If you've got a serious sweet tooth - just keep beeing you because Croatia's got all of your honey hunger covered. We're bringing you five spots to visit if you can't get enough of the golden nectar.
Buzz on over to Medovita Pčelarstvo
Medovita Pčelarstvo (Medovita beekeeping) is the best apiary for those wishing to avoid touristy crowds. Located 30 minutes by car northeast of Zagreb's centre, Medovita enjoys a very bee-friendly climate. This allows beekeepers to produce a range of honey products, including cvjetni med (flower-derived honey), med od bagrema (acacia honey), dalmatinska draca (honey from Dalmatian thorns), and med od kestena (chestnut honey). Medovita also provides visitors the option to rent out an eight-bed house or four-bed apartment dubbed Green Zelina, located in the nearby village Šulinec. In addition to local honey products, you can also purchase locally produced seasonal fruits, veggies, and eggs - just ask for recommendations once you arrive.
Make memories on Molat island
Experience everything and anything honey with the help of Malik Adventures Travel Agency. Their highly popular beekeeping day trip consists of three sessions. In the first session, you’ll tune in to a one-hour presentation on the life of bees and history of beekeeping. Complimentary tea and coffee are included - which you can sweeten with local honey. In the second session, a one-hour guided walk leads you to and through the Molat apiary, where you’ll be equipped with a full beekeeper’s suit. Finally, in the third session, you'll indulge in the honey and take home a complimentary travel pack. This unique experience is just a short boat ride away from Zadar, and costs 39 eur per person.
Zoom to Zarečje in Istria
Guido Gržetić was one of the first officially registered beekeepers in Istria and he's still beekeeping in full force today. He first started practicing beekeeping in 1967. Initially, it began as a hobby but later turned into a lifestyle. His beehive locations today range from Zarečje in Pazin County to Butoniga lake, just north of Pazin. Years of quality honey from the Gržetić family has led to a renowned reputation for all of their types of bee products - especially their honey. Acacia honey, chestnut honey, meadow honey, forest honey, propolis, beeswax, decorative candles, walnuts in honey, hazelnuts in honey, and honeycomb are just some of the products offered at the Gržetić family’s beekeeping estate in Zarečje.
Bolta to Šolta, the island of honey
Šolta, known as the island of honey, is located near coastal Split, where honey-coloured sunshine dazzles just about all year long. With Exploring Tourism, you can embark on a half-day honey tour. You'll visit a local apiary, where you’ll be able to extract honey directly from the beehive - and then, get to spin your very own jar. The tour is finished off with a traditional dinner, including fried chicken marinated in honey, and you’ll be back to the port full of ooey-gooey memories before you know it. The trip costs around 98 eur per person, which includes transfer, sightseeing of the bee farm with expert guidance, extracting honey, and a welcome drink.
Make way for the bees of Motovun
The Pilaj family is centered in the marvelous hilltop town of Motovun on the Istrian peninsula. The Pilajs heavily influence honey production all throughout the Motovun area. Sanjin Pilaj, who inherited the beekeeping custom directly from his father and indirectly from many generations more, is locally known as the beekeeping expert. At the Pilaj family's own property, you’ll be able to sample all sorts of honey, including acacia, meadow, mixed, chestnut, and honeycomb. Don't miss their specialty honey medomix (meaning 'honey mix' - med translates to 'honey'). Medomix is a unique blend of various bee products that has been produced and perfected in the region since medieval times.