Guides · Zagreb
Zagreb Christmas Market 2026: Dates & Best Locations
By Viktorija Dvariskyte · Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
Advent in Zagreb, the city's award-winning Christmas festival, turns the Croatian capital into one big Zagreb Christmas market, with stalls, lights, concerts and skating spread across squares, parks and streets. Official 2026 dates had not been announced at the time of writing. In 2025, Advent in Zagreb ran from Saturday 29 November 2025 to 7 January 2026, and it was voted the best Christmas market in Europe by European Best Destinations three years in a row. Entry is free.
Rather than one central market, Zagreb spreads its festivities across the Lower Town and the Upper Town, from Ban Jelačić Square to the lights of Zrinjevac park and the Ice Park in front of the Art Pavilion. This guide covers the 5 best ways to enjoy a Zagreb Christmas market trip, each with the address, the nearest tram stop and a Pro Tip.
Most locations are within walking distance of each other. The order starts on Ban Jelačić Square, heads south through the parks of the Green Horseshoe to Zrinjevac and the Ice Park, and finishes in the Upper Town on the Strossmayer Promenade.
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1Ban Jelačić Square - The Advent Wreath and Opening
Ban Jelačić Square, Zagreb's main square, is the heart of Advent in Zagreb. A giant Advent wreath is set up at the Manduševac fountain, and the first Advent candle is lit here at the opening of the festival. The square is decorated with a large Christmas tree and stalls selling food, drinks and gifts.
In 2025, Advent in Zagreb opened on 29 November with programmes at three central locations, starting with the lighting of the first Advent candle at Manduševac. The 2026 opening date had not been announced at the time of writing.
From the square, Advent stalls continue to nearby European Square and Augusta Cesarca Street.
2Zrinjevac Park - Thousands of Lights in the Trees
Zrinjevac, a tree-lined park in the Lower Town, is one of the most romantic spots of the Zagreb Christmas market. Thousands of lights are strung through the crowns of the old plane trees, and the park's 19th-century music pavilion hosts concerts throughout Advent.
The park fills with wooden stalls selling mulled wine, sausages, fritule (Croatian doughnut balls) and crafts. In 2025, the lights on Zrinjevac were switched on at 7.45pm on the opening day, closing the first day of the festival.
Zrinjevac is part of the Green Horseshoe, a series of parks and squares that stretches through the Lower Town.
3Ice Park on King Tomislav Square - Skating by the Art Pavilion
The Ice Park (Ledeni park) on King Tomislav Square is one of the most popular attractions of Advent in Zagreb. An ice rink is set up in front of the yellow Art Pavilion, with the statue of King Tomislav and the main railway station framing the square.
The Ice Park opened on the first day of Advent in 2025, and skates can be hired on site. Food and drink stalls surround the rink, and the square is decorated with lights.
Its location opposite the main railway station makes it an easy first stop for visitors arriving by train, and it is the most family-friendly corner of the Zagreb Christmas market.
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4European Square and Augusta Cesarca Street - Central Stalls
European Square and Augusta Cesarca Street, just off Ban Jelačić Square, are among the central locations of Advent in Zagreb. Stalls sell food, drinks and gifts, and the area has a lively atmosphere in the evenings, with music and festive decorations.
These locations, along with Ban Jelačić Square and the Strossmayer Promenade, have formed the core of Advent in recent years, according to the organisers. Advent also spreads to neighbourhoods across the city.
The compact layout makes it easy to move between the stalls and the main square on foot, and it is the busiest part of the Zagreb Christmas market on weekend evenings.
5Strossmayer Promenade - Advent in the Upper Town
The Strossmayer Promenade, a tree-lined walkway along the old city walls of the Upper Town, is one of the most atmospheric locations of Advent in Zagreb. Stalls and bars line the promenade, with views over the rooftops of the Lower Town.
The promenade is next to the Lotrščak Tower, from which a cannon is fired every day at noon, a tradition that dates back to the 19th century. The easiest way up is the Zagreb funicular, one of the shortest public funiculars in the world.
The eastern part of the promenade has been one of the core Advent locations in recent years.
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Zagreb Christmas Market 2026: Advent Dates & Best Spots - FAQ
Official 2026 dates had not been announced at the time of writing. In 2025, Advent in Zagreb ran from 29 November 2025 to 7 January 2026. The festival traditionally opens on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent.
Advent in Zagreb is spread across the city. The main locations are Ban Jelačić Square, European Square, Augusta Cesarca Street, Zrinjevac park, the Ice Park on King Tomislav Square and the Strossmayer Promenade in the Upper Town.
Yes, entry to Advent in Zagreb is free. You pay for food, drinks and gifts, and for ice skating at the Ice Park. Prices are generally lower than at markets in Western Europe.
Yes. All five places are within walking distance in the Lower Town and Upper Town, with the funicular making the climb to the Upper Town easy. Visit the Upper Town in daylight and Zrinjevac after dark.
Try fritule, small Croatian doughnut balls, along with grilled sausages, sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls), štrukli and roasted chestnuts. Drink kuhano vino (mulled wine) or a warm rakija to keep out the cold.
Advent in Zagreb was voted the best Christmas market in Europe by European Best Destinations three years in a row. It is known for spreading across the whole city centre, with concerts, lights and skating as well as market stalls.
Zagreb Central Station is on King Tomislav Square, right by the Ice Park, and Ban Jelačić Square is about a 15-minute walk north through the parks. From Zagreb Airport, the airport shuttle bus runs to the main bus station, where trams continue to the centre.
Yes. In 2025, the stalls on Ban Jelačić Square opened from 10am to 11pm on Christmas Day, Zrinjevac opened from 5pm, and the Ice Park stayed open. Most locations close early on Christmas Eve, so check the Advent in Zagreb website for 2026 hours.
Yes, the Ice Park on King Tomislav Square, in front of the Art Pavilion, is one of the highlights of Advent in Zagreb. In 2024 it opened daily from 10am to 11pm, with skate hire and food stalls around the rink, and skating is paid.
Weekday afternoons are the most relaxed, while evenings from around 6pm and weekends get very busy as locals meet after work. See the Upper Town in daylight, then head to Zrinjevac after dark for the lights.
