Cocktail-hopping in Dubrovnik? Yes, please. Here are recommendations from master distiller Vlaho Carevic, who produces Habitat, Dubrovnik’s first and only small-batch gin:
AFAR: Avoid the Crowds in Croatia
Photo of Stari Grad on Hvar Island by Ivan Vuković
You wanted Croatia recommendations? You’ve got them! Here they are, from yours truly and experts and friends in Hrvatska:
Avoid the Crowds in Croatia by Visiting These Lesser-Known Islands, Vineyards, and Villages
BBC Travel: An epic Dubrovnik journey that ditches the crowds
Dubrovnik has long been one of Europe’s most over-touristed destinations. Now, a new Camino footpath is revealing a different side of the city beyond its medieval walls.
READ MY BBC TRAVEL FEATURE HERE!
Dubrovnik’s Villa Argentina
It’s always a pleasure to write for Afar, this time about a historic hotel’s reopening in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Read the story here:
One of Dubrovnik’s Most Beloved Waterfront Hotels Is Back
After a multiyear renovation, Villa Argentina returns to Dubrovnik, Croatia, bringing new life to a storied Adriatic waterfront hotel that generations of locals and travelers have cherished.
Adriatic Writers Conference 2026
Announcing the Second Annual ADRIATIC WRITERS CONFERENCE–with me (AWC founder) and bestselling authors Andi Bartz, Jo Piazza, and Lidija Hilje–from May 24-30, 2026, on Croatia’s gorgeous island of Lošinj!
In addition to the intimate nature of the conference with intensive small-group fiction workshops (between 5-7 participants per workshop) focusing on developed projects and advanced craft, I believe what sets AWC apart is a focus on the practical aspect of building a writing career. Master Classes and panels on author marketing and publicity, the business of publishing, framing a premise and pitch, and revision–led by award-winning and bestselling authors–give aspiring and published writers insight into how to navigate the ever-shifting world of publishing, building on each author’s individual strengths. I think last year’s testimonials speak volumes.
Join us!
BBC Travel: Pomalo in Dubrovnik
Photo by Ivan Vuković
A glimpse into my “mumcation” solo trip to Dubrovnik 🙂
READ THE FULL BBC TRAVEL FEATURE HERE
“I was craving some unhurried time alone – a return to my people-watching days 21 years ago when I studied in Dubrovnik and wrote in my journal at Café Festival on Stradun, the old town’s main thoroughfare, lingering over a cup of coffee for hours. I wanted to reacquaint myself with the selves contained within me, ensconced like matryoshka nesting dolls: the university student who fell in love with Dubrovnik; the woman who got engaged and married there; the mum who celebrated her daughter’s first birthday at Restaurant Magdalena on the same terrace where we’d held our wedding reception.”
THE CHEESEMAKER’S DAUGHTER WINS THREE ZIBBY AWARDS!
So thrilled to share that my debut novel THE CHEESEMAKER’S DAUGHTER won in three Zibby Award Categories:
– Best Book For The Traveler
– Best Book Ror The Foodie
– Best Book That Made You Escape
THE CHEESEMAKER’S DAUGHTER: A NOVEL
PUB DATE: AUGUST 6, 2024 (Regalo Press)
When Marina’s father summons her to their Croatian island from New York—and away from her evaporating marriage—to help him save his failing cheese factory, she must face her rocky past and an uncertain future.
PRESS & MEDIA:
“Kristin Vuković’s debut novel is a mouthwatering platter of culture, history, and the everlasting struggle for balance between tradition and progress….Vuković employs beautiful, all-encompassing sensory descriptions, from the smell of the herbs in the air to the squawk of seagulls, or the faded floral print on the sheets Marina had since before she could remember. These rich details build an enticing world.”
—Donna Edwards, Associated Press
‘The Cheesemaker’s Daughter’ is a culturally rich novel that will make you really hungry
“Vuković’s book wears its research lightly but it’s clear she knows her stuff, and those details are what makes ‘Daughter’ such a gouda read.”
—Chris Hewitt, Minnesota Star-Tribune
When her life falls apart, ‘The Cheesemaker’s Daughter’ seeks answers in curds
“[D]eftly weaves together themes of identity andbelonging, love and loss, and growth and acceptance….Reading it, I wastransported to that windswept island and felt like I was watching over Marina’sshoulder on her journey.” —Blane Bachelor, Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler – Women Who Travel Book Club, top summer reads
“This magical, richly drawn debut novel transports readers to the idyllic Croatian island of Pag. When Marina Maržić’s father summons her back to Croatia to help with the family cheese factory, she flees New York City and her crumbling marriage. While there, Marina must face the son of a rival cheesemaker and her past. As she attempts to save the factory, she also reinvents herself — and finds herself again — in the face of new challenges.”
— Woman’s World Book Club, August 13 – August 19, 2024
“When I heard this debut novel was filled with beautiful descriptions of Croatia, family drama and behind-the-scenes details of the cheese-making process, I was intrigued by the unique premise,” says Melissa D’Agnese, FIRST Senior Editor. “I enjoyed the descriptions of coastal Croatia and of the delicious food throughout the story,” says Melissa. “I was also totally swept up in Marina’s journey as she comes to terms with her past, present and future. Literary fiction and family saga fans will devour this book!” (Regalo, 2024)
— FIRST FOR WOMEN Book Club Recommends the New Kevin Kwan Book and More for October 11 to October 24, 2024
“Bubbling with unexpected twists and connections, it is a gripping story that will encourage readers to examine their own identity and what makes a place home.”
—Vesna Jaksic Lowe, Panorama Journal
Fodor’s: You’re Eating Cheese From The Wrong European Country
AFAR: I met a Cheese Fortune Teller and She Told Me Where I Had to Travel Next
Electric Literature: 10 Must-Read Books Set In Croatia
Croatians Online Podcast: YouTube
Croatians Online: Spotify
A Mighty Blaze: Caroline Leavitt in conversation with Kristin Vuković
HRT Croatian National Television x Kristin Vuković
Real Fiction Podcast: Lori Messing McGarry in conversation with Kristin Vuković
Virtuoso: Family Travel in New Delhi
It was so fun to report on family travel in New Delhi, where we had our second wedding ceremony after Dubrovnik, Croatia!
Read about our adventures with a kabootarbaaz, learning rangoli, and visit to a gurdwara:
Travel + Leisure: Pride of Place
Thrilled to be a featured contributor in the September issue of Travel + Leisure (my birthday month!) What a great present to see my article on Zagreb’s fine-dining scene in print.
“My stomach wasn’t big enough for the gorgeous parade of courses at Noel restaurant, which seemed to keep coming and coming!” says Vuković, who wrote about the fine-dining scene in Zagreb, Croatia, for this issue. Her novel, The Cheesemaker’s Daughter, is set to be published in 2024.
Read the story here: