Time Out Croatia news

This Friday, November 22, the fifth annual Interface Video Art Festival will open at Zagreb’s Atelier Žitnjak, running until December 7. In between, Art-kino Croatia in Rijeka will be co-hosting the event from December 4. All then comes together in Zagreb on December 8 with a round-up of selected clips at Dokukino KIC. Showcasing some 30 works by renowned exponents of video art from 20 countries, screenings will be free to watch, either in situ or online. The programme begins at the Atelijer Žitnjak (Žitnjak 53) with Vladislav Knežević presenting a number of his creations, followed by the group video project Topography of the Possible, featuring input from 30 domestic video artists. Pieces by the acclaimed Ivan Ramljak then screen in Rijeka in early December. The best films will then be chosen by a three-person jury, including last year’s winner, Sri Lankan artist Rajee Samarasinghe. Interface Video Art Festival, Zagreb & Rijeka, Nov 22-Dec 8.

Climbing is currently enjoying a spike in popularity – and the trend is no different in Zagreb. Croatia's capital now contains three big indoor climbing gyms, all detailed below: Boulder zona is the newest of the three, claiming to be the most modern of its kind in the city. It covers an area of 1,500 square metres and contains a variety of walls and zones covering different skill sets and difficulties. Single-day entry is €11.50. Further information can be found on the Boulder zona website. Where:Prečko Shopping Centre, 3rd floor, Slavenskoga ullica 1. When: Mon-Fri 9am-11pm, Sat noon-9pm, Sun 11am-9pm Fothia claims its status as the largest bouldering gym in the country and has been running since 2009. It provides a great mixture of difficulties as well as options for all ages. It’s also conveniently located at Zagreb Fair. Day-pass prices are attractive – outside of peak hours, entry runs to €8 and only increases to €10 at prime-time, as its website suggests.Where: Zagrebački velesajam, Pavilion 25When: Mon-Fri 9am-11pm, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 4pm-10pm Hive makes a similar assertion as Fothia, asserting that its 3,500 square metres gives it the title of the largest indoor climbing gym in Croatia. Regardless, Hive carries the day for atmosphere. In a large hangar with an arched ceiling, little gaps down the length of the gym allow for slots of natural light to flood into the space. Day passes come to €11, shoe rental €3, and opening hours are run to 11pm every night. Further in

Running until December 5, a new exhibition has just opened at the Red History Museum in the Gruž area of Dubrovnik. Titled Critical Tourism, the show brings together several renowned Croatian artists to explore the problem of unplanned tourism, and reflect on its social and aesthetic connotations. Organisers and contributors hope that their work might also shed light on the situation in similar tourist hotspots around the world. Currently Dubrovnik is grappling with the problem of overtourism in its historic Old Town, and attempting to attract visitors to easily accessible districts such as Gruž, where the acclaimed Red History Museum draws more than 20,000 people a year. While this temporary exhibition is a collaboration with the local Grey Zone Association and the Flora Gallery, the museum’s regular focus is on daily life in former Yugoslavia, using authentic exhibits in a themed and imaginative way to provide an entertaining, informative and immersive experience. Critical Tourism, Red History Museum, ulica Svetog Križa 3, 20000 Dubrovnik. Open Mon-Sat 11am-5pm. Admission €9/under-10s free.

The world’s most prestigious industry publication, the UK’s Decanter, included 16 award-winning Istrian brands among the 1,000 global varieties showcased at the inaugural Decanter Fine Wine Encounter in London’s Landmark Hotel this weekend. The world’s most acclaimed producers featured at the all-day grand tasting, with masterclasses given by the biggest names in the business. Istrian wines were also promoted thanks to a collaboration between the Istria Tourist Board and the Vinistra Association which oversees wine in the region. According to Vinistra president, Luka Rossi: “For over 30 years, we have been promoting our indigenous grape varieties, so in London, our spotlight was on Malvazija istarska, Teran and Muškat momjanski, and their unique styles. The participation of Vinistra continues our thriving collaboration with Decanter, with whom we organised the Decanter 2024 Winners’ Showcase in Croatia for the first time this June”. Istrian wines also strongly feature at Decanter’s annual awards, Motovun’s Benvenuti brothers recently picking up three of Croatia’s 16-strong gold-medal haul.

Situated on Istria’s east coast, the pretty town of Lovran is staging a spectacular light show this Saturday, November 16. Custom-created audio-visual effects and animations projected around the Old Town will bring to life Lovran’s medieval squares and historic façades. For the fifth edition of this popular annual event, in a collaboration between the Lovran Municipality, Tourist Board and the Academy of Applied Arts at the University of Rijeka, a team of artists and specialists has been working with a particular type of laser projector to provide a fully immersive experience. Svjetlarna Lovran 2024 starts at 7pm and will unfold at three main locations: Trg Sveti Juraj, the Laurus Gallery and, ideal for younger viewers, the Park of Croatian Veterans. Special guests will be the Visualia Group from Pula, the artists behind the pioneering festival of the same name in Pula. For more details, see the Facebook page for the event.

Croatia’s culture of baked goods is well-established – walking around any city in the country, you’ll find multiple chains of bakeries serving up all sorts of delicious and traditional treats. The ever-popular American bagel, however, has proven elusive, offered in only select places as an expensive delicacy. However, the newly opened Brooklyn Bagel Co in the centre of Zagreb is determined to fill that gap. After success in Split, the chain has opened a hole-in-the-wall spot in the prominent square of Europski trg. On the menu are six typs of bagel (plain, poppy-seed, sesame-seed, onion-flake, garlic-flake and the Everything variety) with five different spreads, all cream cheese-based, as is custom for this classic sandwich. The Brooklyn Bagel Co was set up by New York expats John Kent Pepper and his wife Catherine, who moved from the Big Apple to the Dalmatian coast some years ago. They noticed that everyone in Croatia had a great sense of American culture, and that all of the films and TV shows they loved set in NYC would show their characters eating a delicious bagel at some point – but that didn’t translate into much knowledge of the bagels themselves. Zagreb’s Brooklyn Bagel Co can be found at Vlaška 12/Europski trg, open Mon-Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 8.30am-1.30pm

Istrian hotel group Valamar has just presented its €139 million project to create a five-star tourist resort in Poreč, where the company is based. Due to open before the season starts in 2026, the Pical resort north of town will be the largest single investment of its kind to be initiated in Croatia. While the complex, comprising more than 500 accommodation units, eight restaurants, ten bars and an expansive spa centre, is aimed at attracting holidaying visitors, Valamar CEO Željko Kukurin was quick to point out the benefits for local residents. The general public will be able to take advantage of the walking trails, cycle paths, beach, pools and other sports facilities. A conference centre will be the largest in the region, and should encourage year-round activity here on Istria’s west coast.

Lovers of the written word are flocking to the Croatian capital this week as the Interliber book fair returns for the 46th time. Across 13,000 square metres and four pavilions of the sprawling Zagreb Fair complex, tens of thousands of books will fill the stalls of over 300 vendors from 14 countries. While most titles are in Croatian, there are still huge collections in other languages, especially English. As far as genres, fields of study and type of book are concerned, virtually everything is represented – and often at cut-rate prices. As part of Interliber’s wider programme, Hungary has been named this year’s Country in Focus, which means that a number of Hungarian writers will take part in panel discussions and book presentations – including guest of honour Péter Nádas on November 13. A gastro stand will also be set up, beckoning hungry bookworms with enticing Magyar delicacies. For more details, check the fair’s website. Where: Zagreb Fair, pavilions 5, 6, 7, 7a.When: November 12-17. Mon-Thur & Sun 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-9pm.Entry: FREE

Specialist underwater researcher Mariusz Milka has found a human bone by an ancient shipwreck off the island of Vis, a rare artefact that could be thousands of years old. Part of the team behind research team Seamagination, and previously interviewed by Time Out Croatia, Milka has spent the last five years based on Vis. Before Croatia’s tourism boom, Vis was off-limits to visitors and has no industry, so the waters around it are clear. Previously known as Issa, it was once occupied by Ancient Greeks and Romans, making it a happy hunting ground for those in search of rare finds. One dive site is around an ancient shipwreck by the islet of Krava. While this spot has long been popular, the activity of red mullet fish, leaving a hole around hard surfaces when looking for food, led Milka to his most recent find of a human bone. By chance, his underwater photographer on this dive was Filip Mikołajczak, a doctor and orthopaedic specialist, who identified it as being a human radius bone, part of the forearm. Milka’s colleague, underwater archaeologist Tea Katunarić based at the University of Split, is currently conducting the research into its origins. For Milka’s other ancient discoveries around Vis, see here.

Tickets have just gone on sale for Hideout 2025, five days and nights of top-quality beats taking place from June 22-26 across five stages at Zrće Beach on Pag island. 2025 marks the 15th edition of Hideout, Croatia’s five-day electro bash, next year to be given a fresh new look while staying true to the festival's contemporary but accessible feel. Cutting-edge production and a famously energetic crowd are a given. Names confirmed span genres from house and garage, to techno and drum & bass, as new stars, pioneering legends and global favourites all line up. Hannah Laing, Interplanetary Criminal and Girls Don't Sync feature on a roster 50-strong so far – watch this space for further announcements! Hideout 2025, tickets on sale here.