This Adriatic town is a leader in family tours development – the newest one starts this Saturday

Bakar

„The Playful Bakar“, a gamified tour presented this week by the Bakar Tourist Board, is ideal for all those who love self-guided family explorations

During the last few years, a visit to Bakar is a „must“ for all of the more insightful followers of the innovative tourist content. Once the symbol of heavy industry, Bakar is nowadays a field trip and cultural tourism destination of growing popularity.

Situated in the beautiful bay not far from Rijeka, Bakar is a town of multi-millennial history and accordingly rich heritage. Having this in mind, for several years now, the local community and Bakar tourist developers pleasantly surprise us with the new interpretive walks and theme family tours. 

That is to say, these are not even surprises anymore, but something that one expects without saying. In that regard, it brings even more joy knowing that the „Playful Bakar“ spans the season of interesting tourist programs throughout winter, usually a much sleepier part of the Adriatic tourist year.

One town – three guides

But what is it all about? „The Playful Bakar“ is a gamified walk designed as a self-guided tour with three variations – for cultural, active, and scientifically / „get to know more“ oriented (little) explorers. Although primarily designed as a fun activity for children, the tour also offers an active and intriguing activity for adults exploring Bakar. 

Playful Bakar

As adds Iva Silla, the author of the tour and a well-known Croatian interpretive guide, to experience the tours, one only needs a small guidance brochure. It brings to life three imaginary guides through hidden and mysterious Bakar stories. One is peeress Ana Katarina Zrinska, born Frankopan (Zrinski and Frankopan were the two most famous families of Croatian nobility). 

There’s also a path of Ivan Čop, who lived in 19th century Bakar and had been known as the Blind Water Carrier of Bakar. The third guide is famous scientist Andrija Mohorovičić, who for some time lived in Bakar and got married here.

Accessible tourism principle

Long story short, „The Playful Bakar“ enables families and visitors to arrange their Bakar sight-seeing walks on their own, when, and how they find it most convenient. And all of that basically for free. Speaking of which, Sonja Jelušić Marić, the head of the Bakar Tourist Board, and the co-author of „The Playful Bakar“ concept, underlines the importance of accessible quality tourism products. In a time of ever-growing living costs and financial stress, the principle is more than worth a mention. 

Playful Bakar

While we’re at it, it’s also worth mentioning that in this case, instead by the final users, the financial stress has been taken care of by „The Playful Bakar“ partners: Croatian Tourist Board, Kvarner Tourist Board, The Town of Bakar. Companies Industrijska zona Bakar / Bakar Industrial Zone and INA supported it as well.