Croatia may not be the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of a Christmas getaway and, yet, as a country with a population that is about 85% Catholic, it is actually a perfect spot to enjoy the Holidays abroad. Boasting lots of unique Christmas traditions to take part in, some delicious and hearty festive dishes to warm you up and leave you feeling satisfied, lots of Christmas markets to explore in cities across the country, and more besides, there is plenty to make Croatia a rather special place to spend the Holiday Season. In particular, if you’re looking for a destination that boasts mild winter weather, pretty sea views, charming surroundings, and that is a winter holiday hotspot then a vacation rental in Zadar for the Christmas holidays is just the thing!
Zadar is completely free of the tourist crowds that are so common throughout the summer come December but fills up instead with festive cheer with the dawning of Advent, leaving you plenty of space to kick back, relax, and enjoy it all. Lights twinkle in the streets, Christmas music floats out of shops, the scent of mulled wine and sweets hangs in the air, and all sorts of events and celebrations take place, transforming the city into a winter wonderland – minus the snow or serious cold!
Zadar is completely free of the tourist crowds that are so common throughout the summer come December but fills up instead with festive cheer with the dawning of Advent, leaving you plenty of space to kick back, relax, and enjoy it all. Lights twinkle in the streets, Christmas music floats out of shops, the scent of mulled wine and sweets hangs in the air, and all sorts of events and celebrations take place, transforming the city into a winter wonderland – minus the snow or serious cold!
In recent years, the advent period in Zadar has been formalised by local organisers and government into a calendar of all sorts of events that goes on for about six weeks and lasts from the end of November into the beginning of January. Beginning usually with the opening of the city’s temporary ice-rink, other events and attractions quickly follow including children’s workshops, concerts, dancing, markets, and more. Most of these take place in the picturesque Petar Zoranić Square, which is perfectly lit-up for the occasion and becomes truly magical. This is where the main Christmas Fair in town is housed each year, along with the extensive musical program of pop, folk, and soul musicians, DJs, and more that accompanies it and ensures that there is always a vibrant and lively atmosphere. This year, the sixth edition of Advent in Zadar begins on the 26th of November 2021 with the lighting of the first Advent candle in the Church of Saint Simeon and the Christmas Fair will run for 36 days until the 1st of January 2022, in the Petar Zoranić Square and the Five Wells Square from 5pm to midnight each day. Performers at this year’s market include Croatian pop stars such as Massimo Savić, Neno Belan and his Fiumens, A strana, and the group Cambi. In addition, on Saturdays, renowned local Zadar artistss Đani Maršan, the Forum group, and others will play live at the fair.
However, Petar Zoranić Square is not the only place where you will find the Christmas spirit alive and well in the city. Celebrations quickly spread throughout Zadar and, if you keep your eyes open, you never know what you might stumble upon! In Kampo Kastelo, in the historic quarter, for example, you’ll find a whole host of events particularly aimed towards kids with all sorts of games, music, and events, as well as little wooden huts where you can try the beloved local fritule, a delicious Christmas treat that is not unlike a little doughnut-like ball served dusted in sugar. Head to the wonderful setting that is the old Roman Forum if you want even more sweet treats as this is where you’ll find all sorts of cookies, candies, chocolates, and others sweets being sold amongst the atmospheric backdrop of lights and festive tunes. Ice-skating, meanwhile, takes place in the Visnjik Sports Centre where a 600sqm open-air ice-rink will be set up for children and adults alike to enjoy with skates available to be rented, as well as ice pushchairs for the little ones to help them better get their bearings. The entire centre of the city also hosts the Stroll Around the City initiative to encourage visitors and locals alike to really wander around and see all that Zadar has to offer from its cafes to its museums and beyond with all sorts of events taking place and various restaurants and shops offering special deals throughout the period.
Another important part of the Advent in Zadar celebrations is a recent tradition, the Zadar Christmas run. Begun in 2019 (and, sadly, unable to be hosted last year), it generated 600 runners for its very first edition, seeing participants don red Christmas hats and official commemorative red t-shirts and run the 5km from Puntamika to Advent in order to raise funds to be donated to the Children’s Department of the General Hospital in Zadar. The 2021 edition, the first reprisal since it began, is set to take place on the 26th of December 2021. A nice wholesome and festive addition and a way to help raise money for a worthy cause as a charitable act this Christmas for any runner spending the Holidays in a holiday rental in Zadar.
So, with so much to see and do during the Holiday Season, a villa in Zadar really is a great idea for those looking for somewhere different, somewhere special, and somewhere exceptionally charming and festive to spend Christmas this year. If you want magical surroundings, great food, fun, and endless activities, this gem of a city in Croatia really is a perfect shout!
So, with so much to see and do during the Holiday Season, a villa in Zadar really is a great idea for those looking for somewhere different, somewhere special, and somewhere exceptionally charming and festive to spend Christmas this year. If you want magical surroundings, great food, fun, and endless activities, this gem of a city in Croatia really is a perfect shout!