What fish costs in Croatia on Good Friday: from €6 sardines to €40 prawns

Fish market in Zagreb

Markets across Croatia have been bustling ahead of Good Friday, as shoppers stick to the long-standing tradition of eating fish while abstaining from meat.

Good Friday is a day of fasting in the Christian calendar, and in Croatia it is customary for families to prepare fish dishes instead of meat.

Despite rising costs for both fish and vegetables, shoppers across the country say they are not willing to abandon the tradition.

At Zagreb’s Dolac market, the most popular fish being bought this year include sea bream, squid, sea bass and salmon.

As HRT reported, traders say prices have remained largely unchanged since Christmas, even though customers still describe them as high.

Shoppers say they are adapting their purchases depending on availability, with smaller fish reportedly in shorter supply, likely due to recent weather conditions.

Alongside fish, buyers at the market are also stocking up on traditional side dishes such as Swiss chard, potatoes, radishes, spring onions and lettuce.

Prices across coastal markets

Fish markets along the coast also report strong demand.

In Zadar, buyers can choose from a wide range of seafood, including:

• Prawns at around €40 per kilogram

• Red mullet at around €30 per kilogram

• Cuttlefish priced between €18 and €20 per kilogram

• Sardines from around €6 per kilogram

In Pula, the offer has been slightly more limited due to several days of strong bora winds and the recent full moon, both of which affect fishing conditions.

Among the most sought-after fish there are tuna at around €20 per kilogram, hake at about €13 per kilogram, and sea bream ranging from €8 to €26 per kilogram depending on size.

For those unable to find fresh catch, farmed fish remains widely available. In Istria, a traditional Good Friday dish is bakalar na bijelo, which sells for about €22 per kilogram.

Freshwater fish popular in Slavonia

In eastern Croatia, freshwater fish remains the traditional Good Friday choice.

At Osijek’s main market, carp is selling for about €5.20 per kilogram, while catfish costs around €7.96 per kilogram. Carp steaks are priced at roughly €8.50 per kilogram.

Other market staples are also seeing steady demand ahead of Easter. Cheese is selling for between €10 and €12.50 per kilogram, while eggs from domestic producers cost between €0.20 and €0.27 each.

Spring vegetables remain relatively affordable, with bunches of onions priced between €1 and €1.50, while lettuce and radishes are about €1 per bunch.

Although many shoppers complain that prices are rising, the Good Friday tradition of eating fish remains firmly rooted across Croatia.