Oysters have been cultivated near Dubrovnik, in the seabed of Mali Ston bay, since ancient times and consumed in honour of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, said to have been born from a shell.

The clean sea, full of salt and minerals which mixes with karst sweet water springs, along with the rich seabed, over which dense plankton clusters move, has made this small bay an ideal biotope for oysters.

At a depth of approximately ten metres, clinging to the sharp edges of rocks, the oysters spend their entire short life in the brackish water feeding on plankton.
In early spring days, around the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19th), the pulpy body of this noble flat shellfish is at its most ripe. Upon opening the oyster with a sharp knife, the iodine, selenium, zinc and chrome content will simply stimulate all your senses.

The oyster meat is extraordinary nutritious because it is an excellent source of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, E, EP, and 15 g of oyster meat contains the same quantity of vitamin C as 3 g of lemon juice.

For many gastronomists,tasting raw food is a ritual of returning to the early phase of civilization, and oysters are among those rare delicacies which are most delicious raw, with a few drops of lemon juice. There are also oyster soups, oysters fried in breadcrumbs, gratinated oysters, fried or roasted in different ways.

Join me and visit the oyster beds!

1. Walk around the Upper town (Cathedral, main farm market, Stone Gates, Saint Mark square, Parliament, Lotrscak Tower…)

2. Visit Museum of the city of Zagreb (hosts chronological history of Zagreb, mostly in artifacts)

3. Walk through the Lower town (National Theatre, Botanical garden, King Tomislav square, Jelacic square, City Library…)

4. Visit Mimara museum (also known as Croatian Louvre; it is my favorite museum. It has a nice collection of historic artifacts and paintings).

5. Visit Jarun park (big park with lakes, with many cafes and restaurants)

6. Visit Bundek park (a newer park in the New Zagreb part of the city, next to the Sava river).

7. Visit astronomical observatory of Zagreb, located on the top terrace of the Popov tower on the Upper town. One of the best views in Zagreb, and you will also get to see some nice stars and planets.

8.Visit Samobor (charming little town only about 20-30 mins away from Zagreb)

9.Visit Varazdin (ex-capital of Croatia, a story in itself. A must if you’re staying in Zagreb for more than 1-2 days. Located about an hour away from Zagreb).

10.Visit Trakoscan castle (The most famous and according to many, the most beautiful castle in Croatia. You can connect this trip with the visit to Varazdin, or a visit to Ivansica mountain, which has unique villages, towns, and a dreamy natural places to visit on the mountain itself)

You can visit Zagreb all-year-round. Every season has its charm. Most travelers decide to visit in summer, but I would definitely also recommend autumn and spring. The temperature is very pleasant in April and May, and throughout September and part of October. However, there are many people that like to experience Zagreb during winter, especially when it is covered with snow. Usually the fallen snow does not last for long here, though there are exceptions (like this year).

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia. Its history dates back to 11th century when it was founded by Hungarian king Ladislav. With population of about 800 000 people, many find it an attractive place to live in. It has developed social and cultural life (many theatre plays, many museums and galleries, caffes etc.).

Many travelers consider Zagreb a very interesting place to visit, and it has more or less become an unavoidable place of interest for many backpackers, and generally many travelers that are touring Europe. There are several reasons for that: unique culture, local cuisine, favorable geographical location (next to the very central Europe), interesting architecture and a beauty of surrounding areas.

Many travelers that visit Zagreb take daytrips to various exquisite destinations, such as Plitvice lakes, Varazdin, Ljubljana etc. After Zagreb they usually head for the seashore and visit Adriatic jewels in Istria and Dalmatia regions, such as Split, Dubrovnik, Pula and Rovinj.

I’ve met and guided many international travelers and I am yet to meet one that was or seemed to be disappointed by visiting Zagreb :)