Best spots in Croatia to go sledding PLUS where to buy sleds and winter vocabulary
One of the best winter joys is sledding. If it is snowing in Croatia, all you need to do is grab a sled or cardboard or a bucket and find the nearest hill covered with snow.
There are many places in Croatia where you can go sledding regardless of whether you own one or not. We compiled a list of the most popular places to go sledding in Croatia. Most of them are located within popular ski resorts.
To ensure you are extra prepared, we also included a list of where to buy a sled and some useful sled vocabulary (because we are geeks).
In this article, we cover:
- Places to go sledding in Croatia
- Story of past winters in Croatia
- Where to buy sleds in Croatia
- Sledding vocabulary
The facts are these…
Where to go sledding and buy sleds in Croatia, including sledding vocabulary
Mrkopalj, Primorje-Gorski kotar county
There is a sledding path near the ski resort Čelimbaša at Mrkopalj. Sledding is free. It is possible to rent sleds at the hostel Skijaški dom Mrkopalj. Food and drinks to-go can also be purchased at the hostel.
How to get to Mrkopalj
- By car – At Delnice, turn south to Lujzijana road. Turn left at Park šuma Golubinjak, and drive ~11 kilometers until you get to Mrkopalj.
Mrkopalj – view map
Čelimbaša – view map
Skijaški dom Mrkopalj – view map
Phone: +385 (0)99 749 1174
Email: info@skijaskidommrkopalj.com
Papuk, Slavonija
The hills of Slavonija hide some beautiful locations to enjoy winter activities. There is a popular sledding path at Jankovac at Papuk Nature Park. This is especially stunning during winter when snow covers the hills and woods. Jankovac mountain lodge is also there in case you need a pauza in a warm place.
How to get to Papuk
- From Slatina – Drive south ~ 25 kilometers until you arrive at Slatinski Drenovac. After ~10 minutes, you will arrive at Jankovac.
- From Požega – Drive north ~ 20 kilometers until you arrive at Velika. After ~ 15 kilometers, you will arrive at Jankovac.
Papuk Nature Park – view map
Jankovac Mountain Lodge – view map
Phone: +385 (0) 33 8987 015; +385 (0) 98 9842 375
Email: pdjankovac@outlook.com
Petehovac, Primorje-Gorski kotar county
Petehovac mountaineering center is a popular sledding destination that overlooks Delnice, Gorski kotar, Risnjak National park, and the Slovenian Alps. The center rents sleds, but they are grabbed quickly, so it is best to come early or bring your own.
There is also a mountain lodge where you can sleep over and immerse yourself in winter beauties over the weekend. You can also buy takeaway food and drinks to go. Try their mulled wine (kuhano vino), which is excellent.
How to get to Petehovac
- From Rijeka – When you come to Delnice, turn left at the INA gas station. When you see a road sign for Petehovac, follow it. After 10 minutes on the forest road, you will come to Petehovac.
- From Zagreb – When you come to Delnice, turn right at the INA gas station. When you see a road sign for Petehovac, follow it. After 10 minutes on the forest road, you will come to Petehovac.
Petehovac – view map
Phone: +385 (0)91 180 0020
Email: petehovac@vip.hr
Platak, Primorje-Gorski kotar county
Platak is located in Gorski kotar, near Rijeka. Platak has a separate sledding path located beside the ski path Pribeniš 1 and Veliki dom Platak. It is a very popular ski resort in Croatia so keep in mind that it will probably be crowded. You can bring your own sleds or rent them for 7 euro daily.
How to get to Platak
- By bus – Every Saturday and Sunday, a bus line 12b drives from Rijeka to Platak. You can see the schedule here.
- By car
- From Rijeka – At Automotodrom Grobnik, before the toll station, turn to the old road towards Gorski kotar. After 8 kilometers, turn left to the local road towards the sports center Platak. After 9 kilometers, you will come across a big parking lot, after which is another parking beside Veliki dom Platak.
- From Zagreb – At Oštrovica, turn to the old road towards Gornje Jelenje. Turn left at Gornje Jelenje towards the Kamenjak direction. After 8 kilometers, turn right to the local road towards the sports center Platak. After 9 kilometers, you will come across a big parking lot, after which is another parking beside Veliki dom Platak.
Ski path Platak – view map
Veliki dom Platak – view map
Phone: +385 51 230 905
Email: info.dom.platak@gmail.com
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Samoborsko gorje, Zagreb county
If you live near Zagreb, you can visit Samoborsko gorje instead of going to the popular Sljeme. There is a sledding path at the highest peak of Samoborsko gorje called Japetić (879 m). You can grab food and drinks in the mountain lodge. It is possible to get there by car, but hiking enthusiasts can pick one of many hiking trails to Japetić.
Another sledding path at Samoborsko gorje is at Plešivica called Kamenice. The tradition of sledding on Plešivica is older than 110 years. There is a sledding club that has been active on Plešivica since 1907. They organize sledding competitions for children.
How to get to Plešivica
- By car
- From Zagreb – Turn right at Jaska and drive towards Donja Reka. You will arrive at Plešivica after ~15 minutes.
- From Rijeka – Turn left at Jaska and drive towards Donja Reka. You will arrive at Plešivica after ~15 minutes.
Japetić – view map
Plešivica – view map
Sljeme (Medvednica), Zagreb
A favorite place of the citizens of Zagreb and its surroundings is Sljeme. Sljeme (1.033 m high) is the highest peak of the mountain of Medvednica, but the people of Zagreb often call the whole mountain Sljeme.
The most popular place for sledding on Sljeme is a hill called Činovnička livada. It is the main crossing of hiking trails that come from the side of Zagreb and the side of Hrvatsko zagorje. The list of all hiking trails on Medvednica is available here. Sledding at Činovnička livada is free.
How to get to Sljeme
- By bus – ZET bus line 140 drives to Činovnička livada. You can see the schedule here. Read about public transport in Zagreb here.
Medvednica – view map
Medvednica – view hiking trails
Činovnička livada – view map
The nearest snowy hill, anywhere in Croatia
Let’s be honest. Sometimes, we don’t have a whole day or budget to travel elsewhere just to go sledding. This actually isn’t a problem in Croatia because you can find the nearest hill covered with snow and enjoy its pleasures.
The only thing you have to do is gather your friends, prepare a few tasty sandwiches, and the sledding party can start! There is a special joy in making your own snow path for sledding.
Story of past winters in Croatia
Back when I was a child, every winter in Croatia was full of snow, specifically in the north and east, Gorski kotar, and Lika. We used the term snijeg do koljena (snow to the knee) to indicate that a lot of snow had fallen. However, snow has always been very rare on the Adriatic coast and Croatian islands.
Now, due to climate change, snow falls occasionally, and it is not like it used to be. It still falls in the mountain areas, but when it falls everywhere else, it melts very quickly because it is wet and not dry and solid. The air temperature changes too quickly, and it is almost impossible for snow to survive for a longer period.
I spent my childhood in Hrvatsko zagorje, a picturesque hilly area in the northwest of Croatia. We had a truly white Christmas – we were always covered with snijeg do koljena. During the winter holidays, all children would go out to play and enjoy the snow.
In my neighborhood, there were more than 20 children, and all of us played together on the local hills and streets. We made sledding paths everywhere: on the hills, streets, and fields. No one was upset, not even the car drivers. Everyone was happy to see us play, and the adults would often sled together with us.
We used to tie the sleds one to the other to form a train. This was so hilarious and exciting! Just imagine a picturesque image of a snowy hill surrounded by trees and children playing and laughing. This was my childhood during winter.
Where to buy sleds in Croatia?
If you don’t have sleds, and you like to sled often during winter, it is cheaper to buy one than spend the money on renting. You can buy sleds in most big sports shops. Prices usually vary between 13 euro and 80 euro.
You can choose between many different sleds, including:
- Plastic sleds
- Wooden sleds
- Motor sleds
- Sledding plates
- Sledding bags
Here are some shops where you can buy sleds and other sledding equipment:
Croatian sledding vocabulary
Croatian sledding words
Word: brdo
Meaning: hill
Word: kapa
Meaning: hat
Word: rukavice
Meaning: gloves
Word: sanjkanje
Meaning: sledding
Word: sanjkati (se)
Meaning: to sled
Word: sanjke, saonice
Meaning: sleds
Word: snijeg – Watch Sara say this word here.
Meaning: snow
Word: staza
Meaning: path
Word: šal
Meaning: scarf
Word: šuma
Meaning: forest
Croatian sledding phrases
Phrase: Gdje je staza za sanjkanje?
Meaning: Where is the sledding path?
Phrase: Hladno je. / Zima je. – Watch Sara say this phrase here.
Meaning: It’s cold.
Phrase: Idemo na sanjkanje!
Meaning: Let’s go sledding!
Phrase: Imaš li sanjke?
Meaning: Do you have sleds?
Phrase: Kolika je cijena sanjki?
Meaning: What is the price of sleds?
Phrase: Makni se!
Meaning: Move!
Phrase: Pada snijeg.
Meaning: Snow is falling.
Phrase: Pazi! – Watch Sara say this word here.
Meaning: Watch out!
Phrase: Smrzavam se!
Meaning: I’m freezing!
Phrase: Snijeg do koljena
Meaning: Snow to the knee (a huge amount of snow)
Phrase: Želim unajmiti sanjke.
Meaning: I want to rent a sled.
View more Croatian holiday words and phrases here.
View other places to go in Croatia
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- Best places to drink in Split
- Best spots to see the stars in Croatia
- Best places to go fishing in Croatia (and the rules you must abide by)
- Hum, Istria: Smallest city in the world
- Space observatories and planetariums in Croatia
Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.
