Samobor
The small and colourful town of Samobor is located just 20 km west of Zagreb and only 5 km from the Slovenian border.
This town with a population of 16,000 has been a free royal town since the 13th ct, when Samobor Castle, now in ruins on top of Tepec Hill, was also built. The centre of the town is well preserved and includes medieval wooden elements, as well as Baroque facades that you can observe while having a cup of coffee at the central square. There’s a picturesque walkway along the Gradna River near the Square which looks like the set of an idyllic musical.
The town has had a long history of tourism – some tourist facilities were built in the early 19th ct. It may be small, but it’s renowned for its rich cultural heritage. Crystal and mustard are produced here, and there are big events throughout the year: fašnik (carnival) has been the main event for more than 170 years. It takes place on the Tuesday before Lent and the town becomes overflowed with Croatian and international guests dressed in colourful and carefully prepared costumes. Other important events include Samobor Music Festival (in autumn) and Oldtimer Rally (in July).
There are even events dedicated to traditional food from the area, so you can see that the town is also a gastronomic heaven. Everyone can find something they like among Samobor’s traditional delicacies which include kremšnita (vanilla and custard crème cake), mustard, češnjofke (a type of sausage with garlic), rudarska grebalica (a salty cake with cheese felling), various chestnut delicacies, or salami. While you’re eating, take a sip of delicious bermet (dessert wine).
See for yourself how pretty the city is on their website or watch the video below:
Žumberak
One third of the town is covered in trees and the town’s name actually translates as “Pine only”, so it’s no wonder that the hills around Samobor are the cradle of Croatian hiking. The first organized hiking trip in Croatia took place in this area in 1875. There are more than 200 km of marked hiking trails in Žumberak Nature Park, where Samobor is located. There are also various mountain lodges where you can take a break and have a hot meal.
There are many buses to get to Samobor from Zagreb, the ticket prices start at 30 kn, and you can check the schedule here. The journey takes 40-50 min. If you want to spend the night in Samobor, you can find some hotel options here. Alternatively, if you want a package trip, Kamauf offers a casual day tour around the town starting at €70, and if you’re a more active person who likes hiking, you can check Viator’s tour starting at €95.
