Why You Should Visit Croatia for Christmas Market

Why You Should Visit Croatia for Christmas Market

Christmas markets in Croatia are magical. Advent in Zagreb, Croatia's capital city, was named the best Christmas market in Europe for three years in a row. What's more, there are some magical Christmas markets by the sea. Check them all out!

Table of Contents

When thinking about the Christmas market in Europe, your first thoughts probably go to the traditional German Christmas Market, the winter ambiance of aristocratic Vienna with fairy-tale decorations, or the vivid streets of London with thousands of lightning bubbles, glittering installments, and dazzling ornaments at every footstep.

Let it snow, Christmas market in Zagreb, Photo: www.adventzagreb.com

Let it snow, Christmas market in Zagreb, Photo: www.adventzagreb.com

Visiting Croatia for the Christmas market may not be the first thing that comes to your mind. Still, if you keep reading this blog post on Christmas markets in Croatia, you will seriously consider it a must-visit European Christmas markets. at least once in a lifetime.

Advent in Zagreb Streets, Photo: www.adventzagreb.com

Advent in Zagreb Streets, Photo: www.adventzagreb.com

The Christmas market in Croatia is seriously competing with other long-established European Christmas market destinations. Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, has been voted for the best European Christmas market destination three years in a row.

Spending winter holidays in the Adriatic could be the better option if you prefer warmer weather. Here you can find out what is so special about Christmas time on the Adriatic Coast. We highlight the winter in Dubrovnik in the very south of Croatia and the second largest Christmas market in Croatia, the festive market in Split in Central Dalmatia. Sibenik is another rising Advent destination in Dalmatia.

1. Advent Zagreb

Let's start with the biggest and greatest Christmas market in Croatia, the Zagreb Christmas market.

The Zagreb Christmas market opens on November 30th and closes on January 7th. Itsofficial name isAdvent Zagreb. Here isthe link to the official website with all the information and updates on events.

VIDEO: Advent in Zagreb by ZAGREBTOURIST

Zagreb city itself transforms into a big Christmas market. Wooden stalls selling authentic souvenirs, homemade cheese, and smoked meat products are everywhere.

The street food scene is tempting and will make even the ones with the finest palates happy. You can try the classical Christmas market specialties like sausages, mulled wine and ginger cakes. But not only to be left on classical offer, Zagreb has plenty of Croatian domestic specialties like street sarma, fritule, dozens of different spirits – rakijas,and many other authentic goods. The international kitchen is also evenly represented.

Advent in Zagreb, Photo: www.zagrebadvent.com

Advent in Zagreb, Photo: www.zagrebadvent.com

The city center with several big squares has a special atmosphere and the most attractive events. You can start with the main square, and when you get warmed enough with the mulled wine and when the stomach is full, take a stroll around vibrant streets in the centers and visit several Christmas market venues within a 5-minute walk.

The Christmas market Zrinjevac, Zagreb Photo: www.adventzagreb.com

The Christmas market Zrinjevac, Zagreb Photo: www.adventzagreb.com

Best Venues at Advent Zagreb

You can attend different events, live music concerts, exhibitions, and children's workshops in Zagreb during the Christmas market at the Zagreb Christmas map.

Here are some highlights:

  • The main Square in Zagreb hosts a Christmas fairy-tale. We recommend visiting on Christmas Eve for theMidday Advent Melodies.
  • Ice Parkcelebrates 10 years in 2024. Put the skates on and enter the skating ring while the live Christmas music entertains the crowd enjoying warm beverages and tasteful.
  • Strossmayer Parkhosts Junior Advent with "Teatrino klincolino" and "Fuliranje" (Fooling around) with various performances and food options.
  • Zrinjevac Park is one ofthe most vivid places with daily live music. You will love the wooden stalls withhandmade crafts, the scent of mulled wine, and traditional delicacies. Visitors will also get a chance to experience the Santa's Horse Carriage Ride.

Ice Park in Zagreb, Photo from www.adventzagreb.com

Ice Park in Zagreb, Photo from www.adventzagreb.com

We must also mention the Nutcracker ballet in front of the Croatian National Theatre. Everyone also looks for an extra ticket!

What else could we say except that Zagreb Advent was named the best Christmas market in Europe three times in a row, from 2016 until 2018?

The Christmas Story of the Salaj family

During your stay in Zagreb, we highly recommend a half-day trip to Salajland.

It's a Christmas Village located a 1-hour drive from Zagreb. Salaj family tells their Christmas story with incredible decorations and more than 5 million lights. Can you imagine this?

Fairy tale ambiance from Christmas story of SalajlandPhoto: Salajland Facebook Official

You can watch this video to see what it looks like:

The Salajland is open every day from November 29 to January 8th. Admission ticket is 6 euros per person, children under the age of 7 and disabled persons have free entrance.

We recommend getting to Sjalaland by car, the parking is free and has 1,600 spots.

2. Advent in Split

While the capital of Croatia, Zagreb was named the best European Christmas market in 2018, the third year in a row, the Split Christmas market is growing and offering a completely different Christmas experience.

VIDEO: Advent in Split by Split Tourist Board

Split hostsCroatia's second-largest Christmas market.

The main events of the Advent Festival are held at the seafront promenade Riva in the city center. Other locations are Pjaca, Mertojak, Prokurative, and Zvoncac. Furthermore, a venue at Kampus mainly attracts college students and young people.

The city of Split also organizes Children's Advent with many events, workshops, concerts, and fun activities.

Advent in Split at the waterfront

Advent in Split at the waterfront, Photo: Facebook Tourist Board Split

The entire city is decorated with lights and Christmas ornaments. The wooden stalls will welcome you with mulled wine, homemaderakijas,and authentic Croatian dishes.

Fritule on Prokurative, Split

Fritule on Prokurative, Split

In Split, you can taste soparnik– the local authentic dish made of thin pastry and Swiss chard spiced with domestic olive oil and garlic. Soparnik used to be poor people's food, and nowadays it finds its place on the table on every festive occasion in Dalmatia.

Why Is Split Advent SpecialAdvent in Split at Prokurative

ProkurativeAdvent in Split

New Year's Eve is the peak of Christmas markets in Split. Popular performers entertain the large audience gathered for the open-air concert. The city celebrates the first minutes of New Year's with long fireworks.

Christmas market on the Pjaca Square in Split

Christmas market on the Pjaca Square in Split, Photo: Facebook Tourist Board Split

There's a saying in Croatia that the people from Split are always slightly different than others. You can experience that if you visit Split during the holiday season. The bravest men will celebrate the New Year's arrival by jumping into the sea.

Swimming in the middle of winter may not be wise, but in Split, it is considered an act of bravery.

At Bacvice, the main Split beach, you'll see many locals in swimsuits playing popular game piciginon New Year's Day. Basically, it is a game playing in the shallow sea where the group of people hit the small ball in the air and the goal is to keep it as long as possible in the air. The hidden goal is to make attractive jumps to „save the ball“ and entertain the audience.

Christmas market in Split, wooden stalls and cafes

Christmas market in Split, Photo: Facebook Tourist Board Split

Split has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and lots of sunny days. Sometimes you will feel cold wind biting your cheeks but mostly you can expect gentle winter.

The main seafront promenade is the center of all happenings throughout the year, so at Christmas time. Having coffee or drinking mulled wine at the waterfront while the sun shines and festive music comes from all sides, in the open cafes with Christmas decorations is certainly something different than Christmas markets we are all used to.

Christmas Village in Split Hinterland

In 2018, Dalmatia got its first Christmas village, thanks to the visionary Lucic family.

This magical Christmas story takes place at the Lucic family's private estate in a small village in the Dalmatian hinterland.

Photo: Christmas Village in the hinterland of Split

The Christmas village in Split Hinterland is open daily from 30 November 2019 to 6 January 2020, except for 24 December and 31 December.

In addition to many lighting installations and decorations, visitors can meet and learn about domestic animals.

Santa Claus welcomes the visitors Several stalls offer warm drinks and food that come from local producers.

The Snowman in Christmas VillagePhoto: The Snowman in Christmas Village

We recommend visiting the Lucic family's Christmas Village by car or private transfer service,

Photo: Christmas Village by VIP Holiday Booker

You can find more information on their official website and Facebook page Bozicno Selo Gornji Dolac. There are some really great photos, too!

3. Dubrovnik Winter Festival

Dubrovnik Winter Festival

Dubrovnik Winter Festival, Photo: www.dubrovackizimskifestival.com

If you are familiar with Croatia, you are definitely familiar with Dubrovnik. This beautiful historic town on the Adriatic Sea has been deservedly the most wanted holiday destination in Croatia.

Visitors from all around the world visit Dubrovnik during the summer so it can get quite crowded. On the other hand, shoulder season and winter in Dubrovnik offer a relaxed atmosphere and a completely different experience.

VIDEO:Dubrovnik Winter Festival

Dubrovnik Tourist Board hosts the Dubrovnik Winter Festival to entertain visitors and locals all year round. It starts in November and ends in the early spring.

Dubrovnik Old Town in Winter,

Dubrovnik in Winter, Photo: www.dubrovackizimskifestival.com

Highlights of the Winter Festival Dubrovnik are the following programs

  • Advent in the City
  • New Year's Eve
  • The Festivity of St. Blaise
  • Valentine's Day
  • Dubrovnik Carnival

Why Is Dubrovnik Worth Visiting in Winter

Christmas time in Dubrovnik, Stradun

Christmas time in Dubrovnik, Photo: www.dubrovackizimskifestival.com

The Christmas market ambiance in Dubrovnik is really special. Old Walls are tastefully decorated with lightning. This magical touch brings you back to the past and you can easily imagine life as it once was.

Stradun  the main street of Dubrovnik Old Town in Christmas time

Stradun – the main street of Dubrovnik Old Town in Christmas time, Photo: www.dubrovackizimskifestival.com

We invite you to wander the streets of Dubrovnik Old Town and admire the festive Christmas ornaments, wooden stalls with authentic souvenirs, and domestic food.

There's a special program for children and they will love the Christmas train and ice skating.

4. Adventura Sibenik

Sibenik is another destination on the Croatian coast that we put on our Christmas market map.Advent in Sibenik or Sibenik Adventura is one of the youngest Christmas markets in Croatia.

While several years ago, probably no oThe ne from local residents could imagine having a big Christmas market in Sibenik, that significantly changed.

VIDEO:Adventura Šibenik

The Christmas market in Sibenik or Adventura starts on Saint Nicolas Day, December 6, and ends on January 4, a few days after the New Year celebration.

Sibenik Christmas market in City Park

Sibenik Christmas market, Photo: www. adventura.sibenik.hr

Advenutra is the first and only plastic-free Christmas market in Croatia. That means all food and drinks are served in ecologically acceptable packages. Also, there is no place for plastic bags in souvenir shops.

Advent in Sibenik Gastro

Advent in Sibenik, Photo: www.adventura.sibenik.hr

Advent takes place in the city park, Poljana, and House of Art Arsen. The city park is the main venue and all the trees are full of Christmas lights.

There are also open-air live music concerts almost every evening, entertainment programs for children "Arsenturica", an ice rink, and many more.

Final Thoughts

These four cities have the biggest Christmas markets in Croatia. However, almost all towns in Croatia host magical Christmas stories. This blog may inspire you to look into them.

What are your impressions of the Christmas market in Croatia? Have you visited one of the highlighted destinations or other Croatian towns during the holiday season? Feel free to share your experience and photos with us!

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Continue reading about: "Zagreb"

Advent in Zagreb with kids

Travel Tips for Luxury Holidays in Croatia

Advent in Zagreb looks a bit different this year because of Covid-19. In the previous years, it was awarded the Best Advent in Europe several years in a row. Nevertheless, it is still beautiful especially if you visit it with kids.

Best Christmas Markets in Croatia

Croatia Travel

If you are visiting Croatia in winter, you should come when the Christmas markets are open to experience the special charms of the holiday season. Continue reading this blog post to get ideas on what to see and where are the best locations...

Contact our Villa Experts
Call Us