Guide to a Perfect Day During Advent in Zagreb
One of the prettiest, merriest and simply the best European Christmas markets - Advent in Zagreb is a place where all your Christmas wishes come true. Up until the 8th of January, you can enjoy this winter fairytale all over the city. Mulled wine, cheerful laughs, delicious food and terrific handmade knick-knacks are reasons you'll wish you had more than a day at the Advent.
This year, ten new attractions will spread Christmas spirit, and you have probably already read about some of them earlier on our blog. So trust me, one day is definitely not enough.
Everything starts in the Main Square
As a true Zagrebian, meet up with your company for the day under the big clock on Ban Josip Jelačić Square. Enjoy the Christmas ornaments all over the city and walk down Praška Street until you get to Zrinjevac - a place so magical that it seems like you are in a different place, a smaller town on its own. While the rest of the year you enjoy tree alleys, during Advent you can upgrade your stroll and enjoy whimsical stall alleys. The central pavilion resounds with cheerful music while you sip mulled wine and buy trinkets for your dearest ones.
Zrinjevac
Image credit: Advent Zagreb, Sanjin Kastelan
Just keep strolling, visit Strossmayer Square to pet the ponies and continue towards the Ice park - dreamy ice skating madness. The magical ambience is definitely going to make you feel like you are in a fairytale.
Become a true fulir
Fulir is an old Zagrebian term for a nice, well-mannered person who is always in a mood for fooling around. There are two places for you to choose from: Tomićeva Street and Kurelčeva Street. Kurelčeva street is filled with food stalls, and the food is out of this world! This is no ordinary fast food, but rather high-quality food that you can usually find in restaurants like Rougemarin or Yellow Submarine. The European Square is just around the corner - catch an awesome concert from (mostly) domestic artists performing on the BalconyTV stage and don't forget to make a good Instagram story of the twinkling ornaments hanging above you.
If the food offer on Kurelčeva Street and the European Square weren't enough for you, satisfy your gourmet palate at the food stalls on Tomićeva Street. Tomićeva Street is the one beneath the prominent funicular and was the place where the story of the Christmas Fuliranje began. Continue on from Tomićeva Street and check out the winter edition of Grič tunnel or better yet, take the funicular to Gornji grad and continue your big magical experience.
Fuliranje on Kurelčeva Street with tasty food
Image credit: Advent Zagreb, Sanjin Kastelan
Uptown-Christmas-funk
Once you get off the funicular, enjoy the beautiful view (No 1) and turn left to Strossmartre. What I probably cherish the most in this place is that there are big tree ornaments you can step into and heat yourself up with blankets beneath the heaters, cosily enjoying another cup of mulled wine.
My favourite place is Gradec plateau, again filled with happy faces, good live music, delicious food and of course, mulled wine. One of the reasons this is my location of choice is the fact that here you can find sugar free mulled wine at Na dlanu food stall. Another reason is its vast space so you are freed from the crowd.
Up for an adventure? Be sure to find all the courtyards at this year's Advent edition of Dvorišta. Amazing concerts and good food are Advent's essential so you won't miss them at any courtyard.
A Christmas present you can't go wrong with - buy souvenirs at one of the stalls
Image credits: Mirsad Mehulic, Zagreb Tourist Board
Although you'll wish it lasted longer, just remember that things are always better when you anticipate them, so enjoy the Advent to the fullest and see you next year!
Header image credit: Advent Zagreb, Sanjin Kastelan
Author: Karla Knezevic