Croatia among the 20 cleanest countries in the world

Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia

The American magazine Forbes has ranked Croatia as the 20th-cleanest country in the world, among 149 examined. Switzerland tops the list and there are 14 European countries among the top 20. The U.S., once a leader in environmental protection, has fallen to 39th place.

In the report about Croatia, Forbes says: "Croatia recognizes the value of tourism and makes clean beaches a priority. The country, which lies across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, offers visitors ample, healthy fishing stocks and freedom from water-borne disease."

Top 30 the cleanest countries in the world:

1. Switzerland
2. Norway
3. Sweden
4. Finland
5. Costa Rica
6. Austria
7. New Zealand
8. Latvia
9. Colombia
10. France
11. Iceland
12. Canada
13. Germany
14. United Kingdom
15. Slovenia
16. Lithuania
17. Slovakia
18. Portugal
19. Estonia
20. Croatia
21. Japan
22. Ecuador
23. Hungary
24. Italy
25. Albania
26. Denmark
27. Malaysia
28. Russia
29. Chile
30. Spain


Full article
Full list of the cleanest countries

Spanish Condé Nast 2009 Readers' Choice Awards - Top Islands

The town of Korcula on the island of Korcula

Reader’s choice award of the Spanish edition of Conde Nast Traveler in the category of the most beautiful islands in the world went to "islands of the Croatian Adriatic". Readers of Conde Nast Traveler voted in 15 categories including the best city hotel, best resort, best wellness-resort, the best destination, the most beautiful city, the most beautiful island, the best airline company and others.

In the strong competition of Greek islands, Corsica, Puerto Rico and Mauritius, this year in the category of the most beautiful islands in the world were awarded "the islands of the Croatian Adriatic."

Spanish edition of Conde Nat Traveler is one of publications that belong to the group Conde Nast Publications, and among them are prestigious magazines such as Vogue, Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and Brides.

NY Times in its Travel Issue praises Istria, Motovun and Croatian cuisine

Mondo Konoba may be the best little restaurant that you may never reach. It is what eating in the Old World should feel like. Just be warned that you’ll have to work for it.
….
Mondo Konoba sits on a slope just outside the large gate to the beautiful medieval village of Motovun, which is on a hilltop deep in the Croatian countryside almost an hour from the nearest train station. Visitors can drive up the narrow winding road almost to the top, though they must leave their cars and make their way along the final stretch of narrow cobbled streets with misshapen and brightly colored houses on foot. Otherwise, it’s a stunning, but tiring, half-hour trek to Motovun.
…
Among the highlights are beef carpaccio with shavings of black truffle, a rich and creamy polenta with truffles and a delicious dish of tagliatelle — in a truffle sauce, of course. Truffles are abundant there, and are dug up by hunters and their dogs (or more traditionally with pigs) fresh in the mornings.

Read the rest of the article...

Mondo Konoba
Barbacan 1
Motovun, Croatia
Tel. +00 385 (0)52 681-791

• Motovun on the map


• Motovun info and accommodation


• Motovun home page
  

Croatia - one of the favourite European countries

Guardian and Observer readers place Croatia third among Favourite European Countries. Switzerland hangs on to the top spot for the second year, while Croatia jumps from number 10 to number three:

Top five:
1. Switzerland 2. Sweden 3. Croatia 4. Austria 5. Italy

The winners were awarded on October 11 2008 in Morocco at the Guardian, Observer and guardian.co.uk. Award is based on more than 17,000 readers returned questionnaires in their annual survey, now in its 22nd year.

Read the full arcticle here and find also what are favorite UK cities, overseas cities, long-haul countries, the best airlines and more.

Hvar among The 10 best European beach parties

The Times has picked up 10 the beast European places for partying at the beaches. Among traditional hotspots such as Ibiza, Mykonos and Rimini and some colder destinations in Northern Europe, one of Croatia’s top destinations has manged to enter top 10. No surprising, it is the town of Hvar on the island of Hvar.



The Times says:

Hvar Island is the Dalmatian coast’s big party player. As its beaches are not the sandy stretches of paradise you’d traditionally associate with such affairs, the Carpe Diem waterfront bar gets all the action, and the music gets turned up rather than down at midnight.
The party: Carpe Diem is opening a new beach bar-restaurant this summer. Consisting of three separate bars, Carpe Diem Beach (www.carpe-diem-beach.com) will overlook Stipanska, a shingly beach on Palmizana, a small island about 20 minutes away by water taxi from Hvar.
Insider info: Carpe Diem Beach will be an afternoon/early-evening affair. When night falls, head back to the original Carpe Diem on the Hvar waterfront.

Read the whole article here.


Further reading:
Hvar - info and accommodation
Hvar.hr
Jelsa online
Sucuraj
Sunny Hvar

Travelling the Adriatic Highway

Cities and Landscapes of the Croatian Coast

The Adriatic highway snakes its way down the Croatian coast, linking historic towns and fine landscapes.

The Adriatic highway is a marvellous road to drive or bike, though risky - its serpentine twists and turns sometimes ornamented by skidmarks leading to a hole in the crash barrier, the sea hundreds of feet below. It’s a route of dramatic karst scenery, with clear blue water to one side, and the view of islands in the distance.

Read the article here.

Croatia's big secret

There are no beaches but the port of Poreč is well worth a visit, says John Clarke, who also comments on Croatian music and driving.

The Adriatic port, on the northernmost part of Croatia, manages a vanishing trick with the hundreds of thousands who flock there during the summer months. There’s enough out-of-town development to house several armies, but once you’re actually in Porec itself the crowds seem to melt away and you’re left with the town that one Roman historian called “the jewels of a young girl’s diadem”.

Read the article here (travel.timesonline.co.uk).

• Additional info and accommodation in Poreč
• Hotels in Porec - online booking!

Island-Hopping on the Croatian Coast

Spanish beaches too overbuilt for you? Italy and Greece too crowded? French Riviera sound too expensive? Maybe it's time to go island-hopping in Croatia.

Island hopping and some Croatian highlights from American point of view by Sheila Norman-Culp, AP

Read the article here.
This article was originally published by Associated Press in August, 2007.

Croatia, unspoiled and inexpensive

With the Euro beating up on the American Dollar like a prize fighter pummeling the United States currency into the ground, there simply isn’t a better place to visit than Croatia, and do it soon before the Kuna gets caught up to the value of the Euro. There is simply no better place to escape to for an affordable seaside holiday than the coastline and islands of Croatia. Don’t forget, it is the same Adriatic Sea that caresses the east coast of Italy and meanders down to the Greek Isles. Actually Croatia mimics Greece and its island of several decades ago.

Read the whole article here.