Town in Zagreb region
Sveti Ivan Zelina
- Best time to go
- May, June, Sept, Oct
- Part of
- Zagreb region
Sveti Ivan Zelina is a small market town in the green hills north-east of Zagreb, best known for its white wine.
The Zelina wine road climbs through the vineyards around it, where family cellars pour Kraljevščina, a fresh, light white grape that grows in few other places. Above the town stand the ruins of the medieval fort of Zelingrad. It is a quiet, local place, well off the usual tourist routes.
Things to do
Don't miss in Sveti Ivan Zelina
- Taste Kraljevščina, the local white wine, at family cellars along the Zelina wine road.
- Walk up to the ruins of Zelingrad, the medieval fort on the hill above the town.
- Learn about local history and crafts in the town museum.
- Visit the parish church of St John the Baptist, which gives the town its name.
- Cycle or drive the quiet roads through the vineyards and villages of the Zelina hills.
- Eat at a rural restaurant serving local cheese, cream and home-made štrukli.
- Continue north to the shrine at Marija Bistrica, a short drive away over the hills.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Town centre
travellers without a car who want shops, cafés and bus connections to Zagreb
Rural guesthouses on the wine road
couples who want vineyard views and a cellar within walking distance
Zagreb
city-break visitors who would rather stay in the capital and come out for a day of tasting
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Sveti Ivan Zelina
Organised tours are few, so most people come under their own steam or book a wine day with a Zagreb operator. Sveti Ivan Zelina combines well with Marija Bistrica and the Zagorje countryside, and Varaždin is about 45 minutes further up the motorway.
You need a car here: buses reach the town, but not the cellars on the wine road. E-bikes suit the rolling hills if you can find a rental in Zagreb. As on any wine road, choose a driver who skips the tasting.
Getting there
How to get to Sveti Ivan Zelina
Sveti Ivan Zelina is about 35 km north-east of Zagreb, about 35 minutes by car on the A4 motorway towards Varaždin (exit Sveti Ivan Zelina). Buses run from Zagreb's main bus station. Zagreb Airport is about 45 minutes away by car. Parking in the small town centre is easy, but you will need a car to reach the cellars on the wine road.