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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!

Croatia in Winter: What would you do?

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The leaves are turning brown and/or a-falling, the rain keeps lashing down the days are definitely getting shorter and it’s almost the end of October. Do you know what this means? Well, sure Halloween in a second or two, but in other news – it’s almost winter! So there’s no time like the present to think ahead and consider Croatia in winter. But what would you do when visiting this fine country during the coldest months of the year? I’d love to hear your thoughts but in the meantime – here’s what I’d do!

Croatia in Winter: December

Let’s jump right in and talk about Christmas! I mean, what else is there to talk about in December…right?!

One of the biggest draws in Croatia during this month is the spectacular Advent in Zagreb Christmas fair and market that takes place in Croatia’s capital city each year. This year’s event will take place from 30th November 2024 to 7th January 2025, so December will be absolute prime time to attend. It’s often mentioned in the press as being one of the best Christmas markets in Europe and would be an excellent alternative to some of the more famous Christmas markets held in Germany and Austria. Advent in Zagreb was also voted “Best Christmas Market” in 2016, 2017 and 2018 by European Best Destinations.

City Break in Croatia - Advent in Zagreb

But what’s actually at Advent in Zagreb? Zagreb’s main square, Trg ban Jelacic, is obviously adorned with a giant Christmas tree that stands proudly for the duration of the festival. Here, too, you will find little stalls selling Christmas trinkets, delicious treats and piping hot drinks. Madusevac Fountain in the same square also houses the four advent candles that are lit in the countdown to Christmas.

There will be a large-scale ice rink – normally in front of the grand Art Pavillion – where you will be able to skate until late at night. On New Year’s Eve, you can normally even skate until the early hours!

The main square in Zagreb, Trg ban Jelacic, during Advent in Zagreb (Copyright: Julien Duval)
The main square in Zagreb, Trg ban Jelacic, during Advent in Zagreb
(Copyright: Julien Duval)

The magical Gric tunnel in the city is also a must, normally being decked out in full Christmas decor.

Christmas food and drink will of course be readily available. Two of the best places to try out local Chrismassy delights are at Fuliranje on Trg Strossmayer and in Zrinjevac Park. Both will have all manner of stalls selling excellent quality, hearty winter grub and warming drinks.

There are also concerts galore at venues across the city – both indoor and outdoor – with some being ticketed affairs and others open to all. Fuliranje, as mentioned above, has live music through its Advent run.

Kids will be fully catered for as well with all sorts of fun activities being held in December, and Advent very often also hosts events for our four-legged friends too

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Really, a few days or a week-long break in Zagreb in December would be ideal to take in the full Advent in Zagreb experience.

Note: this year’s Advent in Zagreb calendar has yet to be announced, but it will be soon. Keep an eye on their website – and this one! – to

Alternative: Head to one of Croatia’s other larger towns and cities – such as Split, Dubrovnik, Pula or Zadar – for New Year’s Eve. Experience the festive and lively countdown to midnight on the Croatian coast, with live music, fireworks and a general all-around brilliant atmosphere.

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Croatia in Winter: January

I know what it’s like in January. The madness of Christmas and New Year’s has died down, you’re cold and tired and just want to wrap up warm. But maybe you’re a tiny bit miserable and fed up with the weather and decide that January should actually involve a bit of fun.

The Croatian coast will be too cold and blustery for January and, anyway, it’s not like you can head down to the beach during this month. So why not explore parts of the Croatian interior for a true wintery experience?

One of the best places to head to would be the Plitvice Lakes. A truly glorious location any time of year, winter makes the whole park rather magical and you may well be lucky to experience frozen waterfalls and very snowy paths and walkways. Make sure you bring your waterproof hiking boots and padded winter jacket!

Winter in Croatia - Plitvice Lakes in Winter
The Plitvice Lakes in winter…complete with frozen waterfalls!

The park has reduced opening hours and limited trails at this time of year, but that’s no problem as you will still be able to do a good amount of exploring and see many of the main lakes and waterfalls. Visitor numbers will also be severely reduced from what they are in the peak summer months, and you may even feel like you have the park to yourself at times.

Spend a few days in the Plitvice Lakes region and explore some of the other attractions too. There are some very helpful suggestions on the websites of the Plitvice Lakes Tourist Board and Plitvice Valleys. And make sure you book yourself into a cosy B&B or guesthouse in the region and indulge in some hearty grub – the Licka Kuca restaurant is ideal for this.

If you want to do more exploring of the Croatian inland in winter, consider the Gorski Kotar region too. Yes, this mountainous region can get very snowy during the coldest months of the year, so this option is perhaps for the braver (and for the true winter lovers) amongst you. But you’ll be rewarded with a fabulous winter experience.

Winter in Croatia - Gorski Kotar
A very snowy scene in Gorski Kotar

Alternative: Croatia’s ski resorts – which are few and far between, let’s face it – start to open for the season in January. Whilst most of them offer not much more than fun for a few hours of skiing and snow play up a mountain, this activity would certainly be unusual enough (i.e. a must-try!) when visiting Croatia in January. Take a look at our Skiing in Croatia section for details of what ski resorts to head to.

Croatia in Winter: February

We’ve done Christmas, we’ve done snow fun so what shall we turn to in February? Love, of course!

There’s no getting around it – February is the month of love with the the arrival of the magical or tiresome (depending on your point of view) Valentine’s Day in the middle of the month. So why not choose Croatia to whisk your other half to for a romantic mini-break at one of the country’s top hotels. Better still, pick a hotel with a luxury spa and excellent dining options and you will both enjoy a relaxing, restful and romantic little break.

Our top choice would be the Grand Hotel Brioni in Pula. With an expansive spa offering multiple treatments, a sauna, an indoor swimming pool (there is an outdoor one too, of course, for the warmer months!) and multiple restaurants you will find plenty to do during your stay. But the fascinating sights of Pula are just a stone’s throw away too.

Winter in Croatia - Grand Hotel Brioni, Pula
The indoor pool at the Grand Hotel Brioni
(Copyright: Matthew Shaw)
The sauna at the Grand Hotel Brioni

Another option would be the Hotel Esplanade in Zagreb. A historic hotel, first opened in 1925 to accommodate guests travelling on the Orient Express, the Hotel Esplanade offers smart, luxury rooms, a lovely spa centre and exquisite cuisine at Zinfandel’s.

Or if you fancy exploring the gem that is Dubrovnik’s Old Town as part of your romantic getaway, consider the very fine Hotel Excelsior. With stunning views out to the Adriatic Sea and overlooking the Old Town itself, you will be able to enjoy 850 square metres of spa and three restaurants. Make sure you make time to have a coffee on the outdoor terrace.

So that’s my suggestions for winter in Croatia. Now I’m going to throw it over to you – what would you do for winter in Croatia?

Spotlight on: St Mark’s Church, Zagreb

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One of the most famous sights in Croatia is St Mark’s Church in Zagreb. It’s one of “those kinds of sights” that is often featured in tourist advertising for the country along with Zlatni Rat Beach, Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik’s Old Town Walls and similar. And – like all those aforementioned beauties – it’s definitely the kind of thing you need to see in real life, not just on screen.

With its stunning tiled roof featuring two historic shields of Croatia, it’s an absolute must-see when visiting Croatia’s capital city. It’s easily done so on a walking tour of Zagreb’s sight-filled Upper Town, and when you turn the corner onto St Mark’s Square (Trg svetog Marka) you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of this iconic sight.

Zagreb Photos - St Mark's Church
St Mark’s Church, with its famous tiled roof
Zagreb Photos - St Mark's Church Roof
A close-up of the tiled roof – it shows the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia (left) and the coat of arms of the City of Zagreb (right)

History of the St Mark’s Church, Zagreb

The original church that stood here is understood to be from the 13th century, officially making it one of the oldest buildings in Zagreb. However, it is just one Romanesque window on the southern wall that still exists today. Much of the main structure and layout of the church is from the 14th century, including beautiful sculpture work in its Gothic southern portal.

The church was extensively renovated and reconstructed in the 19th century (especially due to the devastating 1880 earthquake), with designs by Viennese architect Friedrich von Schmidt, and Hermann Bolle who was heavily involved with Zagreb’s city plans and other grand buildings at that time. Works then included the lowering of the floor, the burying of tombs underground and the removal of the church’s Baroque altars with the installation of three stone altars instead. It was during this renovation that the Church received its beautiful tiled roof.

Further renovations took place in the early part of the 20th century, with works by famed Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic installed during this time.

In March 2020, another earthquake caused structural damage to the Church. After repairs, the Church was reopened to Mass in December 2023.

Features

Have I mentioned the beautiful tiled roof?! The colourful glazed tiles depict two coats of arms. On the left, you will see the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia, an autonomous kingdom within Austro-Hungary that existed from 1868 to 1918. Within this latter coat of arms, you can see elements of the Kingdom of Croatia (the red and white checkered part), of Slavonia (the bottom blue – white – red – white – blue part which features a pine marten) and of Dalmatia (the upper right portion with three lions).

St Mark's Church, Zagreb, a closeup of the Coat of Arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia
A closeup of the Coat of Arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia
St Mark's Church, Coat of Arms of Zagreb closeup
A close-up of the Coat of Arms of Zagreb

The right-hand coat of arms is that of Zagreb – or, in fact, Gradec which is the historic town (largely located where today’s Upper Town stands) from which Zagreb hails. Zagreb’s coat of arms is actually a castle on a blue background, whilst Gradec’s is of the castle on a red background – as shown on the church’s roof.

St Mark's Church, Zagreb
St Mark’s Church, with the parliament building – Sabor – on the right

The impressive Gothic portal on its southern wall features sculpture work from the 14th century with fifteen figures including Joseph, Mary and Jesus. This work is thought to be done by the Parler workshop from Prague.

On the outside of the northwestern wall you can find the oldest coat of arms of Zagreb, which is from 1499.

Getting There

As I’ve mentioned, the Church is located in the middle of the cobbled St Mark’s Square in the Upper Town part of Zagreb. It is a short walk from many of the city’s other most famous sights, such as the Stone Gate, Lotrscak Tower and the Funicular. Also located on St Mark’s Square is the the Croatian Parliament Building, the Sabor and Banski Dvori which houses the Croatian government.

If travelling from elsewhere in Zagreb, the best idea is to take a tram to the main square – Ban Jelacic Square – first. From here, it is then a 10-minute walk to St Mark’s Church; walk up Ulica Pavla Radica until you get to the statue of St George, then go round it and through the Stone Gate and then straight ahead until you get to St Mark’s Church.

Alternatively, from the main square, walk along Ilica until you get to the Funicular. Ride it to its Upper Station and then walk north, past Lotrscak Tower, in a northern direction for a few minutes to once again hit St Mark’s Square.

Visiting St Mark’s Church, Zagreb

It used to be possible to get right up close to the Church and do a full circular walk around the exterior. Unfortunately, railings have been positioned around St Mark’s Church for a few years now due to security issues – thanks to the two political buildings on this same square. This means that it’s not possible to get particularly close to the Church.

Nevertheless, you can still take a photo or two or three hundred from the edge of the square itself. You are there, of course, to see the wonderful tiled roof so point your camera(phone) upwards and start clicking away!

It is not possible to visit the interior of the church unless you attend a Holy Mass. These are held at 6pm on working days and at 11am and 6pm on Sundays and religious holidays.

St Mark's Church, Zagreb
St Mark’s Church in Markov trg (St Mark’s Square); the roof tiles show the coat of arms of Zagreb (right) and the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia (left)

Take a look at some of the walking tours of Zagreb below that include St Mark’s Church as one of the sights you see:

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More info

The official website of the Church is zupa-svmarkaev.hr although this website is in the Croatian language only.

Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale, 19 & 20 October 2024

The next edition of the Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale, 19th & 20th October

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The ever-popular Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale returns to Croatia’s capital city later this month at its usual venue of Studio Katran. Taking place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October 2024, the sale is a great opportunity to update your wardrobe for autumn and winter with some stylish vintage fashion finds. Each day the sale will be open from 10.30am to 6pm.

Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale, 19 & 20 October 2024

BeThrifty’s Vintage Kilo Sales work on the principle of purchasing bundles of items by the kilo. At these Zagreb BeThrifty sales, the cost will be €49 per kilo – although you don’t, of course, have to purchase a full kilo.

There will be a wide range of high-quality vintage clothing items for sale, including sportswear, dresses, t-shirts, denim, streetwear, coats, jackets and much more, in sizes from XS to Plus Size.

Tickets for the Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale

The first 500 tickets for the sale are free so get your hands on them now! You can get tickets online at bethrifty.events/en/products/zagreb-19-20-listopad-vintage-preloved-sale. After these free tickets get snapped up, tickets are priced at €3 and can also be purchased online or at the sale on the day.

Each day the sale is divided into one-and-a-half-hour time slots and tickets are timed. However, this gives you plenty of chance to have a good browse through all the items and ample time to buy.

Children aged 14 and under do not need a ticket.

Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale, 19 & 20 October 2024

Be a part of the Zagreb BeThrifty Team!

If you’d like to support BeThrifty at these Zagreb sales, join the BeThrifty WhatsApp group for more information. You could help out at set up or clean up or even during the event itself. In return, you will receive one kilo of clothing for four hours of support.

Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale, 19 & 20 October 2024

Other BeThrifty Sales

BeThrifty regularly holds its vintage kilo sales all over Central Europe – other upcoming sales will take place on cities such as Warsaw, Budapest, Prague, Graz and Vienna.

Zagreb BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale
10.30am – 6pm Saturday 19th and 10.30am – 6pm Sunday 20th October 2024
Studio Katran
Radnička cesta 27
10000 Zagreb
bethrifty.events/en/products/zagreb-19-20-listopad-vintage-preloved-sale

LMF Festival

LMF Festival to hit Zagreb in early June

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The fourth electronic-based LMF Festival is almost upon us, taking place in Zagreb on 7th and 8th June 2024. This year, world-class DJs such as Dom Dolla, Argy, Chris Lake, Mind Against, Claptone, Matroda, Dubfire, Sam Paganini will all be on the decks, with many more names appearing as well. It’s a true mix of regional and domestic talent!

Hosted in the gorgeous setting of Lake Jarun in the southwestern part of Zagreb – a short hop by tram and/or bus from the city centre – LMF will offer a true festival experience for any electronic fan. With top-notch production, creative stage designs (including aboard a Zagreb tram!) across its three stages, super tasty food options, chill zones and art displays across the site it’s a must for all festival fans.

LMF Festival

And Zagreb is such a welcoming destination, with so much to see and do – you can spend your days exploring the city with all its excellent sights, activities, gastronomic delights, experiences and more and then partying at LMF Festival at night. Zagreb is also super easy to reach these days (see our Getting to Zagreb page) with flights from the UK, Ireland, all over Europe and beyond to Croatia’s capital. It also has an very, very wide choice of accommodation with something for all budgets and tastes.

All in all, LMF will be an unforgettable weekend in a stunning location, creating memories that will stay with revellers for some time!

Get a feel for the festival with LMF’s 2023 aftermovie:

LMF Festival (Lake Jarun, Zagreb, 7th & 8th June) 2024

LMF Festival Line-Up

As ever, the best in house, dance and techno music will be showcased at LMF Festival!

One of the most sought-after DJs in the world, Dom Dolla, will be leading this year’s star-studded lineup; the Australian maestro is behind hits like “Take It” and “San Frandisco” which have become anthems of electronic music. Argy also stands out as a long-time underground favourite who mixes up lassi house and techno with his own fresh sound, while Briton Chris Lake has always explored different genres and created his own distinctive sound that combines elements of house, tech-house and similar. His hits “Changes,” “Operator,” and “Turn Off The Lights” are real classics. 

LMF Festival (Lake Jarun, Zagreb, 7th & 8th June) 2024 Line-up

Recognisable by his gold bird mask, hypnotic rhythms and seductive melodies, Claptone is a magical DJ who brings real soul to his sets. He plays all over the world and has his own Ibiza party ‘The Masquerade’.

Also performing will be the hugely popular Matroda, well-known to this audience Mind Against, and the icon of Italian electronics, Sam Paganini. They will be joined by big names from the regional and domestic electronic scene: Bosk, Dallerium, Damir Hoffman, Danceelectric, Discopolis, DJ Jock, Einfakinn, Ilija Đoković, Joe2shine, Kosta Radman, Kraundler, Lanna Lokka, Luka Kosty, Mjuz, Percassi, Tomo in der Mühlen, Vedran Car, Viktor, and Yakka.

LMF Festival

Tickets for LMF Festival

Tickets are priced at just £57.44 per person, or £43.08 per person if you opt for the 3+1 ticket package. (Buy 4 tickets for the price of 3!)

VIP tickets are priced at £106.06 per person, which includes a special VIP entrance & exit point, Uplifted VIP area, VIP tables for reservations, VIP bottle packages, VIP hostesses, premium restrooms, premium drinks, VIP staff, an official VIP wristband and access to all festival stages. You can opt for 3+1 VIP ticket package as well.

You can purchase tickets at www.lmffestival.com.

LMF Festival (Lake Jarun, Zagreb, 7th & 8th June) 2024

More info

All news about the festival can be found on the official website, www.lmffestival.com or on Instagram and Facebook.

LMF Festival
7th & 8th June 2024
Lake Jarun
Zagreb
www.lmffestival.com

The return of the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb

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The return of the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb next month (on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March 2024) offers up an excellent opportunity to snap up some vintage and second-hand fashion for an fantastic price.

BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb

Instead of purchasing clothes items by price, BeThrifty works on the concept of weight – select the pieces you’d like to buy and they’ll be weighed at the end to determine how much you’ve got in your haul. At the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb event, you then pay a price of €20 per kilo – although you don’t, of course, have to buy a full kilo.

There will be an excellent selection of high-quality vintage pieces from brands with items for both women and men including dresses, jumpsuits, sweatshirts, trousers and jeans, jackets and coats, bags, belts, hats and much more. Brands that BeThrifty come across include Fila, Lacoste, Nike, Reebok, Burberry, Levi’s, Wranger and others. Only the top grade of clothing makes its way to BeThrifty sales, with pieces being collected from old clothes collections across Europe. All clothing items are sorted and chosen at established recycling centres and checked thoroughly before being offered for sale.

The BeThrifty event in Zagreb is one of the many upcoming BeThrifty sales across Europe – take a look at bethrifty.events/en to see where other events are taking place!

Tickets for the BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb

The BeThrifty event in Zagreb will take place on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March 2024.

Entry is FREE for the first 500 tickets to be sold – snap these up at bethrifty.events/en/products/zagreb-sale-29-30-ozujak-vintage-preloved-sale now! After the free tickets are sold out, tickets will be priced at €3 which you can also purchase online or at the door on the day.

BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb
1pm – 7pm, Friday 29th March 2024
and
10.30am – 6pm, Saturday 30th March 2024
Dom Sportova
Trg Kresimira Cosica 11
10000, Zagreb
bethrifty.events/en


BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale in Zagreb
Winter in Croatia - Plitvice Lakes in Winter

Top 5 Things to Do in Croatia in Winter

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Winter is a dreary time of year, isn’t it? (The winter that’s after all the Christmas and New Year excitement, that is.) There’s seemingly not much to do, the weather is quite awful – if it’s not freezing outside it’s blowing a gale – and no one seems to be up for any fun. And there’s surely nothing fun to do in Croatia in winter, given it’s such a glorious summer destination?! Wrong! Spin that bad winter attitude right around and take a look at what I think are some of the most fun things to do in Croatia in winter.

Croatia in Winter – Enjoying the view and winter activities on Sljeme, Zagreb

Zagreb would be my top choice as a winter destination in Croatia anyway, as there’s so much to enjoy in this fantastic city – sights, restaurants, shopping, events, kids activities…the list goes on! But for a special wintery treat, head up to Sljeme above Zagreb to enjoy excellent views of the city and the surrounding area and lots of fun winter activities. I’d highly recommend that you take the cable car up to the top of Mount Sljeme as it’s a super fun experience and one of the nicest (and quickest) ways of zipping up the mountain.

So what winter activities are up here? The main one – skiing! Yes, that’s right, it is indeed possible to ski in Croatia, and Sljeme is probably the best place in Croatia to go skiing. Whilst you wouldn’t come here for a week-long skiing holiday, you can certainly enjoy a few runs on a weekend or an afternoon. (Or even at night as night-time skiing is possible on some days.)

Winter in Croatia - Skiing Sljeme
Sljeme Skiing

In fact, the ski season on Sljeme officially opens tomorrow, 23rd January 2024 (normally running until mid-March) so now’s the perfect time to try a bit of ski fun here. Organisers do use an artificial snowmaking system if the real stuff is a bit patchy.

If skiing isn’t your thing, you can still come up to Sljeme to enjoy a bit of sledging and playing around in the snow, before retiring to a local restaurant or cafe for some filling stew and a hot drink.

If skiing really is your thing, then you might be quite excited about the Snowpark Sljeme to show off your tricks.

Of course, don’t forget that Sljeme is the peak of Mount Medvednica, part of which is home to Medvednica Nature Park. You could shun the skiing/sledging entirely and explore this beautiful forested wonderland instead.

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Winter in Croatia – Enjoy the tranquillity of the Plitvice Lakes

If you’ve been to the Plitvice Lakes National Park during the peak summer months, you’ll have had the good fortune to share the experience of the stunning lakes and waterfalls with about a million other people at the same time. (I joke, of course, but boy does it get crowded at that time of year.)

Winter in Croatia - Plitvice Lakes in Winter
The Plitvice Lakes in winter…complete with frozen waterfalls!

The Plitvice Lakes are a pure joy any time of year as the nature of the park undergoes its seasonal changes. In wintertime, the park is a lot less green (the trees and shrubs, that is) but may be a lot more white if there’s been recent snowfall which gives the whole place a really magical feel. Some of the water in the lakes – possibly even the waterfalls – may also freeze if the temperatures have been low enough and consistently so.

Plitvice in winter also means that you’ll be joined by far fewer fellow visitors – nowhere near the crowds of summer. I would still suggest getting to the Park as early as possible in the day (the shorter days of course mean shorter opening hours – only until 3pm until the end of March) and do also note that the upper lakes are closed at this time of year too. But you’ll be delighted by the fact that the entry price is only a quarter of what it is in summer! (€10 in winter compared to €40 during peak summer.)

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Winter in Croatia – Celebrations in February

February is carnival month all across the world, and many locations in Croatia also celebrate with carnival processions. The largest carnival in Croatia is the Rijeka Carnival which, in peak years, attracts as many as 100,000 spectators and has a number of connected events. The carnival party in fact in fact already started this past weekend with the first event – the Rijeka Carnival Queen Pageant (where a Carnival Queen is selected!) and the Handover of the Key to the City.

More fun and games take place from 1pm Saturday, 27th January 2024, with Carnival Children’s Parade. Around 6,000 young participants will parade in their colourful costumes.

There are many associated carnival events over the next few weeks (a fun run and the Carnival Snowboard Session as examples) but the main Rijeka Carnival occasion is the parade that takes place on 11th February 2024. It’s an excellent time to be in Rijeka!

Or, as an alternative event in February, head to Dubrovnik in early February when the city celebrates its patron saint, Saint Blaise (Sveti Vlaho in Croatian). The patron saint’s day is on 2nd February which is also marked as the day of the City of Dubrovnik. Celebrations, however, stretch out from late January and beyond. Again, it’s a great time of year to visit this city too to really get a feel for a long-established festivity that is marked by local residents.

Winter in Croatia – Get your cultural fix

Croatia has a few annual events that take place all over the country on the same date and January enjoys one such event. This week, in fact! Night of the Museums (Noc muzeja) is taking place this Friday, 26th January 2024 with participating museums all over the country offering free entry from 6pm (usually until 1am). Museums also offer special talks and other events on this same night.

Winter in Croatia – Head to the coast

Sure, it’s winter, but why not head to the coast anyway? You won’t be able to do any sea swimming or sunbathing is very unlikely, but nothing beats being by the coast whatever season it is.

Winter in Croatia - Split
Split in on a sunny winter’s day

Split would be a top choice, seeing as it’s Croatia’s second-largest city and has plenty to keep you occupied even in the colder months. What could be better than taking a stroll down the Riva and enjoying the sea air.

Some of Croatia’s cities offer special deals for visitors in winter, and Split does too. The Split Card can be obtained for free from the tourist office if you stay for two nights in any kind of accommodation in the city. You can then use it to gain free entry to some of the museums here (the Ethnographic Museum, the Natural History Museum), plus discounted entry to other museums and attractions. You can also use the card to obtain discounts at certain shops and restaurants.

Getting to Croatia in winter

Currently, the only direct flights from the UK and Ireland to Croatia are those to Zagreb which are operated by British Airways, Croatia Airlines and Ryanair with all three offering flights to Zagreb. From there, you can use Croatia Airlines‘ internal flights to other destinations in the country – see our Flights in Croatia page for more details.

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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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View from the watchtower of Ljubljana Castle

Day Trip to Ljubljana from Zagreb

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As wonderful as Zagreb is with its many sights, eateries, shops, experiences, attractions and more, the city is also very well positioned for several exciting day trips. As well as visiting places in central and northern Croatia such as the Plitvice Lakes, Samobor and Varazdin, or destinations on the coast such as Rijeka or Opatija, how about hopping a border to another country! Slovenia is only about 26km away from Zagreb, so a trip across to its capital city (and more) would be a great little trip to undertake from Zagreb. Here’s our guide to a day trip to Ljubljana from Zagreb.

One interesting thing to note is – what I think – the marked difference between the two cities. Zagreb is (perhaps surprisingly, given Croatia’s size) a large city home to 770,000 people; Ljubljana, meanwhile, has a population of just under 300,000. Zagreb, to me, seems to be an incredibly bustling city all the time, with people absolutely everywhere, at all times of day! Ljubljana seems a little more laid-back and quieter. But it’s still a wonderful place to visit!

Oh, and one thing you might be wondering is…how to pronounce Ljubljana? It’s lyoob-lyana. Go on, give it a shot!

From Zagreb to Ljubljana - Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana Castle

Getting to Ljubljana from Zagreb

By Bus

There a numerous buses per day between the two cities, including a couple of early morning options that depart Zagreb at 7.15am and 7.35am and get you into Ljubljana at 10am or just after. For the return journey, you can take your pick – but there are suitable options at 6.05pm or 7.50pm.

The bus costs €14.99 each way, and tickets can be bought on the Flixbus website where you can also look up timetables.

By Train

Travelling by train is a relaxing way of making the journey between these two capital cities, as the seats are fairly comfortable and you can stretch your legs by strolling up and down the carriages. (The scenery is also very picturesque as the train winds its way along the Sava River for most of its journey.)

There’s an early morning train departing Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor at 6.30am, arriving in Ljubljana at 9.14am – perfect for a day of sightseeing!

The best return option would be the train departing Ljubljana at 6.37pm, which gets you back into Zagreb at 8.45pm.

The train costs €9 one-way for adults, €4.50 for children (2023 prices) which is amazing value!

Driving

Should you have access to a car, driving is also a quick and easy way of making the hop over to Ljubljana. Leave Zagreb and drive over to the A2 motorway which takes you all the way to Ljubljana.

Do note that the motorway is tolled – in Croatia, it is a simple case of taking a ticket as you enter the motorway and paying when you leave it. In Slovenia, you need to purchase a vignette, which can be done online at the SI Vignette website.

Border logistics

Now that Croatia is in the Schengen Zone, there is no longer a border between Slovenia and Croatia. So whatever way you make the journey, you won’t have to show your passport!

Additionally, if you have a Schengen visa to enter Croatia, you will also be able to visit Slovenia.

What to See in Ljubljana

Ljubljana is a very walkable city (not least in the central pedestrianised area!) so you can easily make your way to most of the attractions here by foot – and it’s a great way of exploring or uncovering some hidden gems too!

Ljubljana is also a very charming city with a number of great sights, good food, and fun cafes and bars and it’s a great place to spend a day or two. Oh, and dragons! The dragon is the symbol of Ljubljana and this mythical creature appears on the city flag and in the city shops. (And on a bridge – see below!)

Ljubljana Castle

I would recommend first making your way to Ljubljana Castle which is perched up on a hill overlooking the city – you’ll see it looking down on you as you make your way around the city. This 15th-century structure was built as a defensive against the Ottomans; today it houses several exhibits and also hosts cultural events.

Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana Castle
View from Ljubljana Castle over Ljubljana
The view from Ljubljana Castle over Ljubljana

You can reach the castle utilising the modern, fully glass funicular that’s located at ground level. After just a few minutes’ ride you’ll be up at Castle level where you can enjoy the lovely view across the city.

If you’ve purchased a full ticket for the castle, you can access the Museum of Puppetry; the Virtual Castle; the Viewing Tower with its 360-degree views with local mountain peaks pointed out rather cleverly; the Armoury; the surprisingly beautiful Castle Chapel of St George and the Exhibition of Slovenian History – which I felt was a bit thin on the ground with its content. (Poor Slovenia!)

View from the watchtower of Ljubljana Castle
The view from the watchtower of Ljubljana Castle over the central space of the Castle and beyond to the city
Slovenian money
An exhibit at the museum – editions of the first currency in independent Slovenia, the Tolar, before the introduction of the Euro in 2007

Tickets for the castle and funicular cost €16 for adults and €11.20 for children aged 7 to 18. A family ticket for four costs €38.40. (2023 prices)

Ljubljana Castle Funicular
The funicular taking passengers up to Ljubljana Castle

Ljubljana Market

Once you make the funicular ride back down to ground level, you will face Ljubljana’s Central Market, and open-air space with fruit and veg and typical market items being sold. Alongside the river is the Plecnik’s Covered Market, a beautiful structure built in the 1940s and designed by the famous Ljubljana architect Joze Plecnik.

Ljubljana Market
Ljubljana Market
Ljubljana - Plecnik's Covered Market
Plecnik’s Covered Market next to the Ljubljanica River

Should you be visiting Ljubljana on a Friday from March to October, you must visit the market to enjoy Odprta Kuhna. Chefs prepare excellent gourmet food options.

Zmajski Most – Dragon Bridge, The Triple Bridge and Other Bridges

It is always rather pleasing for a city to have a river winding its way right through the centre. This is certainly the case for Ljubljana with its River Ljubljanica…and you know what else that means? Lots of bridges!

The most famous bridge of all in Ljubljana is the Dragon Bridge, right around the corner from the Central Market. Built in 1900-1901, this bridge is adorned with four somewhat scary dragons at each edge; the bridge was the first reinforced concrete structure in the city and was one of the largest bridges in Europe at the time.

Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana - Ljubljana to Zagreb
A dragon on the Dragon Bridge

Further west is the Triple Bridge – literally three bridges, side by side. The original bridge was the central one, it’s current form from the mid-19th century. In the early 20th century, the left and right-hand bridges were added to a design by Joze Plecnik. These three bridges really are quite striking, and fun when you make the decision of which bridge to cross!

From Zagreb to Ljubljana - the Triple Bridge in Ljubljana
Looking across the Triple Bridge

Preseren Square

Right by the Triple Bridge is the wide open space of Preseren Square (Preserenov Trg), Ljubljana’s main square and clearly a gathering place for many locals. You’ll find the Preseren Momument here, depicting Slovenian poet France Preseren. The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation is also located here, as is the lovely Hauptmann House. 

Ljubljana - Preseren Statue
The statue of France Preseren on Preseren Square

Museums and Exhibitions

Plecnik House covers the life and works of the famous aforementioned 20th Slovenian architect, Joze Plecnik. He contributed greatly to the design of modern Ljubljana (as well as working in Vienna and Prague).

The National Gallery is home to almost 600 works by Slovenian and European painters, including works by Zoran Music, a leading modernist painter.

Eating and Drinking in Ljubljana

For a super hearty lunch, I would highly recommend Moji Struklji, also known as the Dumpling House. The restaurant prepares a variety of dumplings, both savoury and sweet, with traditional fillings such as cottage cheese, meat, carrot and other vegetables, nuts/walnuts, apples and more. You will honestly find it hard to choose! Alongside the dumplings, you may also like to try one of their delicious stews.

Moji Struklji, Ljubljana
A meat dumpling at Moji Struklji

Another top tip for a very filling and delicious (not to mention quick) meal is Klobasarna. Essentially, this place is all about the Carniolian sausage…and that’s pretty much all they serve! A half or whole portion will get you the sausage carved up alongside mustard, horseradish and a bread roll; I went for the sausage wrapped in sauerkraut and dough which was fantastic! And seeing as you’re in Slovenia, why not wash this down with a Cockta, the Slovenian soft drink that was invented to rival a more famous drink with a similar name?

Pizzeria Foculus is a very relaxed but fun kind of place with an astonishingly long menu. It’s all exceedingly tasty!

Cacao is the place to head to for the best ice cream in the city.

An extra day in Slovenia

If you’re truly taken by Slovenia and want to extend your time here, another option would be to stay the night in the city and use the next day to visit the magical Lake Bled. There are numerous bus departures from the main bus station in Ljubljana direct to Bled that take just over an hour. It is possible, of course, to also join an organised tour that includes transport, but it’s easy to just do it yourself!

Once you arrive in Bled, make your way down to the shimmering lake itself to take in its beauty. If you have the time and the proper footwear, I would recommend walking the full circumference of the lake for an excellent way of experiencing the nature of the place and seeing the lake and its surroundings from multiple viewpoints.

Lake Bled and Castle
Lake Bled and Bled Castle

Another must is to enjoy the lake from…well…water level. There are boats that will take you to the island in the middle of the lake; you can choose from either an old-fashioned-style wooden boat called a pletna which is rowed (really!) across to the island, or an electric boat which is faster but perhaps less traditional. (These two boat types are obviously used to preserve the clean waters of the lake.)

Pletna boats on Lake Bled
Pletna boats on Lake Bled

Once on Bled Island, you can visit the Church of the Mother of God (for an additional entrance fee) which has a 52-metre-high bell tower. Alternatively, retire to Poticnica Cafe to sample the local potica delicacy, a filled pastry-type treat; the walnut potice is the most popular.

The boats leave you on the island for a minimum of 1 hour 15 minutes, which is just about enough time to get the most of what there is here. Make sure you don’t miss the return boat!

The church on Bled Island
The church on Bled Island

There are several eateries around the edge of the lake for you to fuel up at. You absolutely must, however, leave room to try the Bled Cream Cake at Kavarna Park, which invented this sweet treat in 1953. The layered cake – made up of a crispy puff pastry crust on the top and bottom and vanilla custard and cream in between – is served up in a cube-like portion and a small glass of sweet wine is a great accompaniment. (Kavarna Park also serves up some other impressive dessert and ice cream dishes if the cake isn’t your cup of tea.) The cafe has apparently served 16 million portions of Bled Cake since its invention!

A Bled Cream Cake at Kavarna Park
A Bled Cream Cake at Kavarna Park

More info on Ljubljana and Slovenia

You can find more information on visiting this lovely city on the Ljubljana Tourist Board website.

For more tourist advice on Slovenia in general, head to the Slovenian Tourist Board website.

Zagreb Cable Car Top Station

Spotlight on: Zagreb Cable Car and Sljeme 360 Viewpoint

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Following on from my focus on Dubrovnik’s Old Town Walls, in the second of the spotlight on series, I’m going to take a look at a couple of far more modern sights. Both found high up on Mount Medvenica above the city, they are the excellent Zagreb Cable Car and the brand-new Sljeme 360 Viewpoint in the TV tower at the peak of this mountain.

Zagreb Cable Car Top Station
The top station of Zagreb Cable Car

About Zagreb Cable Car and Sljeme 360

Zagreb’s Cable Car was opened in February 2022 whilst the Sljeme 360 experience was opening very recently indeed – in October 2023.

Zagreb originally had a cable car that opened in 1963 to transport skiers up the mountain, with a travelling distance of around 4,000 metres. This old cable car stopped operating in 2007 after it was found to require extensive repair and a decision was (eventually) made to build a new version.

The new cable car covers a distance of 5,017 metres and has a height difference of 754 metres between the lower and upper stations.

The TV tower was built in 1973 and stands 169 metres tall.

Zagreb Cable Car Bottom Station
The bottom station of Zagreb Cable Car

Getting There

The lower station of the Zagreb cable car is located in the Gracansko dolje region of northern Zagreb. It’s easy to get here by public transport, although you will most likely require a change somewhere along the way. You can make the whole journey by tram, or by tram and bus.

If travelling from the main square, take tram number 14 north to its end point of Mihaljevac. Once there, you’ll see the stop (it’s only about a minute walk away) for tram number 15 which heads to Gracansko dolje. This tram is rather unusual and an experience in itself – it only operates for four stops and at somewhat of an incline (compared to the other Zagreb trams at least) whilst it speeds along the track, seemingly mere centimetres away from the houses at points.

At Mihaljevac, it is possible to take bus number 233 for five stops to Gracansko dolje instead. Personally, I would recommend the tram option – it is far more fun!

It is also possible to reach Gracansko dolje by car, for there is a large parking garage below the base station building. Or you could also take an Uber or Bolt vehicle, but…take the tram, it’s so much fun!

Either way, once you reach the Gracansko dolje, you’ll see the gleaming, modern Zagreb cable car base station in front of you. Resist the urge to climb the climbing wall/bear hybrid here (you’ll know what I mean when you see it!) and head inside to purchase your tickets and begin your journey.

The Experience

The Cable Car

The six-person cabins of the cable car are much like any other cable car you may have come across – including those up mountains at ski resorts! Funnily enough, Zagreb’s cable car has something in common with those – for it is possible to ski on Sljeme in the winter months, and the cabins are adorned with sports equipment (i.e. ski and snowboard) holders on the outside.

Zagreb Cable Car Cabins
About to board the Zagreb Cable Car

As the cabins continuously pass by being pulled by the ever-moving cable, you have a short window to enter. Not too long and not too short, but just enough time for the four of us to enter along with the buggy we also had with us. This adds a certain excitement to the proceedings.

View from the cable car looking back down
View from Zagreb Cable Car
View from the cable car in the direction of travel

Visiting in the mid-afternoon in late October saw hardly any other visitors on the cable car – certainly, there was no one boarding at the same time as us, and as we ascended (and later descended), few other cabins had people in.

Going up in the cable car offers stunning views over Zagreb and of the lush forest below, which is full of autumn colours at this time of year. The full journey takes around 20 minutes each way, which is plenty of time to take in the magic of your surroundings and snap plenty of photos in all directions. And to admire the cable car itself, of course.

Interestingly, once you board the cable car at the bottom you’ll be whizzed through another cable car station almost immediately. On our journey, we wondered about the purpose of this station; it turns out that this “corner” station is required to change the direction of the cable car’s travels by 28 degrees. Huh!

There’s also an intermediate station – Brestovac – at which people can disembark.

At Sljeme

Once you reach the top of the cable car, you’re at Sljeme, the peak of Mount Medvednica. You’ll immediately the the Zagreb TV tower in front of you (home to the Zagreb 360 viewpoint which I’ll talk about in a second) as well as a little restaurant/cafe for refreshments.

OIV TV Tower, Zagreb
The OIV TV Tower

Take a look all around you for the amazing views – Zagreb stretches out in front of you (and it really does stretch out; the city is perhaps far larger than people think), whilst you can see little towns and villages at the base of the mountain in the other direction.

A short walk away from where the cable car places you are a few more restaurants as well as the Hotel Tomislavov Dom which would be an excellent place to base yourself if you really want to explore the nearby Medvednica Nature Park or Medvedgrad Castle.

The Zagreb 360 viewpoint also has its own little cafe, so after your hard work ascending the cable car you have the additional tough job of choosing where to reset for a little while, enjoying a coffee or hot chocolate. (Or a cup of whipped cream in the case of my toddler.)

We opted for Vidikovac Sljeme which has a pretty wide menu (had I not already had lunch, I would definitely have opted for one of their hearty-looking soups!) and seating next to large windows for you to really take in the view.

Should you be travelling on the cable car in winter, you might have come up to Sljeme to go skiing! There are some ski/snowboard rental shops up here too…and, of course, here is where the ski runs start!

Zagreb 360 Viewpoint

The 169 metre-tall Zagreb TV tower (the Sljeme OIV tower, to give it its proper name) is now home to the Zagreb 360 Viewpoint experience, which is located roughly highway up the tower – at an altitude of 1,118 metres above sea level.

A fast and large lift whisks you up to the inside portion of the viewpoint where there is also a cafe. To my delight, the cafe’s tables all had boards and pieces of the game Čovječe, ne ljuti see (translates to Man, don’t get angry; essentially it is the game Ludo) which I remember playing endlessly as a child. We attempted a game before the toddler interrupted and started throwing pieces around.

Covjece ne luti se board game at Sljeme 360 Viewpoint
Ready for a game of Covjece, ne luti se?

Of course, the view from up here is spectacular – and all around, seeing as you’re in a tower! I highly recommend also visiting the Zagreb 360 viewpoint once you’re up Sljeme.

Funnily enough, as we were visiting barely a week after it had opened, we could see that some of the furnishings weren’t quite finished.

Opening Hours and Prices

Make sure the weather is good before setting off to enjoy these attractions!

Zagreb Cable Car

The cable car operates from 10am to 7pm (last departure from the lower station is at 6.30pm) every day, year-round. The cable car may not operate in the case of strong winds or bad weather, so do check the Zagreb Cable Car website before you set off to make sure it is operating.

It costs €16.59 return (€9.95 one way) for adults; €9.95 return (€6.64 one way) for people aged 15-24 and 65+; and €3.98 return (€2.65 one way) for kids aged 0 to 15 or for people with disabilities. (These are all 2023 prices.)

It has to be said that Zagreb Cable Car has been accused of being too expensive – in my opinion, the experience on this modern transport method and the views make it worth it.

Zagreb 360 Viewpoint

The viewpoint is open 10.30am to 6.30pm daily (from 9.30am on Saturdays).

This costs an additional €10 for adults; €7.50 for kids aged 12 to 18, students and those aged 65+; €5 for kids aged 5 to 12; kids under 5 go free. (2023 prices)

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More info

You can learn more about Zagreb Cable Car at the Sljeme 360 Viewpoint on their respective websites, and there’s additional information on the cable car on the ZET website.