Croatian bakery products
Bakeries are on every corner and eating from the bakery is part of the culture here! But it can be overwhelming walking into a bakery, and trying to blindly choose a pastry that you’ve never tried! Here we’ll give you a list and description of the best bakery items you can find in Croatia!
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The Maiden with the Seagull
On one of our recent trips, we visited the beautiful town of Opatija. Here we’ll outline the top things to see and do if you find yourself in the area!
Old Town Samobor (Ruins of the Castle)
Samobor is always at the top of our list for a day trip when my family and friends come to visit us in Zagreb. Samobor is a quaint, charming town with the absolute best dessert in Croatia, and it’s the perfect day trip from Zagreb, since it’s less than an hour’s drive!
If you’re planning to travel to Croatia, it might be a good idea to learn a few essential beginner phrases to help you get by! Here’s why:
Learning a few Croatian phrases before you travel will go a long way in making sure you have the ultimate experience. You can learn so much about a place by chatting with the local people (much more than in any guide book or pamphlet). Although most Croatian people do speak English (especially in the popular tourist destinations), they really appreciate the effort when someone tries to learn and say a few Croatian words. If you’re traveling to Croatia and thinking about attending a mass, or any other church service (perhaps even a wedding or a funeral), it might be nice to be able to join a few prayers. In this post I’ll translate The Lord’s Prayer / Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostles Creed, Glory Be, and the Prayer for the Faithful Departed. These are a few of the most common ones here, as Croatia is predominantly Catholic. I’ll also translate how to say the sign of the Cross as you cross yourself (as you'll use it often during any service!) You’ll also find the pronunciation guide under each line, where I’ve written everything phonetically, so you can learn how to properly say it all and join in prayers in Croatian like a pro! 
Krka National Park
The Croatian portal www.24sata.hr published an article about working hours of Croatian National Parks and nature parks during specific situations with COVID 19. Here we've translated it into English - the article in Croatian can be found here: https://www.24sata.hr/news/ovako-od-sutra-rade-nacionalni-parkovi-kafici-trgovacki-centri-692269
By the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, 8 national parks and 11 nature parks will start operating on Monday, May 11. 
Pag Island, Croatia
Many people wonder if traveling alone in Croatia is a good idea (is it safe, easy, etc). The answer really depends on what you’re looking for, but Croatia might not be the destination to choose if you’re looking to travel solo. Read the list below to get a better idea if it’s really for you: 
Varaždin
In this post I wanted to give our readers a few suggestions, for those planning on visiting Varazdin (the former capital city of Croatia). In my opinion Varazdin is the most beautiful and interesting city in Northern Croatia, and it’s definitely worth the visit!
Selfie after the birth of my youngest daughter in Petrova hospital
I thought it might be helpful to share my experience as an expat giving birth in Croatia, because when I was pregnant for the first time, living in a foreign country, I had no idea what to expect about the process here.
What was the hospital experience going to be like? What kind of support would I have? Am I going to understand everything that’s going on? Who can be in the room with me? What will the prenatal care be like? Some of you may even be "stuck" in Croatia because of border closures & canceled flights due to COVID-19. Maybe you were planning to travel back home to give birth, but realize that can't happen at the moment. Hopefully you'll find this post helpful! 
Zrinski Castle or Old town Čakovec - Photo credit IG @mariosaric4
A Brief History of Cakovec
(followed by a list of things to see & do, as well as a few restaurant recommendations)
Cakovec is a very interesting and culturally rich city in the north of Croatia. It’s the largest city in Medimurje (the northernmost county of Croatia) and has a long history dating back to the 1st century AD. It was formerly called Aquama, and was a Roman place for holiday. During the 13th century, the Hungarian Earl, Dimitrus Csaky, built a wooden tower in Cakovec, which is how the name of the city originated (from the Cakov Tower). 
Photo credit IG @travelernika
As a follow up to my recent post about some of the “strange things Croatians do,” I’ve put together a list of some Croatian habits I love and think everyone should adopt! Having lived in Croatia for over 8 years now, I've definitely picked up a bunch of these, myself!
Eat your big meal of the day when it counts, don’t take coffee to go, don't ever eat sliced bread, and never visit a home with a newborn. Take PLENTY of vacation (along with four-day weekends), see friends often, and top up the parking meter with a simple text message! Read on to find out more about some of the best habits Croatians live by! 
Prepaid plans in Croatia
Here I’ll walk you through the top providers in Croatia and their short term, prepaid plans that you can sign up for once you get over here, which will save you big.
Compared to the U.S.A. and Canada, Croatian phone bills are extremely inexpensive, so take advantage and say goodbye to roaming and long distance fees from back home! (Example: Get 250 mins of talk + 2GB of data for only 3 EUR!) 
The Upper Town, Zagreb - Photo credit IG @watchluke
If you find yourself in Zagreb and you have some time to explore, here is a list of things we recommend checking out! They’re all in the city center (or very close), so they’re easy to get to by foot or tram. I’ve also listed operating hours and any admission prices that apply!
We hope you’ll love Zagreb as much as we do :) 
Walking proudly with the Croatian flag - Photo credit IG @matterarts_
Croatians definitely have their fair share of rules, habits, beliefs and superstitions, and I’m here to outline the ones I’ve noticed since first setting foot on Croatian soil back in 2007. Some of these I also now do, while others I remain a total outcast for in Croatia.
Don’t sit on concrete, cover your kidneys, eat with a spoon, use lard and liquor if you’re sick, blame the wind if you’re grumpy, and buy olive oil in recycled Coke bottles, are just a few. Read on to discover more rules, habits and superstitions Croatians take very seriously.  Brown Bear, Kuterevo - Photo credit IG @mphotos_sotohpm Croatia is home to many wild animals (including snakes, bears, sharks and scorpions to name a few). Here I have put together a helpful guide showing which animals are dangerous, where they can be found in Croatia, what you should look out for, and what to do if you get bitten.
Nugel, Makarska/Photo credit IG @pati.zydor
Looking for nudist or naturist beaches in Croatia where you can swim, sunbathe and enjoy the day freely? Here is a list of the top 15 spots for naturism along the Adriatic Sea, each with a map so you can see precisely where they are (sometimes they’re hard to find!).
There are actually over 100 nudist beaches throughout the country, so there are plenty to choose from, but here’s a narrowed-down list to give you an idea, and help you sort out some of the best. Just a quick note to mention that naturist beaches in Croatia are labelled with FKK, which is short for Freikorperkultur (which is a German naturist movement that translates to ‘free body culture’). Keep your eye out for those three letters, then you can strip down to your birthday suit and enjoy the clean and clear waters of the Adriatic! 
Majerovo vrilo, a source of Gacka River - Photo credit IG @priba11
There is so much more to Croatia than Dubrovnik, Hvar and Plitvice Lakes! Here are some hidden gems that are off the beaten path, and are definitely worth a visit!
From the smallest town in the world to the furthest eastern city, artsy towns, bear sanctuaries, horse farms and legendary lighthouses, discover more of Croatia on your next visit! Here are 15 spots you’ve probably never heard of, so check them out and work them into your Croatia travel plans if you want a little something different! 
Our wedding in Maksimir Park, Zagreb, 2013
Croatians really know how to celebrate, especially when it comes to two people joining their lives in marriage. Their weddings are quite unique and I think they do it better than almost anyone!
I know because I’ve been to many Croatian weddings, I’ve had my own Croatian wedding, and the 3 day celebration, the traditions, the fake brides, the flagman, the horns, the dancing (and eating) until the sun comes up, really make the whole weekend-long festivities, incredible! Read on to find out more! Here are 50 of the most sensational photos from all over Croatia, capturing the country's most beautiful and iconic views! From Dubrovnik's Old Town, to Plitvice Lakes, quaint fairytale towns in Istria, vast fields of Slavonia & Baranje, and everything in between, we've covered it all! 1. Zadar
The Greeting to the Sun, Zadar/Photo credit IG @merikankainzadar
Story time with my babies
Raising bilingual children has been a struggle: one I didn’t expect. I thought that just because I’m a native English speaker, my kids would naturally and effortlessly pick up the language, no matter what country we live in, and no matter what language surrounds us.
I always thought English would be their first language. I thought their accents would sound like mine. I thought it would be effortless. I was wrong. |
Authors
Sarah CosicAs a Canadian in Croatia, Sarah aims to share her favourite things to see and do, in hopes of helping others enjoy and explore this beautiful country, 
Ivan CosicIvan is always searching for unique places and experiences to offer his guests and wants to share some of his findings through the blog. |
e: info@royalcroatiantours.com
p: +385 99 848 3225 / +385 99 848 3226 skype: royalcroatiantours ©2022 Royal Croatian Tours. All rights reserved.
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