Page 258 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

256  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Cinema
Most large towns in Croatia
have a cinema. Zagreb has
several multiplexes, such as
Cinestar in Avenue Mall and
Branimir Centar and Cineplexx
in City Center One East. Kino-
teka shows cult and art films.
Tickets cost from 20 to 40 kuna
and films are shown in their
original languages with Croatian
subtitles. You can expect to
see the latest Hollywood hits.
Conditions can be more basic
in smaller towns where you
Carpe Diem beach club, Hvar may come across rows of
wooden chairs, rather like being
If you prefer a big, techno party island of Pag, hosts the world’s back at school. Neither will
house teeming with teenagers, leading DJs. Less fashionable things be so luxurious in the
the Colosseum in otherwise but just as much fun is the summer open-air cinemas
staid and stately Opatija is the Faces Club, on the island of Brač, which are more atmospheric:
place to go. near Bol. the films too might not be your
Split boasts several clubs first choice but the experience
with open-air terraces looking Casinos is worth trying.
out to sea, the best of which
are the two-storey O’Hara and As you would expect, the Spectator Sports
the palm-filled Tropic Club. The capital Zagreb has the most
Hemingway Bar offers a wide casinos and as with the rest of Tito’s post-war Yugoslavia,
selection of drinks, especially Croatia they are found in the of which Croatia was a part,
cocktails, good music and more upmarket hotels. (There consistently put out strong
occasional live performances. are “casinos” in lesser hotels teams in handball, football
Rock Club Uljanik has Pula’s but they are usually not worth (soccer), basketball and water
liveliest alternative concerts in visiting.) Try those at the Hotel polo. Since 1991, when Croatia
a vacant building above the International, Hotel Westin broke away to become an
shipyards. Out of town are and the Golden Sun Casino independent nation, this small
Aruba Club, a lounge bar and in the Hotel Antunović. Any country of only 4.5 million
disco, and Summer Club, for casino will have an array of slot people continues to excel in
pop/house partying. machines along with a number those sports and has added
Dubrovnik is diverse in what of card tables where stakes are tennis to its sporting repertoire.
it offers: Culture Club Revelin relatively low. Normally you can If you love tennis then go to
takes over the Revelin fort wear just smart casual clothing www.croatiaopen.hr to find
with high-volume techno; and walk straight in. However, it out the latest news on the ATP
Night Club Fuego is casual, might be worth calling ahead Croatia Open Championships,
relaxed and plays a range of before hand – the most held at Umag in July.
music; Club Lazareti is popular upmarket casinos may ask to Croats, just like so many other
and holds concerts, parties see your passport before you Europeans, love their football.
and events. can enter. The 1990s saw now legendary
On the islands, Hvar has
become a fashionable centre
for nightlife and developed a
bit of a reputation as a party
island. Early evening activity
centres around Hvar town
harbour, in bar-cum-clubs like
Carpe Diem where the dancers
warm up before heading up
the tree-covered hillside to a
big old Venetian fort that has
been converted into an
amazing venue, with tented
structures hosting plays,
concerts and an open-air
nightclub, Veneranda. Papaya
Club, on Zrće beach on the Hotel Westin in Zagreb, home to a casino

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