Best of Croatia Workation Package: Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik

Zagreb can feel like a collection of miniature cities in a single place, where one street reveals an untold romance steeped in Europe and another tells of the Ottoman occupation. You can quickly enjoy the beauty of the city as you settle into accommodations vetted by Workation to include the luxuries and amenities you need for work and comfort.

Depending on the arrival time of your flight, you may be able to tour the city to enjoy the dichotomy of brutalist architecture transformed by colorful street art against preserved domes that dangle over the skyline. Cafe culture remains strong in the city at all times of day, where vibrant creatives meet to showcase their artistry, philosophy, and intellect with youthful energy.

Focus
Walk down the street of your accommodation and just notice the different feeling you have between your place in Zagreb and your street back home.

Suggestion
Enjoy the city by finding a food that represents the culture and history of Zagreb. Try mlinci or fuzi for the first taste of Croatia.

Create a routine that allows you to slide easily in and out of work for a better balance of productivity in work and life. After your workday, you can slip out into the city to one of the celebrated museums and gain a fantastic understanding of how art in Zagreb speaks to the past and present. 

A Jesuit monastery hosts the Klovicevi Dvori Gallery, the largest art collection in the country. The display has redefined art in the minds of locals by promoting different types of techniques and mediums, from the avant-garde to strip cartoons while the Museum of Broken Relationships attempts to showcase beauty through the objects and stories of romances long gone. 

Focus
Visit the Nikola Tesla Museum and imagine inventing tangible objects. What would it do and how would it work?

Suggestion
If you visit the Tesla Museum, do not miss the 1,000-foot replica of a coal mine positioned beneath the museum.

The Medvednica Nature Park sits at Zagreb’s doorstep and rises over the city crowned by Mount Medvednica. While the trails and summit remain a popular destination for locals on the weekends, you can visit after work to enjoy a fresh breath of nature that overlooks the buzzing city streets. 

The 800-year-old Medvedgrad castle has foundations that date back to the 13th century and stands high above the city. In the evening, the keep can host concerts with views over the lights and crossing over to the darkness of the hinterlands. 

Focus
Medvednica is a rare example of thriving nature merging with a growing cityscape. Listen for sounds of the city vs. sounds of local flora and fauna. What do you hear more of? 

Suggestion
Adopt a bat while you are at Medvednica Nature Park. It helps protect the habitat and species integral to the local ecosystem.

Zagreb is a city of style and artistry with a relationship with contemporary culture informed by the contrasting historical styles on display across the different neighborhoods. After work, you can visit Ilica Street and walk along one of the longest and most popular shopping districts in Zagreb. 

Even for those who do not like shopping, taking part in the restaurant terraces, passing by elaborate window displays, and succumbing to the particular pulse of the city is hypnotic. If second-hand stores are a preference, Dolac market is known as the place to find an abundance of record stores. 

Focus
Step outside of your norm by visiting a shop that does not fit your usual pattern. How do you feel inside the shop? Did you try something on?

Suggestion
Look for stores that feature products designed or made by Croatian designers. Toys, clothing, luggage, you may not find these products back home.

Take your time visiting Samobor after a day’s work where you can really indulge in the food. As one of the top culinary destinations in the country, visitors from all around enjoy the custard cream cake or visit the various artisans who add an extra artistic dimension to the fairytale streets of Old Town. 

Historic buildings surrounding Town Hall in the city center and cafes provide outdoor seating in the main plaza. The smell of gingerbread is prevalent along the cobblestone streets and you may catch glints and reflections of the sun off the crystal and glass window displays. 

Focus
Take a tour of Grgos Cave. Meditate on the smells and sounds around you for two minutes. 

Suggestion
If you like museums, visit the Samobor Museum for more information on the history and culture of the city set inside a charming green park. 

Take the day off to enjoy the true natural beauty of Croatia on your way to Split by visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park. The 16 lakes and countless waterfalls have become one of the most iconic images of the country. Boardwalks wind along the water to create upper and lower trails. 

You can easily listen to the soundtrack of crashing water as you travel the lower walkways or enjoy a different perspective from the upper boardwalk. Serene, majestic, and topped with a scenic boat ride to reach the Upper Lakes, there is no end to how the lakes can impress you. When you arrive in Split, you can once more settle into the vetted accommodations in the center of the city and enjoy the unparalleled ambiance that emerges from Diocletian’s Palace.

Focus
Follow the Upper Trail for a better panorama. How many waterfalls do you count in your view? 

Suggestion
Stay as long as you can walking around the upper and lower sections of the park. There are plenty of hidden viewpoints to enjoy along the way. 

With the entire day yours to enjoy, explore the variety of Split’s neighborhoods starting with Old Town, which features the preserved ancient walkways and walls of Diocletian’s Palace. The foundations date back to the 4th century AD but now mix the Temple of Jupiter with a contemporary boutique, the medieval Brace Radica Square with modern cafes. 

Inside the nave of the Cathedral of St. Domnius, you can find some of the original Roman columns holding up the structure leading to the remains of the Romanesque stone pulpit. Every corner of the city only further reveals how locals blend the past and present seamlessly.

Focus
Try vanilla ice cream topped with sour cherries in season. Do you notice a balance of flavors or does one overpower the other? Where are you eating the mixture? What is around you? 

Suggestion
Enjoy the ambiance of Old Town at night when the squares, restaurants, and cafes fill with life and find imaginative dishes in fine dining restaurants led by local chefs. 

Krka National Park is a wonder of nature where you can get further involved with the beauty of the water and the surrounding cliffs. The lake can shine a tranquil cerulean beneath the Dinara mountain range. You once again have the day to enjoy how you discover the gorgeous landscape. 

Unlike Plitvice Lakes, at Krka National Park, you can plunge into the refreshing mountain water while the falls spill over the terraces spanning nearly 1,300 feet wide. For a different view of the water, you can travel the trail to the upper falls and enjoy the incredible panoramic view. 

Focus
Take one minute to listen to the falls. Take a breath and feel the water.

Suggestion
If you have time, visit the beautiful town of Sibenik.

Marjan Forest is another fantastic example of nature on the edge of the buzzing city streets. Locals travel into the forested hills on the weekends to escape the cobblestones and orange-tiled rooftops. After a day at work, you can climb the stairs to the vantage point at Telegrin. 

Simply walking on the trails can feel like a rural retreat that reinvigorates your body and mind. The spectacular view consists of the rooftops glowing in the afternoon light, the forests framing the outlook, and a collection of islands rising out of the water along the horizon.

Focus
When looking at the view, set a timer for five minutes. Memorize your surroundings, what you see, smell, and touch. Do not look at your phone until the timer goes off.  Set the timer for 20 minutes. What do you remember from the view?

Suggestion
There are plenty of hidden corners of the greater nature park to explore. Take your time before returning to your accommodations.

Trogir is a very quick escape from Split. After work, you can visit the medieval architecture etched with intricate design along the dalmatian waterfront. Yachts anchor in the marinas and the restaurants that overlook the water fill the air with the scent of freshly grilled seafood and raw oysters. 

Cipiko Palace lines the main square across from the cathedral and features opulent details from the 15th century. You can spot the Venetian Gothic window from the plaza. The Land Gate was built by the Venetians and has become inextricably linked with the old city walls decorated with the Lion of St. Mark. 

Focus
Taste an authentic Croatian snack. Notice your surroundings. Where are you eating it? What do you hear, see, and smell? How does the snack taste and do the surroundings sensory details enhance or detract from that taste?

Suggestion
Find a selection of local pastries and food options surrounding the atmospheric Green Market.

You can travel to Dubrovnik after work and still have time to explore why the city is called the Pearl of the Adriatic. The cobblestone streets and glitzy architecture have overlooked the clear water since the 7th century framed by the city walls built in the 10th century. 

For your introduction to the city, you can walk the walls and enjoy the view over the cliffs and across the Adriatic Sea. By visiting the walls at the end of the day, you avoid any visitors who had only come for the day so you can enjoy the view practically to yourself.

Focus
Sample a traditional dish as an introduction to Dubrovnik. Taste the black risotto with squid ink sauce or a customary pasticada. Does it taste familiar or completely unique? 

Suggestion
Enjoy the view from the top of the City Walls. What landmarks can you see along the sweeping panorama? What colors do you make out? How many different colors are there? 

Disconnect from work and enjoy exploring Dubrovnik how you would like. Tour the medieval town center, walk along the foothills at the edge of the city, or make your way up to the peak of Mount Srd by cable car. 

Briefly inland from Dubrovnik, the hilltop offers another green space that allows you to enjoy a panorama that sweeps across the historic towers and walls surrounding the historic city streets. Enjoy the cooler air, the scent of evergreen trees, and serene quiet.

Focus
Visit the cafe set in a cave for a very different perspective on the food, ambiance, and beauty of the historic city.

Suggestion
The best time to visit the City Walls is in the morning when they are less crowded and quieter. You may even get some portions of the wall all to yourself.  

One of the best ways to enjoy the waters around Dubrovnik is by visiting Lokrum Island and kayaking on the sea. Whether you choose to take PTO or finish work early, you can boat to the island and first visit Fort Royal Castle where Napoleon’s troops once built the defensive walls to protect the harbor. 

No matter how many times you view Dubrovnik’s walls, seeing them from the water reminds you of how dramatic they actually are. Enjoy the cool droplets of the sea as you paddle close to the fortifications or wind through the hidden caves edging the city.

Focus
Listen to the sound the paddle makes as it touches the water. Close your eyes and listen for other sounds. What do you hear? How many sounds belong to nature vs. the city or passing boats? Memorize the sounds and try to recall them later.

Suggestion
After kayaking, spend time at Fort Lovrijenac, where the walls and towers edge the rocky cliffs near the West Harbour. It has a dramatic presence and great views.

It is your last day to enjoy Dubrovnik and depending on your flight, you could spend the time walking the Stradun once more to enjoy the cinematic quality of the historic city or visit Fort Lovrijenac to enjoy the view over the harbor. When returning home, you’ll have time to arrive before starting work on Monday.

Focus
Embrace the morning with a traditional coffee and drink it slowly. Look for the specific aromas and tastes that will help you remember the drink, where you had it, and your surroundings. What else is going on around you?

Suggestion
If you have time before your flight, visit the top of Mt Srd by cable car.