Travel writers agree that 2026 is best spent eating well, learning something new, and avoiding the obvious crowds while you’re at it. Food lovers are pointed toward Mexico City and Bangkok, where world-class dining ranges from street food to Michelin stars - no small talk required. Culture seekers are spoiled in London, with a packed calendar of major exhibitions and yet another new museum opening. For travelers craving meaning over selfies, writers highlight Vanuatu and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, while Rick Steves gently reminds everyone that the “best destination” is still the one that actually matters to you - not whatever is trending this week.

Dubrovnik’s New Year got off to a slightly delayed start, but at 8:19 a.m. on January 2 the city finally welcomed its first baby of 2026 at Opća bolnica Dubrovnik. Baby Maro, born to parents from Šipan, arrived healthy - and just in time to claim the unofficial title of “first cry of the year.” The timing also worked out nicely, as Dubrovnik-Neretva County rolled out a new €1,000 grant for every newborn starting January 1. In short, Dubrovnik rang in 2026 with a baby boy, a policy incentive, and proof that even demographics sometimes sleep in.

Beneath the busy streets of Rijeka lies a surprisingly affordable slice of World War II history: a 350-metre military tunnel you can visit for less than two euros. Dug by the Italian army between 1939 and 1942 as a bomb shelter, the former war passage - now called TunelRI - runs under the Old Town from near Cathedral of St. Vitus to a local school courtyard. Once used during air raids and later conflicts, it’s now a cool, 15-degree escape from summer heat and an unlikely venue for cultural events. Proof that even grim wartime infrastructure can reinvent itself - and become one of the city’s best-value attractions.

The Dubrovnik Winter Festival wrapped up its biggest season yet, pulling in over 100,000 visitors with 200-plus events spread across the city from November 29 to January 3. Concerts dominated the calendar, drawing massive crowds to Stradun and confirming that winter tourism works just fine when you add big names, lights, and mulled optimism. Mayor Mato Franković hailed the festival’s city-wide reach as proof Dubrovnik can stay lively even without summer heat or cruise ships. The numbers back him up: New Year arrivals jumped sharply, hotels stayed open, and social media buzz soared - suggesting winter in Dubrovnik is no longer the quiet season, just the better dressed one.

Before Zagreb ever heard the bell, Osijek was already riding trams - starting way back in 1884, when being “modern” involved horses and optimism. Osijek electrified its trams by 1926 and, unlike many Croatian cities that later abandoned theirs, never let them fade into nostalgia. Today, it remains one of the smallest cities in the world with an active tram network, quietly outlasting trends, cars, and several larger rivals. In short, while others tried trams and moved on, Croatia’s eastern city kept its rails - and its bragging rights - firmly in place.

The planned completion of the northern stretch of Corridor Vc by the end of 2026 could finally give southern Croatia - including Dubrovnik - a smoother road connection to central Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond. The route links Budapest to the Adriatic port of Ploče, promising easier weekend trips and more tourist traffic, at least on paper. The catch is the unfinished southern section near Mostar, including the long-promised Prenj tunnel, which hasn’t even started yet. Until then, Dubrovnik’s tourism boom will still rely on scenic regional roads - beautiful, slow, and very familiar to anyone who’s been stuck on them in summer.

Just outside Split, Kozjak Mountain delivers panoramic views, 80 kilometres of trails and Croatia’s longest cliff without making a fuss about it. Stretching above Kaštela Bay, its rugged southern face contrasts with gentler northern slopes, giving the mountain its “two faces.” Peaks like Veli vrh and Sveti Ivan Biranj offer sweeping coastal views - and on clear days, even a glimpse of Italy.

Zavižan is the rare spot in Croatia where snow can fall even in July, politely ignoring the concept of summer. Perched in the Northern Velebit National Park, it holds the country’s snow records and is often completely cut off in winter-scenic, serene, and stubbornly inaccessible. Home to Croatia’s snowiest meteorological station, Zavižan is known to most people from weather forecasts, where it reliably delivers bad news. For mountaineers, though, it’s paradise: coffee at the mountain lodge, dramatic peaks, and views that make the extreme climate feel like a fair trade.

Croatia’s cruise industry sailed confidently into 2026, welcoming 95 foreign cruise ships and more than 1.1 million passengers to the Adriatic Sea, proving once again that floating cities love a good coastline. Growth was steady across the board, with more ships, more sailings, and more days spent in Croatian waters-because clearly one visit is never enough. Ships flying the flag of Malta led the charge, but the real winner was Dubrovnik, which hosted a staggering 546 cruise calls. In short, Croatia remains the Adriatic’s favourite stop-crowded, lucrative, and still irresistibly photogenic.

Croatia’s property prices climbed a hefty 13.8% year-on-year in late 2025, proving once again that housing has become the country’s most competitive sport. Zagreb led the charge with a near-5% quarterly jump, while coastal prices kept rising at a calmer-but still upward-pace. Both new builds and older homes are getting pricier, thanks to limited supply, high demand, and construction costs that refuse to behave. As 2026 begins, buyers are left hoping for relief, while the market confidently heads in the opposite direction.

Croatia’s Platak ski resort offers one of Europe’s rarest winter flexes: sweeping views of the Adriatic Sea while you ski. Just 30 minutes from Rijeka, it lets visitors glide down snowy slopes in the morning and sip coffee by the sea in the afternoon-because why choose one landscape when you can have both? With roots stretching back to the 1930s, Platak mixes history, family-friendly slopes, and just enough altitude to feel alpine without feeling remote. It’s proof that in Croatia, even skiing refuses to stay landlocked.

Croatia’s largest island, Cres, is hiding seven mystical labyrinths-because crystal-clear seas and griffon vultures clearly weren’t enchanting enough. Tucked into the forested north of Tramuntana, these stone and plant labyrinths are inspired by ancient mythologies, fertility gods, and famous European designs, all promising “meditation in motion” if you’re willing to walk in thoughtful circles. Each has a symbolic backstory, from Slavic goddesses to Egyptian deities, and every path ends exactly where it begins-philosophically on point, if slightly ironic. On Cres, getting lost on purpose turns out to be the whole point.

Croatia is quietly showing off one of Europe’s most beautiful dry-stone walling systems - the mrgari of Baška on the island of Krk - and yes, they look even better from above. Built centuries ago by shepherds using nothing but stacked stone and stubborn determination, these flower-shaped sheepfolds once organised flocks of up to 2,000 sheep. Today, about fifteen still survive, scattered across windswept karst plateaus, looking more like prehistoric temples than farm infrastructure. Proof that practical rural engineering can age into high art - without ever asking for UNESCO approval.

Croatia hit a green-energy milestone in 2025, with renewables supplying more than half of its electricity for the first time - a record powered by booming wind and solar output. But despite the clean-energy glow, the country still imported about 16% of its electricity, mostly to keep up with record-high demand. Hydropower slipped due to low water levels, leaving wind and solar to steal the spotlight and officially take the lead. The takeaway: Croatia is greener than ever, just not quite independent enough to unplug from its neighbours yet.

Dubrovnik has begun yet another careful tune-up of Stradun, repairing worn sections of its famously polished stone pavement in the Old City. Crews are restoring about 36 square metres across four spots, salvaging original slabs where possible and fixing tired joints-because even centuries-old limestone needs maintenance. With all the right conservation approvals in place, the city continues its steady ritual of preserving history one stone at a time. In a town where tourists come and go, Stradun’s pavement remains the one thing that truly can’t afford to crack under pressure.

Dubrovnik is warming up for the Feast of St. Blaise with the 25th edition of Festa Dubrovnik, kicking off on January 25 with a packed mix of theatre, music, film, wine, and food. The jubilee opens with a hit comedy at the Marin Držić Theatre, followed by art exhibitions, wine tastings, documentaries, and plenty of klapa singing-because no Dubrovnik celebration is complete without it. The festival’s musical high point is a gala concert honoring legendary singer Milo Hrnić, backed by top performers and the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra. As tradition demands, culture meets charity too, with this year’s events supporting the restoration of the Church of St. Blaise-proving that in Dubrovnik, even celebration comes with a higher purpose.

Croatia has officially given its centuries-old Croatian sheepdog cultural star status, declaring the breed an intangible national asset. Little changed since the 14th century, the curly-haired herder has long been the silent workforce of Slavonia’s farms, forming famously unbreakable bonds with its owners. Breeders say the recognition protects the dog’s authenticity and heritage, not just its good looks and intelligence. After centuries of loyal service, the sheepdog has finally been promoted from hardworking farmhand to cultural icon.

Potomje may have just a couple of hundred residents, but thanks to wine, it punches far above its weight on Croatia’s Pelješac peninsula. Nearly every family here is involved in winemaking, with Plavac Mali serving less as a drink and more as a way of life passed down through generations. The village’s steep, sunbaked Dingač vineyards-and the famously narrow tunnel built to reach them-help explain why the wine is both hard-earned and highly prized. Tourism remains low-key, but visitors come for one reason only: to taste the wines that keep this tiny village very much alive.

Dubrovnik is getting ready to celebrate 1,054 years of honoring St Blaise, the patron saint the city credits with saving it-because some traditions really do age well. From January 26 to February 8, the city will blend faith, culture, and civic pride with ceremonies, concerts, exhibitions, and customs that have survived more empires than most cities can name. The spiritual peak arrives on February 2 with Candlemas celebrations and the formal opening in front of St Blaise’s Church, where religion and city politics politely share the spotlight. Recognized by UNESCO and still very much alive, the festival proves that in Dubrovnik, history isn’t just preserved-it shows up on the calendar every year.

Dubrovnik is adding two more electric buses to its public transport fleet, proving that even historic cities can think beyond stone walls and diesel fumes. Backed by EU funds, the €1.09 million investment is part of a wider push to modernize transport, cut emissions, and keep the city moving despite tourism and traffic pressures. The new buses promise long range, high capacity, and zero emissions-quietly replacing exhaust with good intentions. It’s another reminder that sustainability sounds even better when Brussels helps pay for it.