Christmas time in Croatian cities - Top destinations

You do not need a calendar in Croatia to know that Christmas is approaching. Luminous decorations on every corner, small houses full of souvenirs with holiday motifs and the alluring scents of mulled wine and local cakes are signs that Christmas has come. 

It is difficult to decide which places to visit in Croatia during Advent, because each of them has its own charm. Whichever location you choose or at least peek into the Advent atmosphere through our cameras, you will feel the real Advent atmosphere.

Zagreb – Feel the Light

Advent in Zagreb will begin with the lighting of the first Advent candle on November 27 on Manduševac, and after that the lights on Zrinjevac will be lit and the opening of the program on Plateau Gradec. The multi-award-winning program of Advent and New Year's events will last until January 7, 2023. 20 locations will be arranged for the occasion, of which there are three new ones in the wider city center - the Winter Park on Dr. Franje Tuđman Square, which will be focused on a program for children, Park Grič and Stara Vlaška. A new location was also opened in the western part of Zagreb, namely Ivan Kukuljevića Square, where Advent in Špansko will be held. Due to the restoration of the Cathedral, the living nativity scene will be in a new location, in neighboring Opatovina. Locations of the Lower Town: bana J. Jelačića Square, Zrinjevac park, J.J. Strossmayer Square, King Tomislav Square, European Square, Oktogon passage, Republic of Croatia Square, Croatian National Theatre, Stara Vlaška and the new location Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square. Locations in Upper Town: Grič Tunnel with the theme Polar dream, St. Marko Square, Bela IV park, Zagreb City Museum with glass ball blowing workshop, Gradec plateau and Strossmayer promenade. This year, the return of the Ice Park on Tomislav Square attracts the most attention. The children will surely be delighted by the traditional program in the Zoo and the adults by the Advent of Zagreb craftsmen in the passage of Matica Croatian craftsmen.

Advent in Karlovac

Advent in the city on four rivers will be held from 17.12. until 31.12.2022. The opening will be marked with an Advent athletics race on December 17, with the announcement of the winner at 6 pm in the Music Pavilion. The Advent race is being held for the third time and is part of Advent in Karlovac. Advent in Karlovac has positioned itself as one of the most diverse programs in Croatiaand with its gastronomic offer it is undoubtedly the richest event in Karlovac County. Advent will be held on the Promenade and will begin with a festive opening with a Fairy Tale on Ice. A rich and varied musical, entertainment, cultural and sports program awaits you here, along with an unavoidable gastronomic and shopping offer...Sledding and skating rink await you in Šanac, numerous cultural events, plays, more than 20 concerts, fun and educational workshops.

Varaždin - the warmth of winter

Advent in Varaždin is located in the very heart of the historic city center, on the same streets and squares and in front of the same palaces where Špancirfest is held at the end of summer. The various programs of Advent, which will last from November 26 to January 6, 2023, will also be divided into several thematic locations and units this year. 110 programs will be held in the appropriately decorated center of the city, at eight locations, and for the first time, a program will also be held along the Drava River. Varaždin's main square, the popular Korzo, is the heart of the city, so it is also the heart of Advent beauties. In the immediate vicinity of Korzo is the beautiful Varaždin Cathedral, in front of which, along with choir performances, Advent candles will be lit on a large Advent wreath. New on Miljenko Stančić Square is the Snow Pavilion, where you can buy special gifts, Christmas decorations and souvenirs on Freedom Square and Franciscan Square. The large ice rink and the already legendary ice slide have become symbols of Advent in Varaždin. Advent in Varaždin has a program that makes a trip to the baroque city worthwhile.

Advent in Požega 

This year's Advent in Požega takes place from 03.12.2022. – 31.12.2022. The main part of the program will take place on Trg Sveto Trojstva. Already traditionally on the Square of St. Teresa, Advent candles are lit every Saturday after the evening mass. Location Promenade area where various music programs, workshops for your youngest but also for those a little older, and fine drops of alcoholic beverages from our local producers, along with fine sausages and fritters await you throughout the month of December. Visit sparkling Požega!

Rijeka - The lights of the Advent in Rijeka 

Advent in Rijeka lasts from November 26, 2022. – 08.01.2023. More than 100 programs have been prepared. The opening of Advent begins with the lighting of the first Advent candle on Koblerov Square and the lighting of 12 kilometers of Christmas lights on Trsat Castle. Trsatska Gradina is the most magical place that attracts a large number of people, as well as the second year of Advent at the theater, in Verdijeva Street, where, in addition to the catering offer, a stage will be set up on which about 30 musical programs will be performed. A traditional, rich catering offer awaits visitors at Rijeka Resolution Square and 128th Brigade Square. RI Gastro Advent, Balls of Good Wishes, the Sea Flake ice rink at Karoline Pier, the Santa Claus train on Korzo and a lot more await you at the Rijeka Advent.

Advent in Pula - L'Avvento a Pola

Advent in Pula is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in Croatia. The last weekend in November, and the first in Advent, will mark the opening of the music season at Portarata. Pula Advent lasts from November 26 to December 31 at the Giardini locations, Portarata Square - a place intended for holding promenade concerts and dance performances, Dante's Square - a gathering place of various generations surrounded by food stands and DJs, the Magic Park of the city of Graz, which is completely transformed into a Wonderland that welcomes its youngest guests in Santa's house, and from December 3 to January 8 there is an ice rink at the Trg Forum location. The entire event begins with the ceremonial lighting of the Advent candle in the city center, a large Christmas tree in one of the city squares, and numerous magical lighting decorations that decorate the entire city center. The December story is rounded off by 18 Advent houses with specially prepared menus that you can enjoy by participating in more than 80 programs.

Advent in Zadar - city promenade

A holiday feast, top gastronomy and traditional home-made holiday dishes, as well as plenty of good music and events, await the people of Zadar and numerous tourists during the 45 days of the Advent program in Zadar. But the biggest spectacle is expected on Thursday, November 24, with a big concert at 8:30 p.m. on Petar Zoranić Square to officially open this year's Advent in Zadar. On the same day, the first Advent candle is lit in the church of St. Shime. A good Christmas atmosphere and lots of good fun is expected. The central location of the event is Petar Zoranić Square and Five wells Square, where 25 wooden catering houses will be located and concerts by famous performers will be held. You can experience a real Christmas fairy tale in the atrium of the Cedulin Palace, where a life-size nativity scene will be placed in an appropriately decorated and illuminated space. The ice rink, toboggan run and ski resort on Višnjik will also contribute to the festive atmosphere.

Šibenik's Adventure

The most original, most ecological, most creative Advent with the smell of the sea and the only plastic-free Advent in Croatia is certainly Šibenik's Adventura. The Christmas fairy tale, the city's favorite manifestation, under the imperative of environmental awareness, will light up the parts of the old city center where the advent locations will be expanded. This year's Adventura opens on December 3, and will last until January 1, 2023. In the park of Robert Visiani, 13 catering houses have been set up with a rich gastronomic offer waiting for you at stands with traditional holiday delicacies. Fritulada, a competition in making the favorite Christmas delicacy, will also be held this year. The program of the Šibenik Christmas fair also includes Poljana with an ice rink, where there is also a large Advent wreath. For the beginning of the new year, on January 1, 2023, the Šibenik sky will be illuminated by lanterns released from the waterfront.

Advent in Split

With the traditional lighting of the first candle on the Advent wreath on Đardin, on Saturday, November 26, Advent in Split officially opens. This year, Prokurative and Stari plac are the locations with central events. The wonderful Prokurative has a rich program - many concerts and an ice rink, gastronomic offer in 8 houses. The new location is also the Stari plac stadium, where Spleat Advent will be held. The emphasis here is on the gastronomic offer, and the event is organized by the owners of famous Split restaurants. Here, too, you will find an ice rink, facilities for children and a fan zone for watching World Cup matches and various concerts. Always alive and full, Riva exudes a special charm in the run-up to Christmas. There is also Advent in Mertojak, Perivoj and Šperun.

Dubrovnik Winter Festival

Back in 2014, Dubrovnik started the Winter Festival, an event that takes place from the end of November to the beginning of January. The rich program of Advent in Dubrovnik begins on Saturday, November 26, with the lighting of the first Advent candle and the switching on of the holiday lights, which will complete the magic of this year's holidays for the next 40 days. This year, the events will take place in several locations in the historic center, first of all on Stradun with 10 concerts, and where the city's New Year's Eve will be held. The Christmas fair is set up on the most beautiful street in Dubrovnik - Stradun, where traditional craftsmen will present their handicrafts, Christmas decorations, as well as a catering offer of Christmas cakes and desserts. Concerts at Vojnović, the ice rink in Lapad Bay and the Advent train and gastro-music program Sunset Advent cadence. North Pole in Lazareti, children's program in Mokošica. The celebratory atmosphere on the last day of 2022 begins already at noon, when Dubrovnik bartenders prepare New Year's cocktails in front of the City Cafe, and at midnight, spectacular fireworks await you. Already traditionally, on January 1, a waltz will be danced on Stradun at noon, accompanied by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra.

Crikvenica Riviera - Magic by the sea

This year's Advent in Crikvenica begins on November 26 at three locations with the lighting of Christmas lights. Advent events will be held at three locations in Crikvenica: Preradovićeva, ice rink Ledena morska bajka in an attractive location of the main town square, Advent Park will be turned into a Santa Claus forest and a dwarf village for the youngest. Visitors, from the youngest to the oldest, will experience the true spirit of Christmas through a rich music and entertainment program. Photo locations will be arranged at several locations, thus creating a special Advent atmosphere in Crikvenica.

Fužine - Traditional New Year's Eve

The program for Advent and New Year's Eve at noon is held at two very attractive locations, namely in the Goran Christmas village in the center of Fužine and the attractive Forest fairy tale excursion site surrounded by thick forests. At 14:00 on Saturday, the official opening of Advent will be held, which will be magnified by the performance of the Fužina Wind Orchestra. During Advent, the Forest fairy tale Excursion will decorate the Xmass tree every weekend and write wishes on the tree of good wishes. Every Sunday, one Advent bonfire will be lit. Torches around the lake is an event that takes place on December 30. when the promenade around Bajer jezera turns into a magical fairy tale. The midday New Year's party, which has developed into a recognizable tourist brand of Fužine, is visited by 8,000 - 12,000 people. Under the open sky in the center of Fužine exactly at noon, we say goodbye to old customs and welcome new ones with a happy crowd that has been gathering here since the morning hours.

Advent in Samobor

A rich program of one of the most visited and most cheerful Advents. Advent in Samobor takes place at several connected locations in the center of the city. The picturesque center of Samobor is all about Christmas, and the program takes place in three neighboring locations. King Tomislav Square, where Advent candles will be lit on a large wreath every Advent Saturday at 5 p.m. The main town square traditionally hosts a Christmas market. The catering houses are located on the adjacent Trg Matice hrvatska, where concerts are held on weekends. On the other side of the road is a pop-up ice rink where the Advent concert will be held on November 26. From King Tomislav Square to Matica Hrvatska Square and all the way to the pop-up ice rink, your path will be illuminated by Christmas lights and countless sumptuous decorations along with photo corners and numerous Advent details. The concert part of Samobor's Advent ends with a double welcome of the new year at King Tomislav Square.

Advent in Rovinj - L'avvento Rovigno

Christmas from the sea – Natale sur mare. Rovinj batana, a symbol of Rovinj's maritime and fishing tradition, is the backbone of the new concept of Advent in Rovinj. Sail on the advent batana through Rovinj's history and heritage all the way to the modern part of Rovinj. Taste the autochthonous Istrian flavors through specially created Advent menus, with lots of good music, entertainment and festive festive moments for everyone. For the first time, the program will take place in three key locations: the town square, under the church of St. Eufemije and on the Lungomare Plaza promenade. The main town square is decorated with ten Advent houses, while in the park in front of the church of St. Euphemia will be the first time that a hand-made nativity scene in the original size will be installed. New decorations have been placed in various locations of the city, and the main attraction are batanas decorated with luminous Christmas decorations, which will attract the eyes of visitors in the sea in front of the Rovinj waterfront. Unlike the usual scenes with a lot of snow and a pine forest, for this occasion Advent has designed a celebration inspired by the sea. The skating rink and daily concerts are returning to Maršala Tito square. Fireworks on New Year's Eve will be replaced by a spectacular and at the same time environmentally friendly laser show.

You can check the photos of Croatian cities and the Advent atmosphere in our Gallery.