Tastes of eastern Croatia

What would be the first thing that cross your mind, when you hear “Croatia”? Seaside? Dubrovnik and Game of Thrones? Or just Christmas in Zagreb? This time we would go on Croatian Danube "coast" or Croatian far-east part – Slavonia. Far behind Croatia's top destinations, Slavonia region offers more than just visiting and sightseeing. It's the perfect place to feel, smell, taste and touch Croatian and Balkan culture on its own. This historical region has many layers - Roman, Celtic, Slavic, Austrian, Hungarian and Ottoman. Common point of all of those layers are food and wine.

The most populous urban areas in Slavonia are Osijek, Slavonski Brod, Vinkovci and Vukovar but here we will be talking about less-known places. Close to city of Osijek is Erdut, famous for its castle, wine and the biggest wine barrel in Europe. Down the way as Danube flows, Ilok is waiting for its visitors in many local wineries, wine bars and old wine cellars. Kutjevo, as the most famous wine-point of Croatia, is the place to taste best wine as well as delicious food that this region is famous for – kulen, kobasica, slanina, fish-stew. Travelling from place to place in Croatia and Balkans can be a problem. There’s no enough buses that would connect cities and villages and trains are often late or slow. Recommend is carpooling and car renting which would be perfect option for Croatian East since the roads are good and renting a car could be very cheap.

Visiting amazing castles, green valleys and rivers or just enjoying a glass of great wine accompanied by Slavonian cheese next to beautiful Danube, is a must when you visit this part of Europe. Not many people know but while visiting amazing summer festivals in Croatia and neighbouring Serbia and Hungary, this region could be perfect starting or even better – ending point for your summer vacation. Recovering your body, boosting up your energy and preparing yourself for next challenges and adventures.

You won't be hungry nor disappointed. I can promise you one thing – you will miss this region, a lot. But having Osijek airport with good offer of low-cost flights and good high-ways and connections with nearby Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Hungary, Slavonia would be easy approachable from any point.

Erdut

Ul. Josipa Glibušića 56, 31206, Erdut, Croatia

Hrvatsko narodno kazalište u Osijeku

Županijska 9, 31000 Osijek

Muzej grada Iloka - Dvorac Odescalchi

Šetalište o. Mladena Barbarića 5, 32236 Ilok

Gradski muzej Vinkovci

Trg bana Josipa Šokčevića 16, 32100 Vinkovci

Kutjevo

Ul. Matije Gupca 7, 34340, Kutjevo, Croatia