The Passenger ⋆ Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.

May 28, 2026May 31, 2026

Botanički vrt

The botanical garden of Zagreb is one of the city’s loveliest places to slow down, and it has an especially interesting story. It was founded in 1889 by Professor Antun Heinz as part of the University of Zagreb, with construction beginning shortly afterwards and the first plantings taking place in 1892. From the start, it was meant to serve both science and the public, which is why it has long felt like a working garden as well as a peaceful city park.

May 28, 2026May 28, 2026

Tehnički Muzej

The Tehnički Muzej Nikola Tesla in Zagreb is one of the city’s most distinctive museums, combining a broad history of technology with a strong focus on science education. It was founded in 1954 and opened to the public in 1963, on a site that had once been tied to Zagreb’s tram history. The museum later adopted Nikola Tesla’s name, which suits it well, because its whole spirit is about making engineering and invention feel alive rather than distant.

May 27, 2026May 31, 2026

Zadar

Zadar is one of those Adriatic cities where the past feels woven into everyday life. Its roots go back more than 3,000 years, beginning as an ancient settlement that later grew under Roman rule, and you can still see traces of that long history in the street plan, the old walls and the remains of the Roman forum.

May 27, 2026May 31, 2026

Krka

Krka National Park combines dramatic limestone scenery, clear river water and a series of travertine waterfalls in one compact area. What makes it feel memorable is that the landscape changes from calm stretches of river to powerful cascades, with wooded paths and viewpoints that give it a far more varied character than a simple waterfall stop.

May 27, 2026May 27, 2026

Klis

Klis fortress, perched above Split in a commanding position between the mountains and the coast, has spent most of its life doing exactly what a fortress should do: watching, defending and surviving. Its roots go back to the Illyrians, and over the centuries it became a key stronghold under the Croats, then a hard-fought prize during the Ottoman advance, when it stood as one of Dalmatia’s most important defensive positions.

May 26, 2026May 26, 2026

Marjan

Often called the green lung of Split, Marjan is the forested hill that rises on the western side of the city and has long been part of Split’s identity. It was already mentioned in the 8th century, and over time it became a place where the people of Split went to walk, rest and enjoy the sea views.

May 26, 2026May 31, 2026

Diocletian’s palace

Diocletian’s palace in Split began as a vast Roman retirement residence, built for Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 3rd and start of the 4th century. He chose the site near his birthplace in Dalmatia, and the complex was designed as both a fortified palace and an imperial home, with temples, courtyards, and ceremonial spaces fitting for a ruler of his status.

May 26, 2026May 31, 2026

Plitvička jezera

Plitvice Lakes National Park feels less like a typical national park and more like a living landscape of water, limestone and forest. Its chain of terraced lakes changes colour from turquoise to deep green depending on the light, while travertine barriers constantly reshape the waterfalls and channels. The result is a place that looks almost unreal, especially when the water is clear and the surrounding woods are in full leaf.

May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Zračna luka Franjo Tuđman

Zagreb Airport, officially Franjo Tuđman Airport, is the main international gateway to Croatia and a very practical arrival point for the capital. It sits just south-east of the city in Velika Gorica, and in recent years it has handled well over four million passengers annually, which makes it both the largest and busiest airport in the country.

May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Olympia 1984

Bobsleigh track on Trebević mountain, Sarajevo

The Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo in 1984 stand out as one of the most atmospheric and, in many ways, unexpectedly charming editions of the Games. At the time, Sarajevo was part of Yugoslavia, and the event symbolised a rare moment when East and West came together in a relaxed, almost intimate setting. The city itself, surrounded by mountains and steeped in history, provided a dramatic natural backdrop that felt both authentic and unpolished compared to the more commercialised Winter Olympics that followed. There was a genuine warmth in the organisation and a sense that the Games belonged to the people rather than to global sponsors.