Jan Bantic

There are many ways to enjoy the natural beauty of Croatia, including cable-car rides, mountain hikes and sailing trips. But perhaps the most spectacular view comes courtesy of the Balon klub Zagreb, who give visitors the chance to take a romantic ride in the sky in a hot-air balloon. Usually taking off from the Jarunski or Krapinsko Zagorski airfield (depending on wind conditions), the flight takes guests over the gorgeous Zagorje region in northern Croatia, separated from Zagreb by the Medvednica mountains. A typical experience lasts three to four hours all told – an hour of flight followed by a glass of champagne on the ground during a balloon baptism ceremony when all participants gain a membership certificate. Private flights for two are also on offer, complete with a glass of bubbly at 1,000 metres up. The standard price is €250 per person for a ride in a four-to-six person balloon, reduced to €240 if you’re in a group of two or more. Children under 12 can board for €180 (as long as they’re above 120cm tall), while the exclusive flight for two package runs at €800. For booking information, check out the club’s website Croatian-language website for phone contact details or fill out this simple reservation form. 

The Lisinski, Zagreb’s famous concert hall, is hosting a benefit concert aimed at helping Ukrainian children forced to move to Croatia as a result of the ongoing conflict. The event will be headlined by the Ščedryk ensemble and backed by AnnaDel, a Ukrainian singer based in Zagreb, with further performances by representatives of contemporary dance school Ana Maletić, and students from the Elly Bašić music school rounding out the programme. The benefit is being organised by the Ukrainian Society of the City of Zagreb with support from the Ukrainian Embassy and the City of Zagreb. Tickets, with proceeds going to the aid of children, are available here for €20. Where: Lisinski Small Hall, Trg Stjepana Radića 4When: January 31, 7.30pmAdmission: €20

A showcase of Marko Marulić, considered by some as the father of Croatian literature has opened on Zagreb’s central square of Europski trg. Running until February 2, the exhibition explores the intertwined histories of Marulić and his hometown of Split. Visitors will be introduced to some of his greatest and most famous works, including Judita, Institucija and Davidijada, as well as lesser-known facts such as the notion that he was one of the first people to coin the term ‘psychology’. Panels also show how Marulić’s works reached influential figures around the world, and how some of his artistic output was listed among the banned books of the era. The exhibition was conceived and designed by the Museum of the City of Split in co-operation with the National and University Library in Zagreb, and is accompanied by illustrations by Croat artist, illustrator and animator Milan Trenc. By no means miss this great opportunity to pay homage to this literary giant, whose works are still inspiring five centuries later. Where: Europski trg, ZagrebWhen: Until February 2Admission: FREE

Sljeme – the highest peak of Zagreb’s Medvednica mountain range – is always worth a visit, be it for the hikes, the views or the cable-car journey. During winter, though, it’s also a popular spot for snow sports. The Sljeme skiing season has officially opened, and enthusiasts and newcomers alike will be flocking to the heights to stay active and entertained as winter bites. Ski passes are completely free of charge, meaning that simply showing up is enough to get to enjoy the classic seasonal activity. Daily from 9am to 4pm, visitors can enjoy in Sljeme’s White and Green slopes while having time to catch the last cable car back down to the city (open 8am to 5pm on weekdays, until 6pm at weekends). If snowboarding is more your style, Sljeme can offer that, too. On the down side, due to previous storm damage the Red Slope is unavailable as it awaits reconstruction, with a specific timeframe yet to be announced. Tobogganers can get in on the action, just as long as they make sure to stick to the designated area for sledges at Činovnička livada to make sure that any accidental clashes are avoided. The ski season is typically open until early to mid-March, depending on weather conditions. Fear not, though – what nature doesn’t provide, artificial snow does, ensuring that no trip with snowboard or skis in hand is in vain.

From March 1, key works from the groundbreaking Croatian art scene of the 1960s will be displayed at the prestigious Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. Due to be showcased over the course of the next three years, pieces by well-known greats such as Julije Knifer and Josip Vaništa will spotlight a fascinating moment in the country’s history, when it was influenced both by the capitalist West and Socialist East while being part of Yugoslavia. Other artists involved include Ivan Kožarić, Dimitrije Bašičević Mangelos and Ljerka Šibenik. The initiative is being organised by MoMA in collaboration with Zagreb’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU), and aims to highlight a transformative artistic period in Croatia defined by its experimental and conceptual character. This collaboration with one of the world’s most famous art museums represents a huge milestone for Croatia, marking an unprecedented level of institutional and global recognition of its artists, seeing them placed among their worldwide peers of the time.

The future is looking bright for the Silvija Hercigonja School of Artistic Dance in Zagreb, forced to operate out of temporary accommodation since the 2020 earthquake. The substantial damage suffered meant that its old building had to be demolished, but when the dance school finally returns to its own space, it will be an upgrade worth waiting for. The City of Zagreb has announced that it has obtained a construction permit for the new building, the first ever purpose-built dance school in the capital. The complex will cover an area of about 4,000 square metres, four times the size of its previous home, making space for a library, storage space for costumes, props and set design, and even a large outdoor sports field. Crucially for prospective students, the sleek new building will also feature a large performance hall, multiple classrooms for theoretical study, state-of-the-art rehearsal spaces and one-on-one tutoring/practice rooms. This marks the latest project in a series of city administration investments into school construction and development in Zagreb, an umbrella project allocated €340 million. 

Opening tonight, January 10, at 7pm, the biennial Exhibition of Croatian Design at the Lauba gallery celebrates the best projects across all design disciplines in 2023 and 2024. The event is organised by the Croatian Designers Association (HDD), whose aim is to capture a real-time snapshot of the country’s design moment, as well as to reward outstanding accomplishments.On display – until January 22 – will be 346 works from the two-year period, selected from a pool of 706 applications. Tonight’s opening will see awards handed out across nine industry and student categories each, from among hundreds of competing projects. The items on show range from design in documentary filmmaking and visual identities for festivals to book layouts and conceptual social projects. Visitors can catch this display at the Lauba, a modern gallery west of the city centre which promotes urban and contemporary culture.Where: Lauba, Prilaz baruna Filipovića 23a When: Opens from 7pm, Jan 10, then until Jan 22, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 11am-5pm. Admission: €6

Zagreb’s public transport system, ZET, is operating at full tilt for the first time since the summer of 2022 when renovations began on Jadranski Bridge, the six-lane road and tram crossing over the Sava towards the Zagreb Arena. During maintenance works, those going to parts of Novi Zagreb over the river had to use replacement buses and alternative routes. As of December 31, lines 7 and 14 are once again crossing the bridge and providing a regular service. Tram 14 was also affected when the terminus at Mihaljevac was closed for revamping in May 2024. Now reopened on January 7, it is once again travelling all the way to its end stop. The same goes for line 8, while line 15 – the picturesque journey from Mihaljevac to the cable car at the foot of Medvednica mountain – is back after being off the tracks entirely. These improvements come amid a period of investment and changes in Zagreb’s public infrastructure. Aside from making tram journeys free for under-18s and those 65+, Zagreb is also in the process of laying its first new tram tracks in some 20 years, and is building new vehicles to carry passengers more conveniently through the city.

Zagreb’s award-winning Christmas market extravaganza closes on January 7, bringing to an end the month-long, city-wide festivities. That said, there’s still enough time to check out the highlights of this winter’s edition and soak up the last few drops of the holiday atmosphere. From the Archives of the Chocolate Museum Zagreb Prepared especially for Advent Zagreb, Chocolate Museum Zagreb’s exhibition From the Archives takes a look back at the history of the chocolate industry in Croatia, featuring treats from the back half of the 20th century that are no longer being produced. For locals, the packaging and wrappers on display are sure to trigger a sense of nostalgia, though the exhibition is fascinating for all as each artefact tells a story of popularity or cultural significance – as well as providing intriguing details into the specifics of their production. From the Archives runs until January 6, admission €9.50/€7 5-18s. For more details, see the website. Open: Mondays 2pm-10pm; Tuesday - Saturday 10am-10pm; Sundays 10pm-9pm. Screening of The Nutcracker at HNK Ever-popular over Advent in Zagreb, the Croatian National Theatre’s (HNK) performances of Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker sell out almost instantly. However, as a gift to the people of Zagreb, a free live projection of the show is to be screened tonight, Friday, January 3, outside the theatre. For more details, check out Time Out Croatia’s full article on the event here. Samir Ceric Kovacevic Moon Garden Th

Opened in March 2024, the House of Cartoons Oto Reisinger is the newest multimedia gallery in Zagreb. Inside, visitors will be treated to a beautifully designed exhibition space showcasing the varied work of Oto Reisinger, from illustrations for children's books to political commentary, all in the form of caricature and cartoons. Reisinger was an architect by vocation but was much better known for his incredibly prolific body of drawings. These have been featured through a number of Yugoslav, Croatian and international publications as well as in children's books. From the whimsical to the erotic, Reisinger produced a staggering number of works – over 50,000 – so the gallery shifts new pieces in and out of the permanent exhibition space, making it easy to revisit. Aside from featuring the art of its namesake, the gallery holds occasional exhibitions by up-and-coming artists working in the same vein – comics, cartoons, caricatures – as well as hosting and participating in wider cartoon and comic events. The House of Cartoons represents a labour of love for Oto Reisinger’s family, who managed to get this permanent space up and running some eight years after his passing. For more information about the gallery and Oto Reisinger, check the website. Where: House of Cartoons Oto Reisinger, Radićeva 44AWhen: Daily 10am-10pmAdmission: €8/€7 5-15s

It’s nearly time for the final outing of the year with 2025 just around the corner. In Zagreb, revellers are spoiled for choice – parties and gatherings covering all vibes and genres are vying for your presence during the countdown into the New Year. Here are our picks for six of the most enticing! Musical marathon at Močvara Zagreb's alternative haven, situated by the bank of the Sava, will see DJ Mario Kovač spinning tunes for an incredible eight-hour set. From behind the decks, he’ll guide clubbers through an intriguing and tasty blend of genres and styles, with classic rock from bands like AC/DC and Queen sitting in the mix alongside pop, Eurotrash and ex-Yugo New Wave. Things get going at 10pm, with the strongest going on all the way through the night into the early hours of 6am.Tickets are available for a pre-sale price of €12 here; rising to €16 on the door.Where: Klub Močvara, Trnjanska struga 34When: December 31, 10pmAdmission: €12 pre-sale; €16 on the door Two floors at Tvornica Kulture One of Zagreb’s best nightclubs and concert spaces is offering two vibes in one. Tvornica Kulture (‘The Culture Factory’) will make full use of its two event spaces – the big and small ‘plants’ – as it sees in the New Year. On the main floor, DJs Indy, Kiki B and Sin will spin up a dancing vibe with party pop and rock anthems, while the collective Trepaj il’ Krepaj present the best cuts from the domestic and foreign rap, trap, hip-hop and R&B scenes. Doors open at 8pm, while things

For the 35th year in a row, singers, choirs and orchestras will entertain audiences at Zagreb's Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall (also known as Cibona) in a Boxing Day Christmas concert, kicking off at 8pm. Alongside festive classics in both Croatian and English (including Joy to the World and It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year), visitors will be treated to more modern Christmas-themed songs. A line-up of local icons – including Tajči, who represented what was then Yugoslavia at the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest – will be backed by various choirs and orchestra ensembles including the Zagreb Philharmonic. There are still tickets up for grabs, also available for €11 at the venue from 5pm. This concert has been organised in collaboration between the City of Zagreb, the Travno Cultural Centre, and Croatian Radio and Television, the country’s state broadcaster. Where: Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall, Savska cesta 30When: December 26, 8pmAdmission: €11