zagreb
As Croatia’s capitol this hip city has so much to offer. This divided city between upper and lower parts. You will enjoy the old world feel in the upper city and the neo-baroque and art deco buildings of the lower town. You will indulge in amazing cafes and stroll incredible sites including St. Mark’s Church, Zagreb Cathedral, Tkalčićeva Street, and the beautiful parks and squares of Lower Town (Donji Grad).
Please see my itinerary for my 2 day and 1 night stay in Zagreb.
day one
Arrive Zagreb
I took a bus from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Zagreb, Croatia which was about 2 hours and 15 minutes ride and includes crossing at the border. The bus station in Zagreb is slightly outside of the main town but you can easily get to the main area via trams. To board the tram, you will need to first purchase a ticket at a newsstand. There are a few at the bus terminal on arrival. At the newspaper kiosk, ask for a “tramvajska karta” (tram ticket). Once you board the tram, you must validate your ticket in the machines. These machines are near the very first and very last doors of trams.
Check into Accommodation
After disembarking the tram, I walked over to my hostel in the lower town.
I stayed in Hostel Shappy in Donji Grad (Lower Town) and found it to be a very nice, clean place to stay.
Lunch
I was hungry so I headed to Heritage-Croatian Street Food and Shop which is highly rated to try out some of the local cuisine. Another option would be to head up to Tkalčićeva Street which is known for its bars and cute outdoor cafes- this also may be more convenient if you are staying in the upper town.
Explore the Upper Town
I couldn’t resist and knew my first stop had to be the iconic St. Mark’s Church. After taking in St. Mark’s Church, I began walking the cobblestone streets of the Upper town and was taking it in. While doing this I checked out: the Zagreb Cathedral, Funicular Railway, Ban Jelačić Square, Lotrščak Tower, Stone Gate, and Park Grič. . It started raining so I jumped into the Museum of Broken Relationships which is a very unique and fun museum and a perfect way to shelter from the rain! Klovićevi Dvori Gallery is another museum worth checking out in Upper Town.
Dinner
For dinner and a drink, check out Tkalčićeva Street which is known for its bars and cute outdoor cafes. I ate at the Curry bowl which gave huge portions and was very affordable and highly rated. However, there is no shortage of options here for any taste.
day two
Breakfast Zagreb
If you are looking for breakfast options, consider checking out some of these highly rated breakfast stops: Otto and Frank, Eggspress, or Korica.
Explore the Lower Town
Known for its great squares and parks you can set out on a walking tour of the lower town. I generally followed the Lenuci Horseshoe path which brings you through the green spaces of the city. While in the lower town check out: Ban Jelačić Square, Zrinjevac, Arheološki muzej u Zagrebu, Art Pavilion Zagreb, Botanical Garden, Modern Gallery, Croatian Museum of School, Nikola Tesla Monument, and the King Tomislav Statue.
Lunch
I was tight on time so I jumped into a local grocery store and grabbed some snacks that I could eat on the bus ride back to Ljubljana. While in the grocery store, I grabbed some of the must try local candy 505 s crtom.
leave zagreb
I headed back to my accommodation to grab my bags and make my way to the tram. The tram station has a stop right at the bus station. At the bus station, I boarded my pre-booked bus trip back to Ljubljana. This bus ride back was about 2 hours and 15 minutes and included the border crossing.
day trips
plitvice lakes day trip
Plitvice Lakes National Park is a UNESCO site and for good reason. It is comprised of beautiful turquoise waterfalls and lakes. Many tours include transportation there, hiking and a boat ride. Tour time is approximately 10 hours.
lake Bled
One of the most iconic and touristy places to visit in Slovenia can be done in a day trip from Zagreb. This tour often combined with Ljubljana is approximately 10-13 hours.
Ljubljana
The capitol city of Slovenia is about 2 hours and 15 minute ride from Zagreb via bus and can be done as a day tour or self tour. Also many tours include this city with Lake Bled.
Varazdin
This day tour includes transportation to and from Zagreb to this incredible Baroque City. It typically includes a tour of Trakoscan Castle and walking tour of the town and cemetery of Varazdin. Approximately 8 hours.
