About 20,000 people gathered in Zagreb's central square for an open-air New Year Party. In the second largest Croatian city, the Adriatic town of Split, a few ten thousand people gathered at Split's waterfront.
In the eastern city of Osijek, the reconstructed main square was packed with revellers, while in Rijeka rain seemed to prevented a larger number of residents to join in the open-air party in the city's central square.
During New Year's night Croatian President Stjepan Mesic visited Zagreb's emergency hospital and accident hospital as well as the Sveti Duh hospital where he visited new born babies and their mothers.
On that occasion Mesic wished Croatians a happy new year, and voiced hope that 2006 would be better than the previous year.