Zagreb Advent Christmas Market – Croatia 2025

Background & History

Advent in Zagreb, Croatia’s premier winter festival, transforms the capital into a magical holiday destination, earning the prestigious title of “Best Christmas Market” by European Best Destinations from 2016 to 2018, the maximum allowable wins. Beginning in the early 2000s as a modest local event, it has evolved into a sprawling city-wide celebration featuring over 25 distinct Christmas markets across Zagreb’s squares, parks, and promenades.

Each market offers a unique theme, from the elegant Zrinjevac Park to the vibrant Ban Jelačić Square, yet collectively they create a cohesive festive experience. Rooted in Croatia’s cultural heritage, the event blends Central European sophistication with Mediterranean warmth, showcasing traditional crafts, music, and cuisine. Recognized globally, Zagreb Advent draws thousands of visitors annually, celebrated for its enchanting lights, artisan stalls, and lively entertainment, making it a cornerstone of Croatia’s winter identity.

Event Highlights

• Main Activities or Performances: Daily open-air concerts feature local talent like Psihomodo Pop, Songkillers, Vesna Pisarović, Hiljson Mandela, Albina Grcic, and ToMa, performing on stages at Ban Jelačić Square, Zrinjevac Park, and Strossmayer Square. Weekend DJ sets and jazz bands add to the festive vibe.
• Special Traditions or Features: The Merry Christmas Tram, driven by Santa Claus, offers a 30-minute ride through Zagreb’s twinkling streets. A live nativity scene at Kaptol near Zagreb Cathedral reenacts traditional Christmas stories.
• Unique Attractions for Visitors: The “Polar Dream” installation in Grič Tunnel, inspired by the aurora borealis, creates a mesmerizing light display. The Moon Garden in Ribnjak Park features glowing stars and a large illuminated moon. The Ice Park at King Tomislav Square hosts a large skating rink, while the Zagreb Eye Ferris wheel is at Park Dr. Franje Tuđmana offers panoramic views.

Date & Duration

• Dates: November 30, 2025 – January 7, 2026
• Duration: 39 days

Venue / Location

Central location: 10000, Gornji Grad – Medveščak, Zagreb, Croatia

Other key locations include:

• Zrinjevac Park: Ulica Ljudevita Gaja, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
• Europski Trg (European Square): Trg Europski, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
• King Tomislav Square (Ice Park): Trg kralja Tomislava, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
• Grič Tunnel: Mesnička ulica to Radićeva ulica, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
• Strossmayer Square: Trg Josipa Jurja Strossmayera, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

Contact Information

• Email: info@infozagreb.hr
• Website: adventzagreb.hr
• Phone: +385 1 4873 665

Ticket Information

• How Tickets Are Sold: Entry to Zagreb Advent markets and most displays is free. Specific activities, such as the Merry Christmas Tram (€5, available at ZET stores or on-site) or guided tours (from $24 USD via Viator or ECT Travel), require tickets. Special events like the Zagreb Christmas Market & Wine Experience are offered through travel companies.
• Admission: Free for general market access.
• Special Seating or VIP Options: Premium packages, including guided food tours, wine tastings, or private events at venues like Esplanade Hotel’s Oleander Terrace, start at $24 USD. Some concerts at private venues may have reserved seating with separate ticketing.

Cultural Experience

Zagreb Advent immerses visitors in Croatian holiday traditions, with live music ranging from traditional folk to modern jazz performed on historic bandstands, balconies, and stages. Cultural performances may feature traditional costumes, such as the Šestine folk attire with distinctive red umbrellas, a nod to Zagreb’s heritage. Artisan stalls showcase UNESCO-listed crafts like hand-carved wooden toys from Hrvatsko Zagorje, shaped as whistles, horses, or spinning dancers, and Licitar hearts, colorful gingerbread cookies symbolizing love, often used as Christmas ornaments. The festive atmosphere is amplified by glistening lights, seasonal decorations, and the pervasive aroma of mulled wine, creating a warm, communal holiday spirit.

Food & Drinks

Must-try specialties include:

• Štrukli: Baked or boiled pastries filled with cottage cheese, eggs, and sour cream, available in sweet or savory versions, a Zagreb and Zagorje staple.
• Fritule: Deep-fried dough balls dusted with powdered sugar, often flavored with brandy or citrus zest.
• Ćevapi: Grilled minced meat sausages served with somun flatbread, ajvar (roasted red pepper spread), and kajmak (sour cream sauce).
• Kuhano Vino: Mulled wine infused with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and dried fruit, warming visitors throughout the markets.
• Čvarci: Crispy pork cracklings from Slavonia, a savory snack paired with local beer.
• Medenjaci: Spiced honey cookies with intricate festive designs, ideal for gifting.
• Kobasice: Homemade pork sausages, grilled and served hot at food stalls.
• Sarma: Cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat, rice, and spices, simmered in tomato sauce or broth.

Family & Accessibility

Zagreb Advent is highly family-friendly, offering attractions like the Merry Christmas Tram, ice skating at King Tomislav Square, and Winter Park’s Ferris wheel and rides at Park dr. Franje Tuđmana, suitable for all ages. A live nativity scene and children’s workshops at various markets engage younger visitors. Accessibility features include wheelchair-friendly pathways at major sites like Ban Jelačić Square, Zrinjevac Park, and Europski Trg. The Grič Tunnel is fully accessible, though some Upper Town areas may have uneven cobblestone surfaces, requiring caution for mobility-impaired visitors. Most stalls and main venues accommodate strollers and wheelchairs.

Getting There

• By Air: Zagreb Airport (ZAG), 17 km from the city center, offers direct flights from major European hubs like London, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam. A shuttle bus (€8, cash or online at zagreb-airport.hr) connects the airport to the central bus station, timed to arriving flights. Taxis or rideshares are also available.
• Public Transport: Zagreb’s efficient tram and bus network includes single tickets (€0.53 for 30 minutes) purchased via the ZET app or on board. The Merry Christmas Tram (€5) runs from Ban Jelačić Square to Zrinjevac Park, operating from 4 pm–7 pm Monday–Thursday, 12 pm–4 pm Fridays, and 10 am–4 pm weekends. The funicular to Upper Town costs €0.66.
• Walking: The markets are centrally located and easily walkable, with Ban Jelačić Square as the hub.
• Parking: Limited parking is available near Ban Jelačić Square; public transport or walking is recommended due to winter crowds and road closures.

Regional Highlights

• Varaždin Day Trip: Visit Varaždin, a baroque city 80 km north, known as “the city where angels sleep.” Explore its cobblestone streets, museums, churches, and medieval castle, plus its own Christmas market (varazdin.hr).
• Trakošćan Castle: A 13th-century castle in Krapina-Zagorje, 80 km north, now a museum with baroque furniture and historical weapons, set amid romantic gardens and a lake (trakoscan.hr).
• Plitvice Lakes National Park: A UNESCO site 140 km south, open year-round with stunning winter views of snow-covered lakes and waterfalls (np-plitvicka-jezera.hr).
• Samobor: A charming town 25 km west, home to Tavern Gabreku 1929, serving authentic Croatian dishes like kremšnita (custard cake) using local ingredients (samobor.hr).
• Food Tours: Private Christmas Market Food Tours include tastings and a holiday cookie baking class, starting at $24 USD via Viator.

Accommodation Options

• Luxury: Esplanade Zagreb Hotel offers a grand festive experience with its “Fuliranje” market, gourmet dining, and Christmas brunch (esplanade.hr). The Westin Zagreb provides spacious rooms and a spa (westinzagreb.com).
• Boutique: Hotel Jägerhorn features a private Advent courtyard market (hoteljagerhorn.hr). Amadria Park Hotel Capital, an Art Deco gem, is ideal for romantic stays (amadriapark.com).
• Mid-Range: 3on7 Apartments offer a cozy, home-like vibe in Lower Town (3on7apartments.com). Pod Zidom provides clean rooms near Upper Town (podzidom.hr).
• Budget: Swanky Mint and Chillout Hostel Zagreb offer modern, social stays near Ban Jelačić Square (swanky-hostel.com, chillout-hostel-zagreb.com).