The Best Christmas Market in Europe

Hello world!

We were in Zagreb, visiting friends, family and the Best Christmas Market in Europe.

It was raining most of the time we were there so this will be short overview – let’s call it “our top 10 places to visit in Zagreb Advent”.

1. Caffe de Matoš

Caffe de Matoš is located on Strossmayer’s Promenade in Gornji Grad (Up town), with simple theme – love. So many special little “love” details can be found all around. Talk a walk with your “better half” and remember “What happens in Zagreb, stays in Zagreb” 🙂

2. Marićev passage

One more new part of Zagreb Christmas Market is “Marićev prolaz”. It is decorated with white twigs and twinkling lamps creating a magical fairy tale tunnel. It was still under construction when we were there, we are sure it is more magical now.

3. Advent in Klovićevi

The best view of the city is definitely Advent in Klovićevi dvori on the Gradec plateu. It offers gastro experience and free concerts; who doesn’t want those?

4. Tesla – Mind from the future

In Meštrović Pavilion you can find amazing exhibition “Nikola Tesla – Mind from the Future”. It was a great hideout from rain, but also unique audio-visual  experience. Don’t miss: room with Tesla’s “brain-computer interface” device. That device changes color and sound, depending on your brain activity. Diano had green color (creativity & relaxation), I had red (full brain activity), what was yours?

5. Tunnel Grič

I promised I will find some fun facts about this tunnel, so here it goes…
It was built in World War II to serve as bomb shelter. The tunnel was renovated and opened to the public in 2016, as a tourist attraction. During Advent in Zagreb it shows old Zagreb Up Town street, from Charles Dickens era. Honestly, it reminded us of Strasbourg (BLOG). You can enter Grič Tunnel from Mesnička, Ilica and Radićeva street.

6. Fuliranje

This is a name of a popular Advent gathering, which moved this year to Strossmayer square. We were very hungry once we got there, so we dived into innovative food it offer. Diano tried “street sarma” (stuffed rolled cabbage leaves in bread), I got “fritula” (basically apple pie with pudding). Of course, we poured mulled wine on top of all 🙂

7. Zrinjevac park

Zrinjevac is one more place to stop by for food and drink, but also handcrafts and souvenirs.

8. Main square Market

In front of Johann Franck club, every year, they set up another Advent place where you can find food & drinks. Main square offers entertainment program for children during the day and free concerts for evening program. Behind Johann Franck building you will walk into Advent on Europski square, which is much smaller this year.

9. Tomislavac Ice park

The Ice Park on King Tomislav square is apparently the biggest ice rink in this part of Europe. Definitely wish we had more time and better weather to try it!

10. Advent na Strossu

We hope our journey will help you plan your trip to Zagreb. It would be great if you can share this with your friends, so more people can learn about Zagreb Advent.

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When to visit Split?

Hello world!

It is very hard to write about city you’ve lived in (for bigger part of your life), but that doesn’t mean we won’t try :). Let’s start with WHEN to visit Split, Croatia?

If you are looking for cultural experience of Split city only (like museum, galleries and theater), you can visit all year round. Split is vibrant city with plenty of things going on. Still, we would avoid January (after New Year) and February, completely. In that period most old town restaurants & shops are closed.

March, April and May are reserved for lower accommodation prices and spring outdoor adventures. Go inland! There are numerous wonderful places close to Split. We just visited beautiful Imotski city and lakes, maybe you’ve seen it on our Instagram page (we will write about it in our next blog).

If you feel adventurous, join a biking or hiking tour (Biokovo and Kozjak mountains are interesting to explore).

Krka or/and Plitvice National Park can be fun day tour from Split, in that period (but also in summer season).

In April Split hosts Boat Show and Half Marathon race. On May 7th Split celebrates its patron saint, St. Domnius (Sv. Duje). Festivities include various events, exhibits, fairs, bingo on Riva, and concerts.

If your idea of vacation is swimming and visiting islands, don’t come before June. You don’t want to see islands in winter times, you really don’t! So, June marks beginning of summer season, which ends in September. July & August are high season months. June to September is time when Split and Croatia don’t sleep. It beats and breaths tourists and everything touristy. You want to swim, you can! Want to try best restaurants, they are all open! Thinking about renting a boat and explore Adriatic coast, vendors will fight for you! Ferry lines are also more frequent. Nightlife gets crazy and there are festivals everywhere (film and music). Oh, and it is hot, very hot! So, jump into that beautiful Adriatic sea and chill for a while!

We call October “Indian summer” period; or as locals call it “Granny summer” (literal translation). Sea is still warm enough to swim, but there aren’t many tourists at the beach. There is less crowd in the city and prices are lower again.

November and December are definitely off season months, but there is plenty going on in that period. Most famous event is ‘Advent in Split‘ which takes place on the Riva promenaded and nearby streets, from early December through to early January. There are events, concerts, traditional crafts, food & drinks houses and festive atmosphere. Advent is very popular among locals, but tourist seem to enjoy it too. If you have time to visit Zagreb, this is the best time! Zagreb “Christmas market” was voted (two times in a row) “European Best Christmas Market”. You can find out more in our Zagreb blog: here!

So, when are you planing your visit?