Author: excursor team
Croatian coast is a great place for summer vacations, but when it comes to winter, Zagreb is a place to be. We bring you our choice of top five things to do/visit if you find yourself in Zagreb during December or January.
Advent magic
Advent is getting better and bigger every year. Three years in a row Zagreb Advent won the title of „Best Christmas market in Europe“. So prepare Your warmest clothes and follow the advent path. Start at the main railroad station, king Tomislav Square, where you can find Ice Park, a big ice skating ring. You can bring your own skates or rent a pair, and while you’re waiting for your skating time to come, check out what booths around the skate ring have to offer. After your done with ice skating, go towards Ban Jelačić square, but stop halfway, on Strossmayer’s square (Fuliranje) and in Zrinjevac park. On both locations you can find music, lots of food and drinks in a very delightful atmosphere. Make sure to go through Marić walkway towards hotel Dubrovnik and experience a walk through a „lit forest“. On Cvjetni square, Ban Jelačić and European square you can also find lots of booths with delicious food, from pasta with cabbage to popular Germknödel (sweet dumplings), and of course mulled wine. On Zagreb’s Upper Town visit Caffee de Matoš, a coffee bar in the open, decorated in anantique style, surrounded with street bands, dancers and comedians. Little further from the Caffe de Matoš, you can find Advent on Stross with daily concerts, a rich selection of drinks (such as mulled gin) and a beautiful view of Zagreb. You can finish your city centre Advent tour by going through Grič tunnel where a whole new world awaits you. Decorated with Christmas lights of course.
Enjoy the nature
Walk through the forest or, if there is snow, go skiing or sledding on the most popular Zagreb’s mountain Medvednica and it’s peak Sljeme. Not as many, but yet magical skiing paths may be just what it takes to satisfy your skiing needs. White meadow with a big space for sledding will surely cheer up the children, and everyone else young at heart. Warm yourself up with mulled wine or tea, and recharge your energy with local specialties in one of the restaurants on the top of Medvednica.
One of the most visited streets in Zagreb
If you’re interested in nights out, make sure to visit Tkalčićeva street. We are sure you’ll find something of your taste in this street, filled with bars and restaurants. And, if you’re a big adventurist, try Tkalča crawl – take a shooter drink in every bar from the top of Tkalčićeva street to Ban Jelačić square. 🙂
Traditional recipes
Turkey with mlinci (homemade thin dried flatbread), štrukli (cooked or baked dough with fresh cheese filling), pasta with cabbage, or sarma (minced meat in sour cabbage), all above mentioned meals are traditional Croatian dishes typical for winter months. You can find some of them on advent booths, with a modern twist, or in many restaurants in Zagreb’s centre and surroundings.
Afternoon with Christmas lights
An hour away from Zagreb, a Christmas Story of Salaj family awaits. Walk through 5 million of Christmas lights of different colours and shapes, follow the pathway that leads you through different stories and experience an amazing fireworks. On Salajs’s family estate you can find a gastronomy offer and buy some souvenirs.
