Category: Travel

Categories
Events

Advent in Tunnel Grič, the magical Nutcracker world!

Advent in Tunnel Grič Zagreb

The Advent in Zagreb started again this year by lighting the first Advent candle on a large wreath around Mandusevac. This year, visitors will be able to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in as many as 16 locations. One of the most visited attractions every year during the Advent is the Grič Tunnel.

A forest of snow-capped pine trees

The exhibition is set in the large central part of the tunnel that you will reach by passing below a series of curtains. This main part of the tunnel is filled with a multitude of snowy pine trees that together make up the forest. Giant Nutcrackers were nestled between them. The magical idyll is completed by hundreds of colorful toys that covered the ceiling of the tunnel.

The Christmas fairy tale in the Grič Tunnel will surely delight the kids like the most magical place of this Advent. Exactly the theme of this exhibition is to bring back every visitor to the most beautiful time of life – childhood. In fact, at the time we were waiting for Christmas to find gifts under the Christmas tree.

Advent in Tunnel Grič – More info

During this exhibition, the tunnel Grič can only be entered from one side. The whole walk will take one way starting from Mesnicka Street and exit to Radic Street. Admission is free and the tunnel is open daily from 9 am to 10 pm. Although you can walk through this tunnel for a maximum of 5 to 10 minutes of easy walking, with these beautiful decorations we are sure that your tour will take longer.

The Grič Tunnel opened to the public in mid-2016. In the same year, the first Advent exhibition was also opened. Seeing all those beautiful pictures and experiencing the Christmas atmosphere all over the city we can’t help but agree that the Christmas fair in Zagreb is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Find out more about the best locations here.

Discover the most beautiful and interesting sights around Zagreb with Zagreb Travel Guide Experiences. Find, compare, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, excursions, things to do, and fun activities.

Find out more information about Advent in Tunnel Grič on:

Categories
Food & Drink

Borgo Knedla Bar, the best dumplings you can find in Split!

Borgo Knedla bar is a place that certainly enriched the Split‘s gourmet offer. Dumplings (Croatian: Knedla) are a real association for Croats to their grandmother’s kitchen. They bring us back to the familiar scents and flavours of childhood. In general, plum dumplings are one of the most famous traditional desserts. If you don’t have a grandmother who will prepare these sweets, then visit the newly opened Borgo Knedla Bar.

Table Of Contents
  1. 16 types of dumplings
  2. Cherry lamps by designer Nika Zupanc
  3. Unexpected kindness of Borgo Knedla bar
  4. The best places for desserts in Split
  5. Recommended Experiences
  6. Borgo Knedla Bar – Social Media

16 types of dumplings

You can try as many as 16 types of dumplings here. Of these, 12 are sweet, 2 salty and 2 healthy keto dumplings. My most interesting flavours were raspberry and white Belgian chocolate, blueberry and mascarpone cheese, Nutella, Ferrero, lemon and poppy dumplings and jaffa dumplings. Prices range from 10-20 kuna, depending on the type and richness of ingredients you want. The healthier KETOs dumplings are not made with potatoes and flour than the dough with cream cheese and small coconut flour. In addition to dumplings, Borgo also offers natural juices, the most special of which is the fig.

Cherry lamps by designer Nika Zupanc

My first impression was of the interior, which is really relaxing, airy, and very bright colours. I particularly liked the two things in the interior. The first is Cherry lamps by Slovenian designer Nika Zupanc, which the owners placed in the show-window (find out more about her design products here). The other thing is the artificial windows, as well as the iron construction of the wall behind the bar, made by Nikša Baković.

Unexpected kindness of Borgo Knedla bar

The staff was friendly and served great coffee with delicious dumplings. 75 reviews have already rated the service very well, with an average rating of 4.8 on Google. Certainly, I would recommend you to visit this place if you are in Split because it is something different that you probably can’t find anywhere outside Croatia!

The best places for desserts in Split

Discover the most beautiful and interesting sights around Split with Split Travel Guide Experiences. Find, compare, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, excursions, things to do, and fun activities.

Borgo Knedla Bar – Social Media

Find out more information about Borgo Knedla Bar on:

Categories
Food & Drink

What are the best restaurants in Split, Croatia?

List of best restaurants in Split

If you don’t know where to go, on this page you will find a list of the best restaurants in Split with the most important tips. The offer of most restaurants is based on the delicious Mediterranean cuisine that creates a rich flavor and aroma. So let’s start!

Table Of Contents
  1. List of best restaurants in Split
  2. Bokeria kitchen & wine bar
  3. Konoba Matoni
  4. Konoba Fetivi
  5. Zinfandel Food & Wine bar
  6. Bakra – Steak & Pizza Bar
  7. Pizzeria Bokamorra
  8. Artičok
  9. Gooshter Beach Club
  10. Recommended Experiences

Bokeria kitchen & wine bar

An absolute Gem. Hidden in the narrow streets of Diocletian’s Palace, is located one of the best restaurants in Split, Bokeria Kitchen & Wine Bar. Non-traditional dishes combining the best local flavors. Actually, the menu is quite small but everything they offer is amazing – fish food, meat, vegetables. I highly recommend going there for local wine tasting. The restaurant is not cheap but for a reason, the service was the best we have ever experienced.

As an architect, the thing that caught the eye was a very nice interior where every detail was carefully planned. The restaurant could easily be in NY or Milano without any adaptation. This restaurant is first on the list of the best restaurants in Split for a reason. Read more

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5; Price range: $$ – $$$

Konoba Matoni

Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Split. Do you like amazing fresh and local food? The dishes are unique, creative and made from truly fine products. Definitely one of the best places if you are looking for the Mediterranean and Croatian food. One of the specialties of the house is dry-aged beef. Also, the wine selection is enormous and complete with some wonderful wines. Location? Old city cellar with loads of history gives great ambiance. Even more, the restaurant is popular among the local people. Finally, I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a fine dining experience.

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5; Price range: $$ – $$$

Konoba Fetivi

Oh, where do I start? The restaurant is awarded Michelin’s Bib Gourmand for good quality food at a good value. Situated in a small road yard from the old town center of Split, the place has specialized in local, traditional cuisine. The portions are huge, even by Croatian standards. The seafood is captured daily from the sea so it is guaranteed to be the freshest every day. I recommend the Octopus stew and black risotto. They also make their own white wine, it’s magical and goes perfectly with seafood. The prices are unbelievably low for such wonderful cuisine. I would definitely recommend this restaurant but make a reservation ahead of time.

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5; Price range: $$ – $$$

Zinfandel Food & Wine bar

In Diocletian’s Palace in Split there are so many places to choose from, but this must be one of the best. Very cozy interior with great live music performed by a very talented young lady and a guitarist. Food is delicious, imaginative, well cooked, and beautifully presented.  There are a lot of reasons to love this restaurant but one of the biggest is a huge wine list. They have a really huge offer of Croatian wines. Finally, we would recommend Zinfandel for a good meal for a normal price! The restaurant is perfect for couples.

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5; Price range: $$ – $$$

Bakra – Steak & Pizza Bar

Looking for a tasty steak or glorious pizza? Head to Bakra and enjoy the perfect atmosphere with a mix of locals & tourists. The restaurant is a little bit hidden in the tiny street close to Old Town. Open-air seats are limited, but inside is a very pleasant place. The interior is newly decorated in the style of the old tavern. Above all, I recommended this place to everyone looking for burgers, steak, or pizzas. The price is acceptable given the location (actually it’s better than hitting a tourist place in the Old Town). The only negative is that the restaurant is very loud, so if you are looking for a quiet meal, this is not the spot for you.

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5; Price range: $$ – $$$

Pizzeria Bokamorra

If you want to compare the pizza offer in Split, we are definitely in the best place in the city.  The menus arrive in a box with a drinks list. The main offer consists of pizzas and cocktails. The pizza menu is short but just enough choice to make you stare at the menu wondering how to decide!  Cocktails are made by experienced mixologists who learned their craft in various big cities around the world. The prices are a little bit higher, but, this is value for money.

The ambiance, style, and feel of the place are great and unique. The interior has a modern design with a large, sloping wall looking out. I would point out a large oven dressed in a golden mosaic. Read more

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5; Price range: $$ – $$$

Artičok

It’s located just away from the main promenade called Riva in a nice quiet area. The place is ideal for a romantic meal. Above all, it’s a small, busy, and classically decorated restaurant with an open kitchen. I loved the fact that you could add charity meals to your bill, for people living in the street. About food – each dish was beautifully presented and carefully explained. The offer mainly consists of delicious Croatian/Mediterranean food freshly made. Therefore, evenings can be busy even out of high season.

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5; Price range: $$ – $$$

Gooshter Beach Club

If you want to give up the right hedonism this is a great place for you. Gooshter Beach Club is an ideal place to enjoy on the beach, with music in the background and a very comfortable sitting in the shade. This bar is also proud of a very attractive offer of food based on specialties from the Far East and South America. From the drink offer, I would point out a great selection of cocktails. Also, the price is reasonable considering the location as it is located near the 5-star hotel.

In general, Gooshter Beach Club is designed to enjoy life and we are sure you will have the wish to stay here all day. On the list of the best restaurants in Split, Gooster Beach Club has the lowest rating on Tripadvisor. Read more

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.0; Price range: $$ – $$$

That’s my list of the best restaurants in Split. So, what is yours?

Discover the most beautiful and interesting sights around Split with Split Travel Guide Experiences. Find, compare, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, excursions, things to do, and fun activities.

Categories
Travel

Two days trip from Split to Dubrovnik during the winter season

After successfully passing exams at the faculty, I had a lot of time for planning a vacation. Since February was above average warm we decided to stay in Croatia. The decision was to visit our nicest pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik. I have heard many times that people say that during the wintertime Croatia has nothing to offer but I never agreed. Actually, I think this is the only time you can enjoy Dubrovnik. Do you know the reason? The city is almost without tourists. Also, temperatures around 20 degrees during the day are perfect for exploring the city. Two days trip from Split to Dubrovnik is one of my favorite trips.

Table Of Contents
  1. Travelling
  2. Accommodations overlooking the Dubrovnik walls
  3. Climbing to Fort Lovrijenac
  4. Walk down the street Stradun
  5. Walk on the Dubrovnik walls
  6. The view from hill Srđ is delightful
  7. Conclusion of two days trip from Split to Dubrovnik

Travelling

My starting point is Split. The easiest way to reach Dubrovnik is definitely the bus. The ride takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes during which you will have to pass through Bosnia and Herzegovina (prepare passports/ID cards). Fortunately, the construction of the Peljesac Bridge will soon be completed, connecting that part of Croatia with the rest. During the bus ride, we went through some other worthwhile visits such as Omiš or Ston. Airline travel is not recommended because it is too expensive and time-almost the same.

Accommodations overlooking the Dubrovnik walls

It was February. The beginning of the season is still far away, so getting the accommodation was a very easy task. Specifically, we found an apartment near the Dubrovnik walls, in the very centre. The biggest advantage is that prices are at least twice less than in July or August.

Climbing to Fort Lovrijenac

Our first attraction. Fort Lawrence has become one of the most popular gathering places for fans of the series Game of Thrones in the last few years. I stopped watching after the second season so I was more interested in the history of this place. When the residents of Dubrovnik heard that they might be attacked by powerful Venice, they came up with the idea of building a 12-meter thick wall on a cliff high 37 meters high. They thought they would successfully create the illusion that it is the fortress that defends the city. After they successfully escape the invasion, they completed the fortress. The entrance costs 100 kunas and the price includes a tour of the Dubrovnik walls.

Walk down the street Stradun

During the summer season, it is difficult to find any local residents in the crowd of tourists, but at this time of year is a completely different situation. Many of the people of Dubrovnik after the Sunday Mass in the church of St Blaise’s Church (Crkva sv. Vlaha) filled cafes in the city center. The feeling is amazing when you’re surrounded by local people in the center of the city such as Dubrovnik.

Also, people are increasingly complaining about a big increase in the number of apartments over the last 10 years. But also to a growing number of ATMs in the old city center (currently there are 37 of the latest data from June 2019). The reason is that Stradun was never just an ordinary street. It’s a city mirror. My opinion is that today Stradun Street is missing authentic Croatian products as it once had.

Walk on the Dubrovnik walls

About 1.3 million visitors visited the city walls in Dubrovnik in 2018. It really is a huge number considering the size of this city. Of course, since we were in Dubrovnik during the wintertime, we were rare visitors that day. Only 10 people we met on a tour that lasted over two hours. In principle, anyone who comes to Dubrovnik usually visits the Dubrovnik Walls. However, did you hear about Split Walls? The city is full of tourists, but literally, no one knows that the walls of Diocletian’s Palace can be visited at all. Read my impressions on my first visit to them here.

The view from hill Srđ is delightful

The place that offers the most beautiful view of the city. If you are visiting hill Srđ, I recommend you to arrive at the sunset because the place provides one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Conclusion of two days trip from Split to Dubrovnik

It was a great experience to visit the famous city walls of Dubrovnik and look around the old city. Can’t wait to go back and don’t forget – visit this city outside of the tourist season. Highly recommended!!!

Categories
Museums & Galleries

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, see you in 2021

The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. Although I’m not particularly interested in museums while exploring a foreign city, I’m glad we decided to visit this museum. Excellent exhibits ranging from Rembrandt, Dali, Van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky, and various fascinating sculptures are the reasons to spend a few hours in this magnificent museum. The museum is located in Museumpark. You can find a list of all the museums at the end of the article.

Table Of Contents
  1. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Collection
  2. Collection by Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans
  3. The museum is closed due to renovations

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Collection

The museum has a very varied collection of medieval to contemporary art. While most people stay in the areas of modern art, I enjoyed the area of their very good collection of early Italian and Dutch painters. The most famous artists who are exhibited at the permanent exhibition of the museum are Rembrandt, Claude Monet, Salvador Dali, Edvard Munch, René Magritte, Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky, and many others. You can find the entire collection on the official site of the museum (link).

Collection by Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans

If you are an art lover or just a curious person who likes to explore new things, I recommend this place to you. On the ground floor, there is a very nice modern cafe with a good view of the surrounding garden. Also, the museum store contains a large number of beautiful products inspired by the current collection and Rotterdam. Most of the collection is part of a private collection by Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans. Later this collection was added to the private collection by Daniël George van Beuningen. Today’s museum name is named by them.

The museum is closed due to renovations

From 27 May 2019, the museum is closed due to renovations. It is expected that the entire renovation lasts as long as seven years. However, by 2021, a new building next to the museum will be completed. In this new futuristic warehouse building, many works will be shown (see the building photos below). It should store and exhibit a museum collection of as many as 151,000 artworks. During the entire period of the renovation of the building, the museum collections will be exhibited at other museums in Rotterdam. The exhibitions will have the unique name ‘Boijmans Next Door’. Also, some of the collections will be presented abroad.

In the Museumpark there are some museums worth visiting:

Categories
Travel

Wikkelboat, an original place to spend a night in the heart of Rotterdam

You still can’t decide where to spend the night in Rotterdam? If you want to experience Rotterdam in a special way then the Wikkelboat tiny houses are the best for you. They are located in the most beautiful marina in Rotterdam, The Red Apple Marina. Surrounded by skyscrapers, it is the only marina in the city centre and is just a couple of hundred meters away from the most important attractions in the city such as Markthall, Cube Houses, Old Harbor, Witte Huis, Erasmus Bridge etc. A great number of excellent reviews on Airbnb (link) tell us that this is really an original place worth a visit.

The houses are extremely multifunctional and very well equipped.

In addition, you can spend the night in them, they are ideal for some smaller meetings. The area of the Wikkelboat house is approximately 30 square meters and consists of 2 bedrooms and a small bathroom and a kitchen in the space between them. On both sides, there is a small terrace. Also, there is a small BBQ grill and an inflatable boat for 2 persons. Of course, there are a number of other services that are available at an extra cost. I will mention only some of them: jacuzzi on the outside terrace, the possibility of renting an electric boat and rental of the Stark Drive E-bicycle. Find the full list at the following link.

The Wikkelboat house is a viable tiny house based on a wrapped cardboard

The material used for the construction of this house is wrapped cardboard. Because of that, the house is well insulated and also low weight. In general, Wikkelen is a Dutch word for wrapping. The underside is made of aluminium with air conditioning and drainage. The house is not a problem to move to another location, but it’s not available to guests.

Categories
Attractions

De Rotterdam, one of the most iconic buildings in the city

De Rotterdam is an impressive new building at Wilhelminapier on the south bank of the Maas River. The building was designed by world-famous architect Rem Koolhaas and attracted a lot of attention from the international press. The building became an icon of the city, and even more, confirmed the thesis of Rotterdam as the city of architecture. Otherwise, the inspiration for the building’s name was one of Holland America Line’s ships transporting emigrants from Rotterdam to New York (more information about the Hotel New York at the following link).

Table Of Contents
  1. About building
  2. De Rotterdam Tour
  3. Rotterdam = Manhattan on the Mass
  4. Most iconic buildings in the city
  5. Recommended Experiences

About building

The building is designed as a vertical city. It consists of 3 interconnected towers with offices, apartments, hotels, conference halls, shops, restaurants, and cafes. The largest area is in office space and housing. With a total of 44 floors and even an area of 160,000 m², it is the largest building in the Netherlands. The entire building was built in just 4 years. The construction started in 2009 and was completed in 2013. The building was designed in 1998, which means that it took over 10 years to the start of construction.

De Rotterdam Tour

You can visit the building via De Rotterdam Tour. Tour takes about 1 hour. The guide will tell you all about building, architecture and building use. Also, you will climb to the 31st floor from where you have a 360-degree view of the city. Find more information on the official website here.

Also, there is a possibility of free visits to the roof terrace of the hotel Nhow. The hotel bar offers a brilliant ambiance to enjoy a drink with your friends while enjoying the Rotterdam skyline. Find out more here.

Rotterdam = Manhattan on the Mass

Considering that the building is located near the Erasmus Bridge, Montevideo, and the New York hotel, surroundings make it the perfect place to take nice photos. My favorite view was when you cross the Erasmus bridge. Definitely, Rotterdam is a paradise for people who love architecture and this building is just a small part of what this city offers.

Most iconic buildings in the city

Take a day to explore architecture in Rotterdam. In the last few decades, many new city icons have been designed. The Markthal, De Rotterdam, and Kunsthal were designed by Rem Koolhaas, one of the most accomplished Dutch architects of all time.  Do you know why we have a lot of masterpieces of architecture in Rotterdam? Let’s go back to the time of World War II. A total of 150 bombs of 50 kilograms and 158 bombs of 250 kilos were dropped in the center of the city. Approximately 2.6 kilometers square was almost leveled and more than 900 civilians were killed by the bombs.

I hope you enjoyed reading the article “De Rotterdam, one of the most iconic buildings in the city″. Discover the most beautiful and interesting sights around Rotterdam with Rotterdam Travel Guide. Find, compare, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, excursions, things to do, and fun activities.

Find out more information about De Rotterdam on:

Categories
Food & Drink

Broeinest Café, look inside the material library and a meeting place

During my internship in Rotterdam, I walked every day near this place. After a few months, the boss has convened a meeting about the company’s future at this cafe. Since we were all architects, this place was delighted for us. The Broeinest Café is a material library and a meeting place for architects and designers. This place offers much more, because here except that you can drink coffee, you can have breakfast, lunch, attend workshops or lectures. The founders of this coffee bar idea with the materials are Baars & Bloemhoff company.

Personally, I had a feeling like I had come to a coworking space. The reason is that there are closed working rooms for one person (they are also available to all visitors). The cafe also has a consultation room, sitting area as in the living room, and many different desks. The specificity of this place is that there is also a workshop with a manual tool. Although the Broeinest Café looks almost perfect for architects and designers, it is great to visit for anyone who is looking for new ideas and creative things.

Broeinest Café has over 2500 different decorative materials

Here you will find over 2500 different decorative materials. It is also very interesting that all the materials can be borrowed, as in a traditional library. Baars & Bloemhoff managed to collect this huge collection thanks to many partners. These are some of them:

This is just part of the company I found on the Internet. I believe that the list has increased to this day. But I’m sure the number of Broeinest Cafés has increased. The first was opened in Eindhoven, then in Rotterdam and recently opened in Amsterdam. Also, it will soon open in Utrecht.

Discover the most beautiful and interesting sights around Rotterdam with Rotterdam Travel Guide Experiences. Find, compare, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, excursions, things to do, and fun activities.

Find out more information about Broeinest Café on:

Categories
Attractions

De Brug building is raised as a giant bridge structure

The reason why I decided to come to an internship in Rotterdam is its magnificent architecture. Apart from all the famous buildings such as Markthal or Cube House, there is a lot of great architecture that you will hardly find on the Internet. De Brug building caught my eye from the first arrival in Rotterdam. The new business building of Unilever has been constructed as the structure of a large bridge. It is 133 meters long and literally floats 25 meters above the old Blue Band margarine factory complex.

Table Of Contents
  1. How did the building get its name?
  2. Transparency of De Brug building
  3. Cooling and heating

How did the building get its name?

It is made as a steel construction in combination with a concrete slab floorboard. Considering that the building has only three vertical points 25 meters above ground level, a large steel grating on the facades was needed. For this reason, the building has the look of the old-fashioned bridge and therefore it was named. The building was designed by JHK Architects.

Transparency of De Brug building

The new business building consists of four floors measuring approx. 32×133 meters. They are completely transparent (glass and steel). The reason is to prevent the building from being dominated by the surrounding. Also, the advantage is that daylight can enter deep into the building complex. Since it is an office building, the interior spaces are maximally open and flexible. The goal is to promote communication as much as possible. This was accomplished by minimizing the use of inner partition walls.

Cooling and heating

As I mentioned earlier in the text, the façades are completely transparent with the large use of glass. A big question is how to put all these areas warm and cool. The solution was in LTV radiators that fully compensate for the cold air of windows. Thanks to this method of heating a view to the outside remain almost unlimited. Interesting is the fact that LTV radiators and ceiling cooling system using water from the river Maas.

Find out more information about De Brug building on:

Categories
Attractions

Witte Huis, the first highrise building in Europe built in 1898

Looking at this building you will feel like you’re in an American city. And not without reason! By order of Brothers Gerrit and Herman van der Schuyt, it was built in the late 19th century as a ‘big business building in the American spirit’ in Rotterdam. The Witte Huis (White House) was the first multi-story building of this type and the first European highrise building of 43 meters in Europe when it was built in 1898. It is located in the Old Port (Oude Haven) and it is absolutely a must-see because, in reality, it looks much more impressive than in the photos.

There were many problems during construction. They feared that the building would sink, so the builders made special plans. More than 1000 piles were driven into the ground to support the building’s weight. Construction materials included steel, iron, and concrete to make sure the building was stable enough. Since the Witte Huis building had an elevator, it was technologically advanced too!

The building stands out from the others because of its facade. It contains a white glazed brick with many decorations and statues of Art-Nouveau style. The building Witte Huis also survived the German bombing of Rotterdam in 1940. In 1997, the owners changed and the building was renovated. Since 2015, LED lighting has been installed in order to be beautifully illuminated at night.

The building is not open to the public and the only thing you can visit is the ground floor where Het Witte Huis coffee shop is located. Also, in front of the building in Old Port, there are several beautiful cafés where you can sit and enjoy the view on Witte Huis. Today, this building is protected as a National Monument and is on the list of UNESCO protected heritage sites.

Find out more information about Witte Huis building on:

Exit mobile version