Croatia is an already beloved and an increasingly popular summer holiday destination but it is also a wonderful destination for an Autumn or Winter break. With stunning landscapes painted burned hues in Autumn, seaside resorts that are still enjoyable relatively late into the year, towns that twinkle with Christmas lights in winter, small tourist crowds after the Summer, and all sorts of seasonal events, there are plenty of reasons to plan an off-season getaway in Croatia.
Here are more excellent things about visiting Croatia in Autumn or Winter...
Here are more excellent things about visiting Croatia in Autumn or Winter...
4. Zagreb's Christmas markets
While Croatia's Christmas markets are relatively new institutions that don't have the kind of worldwide fame of those in the likes of Prague or Vienna, Zagreb's recently established Advent programme is an award-winning extravaganza in the capital’s main Ban Jelacic Square. The square and the surrounding areas are strung with lights and decorations, filled with traditional markets selling crafts, gifts and more, traditional winter delicacies being made fresh and sold warm and satisfying, and all sorts of events, like concerts and performances. Furthermore, the centre plays host to an amazing outdoor ice-skating rink with the lovely historic centre as a picturesque backdrop. Just find a vacation rental in Zagreb and experience it for yourself this winter!
5. Winter foods!
In the last post, we talked at length about harvest foods and autumnal delicacies but the hearty cuisine of the winter months has its own charms too. With plenty of mulled wine, sweet desserts and rich soups to be tried, the diverse and tasty cuisine of Croatia – made into an intriguing melting pot of cultures over the centuries – is even more appealing during winter.
6. Night of the Museum
For over ten years, Museum Night has been held in Croatia, originally in December but now on the last Friday of January each year. On this one night the entrance fee to most of the museums in Croatia is waived and the museums remain open late into the night. It is a magical and unique experience and, if you have found a vacation rental in Dubrovnik or one of the other big cities, you could spend a whole night darting around the city and exploring, along with the hundreds of thousands of people the event attracts nationwide each year.
7. Dubrovnik Winter Festival
This 40 day long event in Dubrovnik each year runs from December in January and boasts magical lighting schemes, celebrations such as ˝Advent in the City¨, New Year's Eve, the Festivity of St. Blaise, Valentine's Day, and the Dubrovnik Carnival, and events like concerts, ice-skating, plays, exhibitions, feasts and more!
As if you haven't enough reasons to already book a trip today, for more great reasons to visit Croatia in the Autumn/Winter season, be sure to read on to the last post in this series!
While Croatia's Christmas markets are relatively new institutions that don't have the kind of worldwide fame of those in the likes of Prague or Vienna, Zagreb's recently established Advent programme is an award-winning extravaganza in the capital’s main Ban Jelacic Square. The square and the surrounding areas are strung with lights and decorations, filled with traditional markets selling crafts, gifts and more, traditional winter delicacies being made fresh and sold warm and satisfying, and all sorts of events, like concerts and performances. Furthermore, the centre plays host to an amazing outdoor ice-skating rink with the lovely historic centre as a picturesque backdrop. Just find a vacation rental in Zagreb and experience it for yourself this winter!
5. Winter foods!
In the last post, we talked at length about harvest foods and autumnal delicacies but the hearty cuisine of the winter months has its own charms too. With plenty of mulled wine, sweet desserts and rich soups to be tried, the diverse and tasty cuisine of Croatia – made into an intriguing melting pot of cultures over the centuries – is even more appealing during winter.
6. Night of the Museum
For over ten years, Museum Night has been held in Croatia, originally in December but now on the last Friday of January each year. On this one night the entrance fee to most of the museums in Croatia is waived and the museums remain open late into the night. It is a magical and unique experience and, if you have found a vacation rental in Dubrovnik or one of the other big cities, you could spend a whole night darting around the city and exploring, along with the hundreds of thousands of people the event attracts nationwide each year.
7. Dubrovnik Winter Festival
This 40 day long event in Dubrovnik each year runs from December in January and boasts magical lighting schemes, celebrations such as ˝Advent in the City¨, New Year's Eve, the Festivity of St. Blaise, Valentine's Day, and the Dubrovnik Carnival, and events like concerts, ice-skating, plays, exhibitions, feasts and more!
As if you haven't enough reasons to already book a trip today, for more great reasons to visit Croatia in the Autumn/Winter season, be sure to read on to the last post in this series!
Photo credits
Picture 1: Miroslav Vajdic / CC BY-SA 2.0
Picture 1: Miroslav Vajdic / CC BY-SA 2.0