MATIJA HABLJAK/PIXSELL MATIJA INSTAGRAM* A walk in the park May in Zagreb means everyone is outside, the terraces are full, the streets turn into promenades and the parks become green oases, perfect for unwinding. We recommend Maksimir Park, which has it all – trails and meadows, a zoo, ponds and the must-see Vidikovac kiosk. Enjoy the newest edition of Zagreb For You, use our tips and go for – a walk in the park. LIMITED EDITION FREE COPY MAY 2019 MAY * Agram German exonym its Austrian by outside Croatia known commonly more was Zagreb Keep in touch! Download your free copy and share: on Facebook on Instagram zagreb4you.com Z on Twitter infozagreb.hr FIRST MINUTE Catch the best view of Zagreb Zagreb is hugely photoge- nic but there is one spot that downright carries the title of the best view in town. It’s a place from which poet Antun Gustav Matoš loved gazing at his city. This verdant spot is so celebrated that even the poet’s statue suggests its pur- pose – to sit and watch. So let this be your first Zagreb must- do. Find Stross, find Matoš, A GRANDE DAME GETS A CROWN see Zagreb. Zagreb’s icon of style, elegance and glamor. With Short history those words, Hotel Esplanade was presented the of the Esplanade 2019 award for best historic hotel in Europe. WORD 1925 hotel opening Impressive architecture, a luxurious interior and 1940 Gestapo headquarters modern facilities have marked the hotel since its 1945 public kitchen Cvijet opening in 1925. This hotspot for travelers on the 1967 first casino Orient Express train has hosted the biggest celebs 1986 first bistro (Ts-vee-yet) of each era, from Lindbergh, Louis Armstrong and 1991 macrobiotic menu flower, Blume, flor, fleur, fiore Elizabeth Taylor to Beckham, Ronaldo and U2. The 1996 website Esplanade is a living piece of 20th-century history 2004 hotel renovation – with every 21st-century luxury. Bookings and 2009 terrace skating rink info @esplanade.hr 2012 first female head chef 花, 꽃, 花儿 ZAGREB WHAT SUPERHEROES MONOVIEW WHERE The perfect WHEN city run STAY IN THE CENTER, What is Run Croatia TRAVEL IN TIME and what projects Zagreb Time Machine are you doing in & street program is back THE ONLY CROATIAN around Zagreb? on. During the weekends, WITH TWO OSCARS has been unani- Run Croatia is an mingle in the Upper mously declared an honorary citizen of international project Town, Dolac market, Zagreb. Branko Lustig’s movie-like life focused mainly on Tkalča street or Maksimir began in Osijek, where he was born in promoting Croatia Park to catch various 1932. As a boy, under number A3317, he and its tourism glob- reenactments of lifestyle survived both Auschwitz and Ber- ally, along with sports in the olden times. gen-Belsen concentration camps and Iva Hafner, and a healthy lifestyle. lost most of his family. In Zagreb, he got Catch the city legends in cofounder of the It draws running a Master’s degree in acting and became innovative Run period dress, the Cravat a producer with Jadran Film. In the late Croatia brand enthusiasts, health Regiment performing 1980s he moved to Hollywood and over (www.runcroatia.hr) clinics, education the change of the guards the next 20 years produced movies like institutions, hotels and the uplifting sounds Schindler’s List (his first Oscar), Gladiator and, more recently, employers as well. of the Strauss ensemble. (his second Oscar), Black Hawk Down, The people behind the Run Croatia name Find the full program at Hannibal, American Gangster… He has are Sven Veronek, and brother-sister duo @infozagreb.hr/zagreb- served as president of Zagreb’s annual Berislav Sokač and Iva Hafner, who back in Festival of Tolerance since 2008, and time-machine. 2015 turned the promotion of being active, gives lectures at universities in Croatia and abroad. running and living a healthy lifestyle into WAKE UP AND the Run Croatia brand. SMELL THE ROSES Could you reveal your favorite spots for Fans of flowers should running? not miss FloraArt, the For a longer session I enjoy Maksimir Park, international garden especially early in the morning as the expo (May 13–19) at city wakes up. I usually see early-bird Bundek park and lake. gardeners from Zrinjevac on the way. I The 54th edition features love smelling the freshly mowed grass. an eclectic selection of ANJA MUTIĆ For shorter sessions I usually do circles potted flowers, decora- writes for BBC Travel, the Washington around Ribnjak Park, which I love in tive greens and seedlings Post and the New York Times. springtime when the magnolias are but there is also horti- Follow her at @everthenomad blooming with a view of the cathedral. culture artwork by local Zagreb in May is perfect for.... and international florists Walking down Dubravka’s Trail to Cmrok, on display. Enjoy Bundek Peace birds chirping above, and back for coffee itself, a 300,000 m2 of at Palainovka. As the days get warmer, landscaped parkland. out this May you can sit outside even longer and enjoy @floraart.hr ay makes me want to move. fresh sardines and gemišt MWith April showers gone (white wine and sparkling BEER AND LIVE and whiffs of summer in the air, WE LOVE water mix) at Amfora on MUSIC COMBO it makes me power-walk, run, do SPREADING Dolac. Weekend hikes up For the third year in a yoga in the parks, go forest bath- to Sljeme for bean stew row, Zagreb Beerfest ing through the woods… These THE WORD and strudel. Sunday family (May 16–19, Dr Franjo days, Zagreb makes all that easy. ABOUT lunches at the Islamic Tuđman park) is ready to Every Sunday afternoon this Center’s restaurant within delight an even bigger May (from 3–7pm), Proljeće u ZAGREB'S the Zagreb mosque with crowd of fans. The lineup Maksimiru (Spring in Maksimir) RUN-FRIENDLY a view of sports grounds. lists top Croatian bands puts on a free public get-together Ping pong and fun at Art (Urban&4, Psihomodo on the 4th and 5th lake, with SPOTS Park beneath Stross. pPop, Detour), the tap yoga, meditation, breathing, gong Where in Zagreb do you flows with 180 beers, baths and more. A perfect way to go to unwind and be barbecues are hot and throw in a spot of self-care into inspired? sizzling and the entry is your weekend. I usually relax while walk- free. Need more? Oh yes, n the last Sunday of every ing my puppy, Zulu, or running through Morcheeba is playing, too. Omonth, the Mystic Tribe Zagreb’s countless green zones. I also @zagrebbeerfest.com gathering brings people together regularly practice yoga and meditation, get on the Sava River under the Thai massages and go for coffee at Booksa HIT THE STREETS, Hendrix Bridge, with sound baths or craft beer on the Strossmayer Prome- CATCH THE FUN (gong and Tibetan bowls), acro nade with a view of the Lower Town. Croatia’s oldest street yoga, aerial silks, a picnic and festival, Cest is d’Best is drumming sessions around the back on for its 23rd edi- bonfire. ZAGREB 2.0 tion (May 29–June 2). As There are weekly 5 Rhythms usual, expect countless dance gatherings (check out the Get your Zagreb facts international perform- schedule and locations at Ples ers to loosen you up and Ritmova – Dance of the Rhythms here is no shortage of Zagreb-themed make you laugh. Catch on FB), regular Movement Medi- Tblogs and videos. But to really spark them on and around the cine sessions (look up Movement your imagination, dig into the official Flower Square, Zrinje- Medicine s Tamarom on FB) and Zagreb Vlog. Alongside Zagreb Shortcuts, vac or Stross, follow the other on-offs. there’s a brand-new series called Zagreb roving piano or check n this fast-changing global Trivia. Created and presented by the quiz into the emergency mood Iclimate, Zagreb too has turned champion Morana Zibar, this show teaches repair station – the festi- toward more alternative ways of you all the useful and quirky facts you ever val’s signature acts. More living, taking care of ourselves wanted to know about Zagreb. The tallest at #cestisdbest and being together. Change starts building, the shortest street? All there, at from within – and it spreads out. lovezagreb.hr. OFFBEAT TOURS IN AND AROUND TOWN here are many different ways of seeing a new city, some more Tunusual than others. While you can always hop on a sightseeing bus in order to check off the highlights, we’ve got you covered with a variety of more offbeat tours you can take in Zagreb. Invisible Zagreb Into the Woods QUIZG This free city tour led by Head off the beaten path and into the former and current homeless woods with Iva Silla of Secret Zagreb. 1 The University of Zagreb is people shows you Zagreb Explore the gorgeously verdant Medv- one of Europe’s through a different lens. ednica mountain that overlooks Zagreb oldest. When was Learn about life on the streets from the north. This walking tour along a it founded? through storytelling by Mile forest trail takes in peaceful pilgrimage a 1669 Mrvalj, a former art gallery spots from the baroque era and aban- b 1699 owner and one of the most doned WWII bunkers, and wraps up with c 1719 active members of Croatia’s lunch at a traditional mountain hut. homeless community. The www.secret-zagreb.com/into-the-woods-1 2 The Zagreb tour takes in several points funicular’s 66-meter track around the main train station.