

just another July in Split, Croatia!

Cruise ships dotting the Adriatic coast during the busy summer months.

Original stone alleys & paths in Split, Croatia.

History at every beachfront corner - Split, Croatia.

Sea Festivals in Split's neighbourhoods - this one is in Radunica, close to our fave Buffet Fife restaurant.

Clear Mediterranean skies.

Plenty of greenery in and around Split, Croatia.

Top of the city views from Sv. Duje in the heart of Split.

A glance at Split's Promenade (Riva), a tourist pauses for a moment to take it all in.

Another view from Sv. Duje, the towering Cathedral in Split's core.

It's a long way down from Sv. Duje's top!

Climbing the maaaany steps to Sv. Duje's top in Split.

Tourists in the square outside Sv. Duje, Split.

The main square in Split's inner historical core, at the entrance to Sv. Duje.

A tourist group coming through the heart of Split's old city.

Views of Split's Promenade from Matejuske, with Sv. Duje towering above the old city walls.

Just a 1700-year old building. No big deal.

A popular beach in Split, Obojena Svjetlost.

And the epic start to each of these fantastically warm and relaxing July Split days...a tasty espresso at a local cafe.  Obojena Svjetlost.

A **BIG** Thank You to our friend and photographer extraordinaire, Jaksa, for these latest shots of our beloved Split!  

And if you're still on the fence about this truly authentic Mediterranean city, an article from today's paper -> today's temperatures: 37C outside, 28C in the sea.  Ahhh summer in the Med!

xo