Season guide · Zagreb · Croatia
Zagreb in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bobonajbolji, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cold with occasional snow; December is lively with Advent markets, while January and February are the quietest and lowest-priced months. Expect highs up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F), with about 30 rainy days across December–February. December is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -3°C (27°F) to 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 30
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C (39°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 10 | 9 h | 1/5 |
| February | 7°C (45°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 9 | 10.3 h | 1/5 |
| December | 5°C (41°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 11 | 8.7 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 5°C (41°F) against a yearly 17°C (63°F), and 30 of the year's roughly 127 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Samobor Carnival (usually February)
- December: Advent in Zagreb — Christmas markets in parks and squares (usually late November to early January)
- December: Ice skating at King Tomislav Square (usually in Advent)
Good choices for winter
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Historic site · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
Grič Tunnel
Use it as a flat shortcut between Ilica and Tkalčićeva when you are tired of the hills.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Trešnjevka
Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
A large hangar-like museum packed with old trams, aircraft, fire engines and cars, a replica mine and a demonstration room devoted to the inventor Nikola Tesla, who was born in Croatia.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Gallery · Novi Zagreb
Museum of Contemporary Art
Combine it with a walk around Bundek Lake park nearby; trams cross the Sava in about 15 minutes from the centre.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Museum · Donji Grad (Lower Town)
Museum of Illusions
The original Museum of Illusions, opened on Ilica in 2015 before the concept spread worldwide, is a small, hands-on collection of optical illusions, tilted rooms and puzzles.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
Museum of Broken Relationships
Allow time to read the stories; it is small but takes longer than you expect.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Rainy day
- Couples
- Art
Day trips in winter
- Trakošćan Castle (About 1.5 hours by car) — A romantic hilltop castle above a lake in the Zagorje hills, with furnished rooms and a lakeside walking path.
- Krapina Neanderthal Museum (About 1 hour by car) — A modern museum beside the Hušnjakovo site, where remains of Neanderthals were found in 1899, tells the story of human evolution with life-size reconstructions.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Zagreb?
Yes: December is among the best months. Cold with occasional snow; December is lively with Advent markets, while January and February are the quietest and lowest-priced months.
+What is the weather like in Zagreb in winter?
Highs of up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F), with about 30 rainy days over the season.