Zagreb is Back in October

In the last years, Zagreb has been growing as a tourist destination. Visitors, together with the locals, have started discovering the colourful, good-looking and friendly face of the city, with its coffee-culture, food festivals, fresh welcoming vibe.

And then, October comes. All of the sudden, the Zagreb I remember from my childhood is back. This city lets its ancient soul come back to surface in October. This is the only month of the year when I’m completely sure that my city is still here.

Usually, it feels good to be surrounded by well-maintained buildings and shiny facades. But in October, they seem so false. They seem like hiding a lady’s wonderful gray hair, that makes her look so wise and sophisticated. I like to go to the streets that still show some decay. They’re Zagreb’s smile wrinkles and, in October, I really don’t want them to fade away.

This is the time of the year when, in some streets or corners of the city, a strange sensation comes all over me. If I’m on a tour, I turn to my guests and say: “Can you feel this melancholic vibe? This is Zagreb.” If you get that feeling, stop for a moment and let it take you a step closer to true Zagreb.