Zagreb Christmas markets a hit among tourists & on Google

ZAGREB, 29 December 2018 – Advent in Zagreb, which was awarded the best Christmas markets in Europe for the past three years in a row, has broken new records this year. 

Up until Christmas Day, Zagreb welcomed 12% more tourists than last year and 16% more overnight stays were recorded. 

The largest number of tourists arrived from Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by Austria, Slovenia and Italy. This year there were also a large increase in tourists from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.  

Advent in Zagreb has also been popular on the internet. 

“We got analysis back that 38 million people from all over the world searched on Google for Advent in Zagreb. A lot more searches than Advent in Vienna or any other city which organises Christmas markets. This is a big thing and very positive,” Zagreb Tourist Board director Martina Bienenfeld told HRT.

Amongst locals Zagreb’s Upper Town and Maksimir has favourites over Advent, whilst tourists have preferred downtown and Zrinjevac.

Bienenfeld said negative feedback from visitors this year will be taken into account for next year’s Advent. 

“It seems to me that in some places, we will try to make the noise a little less and try to reduce some of the crowds with a small decrease in the number of food stands,” she said.