Don't forget Zagreb: Europe's Most Peaceful Christmas Market!

December 2024 and I was ready to experience another European Christmas Market. Having done Frankfurt in 2023, which was amazing but very, very busy, I was looking for something a bit different this time and something much quieter. I'm glad I found Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Here's why you should visit for the Christmas Market (or in general!): 🏘️ Beautiful city centre 🥾 Easily walkable and good transport network ❄️ More relaxed and chilled out Christmas Market ⛪ Delightful monuments and unique attractions 📷 Fantastic photo opportunities Day 1 Having arrived to the city centre early hours of the morning the night before, I awoke mid-morning not wanting to miss out on the city centre charms. ❄️ I headed out into the Jelačića Square to find the main attraction: the fantastic Christmas Market. This was just what I was looking for - small in size, easily walkable and not overcrowded (Picture 2). Charming classic wooden stalls sold anything from delicious cuisine to traditional wooden tree decorations. The large Christmas tree stood proudly in the centre of the market (Picture 3). 📷 After some time in the market I was keen to see everything else the city had to offer. I passed the Cathedral of Zagreb (Picture 4). Unfortunately an earthquake damaged the towers a few years ago and it's still being repaired but nevertheless was a beautiful building to look at. ⛪ I then came across St. Mark's Church which was unlike anything I'd seen before - it's unique multicoloured tiles with the Heraldic coat of arms was amazing (Picture 1). In front stood another beautiful Christmas tree with wooden decorations, making for a great photo opportunity. 🪜 I was then off to the Lotrščak Tower to get a glimpse of the city from above (Picture 5). You can get there via the short funicular railway (Picture 6) or on foot. The photos are breathtaking with the traditional city buildings in the centre and the backdrop of modern skyscrapers in the city's suburb. 🛍️ After some more time in the city centre, I then went out to the Designer Outlet Croatia (Picture 7), approximately 45 minutes by bus. This is a haven for those looking for a fantastic array of Christmas gifts and offers outlets from many of the brands you'll know and love. 🏬 Back into the city to see the market at night (Picture 8) and then it was off to bed after a busy day. Day 2: 🥐 The day started with delicious pastries and tea in a local bakery. 🦉 Off to the Zoo Zagreb which was huge and extremely good value for money - there was a massive array of animals there including snakes, wolves, markets, camels and many more but my absolutely favourite was the Burrowing Owl. I've never seen a more beautiful owl in my life (Picture 9). ✈️ Time to get the bus back to the airport after a fantastic jam-packed weekend. I'd definitely recommend Zagreb - it's sadly often forgotten in the wake of it's much more popular Croatian colleagues such as Dubrovnik and Split, but if you're looking for a unique city with a difference then Zagreb is the place to go. #postandearn