Hostel Forum Blog

May 4 2014 is going to be one fine day. One fine day, worldwide. One fine day in Zadar, Croatia. Will it rain? Maybe. Does it matter? Absolutely not. Because it’s going to be that one day when the world unites for a good cause.

Sea, sand and sun - that may be the combo that invites you to come to the Croatian seaside. Zadar is certainly one of the most attractive tourist spots with ever-growing number of visitors each year. Apart from the 3-S mix, great number of events and happenings attract visitors curious to experience the exciting ambience particularly during the peak season. Yes, Zadar truly is a city with plenty of must-dos, especially during summer, but it also has many interesting, both historical and modern, must-sees that are there the whole year round. When you decide to visit Zadar, you might be looking just for fun, adventure, well basically partay! However, as you do that, you will be passing by historical monuments. Give those buildings a moment of your time - they are a testimony to Zadar’s turbulent past. 

One look at an aerial photo of the Kornati islands is enough for anyone to want to go and see them in person. The sensation is best illustrated by the words of the famous Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw:’ On the last day of creation, God desired to crown his work, and thus created the Kornati Islands out of tears, stars and breath’. The islands appear as if they were blown away like dandelion seeds, islets and islands of different shapes and sizes scattered over the sea but still close together.

The official slogan of the Croatian National Tourist Board is ‘The Mediterranean as it once was’ and it refers to what Croatian coast is famous for: well-preserved nature, numerous islands of all sizes, beautiful beaches, clear water, historic ports, etc. Croatian coast truly has a lot to offer not only above sea level. More and more visitors as well as professional divers are curious to find out what lies beneath the surface. Along the coast, there are many interesting sites where divers, depending on their diving skills, can admire the flora and fauna of the Adriatic underwaters as well as shipwrecked galleons and naval ships.

Zadar airport may be small but it perfectly serves its purpose of welcoming visitors arriving from many different European destinations. It has become one of the busiest airports in the country with ever-growing number of passengers each year, almost half a million in 2013. And truth be told, the most convenient and quickest way to get to Zadar is by air. Regardless of the airport size, you can fly to Zadar from various European cities with new destinations becoming available every year.

Summer’s gone and you’re back to your everyday life. Days are shorter and gloomier and you’re a few steps away from needing a new break, even a getaway will do. One solution to your low spirits: Zadar. Sure, it’s a bit risky with the weather and you won’t be able to enjoy much of the sea-sun-sand package available during peak season, but there is the advantage of lower prices and avoiding tourist crowds, as well as the promise of fun events and activities.

‘Backpack’ is a word that derives from ‘back’ and ‘pack’, and it basically means pile your belongings in a bundle, throw it across your back and off you go. And that’s precisely what backpackers do. Backpacking is an umbrella term because travelling this way can range from a couple of weeks to a few years, from crossing one country to crossing continents, from ultralight backpacking to poshpacking. Regardless of the differences, it’s generally a very convenient form of travel and particularly popular among younger people in their 20s. It’s basically about moving away from mass tourist trails and experiencing something authentic, because backpacking by definition means adventure.

Many cities worldwide are regarded as romantic and highly inviting for couples in love. Paris may have Pont des Arts where lovers seal their love with a padlock on the railings of the bridge, Venice may offer gondola rides along its canals and Verona may be the seat of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, but Zadar on Valentine’s Day is something extraordinary - it’s a place where love, in all its forms, is in the air. Regardless if you’re in a relationship or single, if you want to openly demonstrate love for your partner, or show appreciation to a friend or kindness to a person in need, a true celebration of love is what happens on February 14 with the event Zaželi ljubav (‘wish for love’).

We’ve hardly taken down our Christmas decorations and our peripheral vision is slowly picking up a bunch of red signals. Not surprisingly so, the V Day is coming. Shop windows are becoming filled with hanging hearts, chocolate hearts are luring us in and radio programmes are tuning us to the right kind of mood with well-known love songs and an occasional new hit. And even if you truly dislike Valentine’s Day and its (usually) materialistic display, surely you won’t be able to resist to watch at least one of the romantic films they’ll show on TV. Even if it’s for the seventh time.