Whether in the Upper Town or Lower Town, Zagreb’s old town streets and squares are lit up with lights and decorations each winter. I love this city so much, and I especially loved my time at the Zagreb Christmas Market.
Read on for the confirmed 2024 dates, opening times and what to expect.
Zagreb Christmas Market 2024
Dates – Confirmed
Zagreb Christmas Market dates: 30th November 2024 to 7th January 2025 (confirmed).
Update: Dates were announced in March. Sign up for our newsletter for future updates.
Source: Dates are obtained directly from the event organiser’s website, available here.
Plan Your Visit
Location and Times
Location: Ban Josipa Jelačića Square and King Tomislav Square.
Opening times: 10am to 8pm.
Christmas Day: Partially closed.
Travel and Accommodation
Recommended tour: Taste Zagreb Food Tour provides a great introduction to local Croatian specialties.
Public transport: Widely available and accessible.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Travel tips: Spend some time in Zagreb’s relaxing green spaces like Park Ribnjak and the more central Botanical Garden.
Where to stay: Hotel Capital is less than 5 minutes from the main square.
Amenities and Attractions
Admission: Free, no tickets required.
Christmas lights: Yes, but no switch on date announced.
Santa: Possibly.
Ice skating: Yes, at King Tomislav Square.
Reason to visit: Contemporary decorations that are unique to Zagreb with traditional Weihnachtsmarkt elements.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian: Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan: Yes, but limited.
Gluten-free: Limited. Ask individual vendors, but beware of cross-contamination.
Food specialities: Paprenjaci (lightly spiced pepper cookies), vanilin kiflice (half-moon cookies) and poppy seed rolls.
Accessibility
Accessible: Yes, if you can manage cobblestones but not everywhere is accessible.
Pet-friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed on a lead.
Convenient Hotels
I suggest staying in the Lower Town as this area is famous for its Austro-Hungarian architecture and gridlike streets.
This is where you’ll find most of the festive activities as well as many sights and restaurants. From here, you can take the funicular from the Lower Town to the Upper Town and then walk back down later.
Hotel Capital is a great option as it’s close to both Ban Josipa Jelačića Square and King Tomislav Square. Other sights like Zagreb Cathedral and the famous Market Dolac are also nearby.
Recommended Tours
You might be surprised to learn Zagreb has a highly rated food scene. This food tour is a great introduction to regional specialties and gives you an overview of the city at the same time.
If you’re looking for something more history-based, you might like this Croatian War Tour.
Event Location
From twinkling lights to festive foods, we love seeing your holiday adventures. Use #UltimateChristmasMarkets to share your moments with us!
Christmas in Zagreb
Zagreb has several markets throughout the city, connected by a series of lights that pass through the squares and beautiful parks.
The main markets are located at Ban Josipa Jelačića Square, the central square in the Lower Town, and King Tomislav Square, in front of the main train station (also in the Lower Town).
I suggest an itinerary starting at King Tomislav Square to see everything related to Advent in Zagreb. After the square, walk by the Art Pavilion and continue past the National Museum of Modern Art until you reach Park Zrinjevac.
Park Zrinjevac is beautifully decorated with fairy lights, and you might see music being played in the centre at the Music Pavilion.
From here, keep walking north towards the market chalets at Ban Josipa Jelačića Square. Walk up towards Zagreb Cathedral in the Kaptol district and then finish your walk in front of the huge decorated tree at St Mark’s Church in the Upper Town.
Specialties in Zagreb
- Sarma: Cabbage rolls filled with a mixture of rice and minced meat (vegetarian options are available).
- Bakalar: Salted cod cooked with potatoes, onions and garlic, typically served as a main course.
- Fritule: Small doughnuts made with raisins and flavoured with rum and lemon zest.
- Orehnjača: A sweet bread roll filled with a mixture of ground walnuts, sugar and vanilla.
- Kiflice: Soft, crescent-shaped rolls typically filled with jam, cheese, or chocolate.
- Pečeni vol: Roast beef with potatoes and vegetables, served as the main dish at festive lunches.
- Posni lonac: A traditional vegetable stew made with potatoes, carrots, peppers, and other seasonal vegetables.
At the Market Stalls
- Paprenjaci are unusual pepper cookies made with honey, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper. They are often shaped into holiday shapes like stars or snowflakes.
- Vanilin kiflice, or half-moon cookies, are soft buttery cookies filled with ground walnuts and vanilla and dusted with powdered sugar.
- Poppy seed rolls are sweet pastries filled with a mixture of ground poppy seeds.
- Ćevapi: Grilled minced meat sausages with onions and served in a bun.
- Langos: Deep-fried dough topped with cheese, garlic, and sour cream (from Hungary).
- Krostule: Fried pastry dough twisted into knots and dusted with powdered sugar.
- Kobasice: Grilled sausages served in a bread roll.
- Trdelník: A sweet pastry made by wrapping dough around a stick, grilling it, and coating it with sugar and cinnamon (and other flavours). These are popular across Central Europe.
- Roasted chestnuts: A popular winter snack.
- Mulled wine: The classic drink we all love, in this case, made with Croatian red wine.
Travel Information
As a travel blogger, I spent several months in Zagreb over many years. I’ve visited in winter and highly recommend going if you can. I’m happy to answer questions if you’re looking for help planning your trip or what to expect. Comment below with your questions.
Sustainability Tips
- Shop mindfully. Only purchase what you really need, such as locally-made handicrafts, rather than imported goods.
- Walk, cycle, or use public transport to get around the city, such as taking a tram or bus instead of driving. This is generally easy to do in Zagreb, a compact city with an extensive tram system.
- Stay in a sustainable hotel powered by renewable energy.
- Avoid using plastic or buying items made or packaged with plastic, such as bringing your own reusable bags and water bottles.
- Where possible, try to eat locally sourced organic food, such as sampling traditional Croatian dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
- Limit your meat and dairy consumption, such as ordering vegetarian or vegan food options.
- Explore more than just the main tourist areas, such as taking a walking tour of Zagreb’s lesser-known neighbourhoods.
- Support the arts and attend local events, such as visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art or attending a concert at the Croatian National Theatre.
Please comment below if you want to leave a review of the Xmas Market.
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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. While we make every effort to provide accurate information, the dates and details listed here should not be relied upon. Please consult the official website before booking your trip or planning a visit.
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