View of a large, busy shopping street with lots of buildings all around and a church in the background. © joyt/stock.adobe.com
View of a large, busy shopping street with lots of buildings all around and a church in the background. © joyt/stock.adobe.com

Zagreb – Croatia’s Lively Capital

Published: 16 May 2024, 15:30

Zagreb is a lively, southern European metropolis that has plenty to discover at any time of year. Divided into a bustling Lower Town and a medieval Upper Town, which are connected by the world’s shortest funicular railway, Zagreb attracts visitors with its impressive cathedral, fascinating Wilhelminian-style architecture and creative attitude towards life. While the Lower Town of Donji Grad is home to many shops, the main railway station, museums and parks, the Upper Town of Gornji Grad is home to the government district around St. Mark’s Square with St. Mark’s Church.

You can stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables every day at Dolac Market. Green oases, such as the Botanical Garden, Mirogoj Cemetery and Maksimir Park, invite visitors to stay and relax. Night owls should head to the Tkalciceva nightlife district, where the streets are lined with cafés, bars and restaurants. The “Museum of Broken Relationships” offers a somewhat different kind of museum visit, in which the exhibits tell sometimes strange, sometimes bizarre, but always deeply emotional stories. Whether as an individual city trip or as a starting point for a holiday in Croatia, beautiful Zagreb on the River Sava is definitely worth visiting. 

Numbers, data, facts

  • Time difference: none
  • Population: 800.000
  • Official language: Croatian
  • Currency: Euro (EUR)

A city tour of Zagreb

Out into nature: excursion destinations around Zagreb

Zagreb is surrounded by wonderful nature with beautiful excursion destinations. Medvednica Nature Park is just a few kilometres away to the north The mountainous area is lined with dense forests and is ideal for hiking and cycling. There’s a wonderful view of Zagreb from the old Medvedgrad Castle. Those who love nature should also head northwest to the area around Zapresic. Far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can find absolute peace and relaxation in the Croatian-Slovenian border region. Zumberak Nature Park to the west of Zagreb also offers this. A trip there can easily be combined with a stopover in the pretty little town of Samobor. A little further south are the Plitvice Lakes, the oldest and largest national park in the Republic of Croatia. The 16 beautiful lakes, which are connected by overflows, waterfalls and cave systems, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Five excursion tips from Zagreb

Zagreb from BER

Five travel tips for ...

1. Take the old funicular railway from the Lower to the Upper Town

2. Take a walk through Maksimir Park and have a picnic

3. Try the national dish Strukli (quark dish)

4. Join the colourful hustle and bustle at Dolac Market

5. Eat an ice cream in the Upper Town and enjoy the view

1. The view over the rooftops from the Strossmayer Promenade

2. The water lily ponds in the Botanical Garden 

3. The 360-degree view from Lotrscak Tower

4. The old half-timbered houses in Tkalciceva Street 

5. The impressive cathedral with its twin towers 

1. The Museum of Broken Relationships in the Upper Town

2. The pretty St. Mark's Church with the colourful coats of arms on the roof

3. The impressive cathedral with its twin towers 

4. Zagreb City Museum

5. The Art Pavilion, the oldest museum in Croatia 

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© joyt/stock.adobe.com 

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