Zagreb is the capital and largest city of Croatia, a relaxed Central European city of about 770,000 people where Habsburg-era streets, a medieval hilltop Upper Town, and a lively cafe culture sit side by side. It is known for the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Dolac market, the Tkalčićeva street terraces, Mirogoj cemetery, and one of Europe's best-loved Advent festivals.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Cravat (kravata)
Croatia invented the necktie; silk cravats are sold at Croata and other shops along Ilica and the Upper Town
Price: €25-90 (approx $28.75-103.5)
Where: Croata shops, Ilica boutiques
Štrukli ingredients and Zagorje products
Dried štrukli kits, local cheeses, honey and pumpkin-seed oil from the Zagorje hills
Price: €4-20 (approx $4.6-23)
Where: Dolac market
Licitar heart
Red gingerbread hearts decorated with mirrors, a Zagreb tradition on UNESCO's intangible heritage list
Price: €3-25 (approx $3.45-28.75)
Where: Dolac, Kaptol, Advent stalls
Paški or Pag lace and handmade jewellery
Lace and craft jewellery from Croatian makers
Price: €15-120 (approx $17.25-138)
Where: Tkalčićeva and Upper Town craft shops
Naive art
Hlebine-school naive art prints and small paintings, a Croatian speciality
Price: €15-500 (approx $17.25-575)
Where: Gallery of Naive Art shop, Ćirilometodska 3; Upper Town galleries
Rakija and Croatian wine
Plum, herb and honey brandy and Plešivica or Kutjevo wines
Price: €8-40 (approx $9.2-46)
Where: Dolac, wine shops in Tkalčićeva, duty free at Zagreb Airport
Kraš chocolate and Cedevita
Croatian confectionery and the popular vitamin drink, easy gifts for travellers
Price: €2-12 (approx $2.3-13.8)
Where: Supermarkets, Kraš shops
Museum of Broken Relationships gifts
Quirky gifts from the museum shop
Price: €5-40 (approx $5.75-46)
Where: Museum shop, Ćirilometodska 2
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Dolac Market
Zagreb's main open-air farmers' market on a terrace above Trg bana Jelačića, with red parasols over fresh produce, cheese, flowers and handmade goods; a covered hall below sells meat, dairy and fish.
Where: Upper Town edge, behind Trg bana Jelačića
Hours: Open-air stalls Mon-Sat 6:30AM-3PM, Sun 6:30AM-1PM (produce sold mainly in the morning); indoor hall Mon-Sat 7AM-3PM
Britanski trg Flea Market
Sunday-morning antiques and flea market on British Square, a short walk west of the centre, selling vintage furniture, books, coins, militaria, jewellery and Yugoslav-era curiosities.
Where: Britanski trg, off Ilica, Lower Town west
Hours: Sundays about 7AM-2PM (best before 11AM); weather dependent
Hrelić Flea Market
Large weekly open-air flea market in the southeast of the city selling everything from tools to clothing and secondhand goods; most popular with locals hunting for bargains.
Where: Southeast Zagreb (Jakuševec/Hrelić)
Hours: Sundays about 7AM-1PM
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Ilica Street
Zagreb's historic main shopping street, running about 5 km from Trg bana Jelačića westward, lined with Croatian and international fashion shops, bookstores, galleries and independent designers.
Tkalčićeva Street Boutiques
Pedestrian street at the foot of the Upper Town with small craft shops and boutiques between the cafes, useful for handmade jewellery and gifts.
Cvjetni trg and Bogovićeva
Pedestrian shopping stretch in the Lower Town around Flower Square, with fashion shops, cafes and covered passages connecting Ilica and Bogovićeva.
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Arena Centar
Large shopping mall in Novi Zagreb beside Arena Zagreb, with about 100 shops including international fashion chains, a supermarket, cinema and food court.
Hours: Mon-Sat 9AM-9PM; Sundays generally closed except designated trading Sundays
Westgate Shopping City
One of Croatia's biggest malls, in the western suburb of Jankomir by the A3 motorway, with over 150 shops, a large food court, play areas and an Eurospin/Interspar hypermarket.
Hours: Mon-Sat 9AM-9PM; Sundays generally closed except designated trading Sundays
City Center one East
Large mall on the eastern edge of the city with fashion, electronics and a big food court; convenient for the Maksimir area and the road to Slavonia.
Hours: Mon-Sat 9AM-9PM; Sundays generally closed except designated trading Sundays
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Prices in shops and supermarkets are fixed; bargaining is not customary in Croatia
At the Britanski trg and Hrelić flea markets, offering 10-20% below the asking price is accepted, especially for antiques and bulk purchases
At Dolac, small discounts for buying larger quantities are common, but haggling over produce is rare
Always carry cash at flea markets; many stalls do not take cards
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Most shops close on Sundays; since 2025 only a limited number of Sundays per year are designated as trading days, so check before planning purchases, Shops close early on Saturdays (often 3PM-4PM) outside malls, VAT (PDV) is 25%; non-EU visitors can claim a Tax Free refund on purchases above €70 from participating shops with a Tax Free form stamped at the airport or border, Euro is the currency; prices must be shown in euros and cards are accepted in shops and malls