Bus from KARLOVAC to HAMBURG

Karlovac, situated 55km southwest from Zagreb, is the best place in Croatia for those who look for a special rafting and kayaking adventure, provided by the confluence of four rivers: the Kupa, Mreznica, Korana and Dobra rivers. Karlovac canbe easily reached by bus and can turn out to be a nice day trip for those staying in Zagreb.

What makes Karlovac unique is its star-shaped design. It is necessary to point out that, while not many towns can brag about the knowledge of the exact date of its founding, as well as the fact that they were a town from their very establishment, Karlovac is one of them. The construction of Karlovac  began in 1579, or to be precise, 13 July 1579 , and the ideas to make it a "Renaissance town", and for that reason, a special attentionwas given to its beauty and harmony, but also to serve as a defense against Turkish invaders. This old town in the shape of a six-pointed staris comprised of 24 equally divided blocks.

Besides wandering the streets and rafting the rivers, Karlovac has  a lot more to offer. For, instance, Korana river with Foginovo beach is a famous tourist attraction, as well as bathing spot known for its medicinal properties of the pristine waters of the river.

The new and exciting Karlovac freshwater aquarium, Aquatika, was designedin sucha manner as to allow its visitors to follow a series of ramps that recall a river's flow. Besides the specimens from Karlovac’s rivers, the museum also exibits astounding flora and fauna from all over Croatia, with background effects such as evocative lighting and water sounds.

Main town square -Josip ban Jelačić square: The planning of the city was carefully done and the streets within the walls of the city are arranged at right angles. After the plague epidemic in 1691, a votive column (the Plague Pillar), with a statue of the Madonna on top of it, was built on the main town square. A well, ornamented with allegorical representations of the town’s rivers, was built in the geometrical centre of the Star and square in 1869 on the location of a baroque fountain. 

The Vrbanić gardens: The gardens were designed as an open-style botanical garden. Named after the Mayor Josip Vrbanić, the gardens bear a resemblance to English and French parks and contain rare trees and plants. Convenienty located in the southeastern part of the town, between the Korana river and the Karlovac ''Star" (Zvijezda), is a favorite place of tourists who like to unwind after a long stroll around Karlovac.

Dubovac Castle: The Old Town of Dubovac, situated on a hill with a beautiful panoramic view over the city, is regarded as one of the best preserved, as well as most captivating architectural monuments of the feudal age. On the site of the present-dayfort, there are still traces of an Early Stone Age settlement, while the castle was built at the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century. During the tours around the castle, spectators can enjoy the exibition of history that made Karlovac what it is today. In the vicinity of the castle is one of the oldest and most beautiful town shrines, the Early Baroque church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Snows.

The Church of The Holy Trinity, built in the same timeas the fortress, is the oldest building in Karlovac, while  monastery was built in the 17th century. They are situated on the main square (Ban Jelačić Square). The whole complex is baroque and has a rich inventory. 

Beside its rich history, Karlovac and its surroundings offer interesting hiking tours in its nearby forests, especially the Kozjača trail, while during summer months visitors can enjoy a variety of events, such as the Beer fest and numerous fairs.

 

Hamburg - the Gate to the world, the City of bridges or Venice on the Elbe. Hamburg belongs to one of the ten most popular tourist destionations in Europe. With its sitizens numbering around 1,79 millions, Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany after Berlin, the eighth biggest city in the European Union and consequently the biggest city that is not at the same time the capital of a state. Hamburg is divided into seven districts and 104 city parts. Hamburg is located in the northern Germany with the warm maritime climate. The warmest month is July with an average temperature of 17.4 ° C, and the coldest month is January with 1.3 ° C. Temperatures around 28 ° C are not uncommon in summer.

Hamburg is famous for its tourist attractions:

The Port of Hamburg (der Hamburger Hafen) is the largest sea port in Germany and one of the most effcient ports of the world. For this very reason the city bears the name of the Gate to the world. Every year, up to 10,000 ships enter the port of the Hansemetropole,and their number is increasing from day to day. In total, the port, which is more than 800 years old, occupies an area of around 7,200 hectares, which is about one-tenth of Hamburg's area.

The Warehouse District (Speicher stadt) is famost around the world. Since july 2015 this legendary attraction, together with the Kontorhaus District and Chilehaus, belongs to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. It is considered to be the largest connected warehouse complex in the world that was built in 1883.

One of the most popular sightseeing spots in Hamburg is the Main church of St. Michaelis (die Hauptkirche St.Michaelis). The 132-meter-high church is the landmark of the city and one of the most important buildings in Hamburg. Among the locals the church is affectionatelly called "Michel". Since its first edification in 1647, the church has been rebuilt twice.

Another architectural as well as musical sight of Hamburg is the Elbphilharmonie. It combines tradition and modernity in such an impressively manner that cannot be compared to any other city in Germany.

If you're looking for city sightseeing in Hamburg, the you should definitely visit the Hamburg Town Hall (das Hamburger Rathaus) in the city center. The magnificent building dates from the 19th century and stands out from the typical Hamburg architecture by its extremely elaborately decorated facade. The sandstone building, which regularly houses exhibitions, evokes associations with a neoclassical castle.

If you want to explore Hamburg with children, the Zoo Hagenbeck (Tierpark Hagenbeck) is just the right choice for you. Sightseeing for the whole family is worthwhile in the largest private zoo in the world. Thezoo, which is more than 100 years old, is the first in the world to completely dispense with cages in its enclosures and to adopt a more equitable attitude which provides more freedom to the enclosed animals.

The Floating Dock (Landungsbrücken) – if the statistics are to be believed, then the St. Pauli Floating Dock is second ,ost important and famous tourist attraction after the Brendenburg Gate. As a matter of fact, the dock is always lively and there’s always something going on.

St. Pauli and the Reeperbahn - The Reeperbahn, also known as "Kiez", is and will remain Hamburg's amusement district number one. With the operetta house, numerous tabledance bars, discotheques and student clubs, there is always something to satisfy each person’s taste at the surface of 930 meters! During the day it can berather quiet,but it is the evening when the street awakens in its complete splendour.

Hamburg is a cosmopolitan and diverse city with an incredible number of sights, events and leisure activities, making it the perfect destination for a short stay.