It’s always nice to look at how the different regions and towns throughout Croatia celebrate Christmas, and while a lot of eyes have been focused on the holiday blowout that is Advent in Zagreb and other Advent celebrations along the coast including Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar, how are we celebrating the holidays a bit further up north by the sea?
While the tourism numbers in Croatia have been on a consistent rise, the off-season usually tends to be a bit trickier, especially for towns on the coast. Opatija on the other hand, on the eve of the Christmas holidays, has 22 hotels currently open and operating, where around 4,000 expected guests will spend their Christmas. Guests are arriving mostly from Slovenia, Austria, Italy and Croatia, reports the Tourist Board of the City of Opatija, reports Poslovni.hr on 23 December 2016.
What goes on in Opatija for the holidays? Much like many other Advent celebrations, the holiday program in Opatija is full with holographic projections, Christmas 3D mapping, a music program, workshops for children and adults, and much more.
A tradition on Christmas Eve in the town is to go to the Opatija Christmas market, where performances will be had by Klapa Iskon and music group Stampedo. In the park Sv. Jakov you can even enjoy a snow party.
Image by TZ Opatija
Throughout the holiday season and even on Christmas Day the city of Opatija is alive with musical performances throughout several locations in the city, children's workshops and screenings of Christmas movies for kids, and the day after Christmas you can even enjoy an exhibition of classic cars.
Visitors to Opatija during the season will be able to see the Christmas fair and exhibition by Claudio Frank, tour the house of elves, see the Advent on Mrkate, and enjoy many other festive offers and events.
