WHY IT RATES: The Croatian capital of Zagreb is making itself known with higher rates of tourists and ample attractions. - Lacey Pfalz, Associate Writer, TravelPulse
Croatia's capital registered an increase of 257 percent in tourist overnights in December 2021 compared to December 2020 - 161,100 tourists visited the city last December. There's optimism this upward trend could continue throughout 2022. In January 42,456 guest arrivals were recorded, which is 174 percent more than in the same period last year, and there were 106,093 overnights, which is a 133 percent increase.
Zagreb's recent high growth rates in arrivals and guest nights validates its emergence as notable European destination with strong tourism offerings full of rich culture, history, gastronomy and events. An easy access by air and road from many European cities makes Zagreb a great weekend getaway. Last year Croatia's introduction of a 1-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 at the same time, cosmopolitan and alternative, a mix 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 Theatre - the home of ballet, opera, and drama, and Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall are must-see. Last December, Hollywood actor and director, John Malkovich visited Zagreb and gave an outstanding performance at Lisinski Hall in The Music Critic, a combination of theatre, music and comedy.
Zagreb claims the highest number of museums per capita, some of which are highly unusual like the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Museum of Illusions, the Museum of Torture, and the Museum of Hangover. Two of them gained massive popularity and expanded worldwide - the Museum of Broken Relationships in Los Angeles, and the Museum of Illusions with locations in more than 30 cities around the globe - New York, Chicago, London, Dubai, Istanbul, Doha, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Tel Aviv, Shanghai, just to name a few.
Accessorizing in style is another Zagreb specialty - handbags, neckties, hats and umbrellas. A recent New York Times article explored this less known fun fact about Croatia's capital, "Zagreb, the capital, dresses to impress." - Kristin Vukovic, In Dapper Croatia, Accessorizing in Style.
This year's event calendar is especially interesting due the pent-up demand for live events. March to June features a packed cultural calendar, with The Festival of Lights, ZagrebDox - International Documentary Film Festival, Animafest - World Festival of Animated Film, The Dance Week Festival, Strossmartre: Summer on Stross, INMusic Festival, and many more.
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