More than Words

Tourists Of Zagreb: A Balkan Road Trip

If you're planning a road trip through the countries of Balkan, Zagreb is a great place to start or finish your travels. In this month's interview, a Greek travel blogger Thaleia told us about her visit to Zagreb and if she's planning to visit it again.

Introduce yourself to us. Where are you from, and what you do?

My name is Thaleia Ioannou. I come from Greece, and I have always been a traveler. I am the owner and administrator of two Instagram accounts, the one focusing on travel (@thaleinio) and the second focusing on food (@urbanfoodjunkiegr). On my travel account, I mostly compile photos from my travels, while on my food account, I am documenting food culture around the globe.

Image credit: IG @thaleinio

How did you choose to visit Croatia and Zagreb?

I visited Croatia for the first time this summer, as part of my Balkan road trip. On this trip besides Croatia, I have also visited Montenegro, Bosnia, and Slovenia.

How long did you stay here?

I spent five days in Croatia as a whole, out of which I stayed for two days in Zagreb’s Upper Town. We stayed at a great and vibrant street full of life, restaurants, bars, and cafes. I traveled with my travel buddy.

What were your first impressions of the city? Did they change after your visit?

From the first moment I arrived in Zagreb, I was immediately positively surprised. Within a short time spent in the city, I discovered that there is so much more to do and see, which also gave me an excellent reason for coming back!

Image credit: IG @thaleinio

You travel a lot. Is Zagreb different from other cities and places you’ve already visited?

Zagreb is unique. From the Upper Town, the St. Mark’s Church and the medieval statues around the city to the local bars, restaurants, the classical music, the reasonable prices, and the vibe of the city... Zagreb is one of a kind!

Do you maybe have a favorite place/café/street out of all the places you visited in the city?

I mostly enjoyed the endless city views, the drinks, and walks around the Upper Town. Hard to forget the amazing brunch in "Eggspress," which was literally huge.

Did you explore the city by yourself or you maybe took a walking or some other kind of tour?

I’m always keen on meeting locals and/or joining free walking tours while visiting a new city. Unfortunately, this time, the time constraint did not allow me to do so. I, therefore, decided to explore the city on my own.

Is Zagreb culturally different from your homeland?

I would say that I found more similarities to my home country Greece while traveling across the coastal regions of Croatia. Starting with the cuisine that is clearly focused on vegetables and fresh seafood, moving on to the wonderful vistas over the spectacular blue of the sea and sky.

Image credit: IG @thaleinio

Did you maybe meet some locals while staying here?

Unfortunately not. Zagreb was a “quick stop” during my road trip across the Balkans. I hope the next time I visit this wonderful city, I will have the opportunity to experience and explore it more like a local.

Did you try any local food and drink specialties in Zagreb?

The first thing I do when I travel to a new city/country is to try the local food. So, I’ve tried štrukli, local beers, and čušpajz.

Are you planning to revisit Croatia and Zagreb? Would you recommend it to your friends/family as a destination to visit?

I will come back for sure! I definitely have to see and “eat” more of the local delicacies! My friends and family are already planning to visit Croatia following my recommendations!

Header image credit: D. Rostuhar, TZGZ

Author: Darija Ilić