Christmas market in Zagreb - Europe's best Christmas market

Have you ever thought about going to a Christmas market in Zagreb, Croatia? If not, do it! The Zagreb Christmas market was voted the best Christmas market in Europe in 2016 and 2017. Zagreb is also one of our favourite cities in Europe, with its manageable size and cosy streets full of outdoor cafés.

During the Christmas market, it becomes even more cosy, if possible. The whole city is lit up and people are out and about among the stalls, in the parks and on the outdoor terraces, which are kept warm by heat lamps.

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Christmas spirit throughout the city

Zagreb really lights up in December and the whole city is in the Christmas spirit. Every street is lit up and decorated with garlands, the big park in the centre of town is glittering, the trams are wearing Santa hats and every little bicycle taxi is driven by a Santa Claus. gnome. A large stage in the town centre is used for singing Christmas carols, while costumed elves walk around and have their picture taken with the children.

Europas bästa julmarknad — The park and Christmas market in Zagreb is illuminated

Spårvagn Zagreb — Can't the buses in Sweden also have these Santa hats ...?

Europe's best Christmas market

And then there's the Christmas market, which has been voted the best in Europe! We thought we had seen the entire Christmas market when we walked through the main square and the main streets of the city, but that was not the case at all! The market continued throughout the big park and up into Gradec, the upper part of the city.

En kroatisk tomte (eller biskop kanske?) låter sig fotograferas med barnen — A costumed version of St Nicholas has his photo taken with the children.

READ MORE: 23 things to do in Split - your guide in Croatia
READ MORE: 4 great Christmas markets in Europe - fun Christmas shopping

Christmas market in Zagreb - with everything

The stalls at this year's Christmas market in Zagreb never seem to run out, and there's plenty to buy: crafts, Christmas decorations, jewellery, hats and mittens, toys, delicacies and Christmas sweets.

Zagreb julmarknad — Stand after stand in the illuminated and beautiful city

If you're hungry, you can tuck into one of the many sausages grilled everywhere, or you can try 'fritule', a type of fried doughnut that seems to be immensely popular.

Hot red and white wine (or black and white wine, as it's called in Croatian) is also sold everywhere. It's a great way to warm up in the cold, because even though it's a bit warmer than in Sweden, Zagreb is quite chilly this time of year.

More to see and do in Zagreb

While in Zagreb, you can of course take the opportunity to see and experience more of this beautiful capital city. Don't miss strolling along the cosy Tkalčić Street, where you'll find plenty of cafés and restaurants. You can explore the city's squares and parks and perhaps take the funicular up to Gornji Grad, the upper part of the city.

READ MORE: Living and eating in Zagreb - restaurant tips
READ MORE: Zagreb in Croatia - sights and 12 things to do

READ MORE: Facts about Croatia - 30 things you (might) not have known

Helena

06 December 2016 6:00

Croatia

feast, Christmas, shopping, metropolis

Helena

Administrator

24 Comments

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Mr Steve says:

Yes, everything seemed to be there and well-lit,

06 December 2016 - 6:29

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Diana's dreams says:

Cosy, hugs

06 December 2016 - 6:34

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Lennart says:

Cosy city.

06 December 2016 - 6:35

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Lena - good for the soul says:

But ohhhh, how cosy it looks! Christmas market in Zagreb should definitely be remembered!

Hug Lena

06 December 2016 - 6:53

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åsa in åsele says:

Cosy 🙂
Zagreb, Croatia is a relatively cheap city/country to visit... or am I wrong?

06 December 2016 - 7:36

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Steve, the whole town was lit up and in the Christmas spirit. Lovely indeed!

Lennart, yes we have become really fond of Zagreb!

Lena, I think so! We were surprised by Zagreb the first time we were here, by how cosy it is. And now that feeling was confirmed 🙂

Åsa in Åsele, Croatia is not as cheap as it used to be. It is still a bit cheaper than Sweden, but it is not very cheap (and the city of Dubrovnik is more expensive than the rest of Croatia).

06 December 2016 - 8:02

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Ditte says:

I am not at all fond of Christmas markets and this one in Zagreb seemed very nice and not so much, in my opinion, completely unnecessary Christmas stuff. Zagreb seems to be a very beautiful city.
I particularly liked the beautiful lighting and the Santa Claus hoods of the trams and buses. I would also have liked to try the food.
Great pictures from a beautiful city.

06 December 2016 - 8:55

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nils-åke says:

Beautiful lights and tram, here at home a bus was banned from driving with Christmas lights Ha Ha

06 December 2016 - 9:05

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Ann-Louise says:

It looks really cosy. Wonderful that the tram has a Santa hat! 🙂

06 December 2016 - 9:15

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Berit 'desires' says:

It looks magically Christmas cosy, we haven't even been there in the summer....

06 December 2016 - 10:13

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Imelda says:

Never been to Zagreb (a bit ashamed) but it's on my "to go list". Looks really cosy!

06 December 2016 - 13:03

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Cattis says:

But no, I will honestly say that I never thought about going to Croatia this time of year...but these posts from your trip just make me more and more convinced that Croatia is not just a sun paradise in the summer and I have to make sure to do a tour of this country!?

06 December 2016 - 13:40

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Lena says:

Very beautiful light decorations, different! Atmospheric you really feel the smells of Christmas holidays, thanks for good reportage!

06 December 2016 - 14:10

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Ruth in Virginia says:

LOVE your header. The baubles are absolutely gorgeous. Exquisite!!!
What details! - I wonder if Christmas has always been celebrated extra much
in Zagreb; I don't mean with so much lighting and such,
but with food and drink and St Nicholas. Tito's communism
was somewhat milder than others behind the Iron Curtain.

A couple of good sausages would not be bad right now. 🙂
St Nicholas is 100 times cuter than Santa Claus!!!!

06 December 2016 - 14:54

Reply
Comment by post author

admin says:

Ditte, Zagreb's Christmas decorations are really nice! And yes, the Santa hats are nice, aren't they? 🙂

Nils-Åke, sometimes there are too many rules in Sweden ...

Ann-Louie, aren't they beautiful? 😉

Berit, it's easy to forget about Zagreb when in Croatia, but it's definitely a city worth visiting!

Imelda, get a grip, you have to get there right away! 😉

Kattis, Croatia can definitely be visited at any time of the year (although I wouldn't want to swim right now ;)).

Lena, glad to hear that you like the report! 🙂

Ruth in Virginia, but oh, how nice to hear that you like my picture with the baubles! I was really happy with it myself! By the way, I agree that St Nicholas is nicer than our elves 🙂 .

06 December 2016 - 17:47

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BP says:

WOW! Zagreb has really gone "all in" with Christmas decorations and the Christmas market. Now I know why I've always thought that our counterpart on Stortorget in Gamla Stan is so shabby and slightly "retarded". The Christmas decorations in Stockholm are way behind here too, not to mention that you can't buy good sausages here, let alone enjoy a "real glühwein" with alcohol in it. Understand that you enjoy!

06 December 2016 - 18:16

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Husis blog says:

Such a nice Christmas decorated bus rolled in Gothenburg for a couple of days until someone reported that it was not roadworthy... (?) there were lights hanging in a nice way on the sides of the bus. The bus could then not be driven without the lights being removed, sadly.

06 December 2016 - 19:52

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Matts Torebring says:

Oh how tempting you are, what if we could go, I get soooo hungry.

06 December 2016 - 20:32

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Discovering The Planet says:

Seems cosy. Have not been to Zagreb or Croatia. Maybe soon 🙂

And congratulations again on the award!

06 December 2016 - 20:51

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Marina says:

To answer your question: Until now, no, but after reading and seeing the pictures: Yes!

07 December 2016 - 2:36

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Comment by post author

admin says:

BP, Stockholm seems to be a bit behind here actually ... In Zagreb it was really Christmas in the whole city 🙂 ...

Husisblogg, yes I heard about the bus ... boring! Sometimes there are a little too many rules in this country, it feels like ...

Matts, nice to be able to tempt a little... 😉.

Discovering the planet, then you have something nice left to discover! Thank you very much, and congratulations yourself! 🙂

Marina, nice that we can showcase something that you might not have thought of! 🙂

07 December 2016 - 6:51

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Elisabeth says:

How nice! Zagreb has probably never been in my mind when it's time for a Christmas market!!!

14 December 2016 - 20:32

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Ann-Sofie says:

Hi. I wonder if you know if zagreb will have such a big Christmas market this year? Can't find anything about it.

13 October 2018 - 11:17

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Hi Ann-Sofie! Yes, I think so! You can read it here: http://www.adventzagreb.com/?lang=en
  
  13 October 2018 - 11:20
  
  Reply

Christmas market in Zagreb - Europe's best Christmas market

Christmas spirit throughout the city

Europe's best Christmas market

Christmas market in Zagreb - with everything

More to see and do in Zagreb

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24 Comments

Mr Steve says:

Diana's dreams says:

Lennart says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

åsa in åsele says:

admin says:

Ditte says:

nils-åke says:

Ann-Louise says:

Berit 'desires' says:

Imelda says:

Cattis says:

Lena says:

Ruth in Virginia says:

admin says:

BP says:

Husis blog says:

Matts Torebring says:

Discovering The Planet says:

Marina says:

admin says:

Elisabeth says:

Ann-Sofie says:

Helena says:

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