Walking around Zagreb and not visiting Maksimir would be a real shame. Namely, Maksimir is one of the largest and most beautiful parks in the city. The park is a favourite place for walks, sports and simply enjoying the beautiful nature in the heart of the city. A special place in the park itself is its zoo. One of the three zoos in Croatia is the largest and I dare say the most beautiful one. It's not just my subjective thinking, it's also proven by the number of visitors. A

Many Zagreb citizens come to Samobor with an idea to stroll around the city historical centre and sit on the main square to enjoy Samobor kremšnita (a custard slice). By Croatian standards, and certainly by local opinion, to leave Samobor without tasting its prime product, is such a grave sin, it might be better never to return. Indeed, this favourite dessert is a symbol of the city. A nice light custard cream between puff pastry sheets is what people queue for. Every bakery

In the hilly outskirts of Samobor, a ten-minute-drive away from the main square, at the very end of a creek called Rude, surrounded by heavily forested peaks in the north and lush meadows in the south, lies the home of the Nikl family, along with a pastry shop and a bakery. There, the Nikl family has been producing pastry since 1978. Truth be told, it was Nikl senior, who upon his return from Germany, having gained a vast knowledge from some of the best German Bäckermeisters,

They say that tradition is forged in time. In the case of this visit, one could say that the tradition of making good wine and mellow liqueurs is cast out in a family name that has been known for over two centuries for its mastery. My photographer, Jordi, and I are dropped off by the bus from our tour of the Rude valley straight onto Samobor´s main square. At the very first corner on the western side, my photographer warns me about a sign hanging over an ancient wooden portal

Our Samobor restaurant venue takes us ten minutes by foot westwards of the main square. It´s a tavern styled locale, actually from the outside reminding pretty much of an English pub. But once we walk in, it gives away a very spacious, cooled hall with seating for about fifty people, with an adjunct shadowy, enclosed backyard, where another twenty people can be seated. The serious waitress takes us just there and immediately asks for our aperitifs. I´m as always in the mood f

Historically free merchant city from the medieval times, Samobor is city of great heritage. everywhere there are monuments, ruins, documents evoking the memories of unprecedented continuity. History speaks about origins and culture, and the best way might be the dining table. Ingredients so specific to Samobor are truly the brands of this lovely city. Hand-written cookbooks are kept through generations, and passed on to the owners of inns and restaurants. Soups were always pa

Samobor is not only the town, but its hilly surroundings, with many inns, homesteads and mountain huts, goals of many gastronomy pilgrims. This is famous and old mountaineering destination. The first organised mountaineering expedition in Croatia took place in Samobor mountains in 1875. Already three years after that Croatian Mountaineering Association started to make first hiking paths in this beautiful green region. On top of hills viewing platforms were built, and Samobor

A picturesque town of Samobor is top weekend getaway for inhabitants of the Croatian capital Zagreb for more than a hundred years. Arrival in this town gives you an answer why. Beneath the stronghold of Old Town, a medieval free town of Samobor, spreads a merchant and guild city, famous and important for the cultural and national life of Croatian people, but also others. Equally attractive in any time of the year, it still preserves a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. Samobor