A night of heavy partying could end with more than just a hangover in Croatia. Officials are debating whether tourists who require emergency medical treatment after excessive alcohol consumption should help cover the cost, after Split's ambulance service responded to more than 50 alcohol-related calls in June alone, including cases involving two minors. While emergency crews must treat everyone in danger, unpaid bills from uninsured visitors can ultimately fall on the Croatian public, adding pressure to an already stretched healthcare system. Sometimes the most expensive souvenir isn't what you buy on holiday-it's the bill for the risks you chose to take.

Croatia is taking a tougher approach to electric scooters as pedestrian safety comes under growing pressure. The coastal city of Makarska plans to ban electric scooters from pedestrian zones and sidewalks by the end of 2026, following a serious accident in which a 70-year-old woman suffered a broken arm after being struck on a pavement. Officials are also considering wider use of surveillance cameras to enforce the new rules, as accident statistics show 1,650 people have been injured and six killed in e-scooter crashes across Croatia since 2022. In one of Croatia's busiest tourist destinations, protecting pedestrians is becoming just as important as keeping visitors moving.

Swimming without chlorine is no longer just an eco-friendly idea but a reality in Croatia. The country has opened its first public biological swimming pool in the town of Čazma, where water is naturally purified by aquatic plants and microorganisms instead of chemicals, making it part of a broader push toward sustainable tourism. The 1,665-square-metre complex includes family-friendly facilities, while the surrounding Bio Park Čazma offers nature trails and educational attractions designed to showcase the region's biodiversity. As more European destinations embrace greener tourism, Croatia is betting that the future of summer swimming may look a lot more like nature itself.

Aviation history has landed in Croatia with a one-of-a-kind aircraft. Croatia Airlines has taken delivery of the world's first Airbus A220 painted in the official Star Alliance livery, marking the arrival of its tenth A220 and another milestone in the airline's fleet renewal program. Named Velika Gorica, the aircraft will operate routes across Europe, while four more A220s are expected by the end of 2026 and the final jet will join the fleet in 2027. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint signals a much bigger transformation.

One careless spark could be enough to ignite a disaster as Croatia faces extreme heat and prolonged drought. Fire officials are urging residents and tourists to avoid open flames, burning garden waste and anything that could trigger a wildfire, warning that even discarded cigarette butts or glass bottles can set dry vegetation ablaze. Fire crews remain on high alert across the country, but authorities stress that preventing wildfires depends as much on public caution as on emergency response. In weather like this, the safest fire is the one that never starts.

Sometimes the best part of a trip lasts less than 20 minutes. The ferry crossing from Orebić to Korčula has become one of Croatia's most scenic short journeys, treating passengers to panoramic views of the Pelješac Peninsula, the turquoise Adriatic and the medieval skyline of Korčula before they step ashore just minutes from the island's historic Old Town. Popular with drivers, cyclists and walkers alike, the affordable route is as much an attraction as it is a connection between two destinations. Every now and then, the journey steals the spotlight from the destination.

A tiny 20-square-metre shop in Zagreb has turned one sweet idea into a big success. Founded by 25-year-old entrepreneur Marija Petrović, Keks Point built its reputation by selling just one product-freshly baked American-style cookies-offering 10 varieties every day instead of a full dessert menu. After starting as a student baking at home, she refined the recipes with less sugar to better suit Croatian tastes, while the Bueno cookie has become the clear bestseller, especially with children from nearby schools. Sometimes doing one thing exceptionally well is the best recipe for success.

That "private beach" sign in Croatia may not mean what you think it does. Croatian law says almost all beaches are public, meaning anyone can swim, sunbathe or lay down a towel-even in front of hotels, campsites or private villas-although businesses can charge for services such as sunbeds and umbrellas. Authorities note there are only a handful of exceptions under older concessions, while access routes may still cross private land, so visitors should use public paths or arrive from the sea. Sometimes the best spot on the beach belongs to everyone.

A walk down Dubrovnik's famous Stradun could soon feel like stepping onto a movie set. For the 2027 New Year celebrations, the UNESCO-listed main street will be transformed into a giant open-air photo zone, replacing the usual holiday stalls and café seating with dramatic lighting designed to showcase the city's historic architecture. City officials say the revamped Winter Festival will also feature a major international music star, with talks nearing completion, although the concert will take place before New Year's Eve after previous experience showed that a December 31 headline show did little to boost tourism. Sometimes the best way to make a city unforgettable is to let its streets become the main attraction.

Croatia is marking one of its most important national holidays with ceremonies, tributes and public events across the country. Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day commemorates Operation Storm, the 1995 military offensive that restored control over large areas of Croatian territory, with the central ceremony taking place in Knin, where the Croatian flag was famously raised above the fortress. As the country honors veterans and those who lost their lives during the war, most shops and businesses are closed for the public holiday. Sometimes a single day is about celebrating the future while remembering the price it took to reach it.

Tourism is bringing thousands of jobs back as one of Croatia's most popular coastal regions sees hiring surge again. Dubrovnik-Neretva County added nearly 2,700 jobs over the past year, with total employment reaching 36,241 by the end of March 2026 as hotels, restaurants, transport companies and other tourism businesses prepared for the busy summer season. Officials say the figures show the local labor market has largely recovered from the pandemic, with employment approaching the strong levels seen before COVID-19 disrupted the industry. Sometimes the clearest sign of a great holiday season is how many people are hired before the first tourists arrive.

In a world of disposable fashion, one Croatian family is keeping old shoes - and an old craft - alive. Zagreb’s Lepen Design has spent more than 40 years making and restoring footwear, with customers sometimes returning with pairs crafted by the family 20 or even 30 years ago. The workshop still uses a Singer sewing machine from 1924 and now specializes in giving treasured shoes and bags another life. Some things, it turns out, are simply made to outlast trends.

More than 200,000 veterans, military personnel, police officers and related beneficiaries could see their pensions change under a major reform proposed in Croatia. The plan would remove the remaining 8–20% pension cuts introduced in 2002, giving around 34,000 recipients an average increase of roughly €70 a month, while also linking veterans’ pensions more closely to the length and type of their wartime service. The package is expected to cost €88.5 million a year and would affect about 201,000 beneficiaries, with additional support planned for carers of veterans with the most severe disabilities. If approved after public consultation, the changes will take effect in January 2027 - closing the book on pension cuts imposed nearly a quarter of a century ago.

Croatia’s workforce has crossed the 1.8 million mark, setting another milestone for the country’s labor market. More than 1.802 million people were registered as insured workers at the end of July, up 14,021 from a year earlier and over 115,000 compared with 2023. Retail and manufacturing remain the biggest employers, while construction and tourism are also keeping large numbers of people at work. Three years of steady gains suggest this is more than a seasonal summer boost - Croatia’s job market has quietly grown much bigger.

A small rural town once barely known beyond the region now draws young visitors from around 80 countries. The 2026 Mladifest in Medjugorje, held from August 1–6, combined prayer, music, personal testimonies and pilgrimages to the surrounding hills, including the roughly 200-metre climb to Apparition Hill - made particularly demanding this year by temperatures above 39°C. Since reports of Marian apparitions began in 1981, Medjugorje has grown into a global pilgrimage destination, supporting restaurants, accommodation and a thriving religious-tourism economy just a few hours from Croatia’s Adriatic coast. Faith may be personal, but the transformation of this once-quiet village is impossible to miss.

Zagreb has something many European capitals struggle to offer: nature is never far away. Croatia’s capital is one of the EU’s greener cities, with historic parks, lakes and forests woven into everyday urban life - from the 316-hectare Maksimir Park and the city-centre Green Horseshoe to the recreational lakes of Jarun and Bundek. Just north of the city, the forested Medvednica mountain offers hiking trails and cooler air, while green spaces across Zagreb help reduce the intense summer heat. Here, escaping the noise of the capital can take just a few minutes.

Croatia is giving food lovers another reason to head inland from the Adriatic coast this August. The town of Drniš will host its ninth International Prosciutto Festival on August 28–29, bringing together producers and visitors for tastings, competitions, local delicacies and live music centred on the region’s famous Drniš pršut. The delicacy carries EU protected geographical status and premium versions take at least 15 months to mature, making it as much a product of patience as tradition. For two days, one of Croatia’s best-known regional foods gets to be the main attraction - and this is one festival where arriving hungry is probably the right strategy.

Getting from the city to one of Velika Gorica’s favourite lakes just became safer - and easier on two wheels. A new 900-metre walking and cycling path now connects the city with Lake Čiče, running to its popular beach and featuring 33 streetlights, with benches and waste bins also planned along the route. The project adds to more than 60 kilometres of existing cycle paths and forms part of a broader plan to eventually connect surrounding communities and several lakes into a larger recreational network. For residents, the “Turopolje Sea” is now a little closer without needing a car.

Landing without a convenient way to pay could be one less travel headache in Dubrovnik, where visitors can now pick up a free physical Revolut card before even leaving the airport. A card machine installed directly in the baggage-claim area at Ruđer Bošković Airport allows arriving passengers to get a card while waiting for their luggage, ready to use for everyday spending during their stay in Croatia. The option could be particularly handy for international tourists heading to Dubrovnik, Cavtat and other destinations along the country’s southern coast. Between finding your suitcase and figuring out the airport transfer, at least one arrival-day chore can now take care of itself.

Buying a home in Dubrovnik could become a little easier for some young residents, with the city raising its housing grants by 50% to €45,000. The new “30 x 45” programme will offer 30 non-repayable grants to eligible young people and families who want to buy, build or expand a home, up from €30,000 under the previous scheme. Applications opened on August 14 and will run until the €1.35 million budget is exhausted or December 1, while more than 70 young families have already received support through the city’s wider housing programmes. In a city where property prices can make staying feel impossible, an extra €15,000 may be enough to make the numbers look a little less daunting.