Velika Gorica, Croatia

Capital City

With a population of 61,075, Velika Gorica is no sleepy village - it's the largest city in Zagreb County and home to Croatia's busiest airport. However, beneath the surface, the bureaucracy can be a persistent headache, and the city's history as a former Roman port town means the winters can be bone-chilling. Still, for those who don't mind a bit of red tape and can tolerate the cold, Velika Gorica offers an authentic taste of Croatian culture, from the Turopolje Museum's celebration of the region's heritage to the charming wooden chapels that dot the landscape.