Open 24/7 in T1 arrivals, this Aelia is your first stop after baggage claim
Right after customs in Terminal 1 arrivals, the Arrivals Aelia Duty Free Store hits you with shelves of liquor, perfume, and chocolate before you reach the taxi rank. It’s post-customs, so both non‑EU and EU passengers can buy here without backtracking through security.
The shop runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which helps if your Croatia Airlines or Ryanair flight dumps you in at 02:00. You can grab last‑minute gifts or pick up things you skipped airside without watching the clock.
Expect standard duty free pricing on spirits and tobacco, generally cheaper than downtown Zagreb supermarket shelves for bigger bottles. Perfume and cosmetics follow the usual Aelia pricing, so higher than city stores, but fine if you care more about time than a few extra euros.
Food-wise, you’ll mostly see branded chocolates, snacks, and a few local items like Croatian wines and regional sweets. This works for quick souvenirs, but if you want deeper local products, the landside shops upstairs in T1 usually have better regional variety.
Tip: if you have checked bags, hit the carousel first and then circle back to the store; at busy times it can add 5–10 minutes to your exit, and bags sometimes appear fast at ZAG.