Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas - The editor and big chief of The Dubrovnik Times. Born in the UK he has been living and working in Dubrovnik since 1998, yes he is one of the rare “old hands.” A unique insight into both British and Croatian life and culture, Mark is often known as just “Englez” or Englishman. He is a traveller, a current affairs freak and a huge AFC Wimbledon fan.
Email: mark.thomas@dubrovnik-times.com
The Most Read Articles of Last Week in Dubrovnik
From billionaire honeymoons to football legends, soaring aerial shots to festival returns, last week’s top stories in Dubrovnik captured a vibrant mix of glamour, culture, and celebrity. Here’s a quick recap of the most clicked, shared, and talked-about articles on The Dubrovnik Times.
1. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Honeymoon on the Dubrovnik Riviera
The world’s richest honeymoon? Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media personality Lauren Sánchez dropped anchor off the Dubrovnik Riviera aboard their $500 million superyacht Koru. The couple’s Adriatic escape turned heads not just for the size of their vessel—but for choosing Croatia’s coast for their romantic getaway. The article sailed straight to the top of the week’s most-read list.
2. Ivan Goran Kovačić Choir Returns to Dubrovnik Festival
Back by popular demand! The acclaimed Ivan Goran Kovačić Choir returned to the Dubrovnik Summer Festival with a powerful performance at the Rector’s Palace. The story resonated with culture lovers and locals alike, marking a celebration of tradition, harmony, and the enduring spirit of Dubrovnik’s most prestigious festival.
3. "It Looked Too Perfect to Be Real": Reader Captures Stunning Aerial Views Flying Into Dubrovnik
One reader’s phone photo became internet gold. A breathtaking snapshot taken while descending into Dubrovnik captured the city bathed in light, prompting readers around the globe to gasp: “Is this even real?” The viral image sparked thousands of views and shares, and made us all fall in love with Dubrovnik from the sky.
4. Luka Modrić Signs for AC Milan After Leaving Real Madrid
Croatian football icon Luka Modrić made headlines as he officially signed with AC Milan, ending a glittering 13-season run at Real Madrid. Fans across the country celebrated his next chapter in Italian football, while tributes poured in for his legacy at the Santiago Bernabéu. One era ends, another begins.
5. Cruise Ship Visits to Croatia Rise in Early 2025
Croatia’s cruise industry is riding a wave of recovery, with early 2025 seeing a marked increase in ship arrivals. The article revealed that both Dubrovnik and other coastal hotspots are seeing stronger-than-expected numbers—a positive sign for the tourism season ahead.
Stay Tuned
With the summer in full swing, and stars and sports legends landing in Croatia almost daily, don’t miss next week’s roundup. Who knows what headlines are just around the corner?
Nicole Kidman just made Croatia her summer stage!
The Oscar-winning Hollywood star was spotted holidaying on the Croatian coast, joined by her sister Antonia Kidman and niece Lucia Hawley. It was Lucia who gave the game away, posting stunning snaps to Instagram from Dubrovnik’s iconic Jesuit Steps, the Old City, and the island of Lopud, one of the Elaphiti gems.
“Scenes from Dubrovnik,” she wrote alongside a carousel of envy-inducing holiday pics, showing the trio soaking up the Adriatic vibes, posing like pros amid centuries-old stonework and turquoise seas.
One shot even shows Nicole herself, glowing as always, enjoying the laid-back Croatian glamour that's seduced A-listers for years—from Cristiano Ronaldo to David Beckham.
The family also visited Hvar, another celebrity hotspot known for its luxury yachts, sun-drenched beaches, and wild summer nights.
A reader sent us these early morning snaps from Kupari beach, and let’s just say... someone found the ultimate budget accommodation.
Two hammocks, a couple of makeshift pillows, and the soothing sound of Adriatic waves — who needs a hotel when you can sleep under the stars for free?
The couple were spotted snoozing peacefully beneath straw parasols, turning the once-luxurious setting of Kupari into their own beachfront suite. With a view like that and zero room service fees, it’s easy to see the appeal.
Locals say it’s not the first time the beach has doubled as a bedroom, especially as summer nights get warmer and accommodation prices soar.
Whether it's romance, rebellion, or just a love for the great outdoors — Kupari just became the latest hotspot for “five-star” hammock holidays.
Croatia’s love affair with Spain is flying high—with a massive 21% jump in passenger numbers between the two countries in the first five months of 2025!
From January to May, a whopping 141,304 passengers jetted between Croatia and sunny Spain—an increase of nearly 25,000 travellers compared to last year. And leading the charge? No surprise—it’s Ryanair, the no-frills king of the skies.
Thanks to Ryanair’s aggressive expansion out of Zagreb, Spaniards and Croats alike are skipping the stopovers and heading straight to the beach. The budget airline now serves five Spanish hotspots from the Croatian capital: Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Girona, Malaga, and Lanzarote, joining the already popular Madrid route.
Ryanair’s planes are flying packed. Load factors have soared above 90% on almost every route—topping out at 93.4% to Malaga. The only "slow" performer? Girona, with a still-solid 80.3%.
Meanwhile, Zagreb is leading the Spanish charge, with flights to seven destinations. Not to be outdone, Split and Dubrovnik are keeping steady with routes to Madrid and Barcelona.
But wait—there’s more!
National carrier Croatia Airlines is finally joining the fiesta, having just launched three weekly flights to Madrid for the summer. They've also added charter services to Girona, offering sun-seekers even more ways to escape.
And Spanish flag-carrier Iberia is doubling down too—extending its Madrid–Zagreb seasonal service right through to November.
At the 18th Dubrovnik Forum, Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković met with a high-profile US Congressional delegation led by Republican Congressman Michael Turner and Democrat Chrissy Houlahan. The message? Croatia and the US are closer than ever.
Jandroković praised the “excellent and strategic partnership” between the two nations, pointing to major wins like Croatia’s inclusion in the US Visa Waiver and Global Entry programs, the Strategic Dialogue, and a pending tax treaty to avoid double taxation.
“Croatia remains committed to strengthening its alliance with the US—especially in defence, energy, and trade,” said Jandroković, noting both countries’ active cooperation within NATO. He confirmed Croatia will ramp up defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 and stressed the importance of future collaboration in cybersecurity and hybrid threat resilience.
On the economic front, Jandroković called the US Croatia’s most important non-EU partner and urged the US Senate to ratify the double taxation agreement. He highlighted joint potential in defence, high-tech, pharmaceuticals, IT, and energy—especially with Croatia’s expanding LNG terminal on Krk island poised to become a key entry point for US liquefied natural gas in the region.
The pair also discussed regional stability in the Western Balkans, continued support for Ukraine, and the tense situation in the Middle East. Jandroković warned that some actors, both within and outside the Balkans, benefit from ongoing instability.
To cement relations further, Jandroković invited US lawmakers to next year’s Three Seas Initiative Parliamentary Summit, set to take place in Croatia.
Also present were Croatian Parliament Vice President Željko Reiner and Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Andro Krstulović Opara.
Croatia’s red-hot property market is finally cooling off—and it looks like foreigners are leading the exodus.
After years of snapping up seaside apartments and quaint countryside villas, overseas buyers are now giving Croatian real estate the cold shoulder. New figures show interest is dropping fast—and experts are sounding the alarm.
It’s not just a blip. According to the Croatian National Tourist Board, even tourist numbers are down—and many of those would-be sunseekers usually double as house-hunters. Now, they’re just not turning up.
Estate agents are feeling the pinch too, reporting a sharp drop in demand from international clients. The trend varies depending on location, but the overall picture is clear: foreigners are pulling out.
And the Tax Administration agrees. Their data shows that foreign interest has been sliding for two years straight—and the first half of 2024 offers no sign of recovery.
THE GLORY DAYS
Back in 2015, there were fewer than 5,000 foreign property purchases. Fast-forward to the post-pandemic boom, and 2022 saw a record-smashing 13,344 deals done by foreign buyers—nearly 10% of all real estate transactions that year.
Apartments and flats topped the wish list, with over 4,000 snapped up, followed closely by “miscellaneous” properties like warehouses, pools, and even private roads. Also on the shopping list? Building plots, houses, and the occasional forest.
But 2022 was more than just a high—it marked a turning point. Since then, the numbers have nosedived.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Experts say the initial boom was fuelled by Croatia joining Schengen and adopting the euro. But since then, prices have skyrocketed, and the world’s political and economic chaos has made buyers think twice.
In 2023, foreign purchases dipped to 12,278. And the downward slide continued into 2024, with just 11,623 foreign transactions recorded—nearly 13% less than in 2022.
Even more shocking? From January to June this year, only 4,355 properties were sold to foreigners. That’s less than half the figure from the same period last year.
A MARKET ON THE EDGE?
Estate agents are already feeling the squeeze. “Sellers who banked on foreign money are having to lower their prices or wait longer to make a sale,” says one insider.
While flashy new builds in prime locations are still shifting, older and less maintained properties are stagnating—and in some cases, prices are already dipping.
If the trend continues, the Croatian property market could be in for a major reset. Less glamorous locations might see a serious price correction, and the big question is whether local buyers can fill the gap.
Starting next Tuesday, drivers in Croatia can expect slightly lower fuel prices, which will remain in effect for the following two weeks, in line with the government’s fuel price regulation.
According to RTL, the new per-litre prices will be:
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Eurosuper 95: €1.41 (down €0.04)
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Eurodiesel: €1.36 (down €0.02)
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Blue diesel: €0.76 (down €0.01)
While the reductions are modest, they are a welcome relief, driven by the recent stabilisation of oil prices on the Mediterranean market. The new prices will apply from Tuesday, July 16, and will remain valid until July 29.
The Croatian government continues to update fuel prices every 14 days based on a formula that takes into account the average price of oil derivatives in the Mediterranean and the USD exchange rate.
The average monthly net salary paid per employee in legal entities in the City of Zagreb for April this year amounted to €1,642, representing a nominal decrease of 2.1% compared to March, but a 7.7% increase compared to April last year.
The median net salary for April stood at €1,380, meaning that half of Zagreb’s employees earned less than this amount, and half earned more.
According to data from the City Office for Economy, Environmental Sustainability, and Strategic Planning, the highest average monthly net salary in legal entities for April was paid in the crude oil and natural gas extraction sector, amounting to €3,532.
The lowest average salary was recorded in the leather and related product manufacturing sector, at €943.
Compared to the average monthly net salary in Croatia for April, which was €1,439, the average net salary in Zagreb was €203 higher.
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