The Christmas markets in Zagreb were crowned as the best in Europe for 3 years in a row – in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and since I´ve been hearing lots of good reviews about it, it was really time to visit it finally. Usually we never have much time, as we visit Slovenia only for about a week between Christmas and New Years, but now, without a regular job, everything is possible. So we took a train from Ljubljana and did a nice day trip with friends – more about how Zagreb Christmas markets look like in this new post.
From LJUBLJANA we took a morning TRAIN TO ZAGREB, which cost us just 14€ PER PERSON, return ticket. Normal price would be 18€ though, but since we were 4, we got a group ticket. It is a fun way to travel since the journey is just 2,5hrs each way and you don´t have to search and pay for a parking space, plus you can drink a glass or two since you are not driving. You also get to see different landscapes than from the highway, so overall train was a good choice. There is BORDER CONTROL – don´t forget your documents, you will need to show them as the officers board the train at the border. We took the train back in the evening, which allowed us a full day of walking around, eating and drinking.
ZAGREB MAIN TRAIN STATION is very conveniently located in the city centre and all of the main attractions are easily ACCESSIBLE ON FOOT. The weather this day was surprisingly sunny, which (we heard) wasn´t the case of last weeks.
SO WHAT DID WE DO THAT DAY? Basically we had no exact plans, but one of us was keen on where what was, so there was no fear of getting lost. First, we strolled through KRALJA TOMISLAVA SQUARE which is located just across the road from the main station. Here, they were just preparing the ice skating ring for the evening celebrations. Afterwards, we walked through JOSIP JURIJ STROSSMAYER PARK and ZRINJEVAC PARK all the way to the main city square, BAN JOSIP JELAČIĆ SQUARE. A quick stop at ZAGREB CATHEDRAL and across the lively SATURDAY MARKET over to IVANA TKALČIĆA STREET where we visited one of the most famous breweries around here. Onwards to ST. MARK CHURCH and the PLATO GRADEC, PANORAMIC VIEWPOINT and STROSSMAYEROVO ŠETALIŠTE, visiting some markets on the way. Down the hill to the main SHOPPING STREET called ILICA, where we also had some yummy burgers for lunch, then it was back to Bana Jelačića square. We also stopped at EUROPE SQUARE close by and walked back to the direction of main train station once it got dark. With stops of course. Our train had about an hour of delay which allowed us to visit ANTE STARČEVIĆA SQUARE for a drink too. And we got to see a spectacular FIREWORKS which went off while we were waiting for the train.
Christmas market in Zagreb is not just one big area, as it might be the case in some other cities, but there several markets all over the city center and elsewhere. Each of them has its own theme. In just one day you cannot visit all of them, but I think we made a good round. Here are some of which we visited.
KRALJA TOMISLAVA SQUARE AND ICE PARK
On this opening day, in the early hours, this looked just like any other park. A few stands selling food and drinks. There were still preparations going on for the big opening ceremony, held in the evening. And indeed, we came back in the evening, when everything looked totally different – here, you can also ICE SKATE in one of the largest ice skate rings in this part of Europe, the place is called LEDENI PARK and there will be some live music events here as well.
PARK J.J. STROSSMAYERA
We spent the most time on this one actually – during the day we checked out what they have on offer and we returned in the evening to try out some of the yummy dishes and drinks. They seemed to have a wide range of DIFFERENT CULINARY TREATS, there is MUSIC with DJ´s and LIVE PERFORMANCES, lots of PHOTO PLACES and more. We read there will be a party for the New Year´s Eve here as well. Might be worth a visit too.
The theme of this park is called FULIRANJE GOURMINGLE and it fitted perfectly to the vibes and offers. You can sit around OPEN FIRE places on little wooden seats while hanging out with friends, trying different delicacies. Our absolute favourite was this amazing MOLECULAR HOT GIN. The taste was very good and the smoke effects were really funny and just something different.
PARK ZRINJEVAC
One of the nicest parks around here lights up in the evening when numerous trees shine with little lights. Here there are lovely smaller WHITE HUTS where LOCAL CRAFTSMEN sell their HAND MADE products. You can of course also find a quick bite to eat.
In the middle of this park, there is an old MUSIC PAVILION, as the centrepiece and main point of the place, with several MUSIC PERFORMANCES going on during the next few weeks.
BANA JOSIPA JELAČIĆA SQUARE
Being the MAIN AND LARGEST CITY SQUARE, there are of course lots of events here as well. This year´s theme is „WORLD ETNO EVENT“, featuring several musical & other performances from different CULTURAL and ART SOCIETIES, local CHOIRS. Many photo opportunities and huts to eat & drink something here as well.
PLATO GRADEC, PANORAMIC VIEWPOINT AND STROSSMAYEROVO ŠETALIŠTE
In the area around JEZUITSKI TRG, KLOVIĆEVI DVORI, STROSSMAYEROVO ŠETALIŠTE and the PANORAMIC VIEWPOINT there are many cute Christmas markets. Here, you can also choose from a slightly different and more interesting culinary treats. Because the views on the city are one of the best from up here, there are of course lots of PHOTO POINTS. You can also stop by at CAFFEE DE MATOŠ on Strossmayerovo šetalište. In any case, there is no lack of good music, good vibes and good food.
IF YOU ARE VISITING WITH KIDS, you must visit the magical world in a tunnel, called “ADVENT U TUNELU“, you will find it close to PARK GRIČ.
EUROPE SQUARE
Located really in the CITY CENTER, in a PEDESTRIAN ZONE, this one is a smaller one, but size really does not matter here. Expect slightly different decoration, music and culinary offer from all parts of Europe. A nice stop for a cup or two.
OPENING FIREWORKS CEREMONY
Since none of us checked the schedule of the opening day we ended up witnessing (truly fully unexpected) this massive fireworks just an hour before we left Zagreb. If our train back to Ljubljana wasn´t runnig late again, we would have probably missed it, but due to this delay we even had the best spot to see it – just in front of the main train station. Surely, it is not the most ecological thing to do and it was really long and loud and probably the biggest I have ever seen, but I must admit, it was a nice one.
Just one day was more than enough to visit some of Zagreb´s most known Christmas markets. If you have a plan on where you want to go and what you want to see, you can really see a lot in one day. And, despite being quite a big city for this part of Europe, everything is easily accessible on foot from the main train station. On purpose, I left out some of the other interesting attractions of Zagreb in this post, since this one is more focused on the Christmass markets. More about the other things some other time. You can still visit the markets until January 7th 2020.
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