Advent in Zagreb: The 8 Best Christmas Markets in Zagreb

Experiencing Zagreb Christmas markets, known also as Advent in Zagreb, is the number one reason people visit Zagreb during the winter.

These markets are a must-visit for anyone looking to get into the festive spirit and indulge in some traditional Croatian holiday traditions.

Gone are the days when Zagreb looked like a provincial village on a fair day during Christmastime. Now, Advent in Zagreb is one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

And it seems like the fun has just begun as the program gets better and more creative every year. The town becomes a Christmas fairytale with tons of fun, concerts, workshops, exciting street food, mulled wine, and craft beers. And endless opportunities for lovely photos.

The Zagreb Christmas market starts on November 30, 2024, and lasts until January 7, 2025. Here is an overview of this year’s program and locations of Advent Zagreb.

Advent Zagreb: A Magical Winter Wonderland

In the enchanting month of December, Zagreb’s streets and squares transform into a magical winter wonderland. The city comes alive with vibrant lights, festive decorations, and charming wooden stalls offering various goods.

Zagreb Christmas markets offer a delightful assortment of handmade crafts, local delicacies, and traditional Christmas ornaments. The lively atmosphere is filled with music, performances, and captivating events throughout the city.

We have all the details to help you make the most of your stay if you plan to visit Zagreb at Christmas to experience the Zagreb Christmas Market. To fully experience Advent in Zagreb stay in the city for at least two nights (three days).

The Zagreb Advent takes place in various locations in the lower town, all conveniently close to each other, allowing you to explore them all with ease. While each location shares a Christmas ambiance, picturesque scenery, and wooden huts offering food, souvenirs, and drinks, they each have their own unique offerings in terms of cuisine, music, and the crowd they attract.

For food enthusiasts, Fuliranje on Stross and Fooling Around on the Oleander terrace of the Hotel Esplanade features food stalls by top Croatian chefs, making them a must-visit. The Ice Park offers an unmateched ice-skating experience on King Tomislav Square. Matos’s cats on Masarykova Street evoke the nostalgic atmosphere of old Zagreb, while the Zagreb Christmas Fair on European Square focuses on creative workshops for the youngest visitors.

As you see, Christmas in Zagreb offers a diverse range of experiences. Fortunately, you can easily explore all these locations and choose the one that suits your preferences.

So, let’s discover each location in detail.

Christmas Markets in Zagreb Locations

There are eight main locations of Christmas Markets in Zagreb.

1. Jelačić Square
2. European Square
3. Zrinjevac Park
4. Strossmayer Square
5. King Tomislav Square
6. Hotel Esplanade
7. Gric Tunnel
8. Hotel Jagerhorn

1. Ban Jelacic Square

The most imaginative and photo-perfect scenography, a real Christmas fairytale, occurs at Zagreb’s main square. A large Advent wreath makes a ring around the Mandusevac fountain, while the entire area between the fountain and Johann Franck bar becomes a magical white forest.

Add to that exciting food and drinks offer, DJs, live music at nighttime, and a special children’s program in the morning, and you have loads of reasons to hang around Zagreb’s main square during the festivities.

Location | Facebook | Working Hours: Mon-Fri: 11.30 am-12 am, Sat-Sun: 10 am-12 am, NYE: 10 am-2 am

Ban Jelacic Square hosts Legendary Advent Program (previously known as Cafe de Matos).

2. European Square

During the Zagreb Christmas celebration, a small pedestrian square next to Ban Jelacic Square, European Square, is a popular hangout spot for the young and creative crowd of Zagreb.

The European Square offers a combination of music, art, and food. Visitors can check out interesting clothing and souvenir stands, food stalls, and an everyday program packed with live music, concerts, dancing, exhibitions, puppet shows for children, and other similar events.

Location | Facebook | Working hours: Mon-Thu, noon-11 pm, Fri: 12 pm-12 am, Sat: 10 am-12 am, Sun: 10 am-11 pm

3. Zrinjevac park

Zrinjevac is a small park in the center of Zagreb and the place where you’ll find a fairy-tale Christmas. The park has a charming alley of plane trees and a nice music pavilion in the center of the park. During the festivities, live music plays all day long. The lighting and decorations are beautiful.

Local artisans offer handmade crafts, unique souvenirs, and ornaments. Food stands offer Zagreb classics like Turkey pasta (purica s mlincima), sarma, pasta with cabbage and pork knuckles, plum dumplings, walnut and poppy seed rolls, and vanilla rolls.

The Christmas market officially opens with the lightening of Christmas lights on Zrinjevac Square.

Location | Facebook | Working hours: Mon-Thu: 12 pm-11 pm, Fri: 12 pm-12 am, Sat, Sun: 10 am-12 am

4. Strossmayer Square

Squeezed between Zrinjevac Park and King Tomislav Square, Strossmayer Square is a place for foodies with an endless offer of exciting food stalls, from soups served in bread buns and homemade sausages to dim sum, bao buns, Hawaiian poke, and gourmet hotdogs.

When we visit Zagreb during Christmas, we spend most of our time at Strossmayer Square. The atmosphere is fun, and this place has the best food stalls.

The program in Strossmayer Square is called Fuliranje, and it is a gathering place for Croatian food startups and young and established Croatia chefs.

This year’s hits include a cheddar cheese filled sausage from Good Food, a sweet and savory strukle from Eduard Beg, and skinless sausage burgers by Mate Jankovic, 5 types of cronuts from Boogie Lab, and Dubai chocolate and Dubai fritule, absolute hits of this year’s Fuliranje. I am getting hungry just thinking about that!

Location | Facebook | Working hours: Mon-Fri, noon-1 am, Sat-Sun: 11 am-1 am, NYE: 12 pm-3 am

5. King Tomislav Square

Watch as the entire King Tomislav Square becomes a huge ice skating rink. Add to that good music playing in the background and about 20 wooden food stalls serving anything from homemade sausages, goulash, and street sarma to pancakes, fritule, and other sweet delicacies, mulled wine, and warm drinks.

Popular sweets include fritule, a traditional sweet pastry topped with powdered sugar or chocolate sauce; knedle, boiled dumplings filled with plums and rolled in bread crumbs.

Location | Facebook | Working hours: Mon-Thu, Sun: 10 am-11 pm, Fri-Sat: 10 am-12 am, NYE: 11 am-11 pm

6. Oleander Terrace, Hotel Esplanade

Fooling Around program at the Oleander terrace of the Esplanade Hotel is among the most popular Advent locations in Zagreb.

The Oleander Terrace transforms into one of the nicest Christmas spots in town, offering a top-notch gourmet scene led by famous Croatian chefs and an excellent musical program with DJs and live shows. This is the place for all foodies, where high-class cuisine meets street style in the elegant and stylish setting of the Hotel Esplanade.

This year’s offer includes Esplanade chef Ana Tomic Grgic’s famed Zagreb strukli, Slavonian croquetas, and fried sardines, Mario Mandaric’s Roe Deer Ragu, beef shish sausage with cheese by Mate Jankovic, and various gourmet burgers prepared by chef Ivan Zidar and his Mason Burgers and Stuff. Boogie Lab is responsible for sweet delights with its creative apple strudel lasagna.

Location | Working Hours: Mon-Sun: 12 pm-10 pm

7. Gric Tunnel

This December, the Grič Tunnel becomes a Polar Express-inspired polar wonderland, open daily from November 30, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Based on Chris Van Allsburg’s book, visitors can explore glaciers, polar animal hideouts, and a castle dome.

Highlights include holographic polar animals, glowing snowdrifts, northern lights, interactive models, falling lights, and a train circling a viaduct. This immersive display captures the season’s magic.

Location | Working hours: Mon-Sun: 9 am-10 pm

8. Passage of the Jagerhorn Hotel

This lovely passage between Ilica and the Upper Town is fully decorated with lights and the Nutcrackers, and it makes you feel like you are walking amidst a winter wonderland. If you are into funk, soul, jazz, and other urban rhythms, this is the place for you!

Location | Working hours: Mon-Thu: 4 pm-10 pm, Fri: 4 pm-11 pm, Sat: 10 am-11 pm, Sun 10 am-10 pm

For more info on Advent in Zagreb, check the Zagreb Advent official website.

Food at Zagreb Christmas Markets

Zrinjevac Park, Strossmayer Square, and Terrace Oleander at Hotel Esplanade are three Christmas Markets in Zagreb with the most exciting food offers. In these three locations, you will find famed Zagreb chefs and restaurants with their own food stalls.

This year, the food at Zrinjevac Advent showcases the best of Zagreb’s culinary traditions, crafted exclusively with locally sourced ingredients from family farms and local producers. The 12 food stalls offer traditional dishes, including turkey with mlinci, sarma, pork knuckles, štrukli, and classic desserts.

Strossmayer Square also features Rougemarin and Boogie Lab, along with the culinary expertise of Mate Jankovic, Ivan Pazanin, Eduard Beg, Boogie Lab, Picnic Mingle & Fun, and Dubai Chocolate.

Meanwhile, the Terrace Oleander at Hotel Esplanade presents the mouthwatering dishes of Ana Tomic Grgic, Hotel Esplanade’s executive chef, Vjeko Bašić, the chef of Tavern Boba in Murter, Ante Udovičić from Brač’s Lemongarden, Ivan Zidar of Mason Burgers, Ante Miletic from Istria’s Meneghetti, Mario Mandarić of Zagreb’s Michelin-starred Noel, Mate Jankovic, and Boogie Lab’s Mijo Volarevic.

These Christmas Markets in Zagreb offer an unforgettable gastronomic experience that showcases the best of Zagreb’s culinary scene.

The winter food selection at the Zagreb Christmas markets includes a variety of savory and sweet delicacies. You can enjoy international dishes like burgers, sausages, bao buns, and empanadas as well as local specialties like cevapi (skinless sausages), sarma (sauerkraut rolls filled with minced meat), mazalice (ground meat spread on a slice of grilled bread), and buncek (pork knuckles). The range of food options is diverse and exciting.

If you have a sweet tooth, you will love the Christmas markets favorites like fritule (small rounded donuts with various fillings, sauces, or glazes), krostule (traditional Dalmatian dry and fried pastry), churros, french toast, and germknedle (yeast dumplings with various fillings and sauces).

Zagreb Advent Run

Zagreb Advent Run is a 5- and 10-kilometer run, with all proceeds going to humanitarian organizations.

This year, the race takes place on December 8th. It starts in front of the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, passing through the main Advent locations in Zagreb. It’s a great way to see the city and support a good cause simultaneously! So put on your running shoes and join in on the holiday fun!

Registration for the race is available online or on-site before the start of the race. Upon race completion, participants will receive a T-shirt, refreshments, and a medal. And don’t worry if you’re not a competitive runner! Everyone is welcome to join in and walk or jog at their own pace. So come join this festive event and experience Zagreb Advent like never before!

See you at the Zagreb Advent Run!

New Year’s Eve in Zagreb

If you are planning to spend New Year’s Eve in Zagreb, get ready for an unforgettable night! The city offers a variety of entertainment options, from concerts and parties to food indulgences and traditional customs. One of the most popular events is the New Year’s Eve Party on Ban Jelačić Square, where thousands gather to welcome the new year with live music, food, and drinks. The square is also decorated with colorful lights, creating a magical atmosphere. This year, young Croatian musians Miach, Grše, Hiljson Mandela, and Baby Lasagna take the central stage on the Ban Jelacic Square, along with Josipa Lisac, a legendary Croatian singer known for her unique voice and bold style.

If you want to celebrate in a more intimate setting, there are many restaurants, bars, and clubs offering special New Year’s Eve menus and parties. You can also take a romantic stroll through the city’s beautifully lit streets or Zagreb’s picturesque parks and viewpoints.

Best Places To Stay In Zagreb During Advent

Christmas in Zagreb is a major attraction for tourists, especially on weekends. People from all over Croatia and neighboring countries come to experience Zagreb Advent. With the regular influx of tourists, the city buzzes with activity.

During this time, many streets are closed to traffic, and a special driving regime is in place. To avoid any traffic congestion, we highly recommend staying in downtown Zagreb. Additionally, keep in mind that as the demand for accommodation in Zagreb rises, so do the prices. If you want to save on accommodation during your Advent Zagreb visit, consider planning your trip for weekdays rather than weekends. You may also want to explore vacation rentals as an alternative to traditional hotel stays.

For a luxurious experience, the Hotel Esplanade, located near the central train station and the ice park, offers unparalleled comfort. If you’re seeking something new, the Hilton Canopy in Branimirova Street or Amadria Park Hotel Capital in Jurisiceva Street, right next to the main square, are excellent choices. For a budget stay, check out the charming Hotel Jägerhorn, tucked away in a lovely courtyard just off Ilica Street, or the centrally located Hotel Jadran, on bustling Vlaska Street.

If you prefer the convenience of fully-equipped apartments, there are excellent options in downtown Zagreb. Consider Zagreb Sleep & Eat Apartments or Apartments Lisinski with Private Parking. Both offer a variety of apartments centrally located, allowing you to easily explore all the Zagreb Advent locations on foot.

For those seeking budget-friendly accommodation, downtown Zagreb has some fantastic hostels. Swanky Mint, Main Square, and Chillout Hostel not only provide dorm rooms but also offer double rooms with private bathrooms.

Here is also our full post on Zagreb accommodation.

Car rental in Zagreb

You basically won’t need a car to visit the Zagreb Christmas market. Even more, the car can be a great trouble in Zagreb during Christmastime. However, if you plan on visiting surrounding villages or towns or making it to the coast for a day or two during Christmastime, here is our full guide on car rental in Zagreb.

What to do in Zagreb In Winter

There are plenty of things to do on Advent Zagreb alone, and there is no real need to look for those extra things to do. However, maybe this is your only time in Zagreb, and you want to experience the best of it, not only Christmas Zagreb. If that’s the case, head to our full post on the best things to do in Zagreb.

Have you visited Zagreb at Christmas? How did you like Christmas markets in Zagreb? Let us know in the comments below.