August 2, 2023 – Shopping in Croatia – while generally a pleasant experience, this Saturday it’s not happening. In the middle of the tourist season, none of the shops or shopping centers are allowed to open. The reason – new Trade Act.
As Index writes, this Saturday is the Day of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving, the Day of Croatian Veterans and the Anniversary of the Operation Storm. According to the new Trade Act, which prohibits work on Sundays, shops are now banned from working on holidays as well. This means that even in the tourist centers on the Adriatic, shops will not be allowed to open.
ban applies to bakeries and markets
“Retail facilities are closed on public holidays. The Croatian Government determine by decision which retail facilities are required to work on public holidays in Croatia in accordance with the act governing public holidays, memorial days, and non-working days in the Republic of Croatia,” the act states.
The ban on working on holidays also applies to bakeries and markets as well.
Exceptions: shops at stations, gas stations, in campsites…
On public holidays, and the next one is Tuesday, August 15, for the feast of the Assumption, only shops located within railway and bus stations, airports, seaports, ferries, and airplanes are allowed to work. This also includes shops at gas stations, in hospitals, in hotels, in cultural and religious institutions, nautical marinas, camps and OPGs and protected areas of nature.
This means that during the peak of the tourist season, no shops will be open for two days. Prime minister Plenković claims that the act took into account the fact that Croatia is a tourist country..
This Sunday, though, shops will be able to open if they have chosen it as a working Sunday.
Where to shop over the weekend
Find the list of shops open on Sunday below, as none will be open on Saturday.
Lidl
The following Lidl stores will not be open during the summer: Beli Manastir, Bjelovar, Čakovec, Daruvar, Donji Miholjac, Dugo Selo, Đakovo, Đurđevac, Ivanec, Ivanić Grad, Jastrebarsko, Karlovac, Koprivnica, Krapina, Križevci, Kutina, Našice, Nova Gradiška, Novska, Osijek, Petrinja, Požega, Samobor, Sesvete, Sisak, Slatina, Slavonski Brod, Sveta Nedelja, Valpovo, Varaždin, Velika Gorica, Vinkovci, Virovitica, Vrbovec, Vukovar, Zabok, Zagreb, Zaprešić and Županja.
All other Lidl stores remain open on Sundays during the summer.
Konzum
As for Sunday, only some of the shops are open, as per the list here. It should also be noted that Konzum canceled their webshop delivery and collection on Sundays.
Kaufland
All Kaufland stores will be open every Sunday during July and August 2023.
Spar
See Spar’s and Interspar’s working hours here.
Plodine
These stores will not be open during the summer: Bjelovar, Čakovec, Čazma, Čepin, Đakovo, Dugo Selo, Ivanić-Grad, Jastrebarsko, Karlovac, Koprivnica, Krapinske Toplice, Križevci, Kutina, Ludbreg, Našice, Nova Gradiška, Novska, Osijek Huttlerova, Osijek Strossmayerova, Petrinja, Pitomača, Požega, Prelog, Sisak, Slavonski Brod, Slatina, Sveta Nedelja, Valpovo, Varaždin – Gospodarska, Varaždin – Optujska, Vinkovci – Vukčića Hrvatinića, Virovitica, Vrbovec, Zabok, Zagreb – Karla Metikoša, Zagreb – Mije Haleuša, Zagreb – Štefanovečki Zavoj, Zagreb – Vice Vukova, Zaprešić, Županja.
All other shops will be open on Sundays during August. Shops within shopping centers will operate on Sundays in accordance with the decision of the center in which they are located.
Studenac
Studenac does not have a schedule of working Sundays, but publishes their lists of open shops on a weekly basis. Check which ones are open this Sunday here.
Tommy
Tommy stores will be open on Sundays according to the adjusted opening hours, which you can check here.
Shopping centers
As for shopping centers in the big cities, none will be open in Zagreb this Sunday. Mall of Split remains open, as do the Western shopping center in Rijeka, Supernova in Zadar and Max City in Pula. No shopping center is open in Osijek this Sunday.
