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More Advent and Christmas celebrations in Croatia 2024

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I recently wrote about the fantastic Advent in Zagreb that will be kicking off this Saturday, 30th November in Croatia’s capital city. Many of the favourites of this largest of Christmas events will return this year, including the beautiful tree on Ban Jelacic Square, a great atmosphere and excellent food at Fuliranje, multiple concerts and live music, special events at museums and ice skating at Ledeni Park. But let’s take a look at some of the other Christmas celebrations in Croatia being held this 2024 festive season for there are many!

Many of these Christmas events feature very similar elements – all will have regular live music sessions, plus food stalls telling typical Christmas and winter fare (think fritule – doughnuts – mulled wine and hot drinks, and bakalar – cod – in Dalmatia). New Year’s Eve is always a big event, with a free concert to see in the New Year that will normally be accompanied by fireworks!

If you’re visiting a location not mentioned here, you won’t be missing out. Just ask locally for even small towns really get into the festive spirit with Christmas food, drink, music and good cheer. (And beautiful decorations!)

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Istria

Advent Porec will largely centre around the main Matija Gupca Square. It is here the Advent will open at 4.30pm on Friday 6th December with the lighting of the first advent candle and the arrival of St Nicholas and Krampus, the two figures who will either reward good children or “punish” naughty ones! The square then hosts many events over the course of Advent Porec, from concerts to children’s plays, photo opportunities with Santa and of course the New Year’s Eve concert. Advent Porec will also offer an ice skating rink that is free for the duration of the event.

Advent Porec
Illuminated stiltwalkers at Advent Porec – watch out for them at the opening!
(Credit: Advent Porec)

Advent in Pula opens this Sunday, 1st December, running until 6th January. A highlight will surely be the Arena being covered in 1,200 square metres of snow (yes, really!), decorated with Christmas trees and pumped with mist and illuminated. This very festive setting will be the setting for Pula’s 600-square-metre winter ice rink. (Wow!) Another highlight is the merry train that will operate from 21st to 30th December. The start and end point of the train’s journey will be The Arena, and it will embark on a marvellous 30-minute journey through the streets of Pula to take in all the festive cheer. Of course, there will be a full musical programme as well as multiple fun events for kids. Watch out for a multitude of skydiving Santas landing at Uljanik Stadium on 16th December between 10am and 11am! (And handing out sweets!)

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Kvarner Region

If you like your winter fun all sparkly and twinkly, you must head to Opatija Advent. On from 29th November to 6th January, this event was placed on European Best Destinations‘ list of the “Best Christmas Lights in Europe”. Multiple locations of the town will be festooned with hundreds of lights – if you like to see a preview, take a look at this Advent Virtual Walk. Head to the famous lungomare seaside promenade which will be turned into a “Xmas Street”, or the Hotel Imperial for food kiosks selling tasty treats. The Amadria Park Opatija Hotel will also be offering festive food fun, such as Breakfast with Santa on 5th December! Finally, be sure to swing by beautiful Angiolina Park for all sorts of live performances.

Advent in Rijeka (30th November to 7th January) will be filled with gastro offerings and a Christmas market on the prettily decorated pedestrianised thoroughfare, the Korzo. An absolute must is visiting Advent on Gradina (3rd December to 6th January) at a Christmas light-adorned Trsat Castle which itself hosts live music, kids’ activities, food booths and a nativity scene.

Adent on Gradina in Trsat Castle, above Rijeka (Credit: Rijeka Tourist Board)

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – North Dalmatia

Would you believe – there’s one Christmas festival that is already under the way in Croatia! The Zadar Advent & Christmas Market actually opened this past Sunday 24th November (it will run until 2nd January). The central part of it is indeed the Christmas market on Petar Zoranic Square – come here to indulge in fritule (mini doughnuts), mulled wine and more and enjoy numerous concerts, sometimes several in one day. Head to Five Wells Square on the morning of 24th December to catch the arrival of Santa Claus! 

Adventura Sibenik is one of the loveliest Christmas festivals in Dalmatia; this year it will be on from 6th December to 4th January. A whole heap of live music events will feature including two New Year’s Eve concerts – one in front of the cathedral (featuring singer Mario Biondi), and one in the park (with Dubrovnik band Silente and local faves BluVinil). There will also be a Christmas Fair with plenty of delicious food, ice skating and more. Adventura Sibenik is also the only plastic-free Advent in Croatia!

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Split

This year’s Advent in Split (30th November to 6th January) will have the rather sweet tagline “to you and yours”. Befitting Croatia’s second-largest city, this is a very big event – live concerts in multiple locations (on the Riva, on Pjaca Square and more); kids’ activities including crafting and workshops; a Christmas bus; full-on festive decorations on the Riva, in Dioceletian’s Palace cellars, and on the Peristyle; and much, much more. 

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Dubrovnik

The Dubrovnik Winter Festival is a large-scale event that is now in its 11th year. It will kick off on 30th November and run until the 6th January. You can enjoy Santa at the Rector’s Palace; a retro fair; “Days of Codfish” and of course New Year’s Eve celebrations on Stradun. And much more, of course!

A highlight for visitors will be the free sightseeing tours in English at 9.30am every Saturday morning. Meet outside Pile Gate Tourist Office to join a tour of the Old Town and finish it at St Blaise’s Church where there will be a free folk performance at 11.30am. (Tours conducted in Croatian take place at 12.30pm.)

Dubrovnik Winter Festival - Christnas celebrations in Croatia
Christmas on Stadun (Credit: Dubrovnik Winter Festival)

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Northern Croatia

Advent in Varazdin starts on 29th November (to 6th January) – it’s where you need to head to visit “the most beautiful advent in Croatia”! Santa has his own city here which is a real highlight – board the elevator to head directly up to Santa’s house! If he’s temporarily not in when you visit, snap some festive shots and enjoy a sweet treat instead. Be sure to make time for the panoramic Advent Ferris wheel that’s open daily, a true festive treat and a great way of seeing Varazdin from above. Enjoy live music and excellent food on the Korzo – where the Advent wreath in front of the Cathedral will be lit every Saturday.

Christmas celebrations in Croatia - Varazdin (Credit: Adent Varazdin(
The Ferris Wheel in Varazdin (Credit: Adent Varazdin)

ll-on festive decorations on the Riva, in Dioceletian’s Palace cellars, and on the Peristyle; and much, much more. 

Christmas celebrations in Croatia – Eastern Croatia

Advent in Osijek will take place from 30th November to 31st December and will be full of “good wishes from Osijek”. Join Santa at the Archaeological Museum or pop along to the fun fair in King Drzislav Park. Ride the fun-filled Christmas tram and have a skate at the rink!

More info on Christmas celebrations in Croatia

Take a look at the following websites to learn more about what’s happening where and when for Christmas celebrations in Croatia 2024:

The best place for remote working at Christmas time? Dubrovnik!

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A study conducted by Privacy Journal has revealed the perhaps surprising news that Dubrovnik is the number one location for remote working at Christmas time, topping a list of forty-eight cities across the world. Judging all of the the cities on the list by criteria including connectivity, costs and prices, fun, shopping and festive atmosphere and safety, this southernmost Croatian city emerged as the winner, beating larger cities such as London, Amsterdam, Rome, Tokyo and even New York.

How was the study into remote working at Christmas conducted?

Individual elements across the five previously mentioned criteria were researched for each city, awarding each a score between 1 (best) to 48 (worst).

In the category of connectivity, factors such as broadband speeds, number of co-working spaces and availability of free Wi-Fi in the city were considered. Costs of course included accommodation (AirBnB) costs, transport costs, and the average price of wine and beer. The fun category took a look at how many restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops and nightlife options were available per capita. The most important category for Christmastime – “shopping and festive atmosphere” – took a look at how many shopping centres and gift shops per capita existed, as well as taking a look at the Google search volume for the terms “Christmas markets”, “Christmas in…” and “Christmas lights in…”. And the safety category of course judged just that for each city.

Whilst Dubrovnik emerged the overall winner, the other cities in the top ten were (in order from two to ten) Prague, Krakow, Budapest, Edinburgh, Bruges, Kyoto, Warsaaw, London and Bratislava.

Dubrovnik has been revealed as the best place for remote working at Christmas time (map)

What did Dubrovnik score highly on?

Whilst Dubrovnik can’t compete with some of the larger cities in elements such as the number of coworking spaces and internet speeds, it did very well on most nightlife venues, culinary options, coffee shops and gift shops (all marked per capita). In fact, the city was number one for the “fun” category which includes all of these elements!

Dubrovnik also placed second in the shopping and festive atmosphere category (behind the mighty London!) and third in the category of safety. This is no surprise, surely – Dubrovnik and Croatia are very safe for visitors.

What else is so good about Dubrovnik at Christmas time?

Well, Dubrovnik is a true gem of a destination in summertime, there’s no denying that and its many visitors delight in its gorgeous scenery, excellent sights, lovely beaches, coastal day trips and more.

But the city is expanding its tourist offering, doing its best to entice visitors year-round.

Whilst you can’t dive into the Adriatic in winter, you can still enjoy many restaurants, cafes, and wine bars in the Old Town and the rest of the city. The city’s many sights are of course open (most, understandably, with reduced opening hours) and the Old Town Walls look just as majestic! And if you think Stradun and the other Old Town streets look magical in summer, just imagine them adorned with twinkly Christmas lights. (Below is a little preview.)

Dubrovnik the best place for remote working at Christmas time - a decorated Stradun

But what about Christmas? Well, it’s the wonderful Dubrovnik Winter Festival that will cover that aspect of December fun. Now in its 11th year, the festival will start on 30th November 2024 and run until 6th January 2025. The festival is actually a multi-event celebration, with many different components on the four weeks of the programme.

Amongst the festival’s highlights are city tours in English every Saturday morning at 9.30am – followed by a folklore performance at 11.30am in front of St Blaise’s Church; Santa Claus appearing at the Rector’s Palace; workshops and special exhibitions at some of Dubrovnik’s museums and galleries; many, many concerts; a retro fair on 14th & 15th December; fun at what is called “North Pole Station” on Luza Square; Dubrovnik restaurants participating in “Days of Codfish” (cod – bakalar – being a typical winter dish); a Christmas market and much, much more.

New Year’s Eve will also be massively celebrated, with day-long celebrations. These will culminate with the usual free evening concert on Stradun to see in the New Year – this year Italian singer Zucchero and famed Croatian singer Tony Cetinski will be performing.

New Year celebrations on Stadun, Dubrovnik
New Year celebrations on Stadun, Dubrovnik (Credit: Dubrovnik Winter Festival)

Getting to Dubrovnik in winter

If you’re not already in this fine city working hard and doing all of your (no doubt) excellent remote work, this year it’s easier than ever to reach Dubrovnik in winter. That’s largely in part down to Ryanair who in 2024 introduced year-round flights to this southern Croatian city. At this time of year, they operate flights twice a week – on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Otherwise, consider flights with Croatia Airlines by flying via Zagreb.

Will you be visiting Dubrovnik – for remote working or not – this winter?

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Advent in Zagreb 2024

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There’s no escaping it – Christmas season is very nearly upon us! (Although judging by some of the Christmas decorations I’ve already seen up and about, we may already be in it!) More and more Croatian towns and cities are hosting ever more elaborate and wonderful Christmas markets and festivities at the end of each year, but the biggest one of all is the highly impressive Advent in Zagreb 2024. This year, Zagreb’s Christmas market will be taking place from Saturday 30th November 2024 until 7th January 2025. That leaves plenty of time for you to enjoy Zagreb and its Christmas decorations!

What is Advent in Zagreb 2024?

I’ve called it a “Christmas market” but Advent in Zagreb 2024 will be so much more. A “Christmas market” might give you the idea that it’s just a few Christmassy stalls selling trinkets and hot wine on the main square.

In reality, Advent in Zagreb sees practically the whole city taken over by multiple events and celebrations, traditional wintery activities and beautiful decorations. There’s a fantastic atmosphere all around, and multiple opportunities to try hearty, warming local food and indulge in a hot beverage or three.

What will be the main attractions at Advent in Zagreb 2024?

The Main Square – Trg Ban Jelacic

Of course, Zagreb’s main square – Trg Ban Jelacic – will offer many fun things to do for this year’s Advent. One of which is the traditional lighting of the advent candles themselves, the first of which will be done on the opening day of the celebrations, Saturday 30th November. These candles are placed around the square’s iconic Mandusevac Fountain. Each year, the opening of Advent in Zagreb welcomes a special guest – the mayor of a foreign capital city. This year it is the turn of the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony,

The Advent in Zagreb candles (Credit: Julien Duval)
The advent candles around Mandusevac Fountain (Credit: Julien Duval & Zagreb Tourist Board)

The main square is also home to Zagreb’s main Christmas tree, a fine, super-tall specimen that’s beautifully adorned with many decorations.

And it’s Zagreb’s main square that will host the high-spirited New Year’s Eve celebrations, with a live concert to ring in the New Year. This year, 2024 Eurovision runner-up Baby Lasagna will perform!

The 2023 Advent in Zagreb Christmas Tree on Trg Ban Jelacic (Credit: Julien Duval & Zagreb Tourist Board)
The 2023 Advent in Zagreb Christmas Tree on Trg Ban Jelacic (Credit: Julien Duval & Zagreb Tourist Board)

Santa comes to Zrinjevac Park

Zrinjevac Park is always beautifully decorated every Advent, so it’s no surprise to hear that Santa will be taking a break from consulting all of the naughty and nice lists and offering sleigh rides around the park! These will be offered from 6pm to 8pm every Tuesday to Sunday.

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Christmas Trams

Here’s something I’m super excited about! Two Christmas trams will be driving through the city during Advent to jazz up Zagreb transport. Riding on one of the city’s trams is a fun experience on any ordinary day; a Christmas tram is even better!

A Christmas tram

Watch out for a Tram Flash Mob (assorted times and days; held for the first time at 5.30pm on 5th December) on Ban Jelacic Square and join in with the singing and dancing!

Polar Express in Gric Tunnel

Zagreb’s fascinating Gric Tunnel will once again magically turn into the North Pole (based on Chris Van Allsburg’s book, the Polar Express) featuring snowy scenes and polar animals. Open daily.

Advent in Zagreb 2024 - Gric Tunnel (Credit: Julien Duval & Zagreb Tourist Board)
Gric Tunnel (Credit: Julien Duval & Zagreb Tourist Board)

Christmas at the Museums

Zagreb’s many wonderful museums will also be celebrating Christmas with a number of fine events. Venues taking part in Christmas celebrations include the Natural History Museum, Zagreb City Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Chocolate Museum.

Musical Events

What is Christmas without the festive cheer of music? It’s no surprise that this year’s Advent in Zagreb will once again feature many excellent musical events, from one-off concerts to regular live music.

The base of Lotrscak Tower will see Advent Under the Lantern held at 4.30pm every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Various singing groups such as Klapa Kana G and gospel group The Messengers will delight the crowds.

Vocal group Vox will be celebrating with Zagreb Advent Postcards – a series of pop-up concerts at various central Zagreb locations such as Oktogon Shopping Centre and Ilica Skyscraper. Both international and Croatian Christmas classics will be performed!

Chamber music group The Zagreb Soloists will be performing Advent Concerts (at 11am on 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd December) at either the Zagreb City Music or the Ethnographic Museum. The concerts are free but you must pre-register by emailing press@zagrebacki-solisti.com.

In From Christmas Balconies to Zagreb, six-piece brass band Ad Gloriam will be performing from some of the prettiest balconies in the city – such as at Caffe Lav at Opaticka ulica 2.

Chamber Choir Ivan Filipović will be performing what will no doubt be a truly heartwarming concert on Trg Ban Jelacic at 11am on 24th December for the Choirs on Christmas Eve Concert.

Fuliranje

The much-loved Fuliranje (translated to fooling around in English) will be back on Josip Juraj Strossmayer Square from 27th November. It is one of the best places in the city to go to during Advent in Zagreb, with its excellent atmosphere, many food and drink options live music and other festivities.

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Advent Celebrations for Children

As with every year, there are several events and locations that are targeted specifically for the younger generation. For 2024, this includes a live nativity scene that will take place in Opatovina Park multiple times a day from 20th December. Teatrino klincolino will be putting on performances of popular and lesser-known children’s tales from Wednesdays to Sundays each week throughout Advent.

The Croatian Chamber of Trade at Ilica 49 will once again be hosting a Craftsman’s Advent (28th November to 7th January). Beautifully handcrafted wooden toys and games from days gone by will come to life, delighting both young and old.

The very sweet Zagreb Zoo will also be joining in with the Christmas celebrations and is an ideal place to take kids for an animal adventure.

Getting There

Zagreb is a fantastic city to visit any time of year – just take a look at the Visit Croatia guide to Zagreb for a full rundown of the many attractions, museums and galleries, restaurants and cafes, events, things to do with the kids and much more to see what to do there.

But Christmas time is when Zagreb’s delights ramp up to another level with all the many attractions mentioned above. Really, why wouldn’t you visit Zagreb at this time of year? It really is so suitable for a weekend or short break.

From the UK & Ireland, Ryanair offers daily flights from London Stansted and flights three times a week from Dublin. British Airways and Croatia Airlines offer flights several times a week.

There are also numerous flights, plus train and bus services from other European cities. Take a look at our Getting to Zagreb page for more details of all of these travel options.

More info on Advent in Zagreb 2024

I feel like I’ve barely touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to talking about all of the Advent in Zagreb events! So make sure you take a look at the official Advent in Zagreb website for all the details about what is on, where and when. You can also learn more on the Zagreb Tourist Board website.

When you’re in Zagreb, do also pop along to the Tourist Board on the main square to pick up lots of useful brochures and leaflets. They can also help you with any questions you may have!

Press coverage on Croatia

Latest press coverage on Croatia round-up: early December edition!

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Are you booking your holidays for 2024 yet? Clearly, some of the travel press think you are as there’s been a fair amount of coverage on Croatia recently which I’m sure is inspiring you to start looking for flights and holidays! Take a look below at the November and early December press coverage on Croatia.

Winter Magic in Croatia

First up is a wonderful piece in yesterday’s Sunday Times Travel section which actually isn’t about travelling to Croatia next year. Well, not in the summer, at least!

The article by Mary Novakovich takes a very welcome look at wintertime in Croatia, and all the wonderful experiences you can have. Sure, you can’t go to the beach in winter but you can enjoy numerous Christmas markets and celebrations all over the country, and enjoy the towns in central and northern Croatia when the inevitable snowfall turns them into real winter wonderland.

press coverage on Croatia - December 2023

Mary also makes the good point that winter is a brilliant time to visit some of Croatia’s famous national parks such as Plitvice and Krka. Not only are the entrance fees a fraction of what they are in summer, there are very few fellow visitors. If you’ve been to these parks in summer you’ll know that they can be crowded beyond belief. But in winter you can enjoy their tranquil serenity. And if it has snowed and the waters and waterfalls are frozen, the parks really do offer up some magical scenes.

Even after New Year, there’s fun to be had. The Rijeka Carnival celebrations begin in mid-January (the first main event – the Rijeka Carnival Queen Pageant and the Handover of the Key to the City is on 19th January 2024) and extend for almost a month up until the main event, the Carnival Parade, on 11th February 2024.

You can read the article online here: I’ve been to Croatia dozens of times. Here’s why I love it in winter

Split instead of Dubrovnik, and Ljubljana to Zagreb

Saturday’s Daily Telegraph Travel section included a couple of pieces on Croatia…and a lovely photo of glorious Split.

In a piece on how some large cruise ship companies are having to make alternative port arrangments due to local restrictions, the newspaper offers up some alternatives to the popular cruise ship destinations of Venice, Dubrovnik, Santorini, Barcelona and Amsterdam.

For Dubrovnik they suggest the alternative of Split, of course, but also mention that lovely Sibenik is another viable option.

Next up, in a piece entitled “Why two cities are better than one”, the newspaper examines possibilities for a twin city break – essentially a multi-night break in which you enjoy two closely positioned European cities instead of just one, travelling between the two places by train.

Visit Croatia thinks this is a brilliant idea, not least because Visit Croatia recently enjoyed a twin-city break of her own, flying into Ljubljana and out of Zagreb – taking the train from one to the other – and enjoying both to the max.

Guess what two cities the Daily Telegraph recommends? Ljubljana and Zagreb! (Did they read my mind?)

They say:

Okay, so it’s slightly over the two-hour limit [the train takes 2 hours 8 minutes] but we think you’ll agree it’s worth it for this capital combo. Plus, both these former Yugoslavian cities are easy to walk around, so the journey between them is all the time you’ll be spending on public transport.

Jane Knight, The Daily Telegraph, 2nd December 2024

Take a look at our Day Trip to Ljubljana from Zagreb to read up on how we enjoyed our time.

Croatia: The best island hop ever

Actually published a few weeks ago, the UK national morning freebie newspaper Metro featured a highly colourful piece on what they called “The best island hop ever”. The article recounts a small cruise holiday in Croatia, hopping down the coast from Split to Dubrovnik and taking in islands such as Hvar, Vis, Korcula and Mljet but also experiencing mainland towns and sights such as Trogir, Krka National Park, Slano and Ston.

Overall the author, Rachel Moss, loved exploring the country by cruise ship…highly recommending it! (Although she was a little disappointed with the older ages of her shipmates.)

“Travelling by small cruise gives you unrivalled access to Croatia’s hidden gems, allowing you to escape the crowds of the country’s most famous hotspots and access little-known ports with unique personalities.”

Rachel Moss, Metro, 16th November 2024

Rachel goes on to add: “the mix of culture and coast makes Croatia one of the favourite countries I’ve ever visited.” That’s quite some praise!

Read the article here: We’ve found the best way to explore Europe’s number one holiday destination for 2024

Some wonderful accolades for Croatia

I’ve mentioned some recent awards for Croatia several times elsewhere, but they’re too good not to repeat so I thought I would add a mention to them here too.

Wanderlust travel magazine revealed that Croatia was declared the Most Desirable Country in Europe in their Readers’ Travel Awards. It is very exciting to see Croatia recognised so highly by travellers.

Esteemed travel publication Lonely Planet also sings the praises of Croatia: in their Best in Travel 2024 Countries category, the only European country to feature was Croatia.

Advent in Zagreb 2023

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Advent in Zagreb – the city’s epic Christmas celebrations – returns to Zagreb on Friday 2nd December 2023, running until 7th January 2024. Here’s our rundown on what’s happening during Advent in Zagreb and where, and the best of what there is to see and do.

Advent in Zagreb

What is Advent in Zagreb?

Advent in Zagreb is essentially a Christmas market…but in fact, so much more than that! Having first been held in 2010, it is a large-scale celebration of Christmas that takes place in many locations all across the city. So many of Zagreb’s squares, streets, parks, shopping areas, museums, attractions and more will be adorned with beautiful lights or other festive decorations and will be used as venues for Christmas fun. There will be food and drink (oh so much food and drink!), concerts and live music,

The celebrations have received so much positive press and visitor comments over the years, often being called one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. In fact, Advent in Zagreb even won the “Best Christmas Market” category for three years straight (from 2016 to 2018) awarded by European Best Destinations.

Here’s a video preview of this year’s celebrations from Zagreb Tourist Board:

The main fun at Advent in Zagreb

Zagreb’s main square Trg Ban Jelacic will – as to be expected – have a giant, decorated Christmas tree in place during Advent in Zagreb. In fact, the tree is already in place, as of 27th November, awaiting decoration. The main square is also were the traditional Advent candles are situated, around Mandusevac Fountain.

Christmas celebrations aren’t Christmas celebrations without an ice rink, are they? Thankfully, Zagreb will indeed have an ice rink once again this winter with the Ice Park situated on King Tomislav Square – in front of the very impressive Art Pavillion. Open from 2nd December, the rink will be open daily from 10am until 11pm or 12pm (although only until 5pm on Christmas Eve). Should you like to see in the New Year on a pair of skates you can even do so – that day, the rink will be open until 2am!

Advent in Zagreb - Ice Park - Ice Rink
The Ice Park

The very cool Gric Tunnel is often kitted out for various events and this Christmas it will host the Polar Dream, offering visitors the chance to “experience” the Northern Lights.

City Break in Croatia - Advent in Zagreb
Gric Tunnel during Advent in Zagreb

A wonderful experience would be to join the gas lamp lighters for Advent Under the Lantern. Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (from 6th to 23rd December) at 4.30pm they depart from the Lotrscak Tower to continue this 160-year-old tradition. They will be joined by vocal groups such as the gospel group The Messengers or the female vocal ensemble Cipkice.

Festive Food and Drink

This will be everywhere, ha ha!

One of the absolute best places to try some Christmas treats (and then some) is at Fuliranje (which translates to “Fooling Around”!). Located on Josip Juraj Strossmayer Square, there is a wide range of food vendors offering up some very tasty, filling grub, and plenty of warming drinks, from mulled wine to brandies. But Fuliranje is so much more besides – there will be live DJs, children’s choirs, magical decorations and Santa himself. Fuliranje is one of the most popular elements of Advent in Zagreb, and is also a top place to see in the New Year.

A previous edition of Fuliranje

Sweet Zrinjevac in Zrinjevac Park will have all manner of street food stalls selling hearty and warming winter food and drink. (Sausages! Mulled wine!). Set amongst the beautifully decorated trees of the park, it’s one of the top places to go during Advent in Zagreb. This year, it will be open from 12pm to 11pm or 12am daily from 29th November.

Be sure to head to Zagreb’s main Dolac Market from 6pm on 22nd December for the Christmas Pop-Up of PLACe Market. Local chefs and restaurants will be offering all sorts of tasty treats to go along with the festive and fun atmosphere.

Musical Delights

One of the first events of Advent in Zagreb will be a concert performed by the famed Zagreb Soloists at the Okotogon at 12pm on Wednesday 29th November.

The Advent Symphony of the City is a performance that will take place in several locations across Zagreb on different days. First taking place at Trg Petrice Kerempuha (just above Dolac market) at 8pm on 7th December, it will certainly put a smile on your face.

The 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall will be celebrated from 28th to 30th December with a very full programme of plays, performances, concerts and even guided tours. The grand concert takes place at 7.30pm on Friday 29th December when the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra Symphony and the Symphony Orchestra of Croatian Radiotelevision will perform.

Advent in Zagreb - Zrinjevac
Zrinjevac Park

Advent in Zagreb for kids…and for pets?!

What kid doesn’t love anything Christmas? They’re sure to have a good time just being at the Advent in Zagreb celebrations, but if you’re looking for some activities specifically aimed for the younger members of your family, you’re in luck.

Probably one of the most fun events for kids will be the Ice Fairy Tale at Ribjak Park (from 16th December). Fully decorated in icy style, the Snow Queen will be fulfilling the dreams of all children. But if your kids like all things icy, don’t forget about taking them skating at Ice Park (mentioned above) which they will surely be thrilled with.

The Croatian Chamber of Trade at Ilica 49 will be hosting a Craft Advent (2nd to 31st December) where handcrafted wooden toys and games from days gone by will come to life. “Big kids” (i.e. adults) will surely also delight in this, perhaps reminiscing about their childhood.

Certain museums will also have fun events that will delight kids. The Backo Mini Express Train Museum will be running their model trains daily during the Christmas period whilst the Chocolate Museum will be showing off sculptures made of…chocolate! (Of course!)

Zagreb Zoo – such a great place to take kids any time of year – will also have its own Christmas celebrations, and Santa might even drop by!

And yes, what about pets? The Time Out Heritage Hotel will be holding lectures and treats – for four-legged and two-legged friends – with pets even being able to take a photo with Santa. Altogether now – awww!

Not quite for pets, per se, but for pet lovers – Zagreb’s Cat Caffe will be offering a wonderfully festive hot drinks menu; the perfect way to warm up after enjoying all the outdoor fun.

More Info

Advent in Zagreb is so chock-a-block full of happenings that we’ve really only just covered the surface…phew!

You can of course find the full rundown of all the festivities taking place on the official Advent in Zagreb website and we would highly recommend you take a look to learn about all the fun things taking place.

Don’t forget to check out our guide to Zagreb for advice on accommodation, transport, restaurants and cafes, things to do with kids and much, much more!

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Merry Christmas from Visit Croatia

Season’s Greetings from Visit Croatia!

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Visit Croatia wishes everyone a very happy and healthy festive period, as well as all the best for 2021! We hope it’s a year that we can return to some sort of normality, and also hopefully a year in which we can return to travelling and exploring once again!

Thank you to all of our visitors, readers, followers, emailers and everyone we’ve interacted with over the year – we have loved reading about and seeing your past trips to Croatia! Thank you also for all of your support over the year.