Shopping · Zagreb · Croatia
Shopping in Zagreb
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rilegator, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Zagreb shopping centres on Ilica and the streets around Ban Jelačić Square, with markets and small design shops in the Upper Town and Lower Town. Croatian designs, food and wines make the best souvenirs. Best souvenirs: Licitar hearts, Neckties and Croatian wines and rakija.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Licitar hearts
Where to shop
Ilica
Zagreb's longest street, lined with fashion chains near the main square and independent shops further west.
Upper Town
Small shops selling licitar hearts, Croatian design, books and crafts around the Stone Gate and Radićeva Street.
Masarykova and Preradovićev trg
Boutiques and design shops among the Lower Town cafés.
Markets
Dolac Market
The main market for fresh produce, cheese, meat and flowers, busiest on Saturday mornings.
Britanski trg
A daily neighbourhood market with an antiques and collectables fair on Sunday mornings.
Hrelić flea market
A sprawling Sunday flea market south of the Sava, selling everything from car parts to vintage clothing.
What to buy
Licitar hearts
Decorated red gingerbread hearts from northern Croatia, on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Neckties
The cravat traces its name to Croatian soldiers in 17th-century France; shops in the centre sell silk ties.
Croatian wines and rakija
Graševina whites, coastal reds and fruit brandies from wine shops.
Pag cheese and truffle products
Hard sheep's cheese from the island of Pag and Istrian truffle products from delicatessens.
Šestine umbrellas
Red umbrellas with coloured bands, traditional to the village of Šestine below Medvednica.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
Dolac Market
Zagreb's central market, open since the 1930s, sits on a raised terrace just above the main square, where farmers sell fruit and vegetables under red umbrellas.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Street · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
Tkalčićeva Street
A pedestrian street of pastel-coloured 19th-century houses that follows the course of the old Medveščak stream, which once divided Kaptol from Gradec.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Photo spot
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Kremšnita, Gemišt, Rakija and Fritule. Pastry shops (slastičarnice) in Zagreb, or the original versions in Samobor's main square. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Donji Grad (Lower Town) | $$$ | Grand Habsburg squares, the Green Horseshoe parks and the main station |
| Kaptol and Tkalčićeva | $$ | The cathedral hill and Zagreb's busiest street of café-bars |
| Britanski trg and upper Ilica | $$ | Antiques market square and independent shops west of the centre |
| Trešnjevka | $ | Residential district with a big local market and good-value apartments |
| Novi Zagreb | $ | Socialist-era districts south of the Sava with modern art and big parks |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. Round up in cafés and leave about 10% in restaurants for good service; round up for taxis.
- Greet shopkeepers with 'Dobar dan' (good day).
- The Zagreb Card is worthwhile only if you plan to visit several museums.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- March: Festival of Lights — light installations across the centre (usually March)
- June: Animafest — world festival of animated film (usually June)
- June: INmusic festival at Lake Jarun (usually late June)
- November: Zagreb Film Festival (usually November)
- December: Advent in Zagreb — Christmas markets in parks and squares (usually late November to early January)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, shopping and culture
Donji Grad (Lower Town)
Grand Habsburg squares, the Green Horseshoe parks and the main station
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Zagreb?
Licitar hearts, Neckties, Croatian wines and rakija and Pag cheese and truffle products.
+Where is the best shopping in Zagreb?
Ilica: Zagreb's longest street, lined with fashion chains near the main square and independent shops further west.
+What are the best markets in Zagreb?
Dolac Market, Britanski trg and Hrelić flea market.