PARIS, Dec 16 — For the second year in a row, Zagreb, Croatia can call itself Europe's capital of Christmas, after having emerged the most popular Christmas market in Europe by voters around the world.
For the 2017 edition of the European Best Destinations' annual Best Christmas Markets in Europe ranking, the city of Zagreb snagged the top title from markets in France, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic among others.
For 10 days, between December 2 and 12, the general public was invited to vote for their favorite Christmas market in Europe in an online poll. Of the 188,000 votes cast this year from 124 countries, Zagreb scored a sizeable lead over its closest rival, taking 33,600 votes compared to Strasbourg's 19,242 votes.
The majority (79 per cent) of votes came from European countries, while 21 percent came from outside Europe, including votes from Jamaica, the Antarctic and Cape Verde.
Along with the standard Christmas stalls, jingle bells, mulled wine and gingerbread, the event known as Advent in Zagreb this year includes a new multimedia experience that transforms a tunnel into a Christmas wonderland with video projections, musical performances, and 3D installations, along with a pop-up winter garden that will serve up craft beer and winter cocktails.
While Croatia may be known more as a summer hotspot for its beaches and islands, Zagreb enjoys a growing reputation as a festive Christmas holiday destination among visitors.
Advent in Zagreb runs this year until January 8, 2017.
Here are the top 10 Christmas markets in Europe according to voters of European Best Destinations, an outfit based in Brussels that works to promote tourism in Europe.
- Zagreb, Croatia
- Strasbourg, France
- Colmar, France
- Aachen, Germany
- Vienna, Austria
- Dresden, Germany
- Tallin, Estonia
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Budapest, Hungary
- Brussels, Belgium — AFP-Relaxnews
