Socks, cars, expensive artwork, used shoes and toothbrushes. All this and much more can be found at the flea market Hrelić. Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, more than 50 000 people of all ages and social groups visit this exciting mixture of entertainment and exotics.

Image credit: Ivan Fistrić

Hrelić is next to Zapruđe and is a kind of a cultural event where you can see and find all sorts of things. Many collections, tools and different items collected for years have no place to be anymore. Their owners can either take them to a garbage dump or sell them at the flea market Hrelić. Every weekend, from early morning, thousands of people bring and drop off all the things for sale, and collectors of antiques (including recognized intellectuals) filter through and buy them, thus saving many valuable things, often works of art, from destruction. Although this flea market is not in the tourist guides, many tourists have found it and loved it because a lot of interesting little things can be found there. Students and scientists are a special category.  They know how to find rare books or some valuable document at Hrelić.

In addition to spontaneous gathering of intellectuals, artists, and art lovers, the fair records a number of organized visits from primary schools and high schools as a result of continuity of cultural and artistic events."

"Motor Show Zagreb", a place where you can find used cars of all brands, is next to the Hrelić.

Image credit: Google Maps

How to get to Hrelić:

a) By tram

You can get on a tram number 14 and get off at the last stop in Zapruđe or you can get on a tram number 6 and get off on the end of the "Most Mladosti". Then continue along the mound and walk around 15 minutes until you see the fair.

b) By bus:

Only on Sundays from the main train station to the flea market rides the bus number 295 that goes in the direction of Jakuševec.

c) By car:

You can go by car, but parking at the fair will be charged 10 kunas.

 Image credit: Ivan Fistrić

To ease your navigation through Hrelić, we have created seven rules that will help you prepare for the visit to this popular Zagreb Fair.

1. You should arrive at Hrelić at 10am at the latest because everything later than that is too late because the salesmen are going home.

2. Wear comfortable clothes. Unfussy clothing says that you are humble, so a saleswoman that notices you (and she will notice you, in seconds) will adjust the price of things that you are interested in. You need comfortable shoes or sneakers because the surface is gravel and really not comfortable to walk on in high heels.

3. Bring a backpack to avoid dragging around bags. The best way is to put everything in a backpack, so that way you will have empty hands available for digging through piles of clothes.

4. If you go by car, you will need 10 kunas to enter the parking lot, and when you leave the car, be sure to remember where you left it because there are no orientation signs.

 5. Hrelić is formed in lines, like a market, so it's best to go line by line, and if you get hungry or thirsty, there are plenty of stands with beverages, hot dogs, kebabs, burgers, beans, and sausages. 

Image credit: Ivan Fistrić

6. Be stocked with coins! It's easier that way to pay things that cost five, two or one kuna. That's, in fact, the standard price. Hrelić is a place where the art of bargaining is brought to perfection.

7. Do not be too thrilled because when salesman sees that you are interested, you will not be able to lower the price or, as we in Zagreb say,''to haggle“. When the salesman thinks he has to interest you, he starts to lower the price or even better – when you decide to leave his stand, he calls you back lowering the price even more.

Header image credit: Ivan Fistrić

Author: Maja Fistrić