The best cities and towns in Croatia named

The best cities and towns in Croatia awarded

The sixth edition of the Best City/Town in Croatia competition, organised in collaboration with Jutarnji List and Ipsos Agency, concluded with a ceremonial awards event at Hotel Esplanade in Zagreb this week. 

Unlike the past two years, when six cities or towns defended their titles, this year only Vukovar, as the best large city for demographics and education, and Rab, as the best small town for living, retained their titles, Gradonacelnik.hr reported. 

Rab alongside Dubrovnik, was the only cities or towns to win in two categories this year. 

Apart from being the best city/town for living, Rab also claimed the title of the best small city/town for the economy. Dubrovnik, on the other hand, reclaimed the title of the best large city for living and the smartest city in the country.

(Photo: Grad Vukovar)

Besides Dubrovnik, the best cities/town for living in the country are Poreč in the medium-sized category and Rab in the small city/town category. 

Rab

Vukovar won the title of the best city for demographics and education for the second consecutive year, recognising its investments in families, children, and young people, as well as educational standards. U

mag and Cres also earned the title of the best city/town for demographics and education in the medium-sized and small city/town categories, respectively.

After three years in the finals, Varaždin won the title for the economy this year. In the medium-sized city/town category, Sveta Nedelja, after a one-year break, secured its fifth consecutive title as the best city for the economy. In the small city/town category, the title this year goes to Rab.

Varaždin

In the “biggest progress” category, the victory this year belongs to Samobor, which, based on various indicators and results, achieved the most significant progress in the quality of life of its citizens over the past year. 

The title of “EU funds champion” this year goes to Zagreb. Unlike previous years, this category was unique, and cities were not divided into large, medium, and small categories; they all competed together. Besides Zagreb, this year’s finalists were Petrinja, Osijek, Slavonski Brod, and Rijeka.

Zagreb

In addition to being the best for living, the City of Dubrovnik earned the title of the smartest city in the country this year through its intelligent solutions and practices. 

This category was also unique this year, and the winner was selected by a jury based on city submissions. The finalists, alongside Dubrovnik, were Kastav, Rijeka, Sveta Nedelja, and Varaždin.

Dubrovnik

The “Croatian Copenhagen,” the City of Koprivnica, celebrates another title as the best city in the Eco City category, which they previously won in our competition in 2018.

This is also a unique category, and the competition included Krk, Osijek, Rijeka, Trogir, and Vinkovci, with Trogir and Vinkovci making their first appearance in the finals of the Best City/Town competition.