November the 14th, 2024 – We’re now gearing up for Zagreb Advent 2024, set to begin on November the 30th and last all the way until the 7th of January. Promising plenty of festive cheer and the magic of the Christmas spirit, let’s see what we can expect from this award winning event.
Organised by the City of Zagreb, the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb (TZGZ) and institutional and private partners, this year’s multiple award-winning Zagreb Advent will begin on November the 30th with the first Advent candle being traditionally lit on Ban Jelačić Square. That will be closely followed by the opening of other Advent locations across the bustling capital.
During the presentation of Zagreb Advent 2024, Mayor Tomislav Tomašević stated the following: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the beginning of Zagreb Advent 2024, our biggest winter event. It has exceptional cultural, touristic and economic significance.
Traditionally, at the opening of Advent, we also host the mayor of the capital from another country as out guest. Last year it was the mayor of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karić, and this year, the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, will be here with us.
This year, in cooperation with ZET (Zagreb Electric Trams), we’re also introducing two “Merry Christmas” trams. These spirited trams will wholeheartedly contribute to the magic of the festive season in the city, providing unforgettable experiences of travelling around donning their Christmas attire.
I’d therefore like to invite all of Zagreb’s residents, as well as visitors from other parts of Croatia and abroad, to join us and enrich this Advent period with their presence”.
cnn has already recognised zagreb advent 2024 as one of the world’s best
The director of TZGZ, Martina Bienenfeld, said: “In addition to the rich cultural, entertainment and children’s programmes that we prepare every year, Zagreb Advent 2024 is set to bring a special atmosphere through new decorative zones that will beautify Stara Vlaška, Petrićeva and Masarykova. There are, of course, all the other traditional locations, and I’d like to draw attention to the completely new arrangement of the Grič Tunnel, which will provide visitors with a magical experience that combines imagination and the spirit of the festive period.
We’re particularly pleased that Zagreb’s advent festivities have once again been recognised as a must-see destination for winter travel. This year, the Croatian capital stands out on the lists of prestigious media outlets such as CNN, Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, National Geographic, The Times and many more. This kind of media presence, together with promotional activities being carried out across 23 markets, further contributes to the positioning of Zagreb as an internationally recognised Advent destination.
In this regard, I’d like to remind you that last December, every third visitor who came to Croatia visited Zagreb, and that our city was number 1 in terms of the arrivals and overnight stays realised during that period. With the huge levels of interest we’re recording, we believe that this festive season will also bring excellent results. We hope to confirm the status of Advent in Zagreb as one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, where visitors can experience the authentic Christmas spirit of the city.”
A rich cultural and musical programme is scheduled to be rolled out across various locations in the city. Detailed timetables of all the planned programmes and current information can be found here.
crowned the best christmas market in europe for three consecutive years!
From 2017 to 2019, Zagreb Advent won Best Christmas Market by choice of the European Best Destinations portal, firmly placing Croatia on the winter tourism map. Before that, few would bother flocking to the country outside of the warm summer months. Having blown the competition out of the water, it’s safe to say that the festive period in the Croatian capital has become a firm favourite of many from both at home and abroad.
We’ve got absolutely no doubt that Zagreb Advent 2024 will be just as magical and filled with the warmth of the Christmas spirit as every year gone by thus far. You can find out everything you need to know here, and it’s worth bookmarking this page as updates are added!
On that note, let me leave you with the promotional video of Zagreb Advent 2024 – which is sure to get you in the mood.
