Spring is in the air—and on the plate—as Dubrovnik invites food lovers to its annual Spring Gourmet Days, a culinary celebration running from April 19 to 27, 2025. Organized by the Dubrovnik Tourist Board in partnership with local restaurateurs, this tasty tradition brings together seasonal ingredients, inspired chefs, and imaginative menus at restaurants all across the city.

As Dubrovnik begins to bloom with longer, sun-drenched days, its kitchens come alive with creativity. From the first bite of zesty shrimp ceviche to the comforting richness of pljukanci with boškarin (Istrian hand-rolled pasta with ox meat), this year’s menus are all about showcasing the vibrant flavors of the region.

Expect spring risottos, garden-fresh vegetables, and a few delicious surprises, all crafted exclusively for this year’s event. Whether you're a fan of fine dining or rustic charm, there’s something to suit every palate—and every appetite.

Where to Eat?
More than 30 restaurants are participating, including favorites like Restaurant Dubrovnik, Taj Mahal, Restaurant Kopun, Azur, Orsan, and Stara Loza. From Old City charmers to seaside bistros, each spot will be offering special gourmet menus and spring-themed dishes.

Don’t Miss Out
Whether you're a local or visiting for the first time, Spring Gourmet Days are the perfect excuse to eat your way through Dubrovnik’s culinary scene. Detailed menus, offers, and reservation information can be found in the official event brochure—so grab a fork and bring your appetite!

Dubrovnik is currently experiencing unusually stormy and wet weather for mid-April, with strong southeast winds (jugo) and intermittent rain disrupting the typical spring atmosphere. The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service has issued yellow wind warnings, noting gusts exceeding 65 km/h, which have led to localized disruptions and debris on roads.​

Today, Tuesday, April 15, temperatures are hovering around 17°C with rain and strong winds. The unsettled weather is expected to persist through Thursday, with occasional showers and continued gusty conditions. A gradual improvement is forecasted starting Friday, April 18, with mostly sunny skies anticipated by Saturday and Sunday.​

Typically, Dubrovnik enjoys average daytime temperatures of around 17°C in April, with sea temperatures averaging 15.6°C—conditions that are generally too cool for comfortable swimming. 

Tourists have expressed disappointment over the unexpected weather. Emily Carter, a visitor from the UK, shared, "We were hoping for sunny days to explore the Old City and enjoy the beaches. The wind and rain have been a surprise, but we're making the best of it by visiting museums and trying local cuisine."​

The annual Easter Charity Race in Žrnovo will take place on Monday, April 21, 2025, starting at 10:30 AM. This year’s race will cover a 5.5 km route, beginning in Žrnovo’s Postrana Center and finishing in the heart of Prvo Selo Center.

The event aims to raise funds for a good cause, with proceeds going to the Dubrovnik Red Cross in Korčula. The funds will be used to purchase battery-powered hydraulic tools to assist with emergency rescue operations in the area. Participants and supporters can contribute by purchasing an official event t-shirt for €10 on race day or by donating directly to the designated bank account: HR8224070001500025783.

The event is organized by the Žrnovo - Postrana Municipalities, the Korčula Tourist Board, and the Korčula Firefighters.

The race promises to be a fun, community-focused event, with participants and supporters alike coming together to make a difference for local emergency services.

So, whether you’re running, walking, or simply supporting the cause, come join the race and help make a positive impact in the community.

Starting from Wednesday, April 16, political parties and voters can submit their candidate lists to the relevant election commissions for the election of members of representative bodies in local elections, as well as candidacies for mayors, municipal heads, and county prefects and their deputies.

Forms for the local election nomination process, which will be held on May 18, can be downloaded from the State Election Commission (DIP) website starting from Wednesday at 00:00.

Within 48 hours after the nomination period ends, i.e., by midnight on May 1, the relevant municipal, city, and county election commissions must compile and publish all validly proposed candidate lists and candidacies and the summary lists of candidate lists and candidacies.

The official election campaign begins with the publication of the summary list and will run until midnight, May 16.

DIP advises political parties and voters to adhere to the principle of gender equality when proposing lists for representative bodies of municipalities, cities, and counties. This means that the representation of one gender on a list must not be lower than 40%.

Specifically, this means that if a list has seven candidates, three must be men or women, and if there are 47, 19 must be women or men. Lists that do not meet this requirement will not be rejected, but their proposers could face fines of 5,308.91 euros for city council and county assembly elections, and 2,654.46 euros for municipal council elections.

Voting Only in the Place of Residence, EU Citizens Can Vote Too

Croatian citizens who are at least 18 years old and have residence in the unit where the representative body and executive authority are elected have the right to vote in the local elections. Unlike presidential, parliamentary, and European Parliament elections, voters in local elections can only vote in their place of residence, not in another location within Croatia or abroad.

Citizens of other EU countries also have the right to vote and be elected to local representative bodies.

If they want to vote in the local elections, they need to request registration in the voter register no later than April 17.

Citizens of other EU countries cannot vote or stand for election for local executive authorities, such as municipal mayors, city mayors, and county prefects, or their deputies.

On Sunday, May 18, local authorities will be elected in 576 units: 428 municipalities, 127 cities, 20 counties, and in the City of Zagreb, which has the status of both a city and a county.

The number of members elected to councils and assemblies depends on the population of the unit, with a minimum of seven being elected in municipalities and cities with up to 1,000 inhabitants, and a maximum of 47 in units with more than 300,000 inhabitants.

According to the eVisitor system for tourist check-ins and check-outs, around 12,000 visitors stayed in Dubrovnik this past weekend – 5 percent more than at the same time last year.

The most numerous guests came from the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany. Since the beginning of the year, Dubrovnik has recorded approximately 96,500 arrivals and 259,000 overnight stays, which is 8 percent fewer compared to the same period last year.

Luka Modrić (39) has become a co-owner of Swansea City, having purchased a minority stake in the Welsh club.

This business move does not affect his footballing intentions—Modrić still wants to remain at Real Madrid, where his contract runs until the end of the season. He is hoping for a one-year extension, although the club has not yet made any official announcements.

On Monday evening, Swansea City issued an official statement introducing Modrić as a new minority shareholder. The announcement reads:

“Swansea City is proud to announce that Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modrić has joined the club as an investor and co-owner. Modrić is the most decorated player in Real Madrid's history, with six Champions League titles, six Club World Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, and five Spanish Super Cups.

He has also won FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award and the Ballon d’Or, and played in the 2018 World Cup final with Croatia. He holds the record for most appearances for the Croatian national team and, at 39, has already made 45 appearances and scored four goals for Real Madrid this season.

His investment in Swansea reflects the club’s ambitions and vision. Modrić will play a key role in attracting global attention and supporting the club’s development, both on and off the pitch.”

Modrić stated:

“This is an exciting opportunity. Swansea has a strong identity, incredible fans, and the ambition to compete at the highest level. Having played at the top level my whole career, I believe I can bring valuable experience to the club. My goal is to contribute positively to its development and help create an exciting future.”

Swansea CEO Tom Gorringe said:

“I’m thrilled to welcome Luka as an investor and co-owner. There’s no better role model for our players, from the academy to the first team. His support for our ambitions and willingness to help us on that journey will be vital as we aim to grow at every level.
In our conversations, it was clear how much he cares about the club and how closely he’s followed our progress. I look forward to working closely with him.”

The club’s board added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Luka into our ownership group. From our first conversation, it was evident we shared the same vision, and Luka will be a major asset. We thank him and his team for their support throughout this process and look forward to seeing him at the Swansea.com Stadium, where he’ll meet the fans. Swansea City welcomes Luka Modrić and looks forward to an exciting new chapter.”

Swansea City, founded in 1912, is currently playing in the English Championship, the second tier of English football. The club competed in the Premier League between 2011 and 2019 but has yet to return to the top flight.

A later Easter always brings more traffic for Croatian tourism, both from domestic and foreign visitors, and this year is expected to follow the same pattern. With the upcoming May Day holidays, positive trends are also expected to continue into the rest of the preseason, says Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB), reports HINA. 

"The situation can change overnight"

“Tourist traffic tends to be higher when Easter falls later, so we don’t expect any major deviations this year either. Over the extended weekend, we anticipate a majority of domestic tourists, along with visitors from nearby markets such as Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and others. We’re pleased with the level of bookings, particularly in hotels, which are typically the most in-demand form of accommodation during the preseason,” said Staničić.

Given the proximity of Easter and May 1, more combined trips are expected, with an increase in short weekend getaways. Croatia’s entry into the Schengen Area has contributed to this trend, making Croatian destinations more accessible to many European markets. However, proximity alone is not enough to attract tourists, which is why Staničić welcomes the continued investment in attractive tourism offers and additional amenities at reasonable prices.

“It’s still too early to make specific forecasts for the whole year. We live and work in very challenging and changeable circumstances—everything can shift literally overnight, and conditions vary from market to market. Competition is strong, and we must also consider that some tourist countries are making serious efforts to retain their domestic travelers. Our primary focus needs to be on our offer and on reinforcing the perception of Croatia as a destination that provides good value for money,” Staničić emphasized.

The period following Easter and May 1 will offer the first real snapshot of tourist traffic for the year, providing a better idea of what to expect for the remainder of 2025. So far, forecasts are promising, even for the high season in July and August, when around 60 percent of annual tourist traffic is typically achieved.

A drop in private accommodation in Istria?

He acknowledged the influence of various circumstances: “We’d be satisfied if we reach traffic levels similar to last year, but there’s still much work ahead. We all need to be very well prepared, as the competition for each guest is already intense. Economic, political, and security conditions worldwide inevitably affect travel trends, especially the behavior of travelers and how they adjust to current trends.”

He pointed to Germany as an example, where recent Reiseanalyse 2025 research has shown that despite a negative economic outlook, travel intentions remain high—even higher than last year.

Potential travelers are ready to cut back on other expenses in order to keep traveling, but they will be more price-conscious this year and choose destinations based on value for money. That’s why both the CNTB and the Ministry of Tourism are constantly calling on the sector to set prices wisely, the CNTB director added.

Pricing also matters to domestic tourists, who rank just behind Germans in terms of total tourism results by nationality, and are the most numerous during the pre- and post-season.

“One-third of all overnight stays this year so far have been made by domestic tourists, and their contribution is very noticeable,” Staničić noted.

Positive trends continue from the U.S. market

There’s currently no visible impact from the new U.S. tariffs on tourist travel from the United States, but Staničić says it’s another global situation that needs close monitoring.

He emphasized that in recent years Croatia has seen excellent results from the U.S. market, both in terms of tourist traffic and increased recognition of Croatia as a tourist destination.

“Our key partners in the U.S. are reporting positive expectations for the entire year, predicting continued tourism growth for Croatia. Americans want to travel, they have the budgets for it, and we again have direct seasonal flights between New York and Dubrovnik. All signs suggest that we can expect continued positive trends from that market,” Staničić added.

Marketing campaigns spotlight lesser-known regions

Regarding the effects of CNTB’s promotional campaigns for this year, Staničić said they began at the end of last year and focused on encouraging early bookings for summer holidays. The main campaign, currently underway, is titled “Get to Know Me”, and highlights lesser-known parts of the country.

“In addition to well-known destinations like Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik, we aim to showcase lesser-known areas, increasing awareness of Croatia’s diverse offers. This includes the islands, Gorski kotar, Slavonia, Zagorje, and other continental regions,” Staničić noted.

“Croatia, Full of Life” slogan stays

Although the CNTB held a public competition for a new umbrella communication concept and visual identity for Croatian tourism, it ultimately decided to keep the “Croatia, Full of Life” slogan, with some adjustments to the visual design.

“We took the time needed, in consultation with members of the CNTB Tourism Council, to make a well-considered decision that’s best for Croatian tourism and future promotion. After reviewing and analyzing all submitted proposals and conducting market research in which the new suggestions were tested, the Tourism Council unanimously concluded that none of the new concepts stood out as significantly better than the existing ‘Full of Life’ campaign,” said Staničić.

“All previous investments under the ‘Full of Life’ concept have delivered excellent results, making us highly recognizable both at home and internationally. It’s also worth noting that almost no other tourist destination uses the word ‘life’ in their communications, and this word perfectly captures the experiences and holistic tourism offer of Croatia,” he concluded.

The Dubrovnik Museums will host the opening of the exhibition "Behind the Lens: Jero Pugliesi, Learned Gentlemen and Tempi Passati" by author Marina Filipović on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the "Rupe" granary.

The collection of photographs and photographic materials in the Cultural-Historical Museum in Dubrovnik includes more than two thousand amateur works created at the end of the 19th and in the first half of the 20th century. Within this thematically diverse material—which spans a wide range of subjects, from family celebrations, outings, and everyday life, to the construction of roads behind the Old Town or the Feast of Saint Blaise—a larger collection stands out. Its authors were connected by family ties and friendships, with Dr. Jero Pugliesi, a respected physician, particularly distinguished among them. His photographs form the backbone of that collection and this exhibition.

Jero Pugliesi was a classic example of a learned man at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century—a true visionary and, in many respects, a pioneer. The Collection of Photographs and Photographic Materials of the Cultural-Historical Museum preserves several hundred positives and negatives that attest to his passionate engagement with photography over a period of nearly three decades. It is not known when he became interested in the photographic medium, but the earliest preserved photographs date to the 1880s. From the broad thematic and visual content of his photographs, one can simultaneously observe realism—particularly in photographs of patients, people from the Dubrovnik surroundings, and religious processions—and artistic flair, which dominates in his landscapes.

Jero Pugliesi was born on December 30, 1862, in Trieste, where his father Vlaho worked as a sea captain in the service of Lloyd. He completed secondary school in Dubrovnik in 1880 and went on to study medicine in Vienna and Graz, graduating in 1885. By decision of the Provincial Committee dated December 7, 1886, he was appointed assistant physician at the Provincial Hospital in Dubrovnik. He died on January 12, 1907, in Vienna, where he was receiving treatment for stomach cancer.

The exhibition "Behind the Lens: Jero Pugliesi, Learned Gentlemen and Tempi Passati" by Marina Filipović will remain open to all visitors at the "Rupe" granary until July 1, 2025.