WHY IT RATES: The Croatian capital of Zagreb is making a name for itself with higher tourist rates and plenty of attractions. – Lacey Pfalz, Associate Editor, TravelPulse

The Croatian capital recorded a 257% increase in tourist overnight stays in December 2021 compared to December 2020 – 161,100 tourists visited the city last December. It is to be hoped that this upward trend could continue throughout 2022. In January, 42,456 customer arrivals were recorded, which is 174% more than the same period last year, and there are had 106,093 overnight stays, an increase of 133%.

ZagrebThe recent high growth rates in the number of arrivals and overnight stays validate its emergence as a remarkable European destination with a strong tourist offer rich in culture, history, gastronomy and events. Easy access by air and road from many European cities makes Zagreb a great weekend getaway. Last year, Croatia‘s introduction of a one-year visa for digital nomads made it a very popular destination for remote work.

Zagreb is a city of delightful contrasts. It is both young and old, cosmopolitan and alternative, a mixture of Austro-Hungarian and modern architecture. The city enjoys a rich cultural life thanks to 30 active theatres, 30 museums, a large number of galleries and festivals. The Croatian National Theater – the home of ballet, opera and theatre, and the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall are must-sees. Last December, Hollywood actor and director John Malkovich traveled to Zagreb and gave an outstanding performance at Lisinski Hall in The Music Critic, a combination of theatre, music and comedy.

Zagreb boasts the highest number of museums per capita, some of which are very unusual like the Museum of Broken Relationships, Museum of Illusions, Museum of Torture, and Museum of Hangovers. Two of them have gained massive popularity and spread around the world – the Museum of Broken Relationships in Los Angeles and the Museum of Illusions with locations in over 30 cities around the world – New York, Chicago, London, Dubai, Istanbul, Doha, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Tel-Aviv, Shanghai, to name but a few.

Accessorizing in style is another Zagreb specialty – handbags, ties, hats and umbrellas. A recent New York Times article explored this lesser-known fun fact about Croatia’s capital, “Zagreb, the capital, dresses to impress.” – Kristin Vukovic, In Dapper Croatia, Accessorize in style.

This year’s event schedule is particularly exciting due to pent-up demand for live events. From March to June, the cultural calendar is busy, with The Festival of Lights, Zagreb Dox – International Documentary Film Festival, Animafest – World Animation Film Festival, The Dance Week Festival, Strossmartre: Summer on Stross, INMusic Festival and many more others.

THE SOURCE: Zagreb Tourist Board press release.