When most people think of Croatia, they picture sparkling coastlines, sun-soaked islands, and stone-built cities. These images are real—but there’s also another, quieter Croatia. A Croatia that doesn’t live on postcards, but in the voice of its literature and culture. With the launch of Listen to Croatia, a new initiative on the leading regional audiobook platform book&zvook, that inner world is now just a listen away.
Stories Instead of Souvenirs
Listen to Croatia is a carefully curated collection of audiobooks by acclaimed Croatian authors, professionally translated and recorded in English. It’s aimed at travellers, expats, digital nomads, and all those whose curiosity goes beyond the first glimpse of the sea. Instead of flyers and postcards, many Croatian tourist destinations now greet visitors with QR codes unlocking a free audiobook: a gateway into the emotional and cultural heart of the country.
By launching this campaign, we’re demonstrating how much a small, focused community can achieve when it dares to do something uncommon for its linguistic and cultural space. This local audiobook shop was created with the belief that even small cultures have their own sound to offer. The real value of this project lies in the fact that it didn’t grow out of a passing trend, but from deep reflection on what our literature becomes when given a living voice.
This small act gave birth to a big idea: that literature can—and should—be part of top-tier tourism experiences. Listen to Croatia isn’t just a translated book collection; it’s an invitation to encounter Croatia differently, for every traveller who wants to hear something beyond official phrases and picture-perfect scenes.
“We are thrilled that the international scene has recognised the value of this approach, and that our authors—their voices—are becoming bridges to the wider world. This campaign is just the beginning. The possibilities are huge. We believe cultural tourism doesn’t need to be the domain of big nations, nor does our literature only speak to us. Now, it speaks to anyone who wants to listen. And that deeply reshapes what we think Croatia is—both for us who live here and those who come to visit.”
— Ljubica Letinić, co-founder of book&zvook
The Listen to Croatia audiobook series brings together notable contemporary Croatian authors, whose works have been translated and professionally recorded in English. The themes span from war memories and family secrets to feminism, youth culture, and identity. These audiobooks include poetic meditations from Adriatic islands, philosophical journeys across Europe, powerful stories from Lika, Osijek and war-torn Sarajevo, as well as ironic reflections on post-socialist everyday life. Authors featured include Miroslav Krleža, Predrag Matvejević, Maša Kolanović, Damir Karakaš, Robert Perišić, Olja Savičević Ivančević, and others.
More about the Listen to Croatia edition:
https://listentocroatia.bookzvook.com/summer-club
Travel as a New Cultural Experience
Your Croatian vacation with a plot twist
In an era of fast travel and visual overload, listening offers a different rhythm—a slower, more intimate way to connect. The Listen to Croatia edition invites you not just to observe landscapes, but to immerse yourself in the voices, histories, and subtle rhythms of the country. Whether you live here, are visiting, or simply miss Croatia, these stories bring deeper meaning to every experience. Landmarks become memory-holders. Everyday drives turn into cultural voyages.
The Listen to Croatia collection has already gained international attention—particularly at the 2025 London Book Fair, where it was showcased alongside the world’s biggest audiobook platforms. This marks a major leap for Croatian literature, proof that its stories and voices are travelling far beyond national borders, now made possible by the book&zvook platform.
Travel isn’t just a change of location—it’s a search for meaning. What we truly bring back from a journey isn’t a postcard or a souvenir, but a story that stays with us forever. So, as you explore Croatia or prepare for your next trip—don’t just pack plans and photos. Take a story with you. Listen to Croatia. Discover the country from the inside out—voice by voice, story by story.