Zagreb, Dec 12 (IANS): For the third year in a row, Croatia's capital Zagreb was elected as the best Christmas market in Europe, according to European Best Destinations website.

Zagreb was the number one destination for the most of 200,516 travellers who joined this year's vote. It has won almost 40,000 votes and is ahead of some better-known cities such as Vienna, Budapest or Prague, Xinhua reported on Monday.

According to the European Best Destination, a European organisation based in Brussels, the second-best Christmas market is in France's Colmar while the third is in Austria's Vienna.

Croatia is known for its beautiful seaside and islands in summer, but recently it has established into well-recognized winter destination, especially in December. During Advent, almost all hotels are booked and every year Zagreb has more and more tourists.

Last December, there were 145,000 overnight stays in Zagreb, which was 33 percent more than a year before. This year, a new record number is expected.

The first Zagreb's Christmas market took place 16 years ago in a much-humbled format than today. This year, the Christmas market is spread not only along the city centre but throughout the town.