When I booked my trip to Croatia, I thought it would make no sense not to visit Zagreb despite many saying it is a dull city. After all, it is the Croatian capital!
Despite many opinions I heard, I found a city full of life. Streets are full of people (tourists and locals) enjoying the hot summer weather, even on a weekday.
What is the best time of year to visit Zagreb?
While the coastal area of Croatia is worth visiting more during summer to be properly enjoyed, Zagreb can be visited at any time of the year. It is a city with many activities available, so it is certainly a good choice at any time of the year 😊
However, for a more friendly, city atmosphere, the warmer months are the best as they are the most inviting to go out! Thus, May to September are the best months to visit Zagreb, and more specifically May, June and September when there are fewer tourists and prices are more attractive.
How many days do you need to visit Zagreb?
Zagreb is a relatively small city and the main points of interest are within walking distance from each other. So I suggest you set aside one day to visit Zagreb. However, if you prefer to travel at a slower pace and also want to see some of the city’s museums (many of them quite quirky), I recommend you consider an additional day to visit Zagreb!
How to get to Zagreb?
Zagreb is often the gateway to Croatia and has probably one of the best served airports in the country. Some of the countries with direct connections to Zagreb include:
- Spain (Madrid, Malaga)
- Portugal (Lisbon)
- France (Paris)
- Italy (Milan, Brindisi, Naples, Rome)
- United Kingdom (London)
- Switzerland (Basel)
- Germany (Baden-Baden, Memmingen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt)
- Sweden (Malmö, Gothenburg)
How to get from Zagreb airport to the city centre?
Apart from the obvious taxi option, there are two buses that connect Zagreb airport with the city centre:
- Option 1: shuttle bus (Pleso prijevoz) to Zagreb bus station (the journey takes about 30 minutes; costs about 6€). The ticket can be bought on board, but you can find the most up-to-date information here.
- Option 2: ZET 290 bus that goes to Kvaternik square (the trip takes 1h15 because it makes more stops).
💡 EXTRA TIP: The timetables and services available may change, so I recommend you check the most up-to-date information on the Zagreb airport website.
What is the best way to get around Zagreb?
Zagreb is a small city and therefore the simplest way is to walk everywhere 😊 However, if you want to visit somewhere further away (or even to get to the train station or bus terminal), you can use the tram!
Tram tickets can be bought at the stands selling newspapers and magazines (and in some cases, although I don’t recommend this option, from the tram drivers) and a single 1 hour trip costs less than 1€. You can check the most up to date information here.
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Accommodation in Zagreb
As I didn’t have a car during my stay in Zagreb, I opted for a very central accommodation. I ended up choosing Smile & Love Republic Zagreb Centre and I really liked it! Although the flats are located in an old building, they are well-equipped and comfortable. The flat also had a kitchenette, making this accommodation a great option for those looking to save some money on their trip.
Additionally, the check-in process was fully automatic as there is no reception service available. However, there are other accommodation options that also seemed interesting to me in Zagreb:
- Irundo Downtown Apartments | Piccolo Apartments | Tesla Design Apartments Zagreb: centrally located, reasonably priced flats with kitchen facilities available for those seeking greater flexibility with their meals
- Art Hotel Like | Hotel Park 45 | MANDA Heritage Hotel: hotel with breakfast service included, central location and price still affordable although higher
- Hotel Capital | Esplanade Zagreb Hotel: more luxurious, centrally located option for those seeking more special accommodation
What to visit in Zagreb?
Before we go through each of the points of interest you can visit in Zagreb, I’ll share with you the map version of this 1-day Zagreb itinerary:
» National Theatre
Opened in the 19th century, the National Theatre of Zagreb is a real work of art and a good first place to visit in the city. With an exterior façade in yellowish tones, in addition to theatre performances, you will also find opera and ballet performances here.
» Ban Josip Jelačić Square
The next point that is a must-visit in Zagreb is what is probably the busiest square in the city – Ban Josip Jelačić Square. In this square, what stands out are the buildings in pastel shades representative of different types of architecture.
It is also in this square that you can find the Manduševac fountain, where it is usual to make wishes.
» Dolac Market
Take advantage while it’s still morning to visit Dolac Market – Zagreb’s most iconic market. Apart from a sheltered part, Dolac Market is especially known for its open-air upper part.
This is one of the city’s main markets and has been so since 1930. Outside, they usually sell fruit and vegetables and the covered part is where we can find the butcher’s and fishmonger’s sections.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The market is open every day and opens very early (7 am) until around 1 pm.
» Zagreb’s Cathedral
We headed towards Zagreb’s Cathedral, which is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It is impossible to miss the Cathedral as it is visible from many places in the city, being the tallest building in Croatia.
The Cathedral has been subject to fires and earthquakes and the last one happened in 2020. So when I visited Zagreb one of its spires was covered as it was being rebuilt.
Right in front of the Cathedral, don’t miss also the column with golden motifs in honor of the Assumption of Mary.
» Stone Gate and Radićeva street
Starting from the Cathedral and passing through Radićeva street, we arrive at the Stone Gate. This gate is the only remaining gate of the ancient medieval wall that surrounded Zagreb.
Inside you will find one of the most important places of religious worship in Zagreb, dedicated to the Mother of God who is said to have survived a fire there in the 17th century.
» Tkalčićeva Street
The next point is probably the one that made me love Zagreb so much. It’s called Tkalčićeva Street and it’s the liveliest street in the city. With every step we take we find a new bar, restaurant, or small shop. All you want to do when you pass by is sit there simply enjoying life 😊
And that’s exactly what I did! After wandering around this street for a good while, I decided to come back here at the end of the day to have a drink and enjoy its amazing atmosphere.
💡 EXTRA TIP: When visiting this street, you can also look for the statue of Marija Jurić Zagorka – a 19th-century-born writer who fought for equal rights.
» St. Mark’s Church
Even if you haven’t done much research on what to visit in Zagreb, you probably know the image of St. Mark’s Church. Located in St. Mark’s Square, this church is clearly one of the symbols of the Croatian capital because of its colorful roof with the coat of arms of Zagreb and Croatia.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: On my visit to Zagreb (in June 2022), the whole area around the church was closed and policed due to a shooting in late 2020 in this area, which is close to some government buildings.
» Strossmayer Promenade
The next place on the Zagreb itinerary is the Strossmayer Promenade, where you will find views over the city. Surrounded by leafy trees this is a meeting place for many locals and where you can also take a break from the day’s sightseeing.
» Grič Tunnel
We move on to the most hidden and mysterious place on this itinerary – the Grič tunnel. This is a tunnel built during the Second World War and currently serves as a way for locals to cross more quickly from one point to another in the city.
There is even some talk of rehabilitating the tunnel for cultural purposes, but when I visited there was nothing in the tunnel beyond its cold, grey walls.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The tunnel has two entrances, located on Mesnička and Radićeva streets.
» Oktogon
The next place is no longer so mysterious, but it is also an urban passage in the city center. Oktogon connects Petar Preradović Square with Ilica Street, next to the building of an old bank. It’s well worth a look 😉
» Petar Preradović Square
Next is another busy square – Petar Preradović Square. Although it is smaller than the main city square, it is also quite lively and here you will find some stalls with flowers.
» Zagreb’s Solar System
I know this item may seem strange, but the truth is that Zagreb has its own “solar system”. It is a project in which there are some sculptures scattered around the city, representing the 9 planets of the solar system and the Sun.
In my opinion, it is not worth going looking for each of the planets. So I suggest you just look at the Sun, which is located next to Petar Preradović Square. Anyway, and in case you are curious to visit the other sculptures, this is the address of each one of them:
- Mercury – 3 Margaretska
- Venus – 3 Ban Josip Jelačić
- Earth – 9 Varšavska
- Mars – 21 Tkalčićeva
- Jupiter – 71 Voćarska
- Saturn – 1 Račićeva
- Uranus – 9 Siget
- Neptune – Kozari 17
- Pluto – Beco Bologna
» Lotrščak Tower
If you are looking for the best views of Zagreb, then this next point of interest is a must-stop. The Lotrščak Tower may be small, but it offers incredible views of Zagreb from its top.
In addition, every day at noon you can watch the spectacle of a cannon being fired from the tower as a warning to the church bell ringers. However, this activity has been suspended since the 2020 earthquake and still has no expected date of return.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to climb the tower costs around 2,6€ (June 2022). The tower is open from Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm.
» Zagreb’s Funicular
Next to the Lotrščak Tower, you will also find Zagreb’s famous funicular, which connects the Lower Town to the Upper Town. Its fame comes from the fact that this is the shortest funicular in the world, at only 66 meters long.
As you can imagine, the trip on this funicular is only justified by the grace of being the shortest in the world. The trip doesn’t even take two minutes and has a small cost (about 0.5€).
» Ilica Street
Ilica Street is not exactly the most exciting point of interest on this itinerary, but it is worth it as it is Zagreb’s main shopping street, where you will find several well-known brand shops.
Other things to do in Zagreb
Apart from all the places you can visit in Zagreb listed above, there are also a number of other things you can add to your itinerary:
- Parks: Maksimir, Cmro, Zrinjevac, Ribnjak, Opatovina
- Museums (Zagreb wins on the originality of some of its museums)
- Museum of Broken Relationships
- Museum of Illusions
- Mushroom Museum
- Zagreb City Museum
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- 80s Museum
- Museum of Croatian History
- 360º Observation Deck for city views – see more information here
Other places to visit near Zagreb
If you are in Zagreb and would like to visit other places nearby, I have a few suggestions:
All these durations assume traveling by car. However, there are several bus options to reach these places, as well as some organized tours:
Restaurants in Zagreb
- Konoba Didov San – Gornji grad (€€): A central restaurant with affordable prices and lots of typical food. I really enjoyed the dishes! Well prepared and tasty.
- El Greco (€): despite being a Greek restaurant, the food was very cheap and generous in quantity!
- Nadine Fritule (€): to sweeten your mouth, I recommend you try the typical sweet “fritule” in this small street shop
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