Peterjon Cresswell

Budapest is a buzzing, lively, 24-hour city, and if you’re planning a trip, there are some things that absolutely must be on your radar, like sailing the Danube, eating your bodyweight in lángos and goulash, and taking in the views with a panoramic cocktail. This city is steeped in history, blessed with spa waters and embellished with grandiose façades from the Habsburg days, just waiting to be explored. And while it’s not as cheap as it used to be, you can still cram a hell of a lot in on a budget. Our local writer Peterjon Cresswell has scoured the city to bring you this list of the best things to do in Budapest.  RECOMMENDED:📍 How to do a weekend in Budapest🪩 The best nightlife spots in Budapest🏛️ The best spas and baths in Budapest🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Budapest🏨 The best hotels in Budapest🍽️ …and we’re opening a Time Out Market in Budapest! This guide was written by Peterjon Cresswell, a writer based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Whether you’re here to party or not, some of Budapest’s most notorious nightlife spots are an absolute must. Much of the city’s nightlife is found in the Jewish Quarter, but its infamous ruin bars are found on Kazinczy utca, Akácfa utca and Klauzál utca.  But there’s plenty more low-key spots too – you just need to know where to look. Our local writer takes us across the nightlife square of Madách tér and over the river to the terrace cafés of Bartók Béla út. All the way from Pest to Buda. We’ve got once-in-a-lifetime tourist hotspots alongside the places only locals know. Here is your guide to the best nightlife in Budapest. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Budapest🏛️ The best spas and baths in Budapest🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Budapest🍻 The best bars in Budapest Words by Peterjon Cresswell, original photos by Szabó Gábor, both based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Forget ‘saving money’ in 2024. You know what your New Year’s resolution should be? Get out more. Do more stuff. See more of the world. Life is short, after all – and 2024 promises a tonne of unmissable festivals, art, food and music. There are openings and re-openings. Brand-new train routes criss-crossing countries and continents. Whacky places to party. And even if the cossie livs does have you tightening the purse strings, there are plenty of free and affordable events on this list, too.  So get your booking fingers at the ready: your 2024 bucket list awaits. This is our definitive guide to the coolest new things to do in the world next year. See you out there!  RECOMMENDED:😎 The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🌃 The best European city breaks for 2024🖼️ The world’s best museums and galleries

Budapest is a darling of a city, one of the most picturesque capitals in Europe and objectively one of its best nights out. Tourists, travellers, nomads and explorers alike have been wandering the streets of Buda and Pest for centuries, looking for excitement and experience in equal measure. The Hungarian capital doesn’t let the side down, and those serene thermal baths and spas are always on hand to provide a little rejuvenation.The best attractions in Budapest are the greatest hits of sorts, showcasing the capital’s fascinating history, architectural majesty and fiery creative side. Looking for your Budapest bucket list? Look no further. Recommended: 📍 The best things to do in Budapest😋 The best restaurants in Budapest🍻 The best ruin bars in Budapest🏡 The best Airbnbs in Budapest🛏 The best hotels in Budapest This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

We all like the idea of summertime in Europe – long, lazy days in the Mediterranean sunshine, whiling away an evening people-watching in local bars – but the reality is often much less romantic, with overtourism, sky-high prices and heatwaves blighting many a Euro Summer fantasy. But it doesn’t have to be that way. To inspire your summer holiday plans this year, we asked writers across Europe to tell us about their favourite alternative summer trip ideas. From Croatia’s quieter island-hopping route to an Estonian spa break, here’s where to head for crowd-free bliss and unsung adventures right across the continent. You’re welcome. RECOMMENDED:🏝️ The best alternative Mediterranean beach breaks🗺️ Europe’s most underrated travel destinations

Budapest has made a name for itself as the home of ruin bars (derelict buildings made into poppin’ clubs), thermal spas and baths, admirable architecture and seriously affordable attractions. But whatever you’re in the Hungarian capital for, don’t sleep on its many and varied offerings for absolutely exquisite cuisine. Of course, there’s a load of great Hungarian food on offer, from classic gulyás (beef stew) to chicken paprikás with nokedli or rice. Then there’s the lángos, deep fried bread covered with sour cream and cheese, best enjoyed late at night after one too many drinks. And we've just added a new wine bar, Felix, with a banging menu to match. Ready to eat? Us too. Here’s the best restaurants in Budapest right now.  RECOMMENDED:🏰 The best things to do in Budapest🍻 The best bars in Budapest🏛️ The best museums in Budapest🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Budapest🍽️ …and we’re opening a Time Out Market in Budapest! Peterjon Cresswell is a writer based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Budapest may be ten times the size of Hungary’s next biggest city but that shouldn’t discourage you from venturing further. Hungary is blessed with spa retreats, wine regions and a huge lake, Balaton, lined with resorts. Its university cities are lively and engaging. It’s also a manageable size: few inland journeys from Budapest take more than three hours. So, where should you visit first? From a former artists’ colony to a buzzy lakefront town, these are the best cities in Hungary to check out when you’ve seen quite enough of the capital. Hungarian-speaking Peterjon Cresswell has been skipping around Budapest for Time Out for 30 years. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts. RECOMMENDED:🚞 9 of the best Budapest day trips🇪🇺 The most underrated destinations in Europe🌆 The best European city breaks to try this year

Dramatic best describes Montenegro. Its monastery-dotted hinterland, lofty and forbidding, a kind of Balkan Bhutan overseen by the remote royal capital of Cetinje, Montenegro, suddenly gives way to the Adriatic. Set against craggy cliffs and shaped by Venetian marble, destinations such as Budva and Kotor attract holidaymakers perhaps jaded by pricier neighbour Croatia. Although, no resort could be more exclusive than Swiss-owned Sveti Stefan. Exploring beyond the beach umbrellas rewards the intrepid with serene lakes, rare wildlife and hiking trails traversed mainly by mules until relatively recently. Roads and rail tracks somehow follow these challenging contours – Montenegro is no easy ride, but memorable might just be as fitting a description as dramatic. RECOMMENDED:🇦🇱 The best places to visit in Albania🏖️ The best alternative Mediterranean beach breaks🧳 The best city breaks in Europe for 2024 Peterjon Cresswell is the editor at Time Out Croatia. Additional reporting and editing by John Bills, who has travelled extensively around the Balkans. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Like escape rooms, ruin bars are a successful Budapest invention. So successful, in fact, that weekend nights see the streets completely mobbed in the party zone between Dob and Dohány utca near Klauzál tér. Ruin bar mugs are even sold in souvenir shops. The concept was originally a simple one. District VII, the Jewish Quarter, was dotted with neglected courtyards, surrounded by empty flats. Enterprising locals decked out the spaces with fairy lights and mismatching, skip-found furniture, chucked in a few incongruous artefacts, limbless mannequins, abandoned cars from the Socialist era, put up a bar counter and – ta-da! – the ruin bar was invented. Add some light projections, maybe a bare firewall for films, and a DJ booth, keep opening hours dauntingly extensive, and there you have it: the ruin bar as we know it today. Here are our picks of the best.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Budapest🪩 The best Budapest nightlife spots🛏 The best hotels in Budapest🍴 The best restaurants in Budapest This article was updated by Peterjon Cresswell, a writer based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Budapest is Europe’s spa capital. Historic, ornate, and sights in themselves, their heritage dating back to Ottoman or Habsburg times, spas here are for a whole day’s relaxation and even for night-time fun, given the late Saturday sessions at the Rudas and pool parties at the Széchenyi.  No visit to Budapest is complete without one to the spa. Most are around £25/€30, but budget-friendly options include Lukács and Veli Bej. Bring a towel, your swimming costume (this isn’t Germany – Hungarians don’t do naked saunas), flip-flops, a dressing gown in winter, and a bank card to buy drinks and snacks inside. Here are the best spas in Budapest.   RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Budapest😋 The best restaurants in Budapest🍻 The best ruin bars in Budapest🏡 The best Airbnbs in Budapest This guide was updated by Peterjon Cresswell, a writer based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

A classic city-break destination that gives a flavour of the east while awash with contemporary hotels and restaurants, Budapest can be as affordable or as lavish as you like. As photogenic as when it was fashioned in the gilded late 1800s, Budapest has long provided the perfect backdrop for flings, proposals, honeymoons and more. Those oh-so romantic interludes can be interspersed with a whole load of stuff: gallery visits, panoramic walks and boat tours, to name a few. Many, however, come to party, as the nightlife scene is as good as the day after, where you can treat your hangover to a soak in the spa or breakfast in an ornate coffeehouse. Long-term resident Peterjon Cresswell takes you on a whirlwind weekend around Budapest. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Budapest🏛️ The best spas and baths in Budapest🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Budapest🍻 The best bars in Budapest Peterjon Cresswell is a writer based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Does anything conjure up an image of beach bliss quite like the Med? Surrounded by 22 countries and bordered by three continents, the Mediterranean Sea boasts miles and miles of coastline – not to mention hundreds of islands. And while there are certain seaside spots where you’ll need to fight for space on the sand (we’re looking at you, Barceloneta), there are plenty of other secluded stretches of coastline across the Med. Our selection of alternative beach spots, chosen by Mediterranean-based travel writers, takes you beyond Europe to North Africa and the Middle East. From wild, flamingo-frequented beaches in Spain to a culture-packed port city in France, this is where to find the Mediterranean’s best alternative (and affordable) beach breaks. There’s plenty of room to lay out your towel here. Grace Beard is Time Out’s deputy travel editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts. RECOMMENDED:🗺 Europe’s most underrated destinations🌆 The best European city breaks🚫 The travel destinations that want tourists to stay away

What is it? Long established as the city’s hottest spot for dancing on deck, live bands down below and dining in between, the A38 sits in a converted Ukrainian cargo ship, ideal for a sundowner while admiring the skyline of Budapest. A key showcase for all major Hungarian bands and DJs.  Is it worth it?  If you’re here for the weekend, it’s a must, and far less tacky or clichéd than some (ahem) of the city’s ruin bars. What are the prices like? Admission prices vary according to the act programmed for that day but this shouldn’t be much more than £5-£7 – and shouldn’t sell out. Tickets are available through the website or, slightly pricier, on the night. It’s not particularly wheelchair accessible.  Can I eat there?  The A38 has its own bistro, open from 10am weekdays, 4pm Saturdays and closed on Sundays. The fixed menu ranges from venison ragout soup to New York steak, with plenty of vegetarian options. The weekday lunchtime specials at £7 for three courses are a steal. Alternative options can be found at the next bridge, around Gellért tér. 📍 Discover more of the best restaurants in Budapest

What is it? Imagine a nightclub and live venue on Trafalgar Square, and that’s Budapest’s Akvárium Klub. This was once the concourse of the city’s main bus station and mooted as the site of the new National Theatre. Now it’s a split-terrace alfresco bar open from mid-afternoon, and a multi-space party place and concert hall, ideal for top Hungarian bands and reasonably big foreign ones. Is it worth visiting? If you want to it central, Akvárium is ideal. Even if the act that night might not be to your liking, you can always hang around outside, where a water feature provides the perfect backdrop for Insta shots. What are the prices like? Admission varies entirely according to the act – for a Paul van Dyk appearance in May 2024, advance admission was £22, free for the mobility-impaired, while the charge that April for a little-known Hungarian band in the 300-capacity hall was just over £4 in advance, £6.50 on the door. Where’s good to eat nearby?  There’s a kitchen here for bar food but you’re right in town – the urban eateries by the Basilica, such as Bestia, are just around the corner. 📍 Discover more of the best restaurants in Budapest

What is it? If you’re going to have a rooftop bar, you may as well site it atop an architectural masterpiece on the city’s main avenue. The 360 Bar occupies the panoramic terrace of a fin-de-siècle department store, with its own separate street-level entrance done out equally stylishly. Thanks to a clutch of private igloos, it goes year-round for cocktails, wines and a full menu –though the view is what beckons people here. Is it worth visiting? Whatever the weather, you’ll have a memorable time at 360. If it’s winter, the two of you can cuddle up – though you’ll be sharing your igloo with other couples unless you pay for privacy. What are prices like? Book a table through the website at £11 per person, which is offset against the food and drinks you consume. It’s not particularly wheelchair-friendly. Where’s good to eat nearby?  There’s a full kitchen here but tables in the igloos are on the small size. SZÉK next door is excellent, serving Transylvanian specialities. 📍 Discover more of the best restaurants in Budapest

What is Madame Tussauds? The world’s 24th, and arguably most elegant, Madame Tussauds waxworks museum, which occupies the 200-year-old Palazzo Dorottya in the heart of Budapest. Using the Hungarian capital as its main theme, this English-friendly attraction takes visitors on an immersive journey, with movie stars and famous figures from Hungarian history.  Is it worth it? If you’re a fan of all things interactive and immersive, you’ll love it. Without leaving this spot by the Danube, you can zoom around town on the back of Tom Cruise’s motorbike, accompany Habsburg Empress Elisabeth in her carriage or schmooze with Brad Pitt at a wrap party at the Gellért Baths. Hungarophiles will enjoy the life-like representations of pre-war torch singer Katalin Karády and football star Ferenc Puskás, both showcased in suitable settings. How much are tickets and how long will I spend there? Tickets start at £33 for off peak times, and from £37 for peak times. But you’ll spend about two hours going through the experience, so you get your money’s worth. We recommend booking in advance, as tickets are cheaper and you don’t risk getting turned away if it’s full.  Where should I eat near Madame Tussauds?  

What is Szimpla Kert? Originally an outdoor cinema whose films were projected onto the back wall of this sprawling complex of courtyard and former flats on the first floor, Szimpla Kert evolved into an alternative bar and DJ club, dotted with curious artefacts. On Sundays, it stages a produce market, with live music. Is it worth visiting? Too successful for its own good, Szimpla Kert now mainly appeals to foreign partygoers, drawn by the allure of Budapest’s most famous ruin bar. You can still have a great time, but you’ll be rubbing shoulders with weekend drinkers from Gillingham and paying high prices in Budapest terms. What should I order? When in Rome… given the craze for craft beer in the Hungarian capital, it wasn’t long before someone had the bright idea to brand a beer after it. Featuring the Statue of Lady Liberty on the label, Budapest Lager is light and refreshing, easily sipped as you party. As it’s priced the same here as the cheapest mainstream domestic brand, it should be a straightforward bar call – and easier to pronounce, too. What’s worth going to nearby? The Szimpla Kert lies at the edge of the nightlife zone, surrounded by milling night owls and expectant taxi drivers. If the crowds get too much and hunger strikes, you can stroll a few metres along Kazinczy utca to Karaván, an open courtyard offering all kinds of street food, with its own party atmosphere. Still hungry? Check out the best restaurants in Budapest. 

What is Instant-Fogas? Instant was a prime party space on Nagymező utca in Budapest’s theatreland, before it was forced to move to make way for today’s Hard Rock Hotel. Cutting their losses, the owners decided to combine with a failing ruin bar, Fogas, which occupied a former denture repair workshop deep in District VII, distinguished by the sign of false teeth above the door. The result is Instant-Fogas, a multi-level nightlife complex, also comprising the spaces Unterwelt, Liebling, Robot and Frame for music ranging from dubstep to metal. Is it worth visiting? Yes, especially if there’s a group of you, there’s more than enough spaces to explore before you reconvene at some point in the night on the dancefloor of your choice. What should I order? To save you keep running up to the bar, it may be an idea to order as Hungarians do, especially in summer. Spritzer (fröccs) is a white wine and soda mix, not as heavy as beer. Drinks are served with two modest deposits on top, one for the reusable glass, the other for a token, both of which you have refunded when you leave. What’s worth going to nearby? For a light but top-quality fill-up before you go into party mode, Mazel Tov next door is Budapest’s prime spot for eastern Mediterranean cuisine, served amid bare-brick surroundings redolent of a ruin bar.  Still hungry? Check out the best restaurants in Budapest. 

What is Csendes? Csendes Létterem, to give this former literary café its official name, is done out with all the ruin-bar accoutrements of mismatching furniture and random décor. Offering decent wine and cocktails, it’s very much a sit-down experience rather than a wild party place, but puts on occasional acoustic nights and is particular about the music it plays. Is it worth visiting? Very much so. Original and inventive, Csendes provides a flavour of authentic Budapest within a minute of the Astoria Hotel and two of the National Museum. And it does so without making you feel that you’re a forint flytrap, ready to be shaken down for your last penny. What should I order? Csendes stocks the kinds of sought-after spirits that collect dust in other ruin bars, where speed and quantity are paramount. Here, you can order a Malfy blood orange fizz, a mix of Italian gin, artisanal cordial (referred to in Hungarian as szörp or ‘syrup’) and soda for little more than a pint of Czech beer, and let the night take its course. What’s worth going to nearby? Csendes has a partner outlet a few doors down, Csendes Társ (‘Companion’), essentially a wine bar with quality snacks, which puts out tables by the entrance to the pretty urban park of Károlyi kert just opposite. The gardens were landscaped by the noble Károlyi family in the 1700s and today contain a children’s playground, well-tended flowerbeds and sundry statuary. Still hungry? Check out the best restaurants in Budapest. 

What are the Széchenyi Baths? Named after Hungary’s revered statesman of the mid-1800s, the Széchenyi echoes the Golden Age of Budapest with its grandiose façades and classical columns. Here you can bathe and swim in three large outdoor pools before ducking inside to sweat and soak in the sauna complex. Are they worth visiting? This is the classic Budapest experience, although it’s one you’ll mainly be sharing with fellow foreigners. If you’re only visiting the city once, set aside half a day to wallow in grandeur. Tickets, accessibility and booking Admission is pricey, £25 at weekends and over the Christmas holidays, £21 the rest of the week, with no discounts for children. So-called fast track online tickets, if 15 percent pricier, allow you to beat the long queues at the ticket office. The spa is not wheelchair-friendly. Where’s good to eat near the Széchenyi? While there’s a terrace eatery (card payment only) overlooking the lane pool, if you’re after something more than standard fried meat with fat chips, the superior Robinson is lapped by the lake you’ll have to walk round to access the restaurant from the spa.  Check out more things to do in Budapest. 

  What are the Lukács Baths? Used as a spa since the Crusades, the Lukács puts the accent on health and healing rather than aquatic fun. This is not to say you can’t relax, in its main outdoor pool, two lane pools, sauna complex and rooftop sunbathing terrace, but the plaques on display testify to guests’ gratitude for its curative benefits. Are they worth visiting? Most certainly, particularly if you’re on a tighter budget, and you’d like to take advantage of even cheaper admission offered after 5pm. Tickets, accessibility and booking Admission is £10 during the week, £11 at weekends, reduced to £7/£9.50 after 5pm. Note that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and in the height of summer, opening hours extend to 8pm. Online purchasing automatically automatic locker or cabin usage. While the spa accommodates patients from the adjoining medical facility, it is not particularly wheelchair-friendly. Where’s good to eat near the Lukács? Open until early evening, Arancini Benedetti alongside specialises in the namesake Sicilian rice balls. Further down, beside the Buda foot of Margaret Bridge, the Híd Bisztró does a fine job with international classics, served on a pretty terrace that fills in summer.

  What are the Gellért Baths? Unveiled, like the adjoining hotel, just after World War I, the Gellért echoes Budapest’s Silver Age of the 1920s when its summer-only wave pool also opened. Interior tiling and decorative features remain faithful to this heritage, while men’s and women’s pools are still separate. Are they worth visiting? Another Budapest must-see, the Gellért is certainly worth visiting but much smaller than the equally grandiose Széchenyi, which would probably get the nod if you’re just going to enjoy one spa while you’re in town. Tickets, accessibility and booking Admission is £27 with a cabin to change in, £25 for just a locker, with no discounts for children. Online purchases are available. Visitors with limited mobility have access to the indoor thermal pools and saunas, but not the outside area. Where’s good to eat near the Gellért? While the hotel and its café are being rebuilt, you can easily find plenty of dining and drinking options nearby. Overlooking the adjoining main square and transport hub, the Palack borbár serves sought-after Hungarian wines and superior snacks while the Szeged Vendéglő opposite is an age-old traditional Hungarian restaurant known for its fish soups, goose liver and pancakes. Still hungry? Check out more of the best restaurants in Budapest. 

A town in Croatia is offering houses for under €1 – but only to people under 45. In the far north of the country, the mayor of Legrad, Ivan Sabolić, is following the lead of many depopulated villages across rural Italy by introducing a scheme to fill empty buildings and rejuvenate the community. Potential buyers should also not own any other properties and have a clean police record. Legrad, population 2,000, stands over the border from Zala County, one of the cheapest places for house seekers to buy in Hungary. In a separate initiative, Legrad, population 2,000, is supporting childless local couples with €1,000 worth of artificial insemination.

Following in the successful footsteps of Rijeka, the Istrian city of Pula is staging its own carnival – or rather several, in the run-up to the big one on February 13. This Saturday, January 27, kids get to dress up and board the carnival bus from the Arena bound for a wizard’s party in Giardini and other points in town. Pick up tickets the day before at the Pula tourist office, Forum 3. February 3 sees a masked parade from Karolina, heading to Arena and then Portarata, with live music to follow. Pre-school and school pupils have their own carnival at Arena on February 9, before the main event on February 13, and the burning of the bogeyman, Pust. See here for more details.

Just over a year after the long-awaited reopening of the cable car outside Zagreb, a new one has been unveiled on the slopes of Gorski kotar, the mountainous region between Karlovac and Rijeka west of the capital. Overseen by the Goranski Sports Centre in Delnice, the new facility serves the nearby ski resort of Platak. The four-seater cable car, 800 metres long and comprising 114 chairs, opens today, January 29, in time for the busiest period of the skiing season. Gorski kotar is the most forested area of Croatia, attracting hikers, mountaineers and botanists due to the varieties of rare Alpine flowers in the vicinity. The region is also known as Croatia's Switzerland.

This week, Dubrovnik is honouring a tradition dating back more than 1,000 years, celebrating the miraculous defence of their city. The legend goes that in 972, St Blaise appeared to a priest while he was praying, and warned him of an imminent attack by the Venetians. Thanks to the saint’s premonition, Dubrovnik was able to fortify itself in time and successfully fend off the would-be invaders. St Blaise duly became the patron saint of Dubrovnik. In the days before the anniversary of his appearance, February 3, workshops and performances of Croatian-languages plays take place around the city. On Thursday, February 1, the exhibition In Honour of St Blaise opens at the Arthur Gallery, with further presentations at the Sponza Palace and Art Gallery Dubrovnik. Grgo Jelavic/PIXSELL The next day, a wine festival begins at 11am at the main Gradska Kavana in the heart of town. The upcoming Dubrovnik Summer Festival will be showcased at 1pm, before a musical parade through the main street of Stradun from 2.45pm. This year, February 3 falls on a Saturday, when Holy Mass takes place at 10am outside Dubrovnik Cathedral. On the main square of Luža, traditional ‘dirty’ macaroni and doughnuts are served at 1pm, before the dramatic centrepiece of the celebrations at 3.30pm, when standard bearers greet bishops and grand masters. Later on, the Zagreb ZET Orchestra perform at 8pm. The following day, Sunday, February 4, the standard bearers return to walk through the Old Town with the Dubrovnik

Rovinj’s Steel Club is hosting its first major party of the year when top Croatian events promoters Fantasea stage their popular Straight Outta Balkan mashup on Saturday, February 3. Basing their beats on Balkan Trap but wandering into all kinds of danceable genres, spinners including Rovinj’s own DJ Fraze and Buzet’s Futuristix will be keeping it real until 4am at this premier nightspot tucked in behind the city’s aquarium and waterfront. Opened in 2018, Steel is Rovinj’s key spot for DJ-led nights and live concerts, the music ranging from house and techno to Latin, rock, pop and hip hop, depending on the event. Advance tickets are only €5, plus a €1 booking fee, available from Entrio. Straight Outta Balkan, Steel Club, Vijenac Braće Lorenzetto 17, 52210 Rovinj. Saturday, February 3, from 10pm.

As Europe currently embraces a new age of rail, with night services being reintroduced between the major hubs of Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Brussels, Croatia’s traditionally outdated train network will be receiving a major upgrade thanks to a huge loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). A sum of €400 million has just been approved, part of wider funding amounting to €900 million. The funds will be used to modernise the rail system and the rolling stock. Currently, few Croatians choose rail over road, preferring to go by car or bus. The only real exceptions are provided by those living in communities around the capital, Zagreb, who may take the train into work, and the tourists who opt to travel to Split by rail, a slower, pricier but more enjoyable alternative to the motorway. By contrast, over the border in Hungary, thousands use the railways every week. Last summer, the overnight service from Budapest to Split proved so popular that it had to be extended by two weeks, and extra carriages added. It is hoped that international initiatives, such as the return of the Orient Express through Croatia, will encourage locals to follow suit and go green. In 2023, Croatian rail announced a sleek new service in Istria between Pula and Kanfanar – one that is hoped will be extended to the main town of Pazin.

The Sonus Festival has just announced its star-studded line-up for 2024, featuring names such as Joseph Capriati, I Hate Models and Chris Stussy. Taking place at its regular location of Zrće beach on Pag island between August 18 and 22, Sonus has curated an industry-leading mix of new-school stars, established pioneers and flag-bearing local talent. They will be bringing their best to beachfront stages equipped with the world-class sound systems this long-established event is known for. Festivities spill into the Adriatic, offering stunning views, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets each day, bringing an extra sense of drama to the party. One ticket provides access to all three clubs, Aquarius, Kalypso and Papaya, for five days and five nights, plus more than 15 parties, so the dancing never stops. Additional passes are also available for boat parties, and a special pre-festival opening event with Alignment, BIIA and Shlømo on August 17. Sonus Festival Upcoming highlights include, on the techno front, Drumcode boss and global techno titan Adam Beyer, revered Berghain duo Ben Klock b2b Marcel Dettmann and the hard-edged sounds of Dax J. The melodic techno of Italian star Deborah De Luca should spellbind partygoers, alongside blistering beats from Héctor Oaks and I Hate Models, and masterful Neapolitan loops from Music On's Marco Carola. There will be delectable sounds from breakout Spanish DJ Indira Paganotto, mind-melting minimal from cult heroes Seth Troxler, Ricardo Villalo

Romantic enough as it is, Croatia goes overboard for Valentine’s. Hotels offer couples special packages, romantic concerts are staged and cinemas celebrate love on the silver screen. Here we pick out the best things to do, from Istria to Dalmatia, not forgetting Zagreb, the city with a million hearts. Grgo Jelavic/PIXSELL Dubrovnik: In the Footsteps of Love To celebrate Valentine’s in one of the world’s most romantic cities, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board is organising free walking tours of the city titled ‘In the Footsteps of Love’. Your guide, Lidija Begić, will point out landmarks connected to the amorous history of Dubrovnik, either from local Renaissance literature or associated with romantic legend. Each is given in English and begins at 9.30am, on February 10, 11, 14 and 17. Reserve your place by email at tic.pile@tzdubrovnik.hr or by phone +385 20 312 011. Rovinj: Can’t Help Falling in Love Like many high-end hotels around Istria, the recently opened Grand Park overlooking the Adriatic and Sveta Katarina island beyond is offering a special Valentine’s package involving rosé, dinner at the Laurel&Berry restaurant and extended hours in spa. In addition, popular singer Antonela Doko will be giving a free performance in the lobby from 7pm on February 14, accompanied by Borna Benko, so even those not paying top dollar for a luxury stay can enjoy a few romantic numbers by the award-winning singer made famous by her duet with Dino Antonić, Voli me: 'Love me'. Nina Djurdjevic

Inspired by the motto ‘Be what you want to be!’, this year’s Rijeka Carnival was bigger and better than ever. The traditional event, revived from medieval times by three masked groups in 1982, is now firmly established as a major festival on the international calendar. At noon on Sunday, February 11, the 9,000 masked participants, 93 groups and 59 floats began to make their journey through the city, the culmination of nearly a month’s worth of celebrations. Nel Pavletic/PIXSELL It was back on January 19 that the Rijeka Carnival Queen was crowned and the ceremonial handover took place of the keys to the city. Then came the popular children’s parade and a charity ball at the historic Maritime & History Museum, before the main event on Sunday. Tens of thousands of visitors flocked to Rijeka from all over the world to line the route. The parade slowed as it inched along the city’s pedestrianised main street, the Korzo, marchers later breaking ranks to join revellers for parties across town.

Gracing Tisno’s Garden Resort this July, one of the world’s leading drum and bass festivals, Hospitality On The Beach, has been bringing top music makers and great vibes to this part of the world since 2018. Hospitality is the pioneering events arm of the leading UK drum & bass label Hospital Records, that covers all styles of DnB, from liquid to jungle, rollers to jump up, minimal to neuro and everything in between.  Hospital/Hospitality co-founder and MD Chris Goss talks to Time Out Croatia about the journey he and his label have taken over the past quarter-century, from a tiny club in East London to a gorgeous slice of Dalmatian coastline – and about the magic of Croatia: Josh Panton/Hospital Records Time Out Croatia: When did Hospital Records break out to stage events as Hospitality, and when did you first venture into Europe? Chris Goss: The very first Hospitality event was a Friday club night in Shoreditch, back in October 2001. We hired a club called Herbal, that went on to be the second home for the drum & bass community, hosting multiple D&B nights for many years. Our first European event took place at the iconic Watergate club in Berlin, I think in 2004... People find it hard to believe, but back in those days Watergate – now the home of minimal techno – had drum&bass every Friday night. We were fortunate enough to be invited by the residents of Hard:Edged to bring our brand to their incredible venue, every four months. These were really special shows at a club th

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a medieval water cistern below Onofrio’s Fountain in Dubrovnik. The facility is thought to date back to the 1300s, a century before the Old Town landmark built by Onofrio della Cava in 1438. Grgo Jelavic/PIXSELL Renovated after the terrible earthquake of 1667, the 15th-century fountain is a popular tourist sight near the Pile Gate and a symbol of the city’s highly developed urban infrastructure. Della Cava designed and built a water supply system that brought drinking water from springs in Šumet to Dubrovnik 12 kilometres away. The resultant fountain has carried the name of the Salernitano architect ever since. The pavement around it is currently being relandscaped, giving rise to the discovery 30 centimetres below ground. While there have long been written records of the previous public facility, this is the first physical evidence of its existence.

Why leave Dubrovnik at all? Given all the historic attractions of the Old Town, the City Walls, the terrace cafés and the sea-facing restaurants, it’s a fair question. But if you’re here for a few days, you may wish to explore further. A day trip might involve a boat or catamaran somewhere, to Lokrum, Lopud or Korčula, meaning the journey is all part of the adventure. You could also spend a day amid the greenery of a historic arboretum at Trsteno, admiring art in Cavtat or hiking around the medieval fortifications of Ston. All of these suggestions are open year-round, with connections by public transport. There will be more services to choose from in spring and summer – but you’ll be sharing that boat or catamaran with far more fellow passengers. For details of local buses, see the Libertas website. For sailing schedules (not Lokrum), see Jadrolinija. Cavtat Croatia's most renowned painter and sculptor both left their mark in Cavtat, a pretty resort and cultural hub within easy reach of Dubrovnik. Born and raised in Cavtat, artist Vlaho Bukovac (1855-1922) is known for his symbolist paintings. The house in Cavtat where he was born contains a museum dedicated to his work. When he was 17, Bukovac painted frescoes inside the 19th-century property, a fitting background for discovering his paintings and mementos. Overlooking Cavtat, the wealthy Račić family, commissioned famed sculptor Ivan Meštrović to build their mausoleum using the high-quality Brač stone. You find this majesti