A group of Indonesian journalist, including The Jakarta Post, was invited to tour several cities across Croatia, including the capital Zagreb, by Turkish Airlines and the Croatian Tourism Board. Here is the report.
The moment I arrive in the Croatian capital Zagreb, and take in my surroundings, I know's I'm gping to love this city.
Zagreb often goeas unnoticed among travelers, considered a transit city on their way to the Adriatic coastlines for which Croatia is famous for.
The city is definitely underrated. It may not be as popular as Paris or London among tourists, but that's their loss.
I was immediately charmed not just by its rich culture and history but also the capital's soul.
In many corners of Zagreb, the intoxicating cafe culture - people chatting with friends, reading or simply people gazing while lounging on open-air terraces outside cafes or restaurants - washes over me, sending out the feeling how life slowing down and letting me know it's time to relax and put life on pause.
Zagreb washorsebackown calming charm, for me, like a breath of fresh air - slightly smaller than Jakarta and it is home to much fewer people at just 800,000, compared to over 10 million back home. And it's free of traffic jams.
Keeping an open mind, with 30 hours to spend in the city. I decide not to pressure myself to religiously follow the "best thinga to do" and "10 places to see" tips I read on my way there. I just embrace the moment.
In the first few hours, I get trapped into the first-time visitors habit of doing touristy things while following our guide Damjan Beusan on walking tour.
The tour starts from the Hotel Dubrovnic, where we're staying, located just steps away from Zagreb's heart and soul - the Ban Josip Jelacic Square, one of its iconic symbols that has not only stood witness to history, but also serves as a favorite meeting place among locals and visitors alike.
As its center, a statue of the country's military hero sits proudly on horseback wielding his sword, as trams clatter around. It was easy to get lost among the crowds walking leisurely to work, to shop or to meet up with friends.
"There's no need to worry getting lost here because everything, and everyone, eventually leads back to the square," Beusan says.
I learn later in my free time that Zagreb is perfectly viewed from the 360-degree observation deck located in the square. It's cityscape, unlike most European cities, is a captivating combination of the Austro-Hungarian and socialist architectural styles.
Alon its cobbed streets, most of Zagreb's famous landmarks are within a walking distance from the square: from St. Mark's Church, which patterned tile roof depicts the Croatian and Zagreb coats of arms, to the Catedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which neo-Gothic grandeur and towering twin spires are hard to miss.
Other must-visit places nearby is the Dolac open air market where traders - under the shade of red umbrellas that lend a postcard-perfect view from afar - offer fresh produce, from fruits to vegetables, and from fish to olive oil and quick bites, earning it nickname as "the Belly of Zagreb."
"The market is not just a place where people shop, but, just like the square, it's a meeting place, where frienda meet and, after finishing shopping, have coffee in nearby cafes or restauranta," Beusan says.
Croatia is probably famous for its wine, but coffee, the fragrant dark beverage, is its lifeblood.
Rows of cafe terraces are filled with people enjoying their coffee day and night, with no popular coffee chain around. A coffee lover myself, I was in my element.
Beusan says Croats enjoy many kind of coffee, from Italian to Turkish, but for them, coffee is all about socializing, connecting with people, whether catching up with friends or closing a business deal.
Coffee, and not a bottle of wine as is customary elsewhere, is the perfect gift when visiting someone's home.
"People have coffee everywhere here, so when someone orders tea, it's so shocking that he'd be asked if he was sick," Beusan said before bursting into laughter.
After all the walking, I think I've earned myself a break. Taking a seat and gazing at the people strolling around while waiting for my coffee, I realize that of all the places I've visited, Zagreb is the city that I'd love to revisit, even linger in for longer, to explore all its nooks and crannies and beyond.
Stevie Emilia
The Jakarta Post/Zagreb
The moment I arrive in the Croatian capital Zagreb, and take in my surroundings, I know's I'm gping to love this city.
Zagreb often goeas unnoticed among travelers, considered a transit city on their way to the Adriatic coastlines for which Croatia is famous for.
The city is definitely underrated. It may not be as popular as Paris or London among tourists, but that's their loss.
I was immediately charmed not just by its rich culture and history but also the capital's soul.
In many corners of Zagreb, the intoxicating cafe culture - people chatting with friends, reading or simply people gazing while lounging on open-air terraces outside cafes or restaurants - washes over me, sending out the feeling how life slowing down and letting me know it's time to relax and put life on pause.
Zagreb washorsebackown calming charm, for me, like a breath of fresh air - slightly smaller than Jakarta and it is home to much fewer people at just 800,000, compared to over 10 million back home. And it's free of traffic jams.
Keeping an open mind, with 30 hours to spend in the city. I decide not to pressure myself to religiously follow the "best thinga to do" and "10 places to see" tips I read on my way there. I just embrace the moment.
In the first few hours, I get trapped into the first-time visitors habit of doing touristy things while following our guide Damjan Beusan on walking tour.
The tour starts from the Hotel Dubrovnic, where we're staying, located just steps away from Zagreb's heart and soul - the Ban Josip Jelacic Square, one of its iconic symbols that has not only stood witness to history, but also serves as a favorite meeting place among locals and visitors alike.
As its center, a statue of the country's military hero sits proudly on horseback wielding his sword, as trams clatter around. It was easy to get lost among the crowds walking leisurely to work, to shop or to meet up with friends.
"There's no need to worry getting lost here because everything, and everyone, eventually leads back to the square," Beusan says.
I learn later in my free time that Zagreb is perfectly viewed from the 360-degree observation deck located in the square. It's cityscape, unlike most European cities, is a captivating combination of the Austro-Hungarian and socialist architectural styles.
Alon its cobbed streets, most of Zagreb's famous landmarks are within a walking distance from the square: from St. Mark's Church, which patterned tile roof depicts the Croatian and Zagreb coats of arms, to the Catedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which neo-Gothic grandeur and towering twin spires are hard to miss.
Other must-visit places nearby is the Dolac open air market where traders - under the shade of red umbrellas that lend a postcard-perfect view from afar - offer fresh produce, from fruits to vegetables, and from fish to olive oil and quick bites, earning it nickname as "the Belly of Zagreb."
"The market is not just a place where people shop, but, just like the square, it's a meeting place, where frienda meet and, after finishing shopping, have coffee in nearby cafes or restauranta," Beusan says.
Croatia is probably famous for its wine, but coffee, the fragrant dark beverage, is its lifeblood.
Rows of cafe terraces are filled with people enjoying their coffee day and night, with no popular coffee chain around. A coffee lover myself, I was in my element.
Beusan says Croats enjoy many kind of coffee, from Italian to Turkish, but for them, coffee is all about socializing, connecting with people, whether catching up with friends or closing a business deal.
Coffee, and not a bottle of wine as is customary elsewhere, is the perfect gift when visiting someone's home.
"People have coffee everywhere here, so when someone orders tea, it's so shocking that he'd be asked if he was sick," Beusan said before bursting into laughter.
After all the walking, I think I've earned myself a break. Taking a seat and gazing at the people strolling around while waiting for my coffee, I realize that of all the places I've visited, Zagreb is the city that I'd love to revisit, even linger in for longer, to explore all its nooks and crannies and beyond.
Stevie Emilia
The Jakarta Post/Zagreb
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