Croatia’s 300-year-old Dobra River bridge is still carrying cars, apparently unfazed by the minor inconvenience of three centuries of weather, wars, and modern traffic. Built in 1730 as part of the grand Karolinska Road - the Habsburgs’ ambitious attempt to tame the wilderness - the stone bridge quickly became the region’s pride with its ten elegant arches and postcard-perfect setting. While the world around it modernised, the bridge simply kept doing its job, outlasting its wooden predecessor and most likely several generations of drivers. Today it’s celebrated as one of Croatia’s most beautiful and historic river crossings, a protected cultural treasure that still blends seamlessly into the landscape. And just next door, the mysterious medieval town of Novigrad na Dobri adds to the charm - because why have one ancient marvel when you can have two?

Croatia’s tallest cliff, rising 161 metres above the Adriatic in the Telašćica Nature Park on Dugi Otok, is roughly half the height of the Eiffel Tower - and arguably just as jaw-dropping. The protected area spans 70 square kilometres of dramatic contrasts: gentle beaches, stark karst cliffs, hidden coves, and some of the Adriatic’s most pristine waters. At its crown sits Grpašćak, the cliff that steals every visitor’s breath before the scenery does. Telašćica also hides a quirky bonus: Lake Mir, a warm, extra-salty lake that can reach 33°C in summer, perfect for swimmers who think the sea is too chilly. Altogether, it’s one of Croatia’s most spectacular natural stages - no Parisian ironwork required.

Zagreb has its own seasonal shape-shifter: Sopot, a nine-metre waterfall on Medvednica that changes its appearance with the weather and quietly out-charms many larger falls. Hidden along hiking trail 4, it’s an easy two-hour walk past forests, viewpoints, and even a wooden bridge perched above a canyon - basically nature’s version of a guided tour. Sopot is at its best after rain or in winter, when snow turns it into something out of a fairy tale; in summer, it might be reduced to a polite trickle. Medvednica itself is a 12-million-year-old playground of streams, trails, caves, and forested peaks - the “green lungs” of Zagreb - making the waterfall just one highlight in a mountain full of them.

Croatia’s high-tech Rijeka Gateway terminal has opened with remote-controlled cranes, deep-water berths, and big ambitions - but its success now depends on building the modern rail network Croatia forgot to prioritize while perfecting its highways. The government is racing to upgrade tracks so the terminal can boost its rail share and compete with northern giants like Hamburg. Nearby ports such as Koper and Trieste are watching nervously, as Rijeka positions itself as a faster Adriatic entry point for Central Europe. In short: a shiny new terminal is ready to shine - if the rails ever catch up.

December may be here, but Župa Dubrovačka is shining like it’s midsummer, with golden sunlight and bright blue Adriatic waters. Temperatures are climbing to a mild 17°C, giving locals an unexpectedly warm start to winter. The forecast promises more sunshine and calm weather throughout the week, keeping the Dubrovnik region in a gentle December mood. For residents, it’s the perfect excuse for a seaside stroll or a coffee in the sun - a small seasonal gift from the Adriatic.

Ryanair is adding yet another sunny escape to its roster, launching a Gdańsk-Dubrovnik route for summer 2026-because apparently Poles need even more ways to flee bad weather. The new flight is part of the airline’s expansion at Gdańsk Airport, where it’s parking a sixth aircraft and rolling out four fresh holiday routes, as if choosing a destination wasn’t hard enough already. Starting June 4, travellers can hop to Dubrovnik twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, just in time for peak-season crowds and overpriced gelato. In short, Dubrovnik’s status as a European holiday magnet isn’t fading anytime soon, and Ryanair is more than happy to cash in on it.

Dubrovnik brought a slice of the Adriatic to London, hosting a Christmas-themed tourism showcase aboard a Thames cruise for top UK media and travel insiders. With Croatian wine, music, and polished speeches, officials reminded Britain - gently but persistently - why Dubrovnik remains one of its favourite holiday obsessions. The message was clear: the city is no longer just a summer postcard, but a year-round, sustainable destination with record-breaking airport traffic to prove it. In short, Dubrovnik didn’t just float down the Thames - it made sure Britain keeps sailing back to Croatia.

Tucked away in Zadar’s hinterland, the canyon of the Bijela River has quietly earned the nickname “the Croatian Grand Canyon” - despite being far smaller and far less crowded than its American namesake. This seasonal river carves dramatic white-water lines through red and orange karst cliffs, vanishing almost entirely in summer before roaring back to life with waterfalls and rapids in wetter months. Largely ignored by mass tourism, the area remains a protected haven of caves, cliffs and biodiversity, complete with abandoned mills and sweeping viewpoints. Proof, once again, that Croatia’s most impressive sights don’t always come with souvenir stalls or Instagram queues.

Dubrovnik got a glossy dose of Christmas cheer this weekend as Coca-Cola’s famously red holiday truck rolled into the Pile-Brsalje area. For two evenings, crowds gathered for music, artificial snow, interactive games and the timeless ritual of taking photos with Santa - because no season is complete without a branded sleigh on wheels. Families turned out in force, cameras ready, proving nostalgia still works best when it’s brightly lit and very red. It was another festive highlight for December in Dubrovnik, and a reminder that Christmas, like Coca-Cola, arrives right on schedule every year.

Zadar Cruise Port has once again sailed to the top, winning Europe’s Best Cruise Terminal 2025 at the World Cruise Awards in Bahrain. Operated by Global Ports Holding, the Croatian terminal repeated its earlier success and even made the global shortlist - a rare double nod in a competitive industry. The award highlights Zadar’s growing reputation for smooth operations and passenger-friendly design. In short, the Adriatic port is proving that small terminals can make a big impression - and keep doing it.

Croatia may be small, but it clearly thinks big - especially when it comes to wine. Tucked away in the eastern town of Erdut is the world’s largest wine barrel still in use, a 75,000-litre oak giant that you can literally walk into. Built from Slavonian oak in 1989, the barrel quietly ages Graševina while consuming about 750 litres a year itself, because even barrels apparently enjoy a drink. It’s a fitting reminder that while tourists chase the coast, Croatia’s wine country has been calmly breaking records inland.

Move over Dubrovnik-Rijeka is quietly stealing the Adriatic spotlight for 2026. Skyscanner reports a 75% surge in interest for the Croatian port city, praising it as a calmer, culture-rich alternative to the usual tourist magnets. With cobalt-blue waters, island-hopping access, and a creative streak strong enough to earn it a European Capital of Culture title, Rijeka ticks all the boxes. Add a shiny new sleeper train from Warsaw, and suddenly “under the radar” feels very last year.

Taxi users in Croatia are scratching their heads after Bolt introduced an option to request a Croatian-speaking driver-often at a higher price. For short trips, choosing a driver who speaks the local language can cost €3-5 more, though mysteriously the surcharge sometimes vanishes on longer routes like trips to the airport. Social media users have reacted with disbelief, questioning why speaking Croatian in Croatia has become a premium feature. Bolt hasn’t explained the logic yet, leaving riders to wonder when basic communication turned into a luxury upgrade.

Dubrovnik is planning an expressway to its airport, a move designed to make summer travel faster and less nerve-shredding-assuming it survives public debate first. Local authorities insist residents will have the final say on the route, even as a new law quietly promises to speed things up once everyone finally agrees. Officials from Croatian Roads are already clarifying details in areas like Konavle and Župa, where parts of the route are nearly settled. In Dubrovnik, the message is clear: progress is coming, but only after everyone has thoroughly discussed where, exactly, the road should go.

Speculation is back on the runway as American Airlines is once again being linked to a potential direct route between Chicago and Dubrovnik. Industry chatter suggests flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport are being discussed, as Dubrovnik Airport continues its very public quest to collect nonstop US connections like souvenirs. For now, United Airlines remains the only carrier flying seasonally between Dubrovnik and New York, but clearly that exclusivity makes others curious. Nothing is official yet-but in aviation, even rumors tend to circle until someone finally lands the plane.

Zagreb is betting that fairy lights and mulled wine can do what beaches can’t, as Zagreb pushes its Christmas market to compete with Europe’s festive heavyweights. Branded as Zagreb Advent, the city-wide spectacle has already been named Europe’s best market three years in a row by European Best Destinations, helping boost December tourism and inject roughly €100m into the local economy. For Croatia, where tourism still leans heavily on summer sun and sea, Christmas has become a strategic off-season revenue stream - complete with ice rinks, sausages and competitive national pride. Zagreb may not match Cologne or Vienna on scale just yet, but it’s clearly decided that if you can’t beat Europe’s oldest markets, you can at least out-decorate them

The Adriatic Highway, better known as the Jadranska magistrala, keeps landing on lists of the world’s most beautiful roads - largely because it turns every traffic jam into a postcard. Stretching over 1,000 kilometres along the Adriatic coast, it winds past cliffs, islands, and cities like Dubrovnik, offering views that almost make you forget you’ve been stuck behind a bus for an hour. Built through rock, wind, and sharp bends, the road quite literally carved modern tourism into Croatia’s coastline. It’s narrow, windy, occasionally terrifying - and still proof that sometimes the scenic route really is the point.

A newly reconstructed access road to Mount Srđ and Fort Imperial officially opens on December 24, just in time to make holiday sightseeing slightly less stressful. The nearly three-kilometre upgrade eases pressure on the old one-lane Bosanka-Srđ road, which will now politely serve as a one-way return route. Widened, reinforced, and fully asphalted, the road promises safer access to one of Dubrovnik’s most popular viewpoints - because breathtaking views are better enjoyed without white-knuckle driving. The €331,000 project, carried out by Atis Dubrovnik, proves that even small roads can get a full VIP makeover.

Christmas Eve in Dubrovnik arrived right on cue with kolenda carol singing outside City Hall, proving that some traditions don’t need updates or Wi-Fi. Folk ensemble Linđo, the Libertas Choir and the city band were joined by locals - around 8,000 of them, according to Mayor Mato Franković - because Dubrovnik does festive gatherings at full scale. The mayor toasted the crowd and spoke warmly about compassion and solidarity, just in case anyone forgot what Christmas is supposed to be about. In short, music, community and holiday spirit once again filled the old city - exactly as expected, and very much the point.

In Dubrovnik, famed for medieval walls and its starring role in Game of Thrones, one of the world’s largest abandoned hotels quietly crumbles on a cliff. The Belvedere Hote was a luxury showpiece when it opened in 1985 - champagne, celebrities, and Adriatic views included - but war damage shut it down just six years later. Once priced for elites and later bought by oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, the revival never quite happened. Today, ivy, graffiti and cats have replaced cocktail parties, proving that even five-star dreams can end up as very scenic ruins.