Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia. The landlocked city is often overlooked by travelers as many people tend to flock to Croatia's stunning coastline. However, Zagreb is best for travelers who want to experience Croatia a bit more locally and authentically. Continue on to discover your Zagreb Travel Guide.

Zagreb is made up of two medieval cities, Kaptol & Gradec, that date back to the 11th century. These two cities made the stunning city of Zagreb that we know today. The City of Cats (Zagreb is also known as 'The City of Cats' as there as tons of stray cats around the city) is home to gorgeous architecture, lovely markets, picturesque squares, and historic landmarks. Zagreb is not to be missed while exploring the incredible country of Croatia. In this Zagreb travel blog we will go over the best things to do, food to eat, and places to stay in Zagreb.

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Map Of Zagreb

Best Hotels In Zagreb

🛎️Luxury Zagreb Hotel - Esplanade Zagreb Hotel

🛎️Middle Range Zagreb Hotel - Hotel Le Premier

🛎️Budget Zagreb Hotel - Hotel 9

What To Do In Zagreb

Visit the Croatian National Theatre

The Croatian National Theatre is a magnificent building in the center of Zagreb. Showcasing neo-baroque architecture, The Croatian National Theatre was built in the 1800s by Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer from Vienna.

The marvelous theater has Ballet, Opera, and Drama showings year round. However if you don't want to see a show, the theatre is still worth visiting as it is truly jaw dropping. You can see upcoming viewings of shows here.

🇭🇷Zagreb Photo Safari (includes entrance to the theatre and stops at the best sights in Zagreb)

Stop By The Art Pavilion

Situated in the lower town area (inside of the picturesque King Tomislav Square), The Art Pavilion is an amazing art gallery. At the Art Pavilion you will find works of art from Croatia's greatest artist. Even if you are not really into art, the Pavilion is worth walking by as the building itself is sunning!

Explore The Stunning Nature Park Medvednica

The Nature Park Medvednica is a beautiful nature reserve located just one hour north of Zagreb. At Park Medvednica you will find hiking trails in the summer and skiing slopes in the winter along with spectacular mountain views and unique critters running about. Medvednica is a great option for a day trip from Zagreb.

The best way to get to the park is via tour. You could rent a car, but that is always a bit of a hassle.

🥾Medvednica Hiking and Chestnuts Picking Tour from Zagreb

Visit Ban Jelačić Square

Ban Jelačić Square is the hub for everything eating, drinking, and shopping in Zagreb. Not to mention, the incredible architecture. This charming square was built in the 17ths and is recognized as the centre of Zagreb.

In the square you will find our favorite restaurant In Zagreb, Nico's Bistro.

Explore Upper Town (Gornji Grad)

Upper Town or Gornji Grad, is a charming neighborhood in Zagreb. While lower town is certainly more popular. Upper town is a bit more calm and perfect for a morning stroll with your coffee.

Upper Town Zagreb was once a medieval town (dates back to the 13th century) so you will find captivating streets, architecture, nooks, and crannies - truly a photographers dream.

While in Upper Town don't miss Saint Marks Church, The Stone Gate, The Museum of Broken Relationships, and Lotrščak Tower.

🏰Zagreb All Around Tour-all of the Lower town/Upper town

Marvel At The Zagreb Cathedral

The Zagreb Cathedral is easily one of the most iconic buildings in the city. This captivating cathedral stands at almost 400 feet and perfectly showcases neo-Gothic architecture. The cathedral is temporarily closed at the moment, but it was totally worth stopping by to see the exterior.

Explore Tkalčićeva Street

Tkalčićeva Street in Upper Town is one of the most lively streets in Zagreb. On the stunning street you will find cafes, restaurants, adorable boutiques, and some lowkey nightlife.

Some of our favorite spots on Tkalčićeva Street include the History Bar & Club and Eterno (an adorable jewelry shop).

Tkalčićeva Street is pretty touristy, but it's still worth it and if you are reading this you probably are a tourist.

Shop Around At Dolac Market

Dolac Market is an open air farmers market that is open year round (except Sunday). At this vibrate market you will find locally sourced and fresh, seasonal, foods. You can also try some authentic Croatian food at the market.

Walk Down Ilica Street

Ilica Street is hard to miss while in Zagreb as it is one of the longest streets in the city, so you will likely stumble by it one time or another while in the city. This street is home to some of Zagrebs most popular restaurants, shops, and hotels. Be sure to stop by Bold Burger for a casual meal while on Ilica Street!

Where To Dine In Zagreb

Best Coffee Shops In Zagreb

☕Quahwa (lovely cafe serving both coffee and pastries in the heart of Zagreb)

☕Cogito Coffee Shop (also in the downtown area, perfect for a sit down coffee/to do work)

☕Booksa (a cafe full of books and great coffee in Lower Town Zagreb)

☕Korica (Inventive pastries, along with the classics)

☕the boogie lab (cool brunch spot in the heart of Lower Town)

Best Restaurants In Zagreb

🍴Nico' Bistro (a high end restaurant in lower town)

🍴Bold Burger (casual burger joint)

🍴Zrno (vegan restaurant with outdoor seating)

🍴Pithos (authentic Croatian Food)

Best Tours To Take In Zagreb

🚗Plitvice and Rastoke day trip (included ticket)

🚗 Ljubljana and Bled Lake (with time to explore both cities on your own)

🚗Zagreb to Split Group Transfer (with stops in the Plitvice Lakes)

🚗Zagreb Food Tour

How To Get To Zagreb

✈️By Plane - The Zagreb airport (Franjo Tuđman International Airport Zagreb) is located about an hour south of the city center. The best way to get from the airport to the city center is via bus (ZET bus 290) or taxi. There are plenty of low cost airlines that fly into Zagreb, so if you are planning your Croatia trip on a budget Zagreb is a great place to start!

✈️Checkout The Latest Fares To Zagreb here

🚆By Train - If you are visiting Zagreb by train the best train station to depart from and arrive in is the Zagreb Glavni Kolod Train Station as it is located in the center of the city. Croatia and the surrounding countries (also just Europe in general) has great train systems, so you should not have any trouble finding one to and from your desired destinations. I always book my trains on Omio.

⭐Quick Tip - Zagreb is a walkable city so no need to rent a car!

Zagreb Travel Guide FAQs:

Is Zagreb worth visiting for tourists?

Absolutely. Zagreb is such an interesting and beautiful city that is often overlooked by tourists.

How many days in Zagreb is enough?

3 - 5 days is the perfect amount of time to see the cities main attractions and then some.

Is Zagreb cheap or expensive?

Well, it's all relative. But, as someone who came from the USA its cheap.

Is Zagreb a walkable city?

Yes!

Is English widely spoken in Zagreb?

Yes. You will find a few people who cant speak english, but it's easy to get around.

Zagreb Travel Guide Wrap Up

Zagreb is a beautiful city that is truly underrated. This hidden gem is the perfect city for a european weekend getaway or as a starting point for your Croatian adventure. We hope that this Zagreb Travel Guide helps you plan the best trip to Croatia. If you have been to Zagreb and seen any cool sights please leave us a comment so we can check it out! If you liked this post check out our travel guide to Pisa, Italy and our Florence, Italy Travel Guide.

Happy Travels,

Daisy