Destination Update
New EasyJet routes to Split
EasyJet has announced a new route to Split from Belfast International Airport which will be the airline’s 26th route from the city. The new route will begin from 20 May 2015 with flights departing once a week throughout summer. Prices will start from £26.99 per person one way and are on sale now. EasyJet expects to carry approximately 6,000 passengers on this new route in its first summer of operation. Split is Croatia’s second largest city and is considered to be one of the oldest cities in the area. Visitors to Split should make sure they visit the wonderful Diocletian’s Palace and take a walk down the Riva Promenade. For more information, please see here.
Croatian cheese finishes second at 2014 World Cheese Awards
Sirana Gligora’s incredible mixed milk cheese, Dinarski sir, was awarded joint second place at the 2014 World Cheese Awards in London. It also retained the Best Central and Eastern European Cheese Trophy. Dinarski sir competed against 3,000 cheeses from all over the world including varieties from New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, USA and Europe and was given second place by a panel of international dairy experts. The cheese has only been produced for three years and has already won two trophies at the World Cheese Awards. Cheese-lovers and connoisseurs can experience delicious cheeses at the Gligora Cheese Shop on Pag Island or online. For more information, please see here.
Croatia’s INmusic festival nominated for the European festival award
Zagreb’s INmusic festival has been nominated at the European Festival Awards for ‘Best Medium-sized European Festival’. Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the festival, which will be taking place at Zagreb’s Jarun Lake from 22 – 24 June 2015. In 2014, the line-up included Bombay Bicycle Club, The Black Keys and The Pixies and the event welcomed 60,000 music fans across six stages. For more information, please see here.
Ibiza Rocks Group launches Croatia Rocks for 2015
Ibiza Rocks Group is launching a new event in 2015 called Croatia Rocks Festival, taking place from 20 – 23 July. It will be held on Zrće Beach on the island of Pag, the same location as Hideout Festival. Renowned for pushing the boundaries of the music scene, Croatia Rocks will bring something fresh and exciting to Zrće. There will be a combination of live music and DJs plus new artists and producers. Festival tickets are priced from £99 and are on sale now. For more information, please see here.
Croatia named co-host of 2015 EuroBasket
FIBA Europe has named Croatia as co-host of the 39th European Basketball Championships – EuroBasket, taking place next year. The 2015 EuroBasket will be hosted by Zagreb in Croatia, Berlin in Germany, Montpellier in France and Riga in Latvia. Each country will host one respective group during the group stages of the competition, with France hosting the knock-out phase. The tournament is to be played from 5 – 20 September 2015, and the finals will be held in Lille. For more information, please see here and here.
New gastronomy festival for Dubrovnik
The Dubrovnik Tourist Board (DTB) has announced a new gastronomy event, the Good Food Festival, which was held for the first time in 2014. The festival will return in October 2015 and the four day programme will include presentations of culinary specialities, wine tasting and special delicacies from the region. One of the main events will also be the traditional ‘Dubrovnik Table’ that runs down the Stradun, serving local food. The DTB recently announced record-breaking visitor figures for the first 11 months of 2014, with a 12 per cent increase on the same period last year. For more information, please visit here.
Events & Festivals
29 November – 31 December 2014: Advent in Crikvenica
Advent in the Crikvenica Riviera takes place throughout the month. There are plenty of events during the festive period, with something for everyone. This includes food fairs with local products, creative workshops, story-telling and plays for children, festive culinary treats and wine fairs. There will be plenty of singing and dancing as well as a merry Santa train. Advent is the perfect time to experience the seasonal delicacies of the region. On New Year’s Eve, celebrations are being held at the Advent Park where thousands of lanterns will be launched into the air from the ‘Vela Palada’ waterfront. For more information, please see here.
26 December 2014: Christmas Exhibition of ‘Oldtimers’, Opatija
Cars dating from the first half of the last century will be presented to the public at the traditional Christmas exhibition of ‘oldtimers’. Visitors have the opportunity to tour luxury classic cars that still look pristine, thanks to the care of their owners. The oldest of the cards on display date back to the first half of the twentieth century. Opatija is sometimes referred to as ‘Vienna on Sea’ and is a splendid place to explore in winter, with its Habsburg villas and 12km-long pedestrianised seafront. For more information, please see here.
31 December 2014: Unforgettable New Year Celebration, Opatija
The New Year’s Eve party in Opatija is the highlight of the winter programme. The Summer Stage will host celebrity musicians with thousands of people attending. Its positive and lively atmosphere makes this event a wonderful way to welcome in the new year. For more information, please see here.
31 December 2014: Open Air New Year’s Eve Celebration, Fužine
The 15th open air New Year’s celebration will take place in the centre of Fužine at noon. There will be delicious Croatian delicacies and mulled wine as well as a performance from the local orchestra and an impressive firework display. This spectacular event is internationally televised, with around 10,000 visitors expected. Fužine is a village in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in western Croatia. Advanced tickets are priced at £5.15 (50HRK). For more information, please see here.
1 September – 31 December 2014: Osijek Antiquity Fair
Taking place at the Holy Trinity Square in the Citadel, the Osijek Antiquity Fair is set in a beautiful location close to the Museum of Slavonia. On the first Saturday of the month, antiques dealers from Croatia and surrounding countries descend to present their treasures. The fair opened in 2005 and attracts sellers from Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina offering antique furniture, porcelain, paintings, clocks, and coins. Osijek has a reputation for being one of the most relaxing Croatian cities and is celebrated for its distinctive local cuisine and boutique wineries. For more information, please see here.
1 – 31 December 2014: Christmas in Đakovo
The picturesque town of Đakovo is a truly magical place to be during the Christmas period. There will be graceful Lipizzaner horses passing on the ‘Korzo’ promenade, as well as Christmas carols beautifully performed by vocal groups. The smell of traditional Advent food and drink will fill the air, making the town feel thoroughly festive. For more information, please see here.
1 December 2014 – 10 January 2015 – Christmas in Advent
The coastal city of Split has ensured there is a full calendar of events to celebrate this year’s festive period. A Christmas fair will open in the heart of the city, while there will be live music throughout the month along the Riva promenade and in Republic Square. The Tourist Board will run the Gastroadvent festival during December, allowing locals and visitors to enjoy traditional holiday dishes at promotional prices. An ice rink will also open at Spaladium Arena for those who wish to work up an appetite before heading to the Christmas markets. For more information, please see here.
29 November 2014 – 6 January 2015: Advent in Zagreb
Advent in Zagreb includes a series of seasonal events held on the city’s squares, bringing the spirit of Advent and Christmas to visitors and citizens of Zagreb. There will be a number of programmes to enjoy including children’s choirs, drama ensembles, dance groups, music bands and cultural societies, as well as bustling Christmas shops and fairs. For more information, please see www.adventzagreb.com.
1 December 2014–1 February 2015: Dubrovnik Christmas Market
In December, Dubrovnik will enchant visitors with its magical Christmas lights, decorations and popular festive market. Dubrovnik’s Christmas Fair at Sponza Palace is guaranteed to get visitors into the Christmas spirit with its packed programme of carol singing, dances and diverse variety of arts and craft stalls, as well as sweet local delicacies, including candied almonds, deep fried biscuits and doughnuts. For more reasons to spend the festive season in Dubrovnik, please see www.Croatia.hr
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For further press information, please contact:
Sarah Taylor/Melissa Hobson/Tim Thackray
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8927
E: [email protected]
About Croatia
Croatia; the Mediterranean as it once was, offers 1,244 islands strung along its stunning Adriatic coast, boasts seven UNESCO Heritage Sites and eight national parks as well as an excellent tourism infrastructure. From the café culture of its historic cities to the rugged landscapes of continental Croatia, with a packed calendar of festivals and events and a host of home-grown gastronomic delights, Croatia is the ideal holiday destination.
For more information visit www.croatia.hr or call on (0)20 3440 8930.
