April the 27th, 2025 – Velika Gorica near Zagreb rarely gets splashed all over glossy billboards and magazine pages like Dalmatia does, but it does have a few trump cards to boast about, including active tourism.
Active tourism, much like sustainable tourism, is growing in popularity among all those who want to visit Croatia for more than just lounging around melting under the scorching summer sun. This country boasts endless possibilities when it comes to exploration, from hiking to cycling and from fishing to mountaineering. Velika Gorica, as stated, isn’t a location that gets much of the spotlight, considered by many as a mere “suburb” of nearby Zagreb. There’s much more to it than that, however.
Velika Gorica is in an interesting and useful geographical position. Close to Zagreb, a stone’s throw from Zagreb Airport, and surrounded by rolling hills and dense countryside. There’s plenty that could be done with that, and overlooked Velika Gorica has an active tourism offer that connects with both nature and heritage.
As vgdanas writes, the Velika Gorica Tourist Board recently participated in the 7th Days of Cycling Tourism, which took place in Gradac and Vrgorac. During the event, it presented the increasingly popular cycling tourism offer of one of the most important urban centres of the sprawling and surprisingly rural Zagreb County.
As noted above, Velika Gorica is a location with some truly exceptional geographical, cultural and transport advantages. As such, it has been carefully and systematically developing sustainable forms of tourism, and cycling occupies a very important place in the wider scope of that.
Velika Gorica has an active tourism offer that might surprise many. As the largest settlement in the wider, Zagreb County, it has long been profiled as a location that offers a quality blend of tradition, a modern lifestyle and plenty of recreational content. Owing to the fertile soil of Turopolje, the proximity of the Sava, Odra and Kupa rivers, and natural oases such as Turopolje meadow, the forests of Vukomeričke gorice and numerous protected landscapes, this area is naturally predisposed to the development of cycling tourism.
This was also highlighted at the presentation of Velika Gorica as part of the Cycling Tourism Days. It boasts more than 60 kilometre of very well-maintained cycling trails. They take riders through the undulating landscape, forested roads, along cultural and historical points and local family farms (OPGs). All this and more makes Velika Gorica a favourite active tourism destination. It’s particularly attractive for both recreational and serious cyclists.
Thematic routes such as the “Turopolje Sights”, cycling trails to Stari Čič, Posavina, Vukomeričke gorice, Pokupsko and Kravarsko have all been designed to showcase the beauty of this continental Croatian region in a sustainable way. The network of cycling trails is well-marked, entirely digitally accessible, and can be found on the ciklotur.net platform, which offers an insight into all routes, as well as advice and additional information.
The presentation of the project to develop a cycling trail from Velika Gorica to Stari Čič along Lake Vukovina, which has become a popular recreational zone in a green environment, aroused particular interest among conference participants.
“Our goal isn’t solely to encourage the development of tourism, but to improve the quality of life of Velika Gorica’s residents through the promotion of healthy habits and the valorisation of local natural and cultural heritage,” revealed Maja Toth, the Velika Gorica Tourist Board’s director.
In addition to natural and cultural beauty, Velika Gorica is increasingly developing event tourism alongside active tourism, which also supports cycling tourism initiatives. Cycle races such as the “VG Biciklijada”, the recreational race “Turopoljska milja”, as well as events related to eno-gastronomic content and local products increasingly include cycling components and attract visitors from all over Croatia.
The presentation of Velika Gorica at the Days of Cycling Tourism also highlighted the importance of integrating the local community, OPGs, cultural institutions and healthcare organisations in creating an offer that not only promotes tourism development, but also a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Velika Gorica wants to continue to present itself as a logical active tourism destination. Its participation in the aforementioned event dedicated to cycling tourism represents another step in the strategic positioning of Turopolje and Velika Gorica as recognisable destinations in continental Croatia – a destination that exists sustainably, actively and in close connection with nature.
