On October 09, 2025, Sveti Ivan Zelina is living a new tourist story: a tourist identity shaped around the message "Weekend inspiration" has received recognizable visuals, clear communication guidelines, and concrete products that combine nature, outdoor activities and wine tourism. At the center is the idea that Zelina is the closest "unplugging" from the urban everyday – a destination for 48 to 72 hours of carefully arranged experiences, from light hiking climbs to visits to wine cellars, tasting rooms, and modern wineries on the green hills of the Prigorje landscape.

"Weekend inspiration" as a promise of a short but full vacation

The concept of "weekend inspiration" is not just based on a slogan; it translates into an arrangement of experiences that can be put together in a few clicks and realized without complex logistics. Sveti Ivan Zelina relies on its proximity to the capital and excellent transport accessibility, so a departure after work on Friday is a realistic scenario for most visitors from Zagreb, as well as the wider region. Upon arrival, you are greeted by a landscape that simultaneously calms and stimulates: vineyards, rolling hills and a network of gentle paths through shady groves and valleys. In such an environment, micro-experiences are created that make the weekend "longer" – an early morning walk among the vines, a tasting of kraljevina with local snacks, a visit to the renovated museum and an evening get-together in a wine cellar where conversation spontaneously spills into stories about old harvests.

Nature without haste: hiking, cycling, and family routes

Spending time in nature is the pivotal pillar of the new Zelina tourist message. The Prigorje relief allows for routes for all fitness levels: from panoramic walks suitable for families with children to more dynamic excursions for experienced hikers and mountain cyclists. Arranged signposts, rest stops, and viewpoints are placed so that even shorter walks offer a "reward" in the form of wide views of the Zelina hills. In the warmer part of the year, thematic trails that connect natural and cultural heritage are also popular, so an excursion easily turns into an educational story – about forest management, old field paths or the wine-growing customs of the Prigorje region.

Routes that end near tasting rooms, wine cellars or family farms are particularly attractive. After a few hours in the fresh air, the local table brings the best of the season: simple cold cuts, homemade cheese and cream, seasonal vegetables, traditional lunches, and cakes with apples, walnuts or chestnuts, depending on the time of year. Families will appreciate the spacious yards and playgrounds, while active guests will complete their weekend by renting e-bikes and taking short climbs that lead to new vistas.

The wine road as a travel scenario: "queen of Prigorje" and modern enology

Wine tourism in Sveti Ivan Zelina has had its logic for centuries – the vines are lined up on the slopes so that the landscape itself looks like an invitation to travel. The Zelina wine road brings together wineries, wine cellars, and tasting rooms that are now cultivated by a new generation of winemakers. At the center of attention is kraljevina – the indigenous Prigorje variety that locals rightfully call the "queen of Prigorje". Once a humble wine for every day, it has experienced a modern interpretation: more precise cultivation and selection, work in the vineyard with an emphasis on freshness and aromatics, and careful management of fermentation have allowed kraljevina to shine as a monovarietal wine, and more and more often as an elegant sparkling wine. The balance is sought in the glass – softness and drinkability, but also enough character for the wine to be a worthy accompaniment to local cuisine.

On the wine road route, "tailor-made stories" are created: one producer emphasizes tradition and old tools in the wine cellar, another talks about innovations and stainless steel, a third will take you through a small archive and open a bottle from a harvest that marked family life. Thanks to this spectrum of approaches, the eno-gastro experience is suitable for curious beginners and experienced wine lovers who are looking for varietal nuances. Guests who want to broaden their horizons can also taste other typical wines of Bregovita Hrvatska – graševina, rizling, sauvignon, blends of white varieties – but kraljevina remains the leitmotif of the Zelina glass.

Museum Sveti Ivan Zelina: a modern reading of heritage in a renovated space

The cultural component of "weekend inspiration" received a strong boost on June 6, 2025, when the completely renovated Museum Sveti Ivan Zelina was opened to the public. The building has been structurally and energetically renovated and adapted to modern museum standards, so visitors are now greeted by light-filled halls, a clear layout, and new interpretive layers that facilitate the understanding of local stories. The permanent exhibition focuses on the everyday life of the Prigorje man – from wine-growing customs and tools to objects that document the rhythm of the village year – but also on the urban development of Sveti Ivan Zelina through the 20th century.

Temporary exhibitions, lectures, and workshops for children and adults also take place in the renovated museum. This created a "third space" of the destination – a meeting place for the local community, visitors, and experts – which makes the stay more meaningful, especially on rainy weekends or in colder months. For visitors who are planning a thematic itinerary, the recommendation is to combine a visit to the museum with a tasting at a neighboring winery and a short walk to the viewpoint above the old village.

Sustainability with proof: from the Zelina hills to the Top 100 global stories

In 2025, the destination also received international recognition: inclusion in the Top 100 Stories of the Green Destinations initiative. The synergy of preserved nature, local customs, and the joint action of stakeholders was recognized, and a special place is occupied by the Zelinska kestenijada – an event that at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn connects families, schools, associations, and producers. Such recognitions do not come overnight; behind them is many years of work on sustainability standards, small infrastructural interventions, education, and the wise shaping of visitor flows. For the guest, this means a simple thing: that feeling of "green peace" is not accidental, but the result of a systematic consideration of how the destination should look and function in order to remain authentic.

Digital journey: planning at your fingertips

Information is easily accessible – from clear itineraries and event calendars to interactive maps of the wine road. The official tourist page offers useful planners and suggestions on how to arrange two or three days in Sv. Ivanu Zelini. Also follow the channels that announce local events and news from the museum and wineries: the news is especially dynamic during harvest time and holidays when seasonal tasting rooms are opened and thematic programs are organized. For additional inspiration, it is worth looking at the current video materials that combine short shots of nature, vineyards, and cityscapes – a good "teaser" for the first visit.

48 hours of "weekend inspiration": a suggested itinerary

Friday afternoon: Arrival and a light walk on the wine hills with a view of the Prigorje mosaic of fields and groves. Accommodation according to choice – a quiet rural house, a wine cellar with an apartment or a small guesthouse near the center. Dinner in a wine cellar with a glass of kraljevina and a seasonal menu. Saturday: Morning warm-up on one of the panoramic trails; after that a tasting in a winery with an introduction to the Prigorje varieties. Reserve the afternoon for a visit to the Museum Sveti Ivan Zelina and a thematic workshop (according to the program). Spend the evening on the wine road – a short tour of another tasting room and a conversation with the winemakers about the harvest and the archive. Sunday: A family brunch at a rural household, followed by a light bike route through shady valleys and a return home with a few bottles of kraljevina that will remind you of a weekend without haste.

Accommodation and practical information

The accommodation offer in Sveti Ivan Zelina expands from season to season: from apartments within wine cellars, vacation homes with a view of the vineyards, to small guesthouses and rural households that offer breakfast with local ingredients. If you choose to stay on a hill, your mornings will begin with the smell of vines and a silence that is only occasionally broken by the sound of a klopoc. If you prefer to be closer to the center, you will be close to the museum, cafes, market and city promenades. For current options and availability, check out accommodation in Sv. Ivanu Zelini.

Gastro notes: a plate tailored to the glass

Zelina cuisine loves simplicity and seasonality: vegetables from the garden, homemade dairy products, meat from nearby farms. In the colder part of the year, stew dishes and roasts come to the fore, while in the summer light plates and cold cuts ideal with fresh kraljevina prevail. In a wine cellar with a glass of wine, you will often get a short story – about old recipes, family work days in the vineyard and small rituals that are not skipped even when the year is demanding.

Events throughout the year: the rhythm of the place

The calendar of events follows the rhythm of nature and vineyards: spring excursions and first works, summer evenings outdoors, autumn feasts in the sign of harvest and chestnuts, advent programs in the city center. Among them, the Zelinska kestenijada stands out – a combination of flavors, customs and togetherness that contributed to the international recognition of the destination. Along with it, events dedicated to viticulture and wines gather winemakers, enologists and curious visitors, so it is easy to align the weekend with an event that will make your stay even more meaningful.

Why now: a new face of a familiar landscape

The presentation of a new visual identity and communication messages places Sveti Ivan Zelina in the league of destinations that clearly articulate what they offer and to whom they are addressed. The emphasis is on the "small" luxuries of the weekend: time for yourself, simple dishes with a local signature, a glass of wine with a view, a sunny bench after a walk, a conversation that is not interrupted by the sound of notifications. That's why the new Zelina story doesn't require too much planning – it's enough to choose a direction towards the Prigorje hills and let the landscape guide you.

Accessibility and orientation

Located in a natural transition between the slopes of Medvednica and the Prigorje valleys, Zelina is easily accessible from Zagreb and other major centers of continental Croatia. A ride on regional and state roads reveals how the urban everyday quickly melts into greenery – after only thirty minutes the view catches the first vineyards. For those who travel by public transport, a combination of train + bus or direct bus lines offers practical solutions, and local movement is facilitated by hiking routes and short taxi rides to wine points.

Planning by seasons

Spring is the time for the first light excursions and picnics, summer for long evenings outdoors and concerts under the stars. Autumn brings the harvest, smells of cellars and chestnut feasts, and winter is reserved for museum programs, advent fairs and quiet weekends with warm cuisine and a glass of wine. Each season offers its own rhythm, so the itinerary can be easily adapted to families with children, couples or smaller groups who want to "slow down" without giving up on content.

A small alphabet of wine etiquette for Zelina wine cellars

• Announce your arrival at the tasting room or wine cellar – the host will prepare the glasses, wine temperature and snacks.


• Taste the kraljevina from fresh bottles to special editions; leave the sparkling wine for the "celebration" point at the end of the route.


• Ask everything you are interested in – the Zelina winemakers are happy to share stories about the vines, the cellar and the years they remember.


• Don't rush with ratings; "drinkability" here is a compliment, not the opposite of seriousness.

Where to follow information further

To plan your visit, current events and route recommendations, check out the official tourist pages and digital guides: Turistička zajednica grada Sv. Ivana Zeline, an overview of wine routes on the Wine Road, inspirational weekend suggestions and outdoor activities on national channels dedicated to continental vacation. If you are planning a visit to the museum, before you leave, check the current working schedule and temporary exhibitions on the institution's communication channels.