Varazdin

Just a couple of hours away from the cosmopolitan streets of Zagreb, pint-sized Varazdin just might be Croatia’s best kept secret. Not only does it occupy a pleasant location on the edge of the winding Drava River, but it's also packed to the brim with historical Baroque architecture, all thanks to its erstwhile position as Croatia’s capital in the 1700s. The latter can be best seen at the compact pedestrianized Old Town area, where the winding cobbled lanes held up by pastel facades of 18th century buildings open out onto King Tomislav Square. The spikey shadow of the Baroque town hall and the Church of Saint Nicholas lean over the terraces here, while friendly cafes untainted by tourism (yet) beckon from its corners and alcoves. Your Varazdin tour guide will also recommend visits to the whitewashed Varazdin Castle with its in-house museum, fantastic artistic masterworks at the Sermage Palace and the Insect collection at the Herzer Palace as well. And while all the above can be explored any time of the year, timing your visit with the musical Baroque festival or the Spancirfest will let you experience “Little Vienna’s” cultural riches at their true best.