Christmas Market in Croatia and Slovenia, Best Christmas Market in Zagreb

Description

“Best Christmas Market 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 ” as voted by visitors on European Best Destinations portal

ZAGREB CHRISTMAS MARKET – Zagreb is Lonely Planet’s “Nr. 1 destination in Europe

“Best Christmas Market  in Zagreb”

December 2020.

Dates: 28.11.- 05.12. / 05.- 12.12. / 12.- 19.12.2020.

Zagreb – City of a million hearts, the capital and largest city of Croatia, which attracts many tourists with its beauty, interesting history, stories and legends. Downtown is full of museums and green parks, as well as cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops, which attract people of all ages.
Get to know northwestern Croatia, with its beauty, interesting history filled with stories and legends, and try local cuisine on excursions.

Day 1, ZAGREB

Arrival to Zagreb airport, transfer to the hotel located in city center. After check-in rest of the day free at leisure. Discover amazing city center, check stands on Christmas market, filled with authentic Croatian souvenirs or taste local cuisine. Overnight.

Day 2, ZAGREB

After breakfast, meeting with your local guide in hotel lobby. Local guide will show you the most important sights of  Zagreb, and you’ll hear many interesting stories and legends from Zagrebs history. We’ll start at the Main Square – Ban Jelačić Square, with Manduševac fountain. After you make a wish, we’ll go to the Cathedral, that is situated above the Main square. Zagreb diocese was established in 11th century, and has long and interesting history. Cathedral is situated on top of the little hill above Main square, called Kaptol. Visiting the Cathedral, famous Dolac market, Bloody bridge, Radić Street to the Stone gate, the only preserved entrance of Zagreb’s Upper town, which is located on the hill called Gradec. Overnight.

The magical Upper town

The Upper town is full of small squares, museums and galleries. We reach St. Mark’s Square, Croatian Parliament and the Croatian government and Croatian History Museum. Walking along many palaces and monuments, we will come to the Lotrščak Tower, with cannon that announces noon every day. The shortest funicular in the world will take us down to Ilica street, the longest and most famous Zagreb street. We’ll go back to Kaptol hill, where we’ll have lunch in a restaurant with beautiful view towards Cathedral. The rest of the day you’ll have free time to explore the city and enjoy Christmas Markets and all kinds of different events that are held in many parks and squares in city center. Free time.

Day 3, ZAGREB

Breakfast. Free time for shopping and enjoying in Christmas spirit you can feel all around town.
Our guide will recommend you where to go and what to do, where are the best places to eat and make shopping. Overnight.

Day 4, ZAGREB – ČAKOVEC – VARAŽDIN

Čakovec

After breakfast we’ll take off on a whole day trip to northwestern part of Croatia, on the other side of Medvednica mountain, to Hrvatsko zagorje and Međimurje. It is interesting part of Croatia, with small villages, castles, churches and vineyards on top of the hills, and it’s known by its history, legends and local cuisine. On our trip first we’ll visit Čakovec, old Croatian town, that keeps up to its tradition and history. Take a walk with guide through city center, where you’ll see, among others, old Zrinski castle, situated in center. In pre-Christmas time you’ll see stands with traditional cuisine and souvenirs. Free time for coffee.

Varaždin

Continue to nearby Varaždin, beautiful city in Northern Croatia. Varaždin was a capital of Croatia for a short period in 18th century, until fire destroyed more than half of the city. Our tour will continue towards old city, across the hill that serves as bastion. There we’ll find old castle with interesting Varaždin City Museum, with different collections that tell us stories about history of the city. We’ll make a tour, and continue walk around city, through old gate, across wooden bridge, to Stančić square, Franciscan square – don’t forget to grab the statue of Grgur for his thumb, and make a wish. We continue to the King Tomislav Square, where City hall is situated, and to the beautiful baroque Cathedral, where, for more than 40 years, Varaždin baroque evenings are held. Our last point will be building of Croatian national theater, beautiful building 150 years old. Now it’s time to catch a break, free time for lunch, coffee and souvenirs.

Salaj family estate

On your way back to Zagreb you’ll make one stop at place for which we’re sure you are going to like. It is a Fairy tale on Salaj family estate, one of the most beautiful events in Croatia in the pre-Christmas period. On the estate you’ll see almost 2 milions Christmas lights decorated in all kinds of different figures and shapes, over and around trees and bushes. You’ll have time as much as you like to take a walk around estate, let yourself to go back to childhood. Snow, laughter, scent of tea, wine and cakes will make you enjoy even more. There you’ll have time to enjoy in good food before going back to Zagreb. Overnight.

Day 5, CROATIA ( Rijeka and Opatija) or SLOVENIA ( Ljubljana and Bled)

Breakfast. On this day we are offering you to choose between two trips:

Option 1. Slovenia: Lake Bled and Ljubljana

ZAGREB – BLED – LJUBLJANA

Breakfast. Today you’ll discover one of the most beautiful gems of Slovenia: the magical Lake Bled.
Take a tour through the town with guide, visiting the beautiful old city of Bled, which offers views of the city, the surroundings, and Triglav – the  highest peak of Slovenia, and the Bled lake with an island. Driving with the traditional boat to the island and visit to the church, where you can make a wish by ringing the bell. Don’t miss the opportunity to try the traditional cake – creamcake.

After visiting Bled, drive to Ljubljana, capital and largest city of Slovenia. City lies on the river Ljubljanica and was built in the Roman settlement Emona in 15 year AD. The symbol of the city is the dragon, which represents the strength and courage.  It is there that Jason, main Argonaut, allegedly killed a dragon which then became the symbol of the city. Visit Ljubljana old town. Enjoy Christmas markets places all around city center, which is decorated different each year.
Drive back to Zagreb. Overnight.

Option 2. Croatia: Rijeka and Opatija

ZAGREB – RIJEKA – OPATIJA

Breakfast. Drive in direction of Kvarner and Adriatic Sea. Arrival to Rijeka, 3rd largest city in Croatia, and Croatia’s largest harbour. But before coming to city center, visit old castle situated above Rijeka. The plateau of the Castle offers a magnificent view of the whole area of the Rijeka’s Old City, as well as whole Kvarner bay area. The Trsat Castle is one of the oldest fortifications on the Croatian coast which preserves the features of the early medieval town construction. Drive to city center, visit Korzo – Rijeka’s promenade with stores, cafes and restaurants. City tower with clock. Continue to nearby Opatija, beautiful city, where Croatian tourism started – plume of world tourism since the mid-19th century. Walk “Walk of Fame”, the Lungo Mare Promenade and the beautiful park of Villa Angiolina. Free time for taking lunch and enjoying. Drive back to Zagreb. Overnight.

Day 6 ZAGREB

After breakfast rest of the day at leisure. Put on ice skates and enjoy Christmas spirit of the most beautiful square in Zagreb! Overnight.

Day 7 ZAGREB

After breakfast private departure transfer to the Airport according to flight schedule. Dovidenja (good bye) till next time!

PRICE PER PERSON / IN EUR: 13660 HRK