Vintage travel videos of Croatia back in the day

I love a good YouTube rabbit hole. Pick a random video and see where the depths of the internet take me.

On this particular adventure, the yellow brick road led me to a treasure trove of vintage travel videos of Croatia (under Yugoslavia) spanning the 1930s all the way up to the big hair days of the 1980s.

Having not grown up in Croatia and being a fan of all things vintage and travel-related, I’m fascinated by what Croatia looked like 50, 60, or even 80 years ago. I want to know what people looked like, what their daily lives were like, how culture has evolved, what the places I go to every day looked like then, and of course, what they wore.

I found quite a few gems, and we will definitely share them all. Today, we’ll start with the first 5 vintage travel videos of Croatia so you can dive headfirst down into your own YouTube rabbit hole.

Jump to a vintage video:

• Wings to Yugoslavia (1964)
• A couple visits Dubrovnik (1959)
• Jesen na Braču (1957)
• Yugoslavia 80s promotional travel video (1980s)
• Kamerom kroz Zagreb (1957)

The facts are these…

Croatian vintage travel videos back in the day

#1 Wings to Yugoslavia (1964)

This is a wonderful travel video made by the long-defunct Pan Am airlines. While it showcases other parts of Yugoslavia, the bulk of the video spans Croatia.

Highlights: Check out the part on Split to see cars parked on Riva and what Diocletian’s Palace looked like before restoration. There is also lots about culture and everyday life.

[Read: 5 things I love about Split]

The video starts off with Belgrade and Sarajevo. Hop to the following points for Croatia:

• 5:34 – Dubrovnik
• 10:40 – Island Korčula
• 10:45 – Hvar
• 10:59 – Split
• 14:17 – River Krka – view a guide here
• 14:35 – Plitvice National Park – view a guide here

#2 A couple visits Dubrovnik (1959)

Highlights: Completely nuts to see these travelers arriving in Dubrovnik’s Old Town by car and driving down the Stradun. The city marina, at present, is the pickup point for endless tourist ships, but in this video is nearly empty and sparsely populated with cute little boats.

And, of course, one cannot overlook fashion. Who doesn’t want that red and white checked skirt?

#3 Jesen na Braču (1957)

Highlights: To start, donkeys on Riva! It also offers a glimpse into island life in the 50s, lots of riding around on horses with lassos(!), and the art of working with Brač white stone.

[Read: Croatia’s tradition of dry-stone walls]

#4 Yugoslavia 80s promotional travel video (1980s)

Highlights: This perfectly encapsulates what life in Croatia looked like nearly 40s ago. It’s filled with quick shots of nature, beaches, historical sites, life, art, craftwork, music, sports, tradition, manufacturing, and culture. Plus, the super big 80s hair must be mentioned.

#5 Kamerom kroz Zagreb (1957)

Highlights: Ban Jelačić Square with cars and crosswalks, but without its iconic equestrian statue because it was removed in 1947 as the new Communist government of Yugoslavia denounced him as a “servant of foreign interests”. He wasn’t returned to the square until 1990.

It also shows some of the now staple buildings around the square in the midst of construction. The manufacturing of machinery, cameras, televisions, and radios is also quite fascinating. There is a comprehensive glimpse of daily life in Zagreb 70 years ago… Even caffe bars.

[Read: 5 hidden garden bars in Zagreb]

View 5 more vintage travel videos of Croatia back in the day here.

View our other traveling posts

• 17 things to do in Zagreb when it rains
• Best spots in Croatia to go sledding PLUS where to buy one and winter vocabulary
• Best spots to see the stars in Croatia
• Croatia’s mountain shelters of modern architecture (within Velebit Nature Park)
• Guide on visiting thermal spas in Croatia (with a complete list of toplice)
• Hum, Istria: Smallest city in the world
• National parks in Croatia PLUS detailed visitor guides
• Stargaze at these space observatories and planetariums in Croatia
• Treehouses of Croatia
• UNESCO monuments of culture and nature in Croatia
• Weird and unique museums in Croatia