Why Croatia's cemeteries glow on 1 November, and the free buses in Zagreb you can use
All Saints' Day falls on Sunday 1 November: what the candles mean, which Zagreb buses are free, and what changes on the roads.
Published 2026-10-26 · Source checked 2026-10-23
Around 1 November, Croatian cemeteries fill with flowers and thousands of candles. Families visit graves, tidy them and light a candle for relatives who have died. If you see this in the evening, it is quiet and very beautiful, and it is not a party.
Why it matters for you: 1 November (Svi sveti, All Saints' Day) is a public holiday and falls on a Sunday in 2026, so there is no extra day off. The next day, 2 November (Dušni dan, All Souls' Day), is a normal working day for most people.
Croatia NewsTihar 2026 in Croatia: 5 dates to mark now, and how to celebrate far from homeFree transport in Zagreb: on Sunday 1 November, ZET runs five extra bus lines to the main cemeteries, free of charge, from 8:00 to 19:00. They are Kaptol–Mirogoj, Kaptol–Mirogoj–Krematorij, Kvaternikov trg–Srebrnjak, Dubrava–Miroševec and Dubec–Markovo polje. The Dubec–Markovo polje line also runs on Saturday 31 October.
Roads: from 24 October to 2 November the City of Zagreb has a temporary traffic regime around the cemeteries. On 1 November private cars cannot reach Mirogoj and Miroševec at all. Only ZET vehicles, taxis and vehicles with a special permit can enter the zone, so go by bus or on foot.
Shops: the Government has allowed specialised shops and stands selling flowers, wreaths, candles and lanterns to open on 1 November. Most other shops are closed on the holiday, so buy your groceries before Sunday. Our guide to closed shops has the full dates.
What to do: if you are invited to a cemetery by a Croatian colleague or landlord, go, dress simply, speak quietly and do not photograph people at graves. Tell us on our Facebook page: is there a day like this in Nepal, when your family remembers those who have passed?
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- Grad Zagreb – Privremena regulacija prometa i izvanredna organizacija prijevoza na zagrebačka groblja za Svih svetih 2026 (23 Oct 2026) · Official source
- Index.hr – Od sutra prometna ograničenja oko zagrebačkih groblja (23 Oct 2026) · Newspaper
- HRT Radio Sljeme – Posebna regulacija prometa uoči i za blagdan Svih svetih (23 Oct 2026) · Newspaper
- Jutarnji list – Vlada dopustila rad prodajnih mjesta na Sve svete (21 Oct 2026) · Newspaper
This explanation is based on linked sources and does not claim independent on-the-ground reporting.
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