Zagreb -- the delight of Croatia

Zagreb offers both beautiful nature, good dining, and excellent clubbing.

Quick Tips:

Zagreb can be visited all year round. Every season has different sights and I haven't yet decided which I prefer . . . but if you're single, you'll enjoy the girls on the streets of Zagreb during the summer for sure.

Exchange currency to euros and, if at all possible, pay with that through your stay -- you'll get a MUCH better rate than at the official exchanges.

Best Way To Get Around:

Streetcars run often and cover most areas of the city that tourists could possibly visit. I'm sure they supposedly cost money, but I have yet to find out how and where to pay, so I ride for free!

It’s a pizzeria, maybe a bit seedy and definitely well-worn with a big Italian dude throwing dough, right? WRONG! Tomislav's is the essence of elegant dining in a casual, yet very romantic and very classic setting. No Mediterranean clichés like checkered tablecloths, candles stuck in old wine bottles, or any such gimmicks. Private booths for two, four, or eight people with soft lighting, cushioned seats, and marble inlayed tables give the first hint that something more than "just a pizza" is about to served for you.

When the food arrives, you are not disappointed in any way -- this is the pizza the Italians never learned to make! The crust is made to perfection, with toppings in abundance, yet not overpowering; it’s almost a shame to eat with your fingers in such settings. Maybe that's why silverware (no, ACTUAL silverware) is provided and the curtain can be drawn.

I took my girlfriend there the second time I went and we had the most romantic dinner we'd had in ages -- and although the prices are a bit outside standard pizzeria prices, not only the setting, but also the quality of the food more than makes this a must-go dining experience for anyone who has just the SLIGHTEST inclination towards pizza.

BP Club is a small club, easily missed but of outstanding quality, located right off Zagreb's main square.

It distinguishes itself by being Croatia's ONLY true jazz club, and true to the concept of such, it's a little smokey, seems maybe a bit worn, but with a warm, cozy atmosphere, friendly waiters, and amazingly high quality in its performers. The owner himself is a renowned jazz artist and because of his background, he's able to get big names to play on a small stage. For jazz-lovers, this is probably as close as you'll ever get to internationally reknowned jazz stars and a visit an ABSOLUTE must; it's also good for people who simply like to enjoy a cold beer in a friendly, relaxed setting.

Although BP Club is not on the main list of clubbing experiences in Zagreb, I have on multiple occasions enjoyed its atmosphere far more than any of the so-called in-spots around town, of which there are plenty.

Bottom line: If you're going to Zagreb, you owe it to yourself to stop in at the BP Club, have a beer, listen to the music, and strike up a conversation with the friendly waiters.

Zagreb is situated in a "bowl" surrounded by mountains. If you find yourself there, make sure you take time to go for a walk in these mountains, as the nature is absolutely, positively STUNNING, especially during the summer (June/July/August), but also during the fall, when the many colors make the mountainside look like a canvas for Monet or even during the winter, when the mountainside is covered in its blanket of snow, absorbing the sound of your walking.

Although there are no hiking trails per say, the many small back roads leading into the mountains are well connected and maps are readily available to help you plan your walk, whether you're going for the extreme or the leisurely walk.

Make sure to take note of what appears on the maps as forest paths, as these will lead you to unsurpassed beauty in sudden, open meadows with swaying grass or carpets of flowers. And although may of them will take you there and only there, it's well worth the extra little walk to get to see these. In other words, feel free to wander because then you'll see the most beautiful nature the Zagreb mountains have to offer and it is surely something to behold.