zagreb croatia
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).
getting to 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.
If you are arriving at the nearest airport Zagreb Franjo Tudjman Airport you will be about 15 km from the center of Zagreb. You can flag down a taxi or you can take a bus to the main terminal and then use the trams as above.
Once in the city I found it very easy to navigate on foot. You can use some of the public transport including the trams. You can also cycle easily in the city. Uber is available if desired. There is also a tourist hop-on-hop off bus available. For an experience you can take the Zagreb Funicular Railway from Lower to Upper Town. It is the first public transport in Zagreb as it started running in 1890.
where to stay zagreb
While looking for accommodation you can consider places in Gornji Grad (Upper Town), Donji Grad (Lower Town) or Kaptol which are all at the heart of the city. If you want more of a modern feel you can stay in Maksimir which is further from the old city but offers great shopping and fine dining. The Upper Town boasts the most touristy spots to catch in town, Kaptol right next to Upper Town and just north of Lower Town is near the Doloc open-air market and the Zagreb cathedral. The lower town is a mix of modern and older accommodations and has numerous cafes and places to eat.
I stayed in Hostel Shappy in Donji Grad (Lower Town) and found it to be a very nice, clean place to stay.
where to eat zagreb
The town is somewhat divided between the Upper Town and the Lower Town. There are great options to eat in each area.
One of the top-rated restaurants that offers some tasty bites of elevated local street food is Heritage-Croatian Street Food and Shop. It is highly rated and a great way to try out some of the local cuisine. I thought it was great! Some of the best local dishes to check out include: Štrukli (a dough filled with cottage cheese and sour cream), čušpajz (a meat and vegetable stew), and 505 s crtom (candy).
For numerous dinner and drink options, 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.
If you are looking for breakfast options, consider checking out some of these highly rated breakfast stops: Otto and Frank, Eggspress, or Korica.
what to do Zagreb
The town is somewhat divided between the Upper Town and the Lower Town.
Upper Town
St. Mark’s Church, Zagreb Cathedral, Funicular Railway, Ban Jelačić Square, Lotrščak Tower, Stone Gate, Park Grič, Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, and walking the streets of Upper Town. Also, you should consider checking out the Museum of Broken Relationships which is a very unique and fun museum. For dinner and a drink, check out Tkalčićeva Street which is known for its bars and cute outdoor cafes.
Lower Town
Known for its great squares and parks you can set out on a walking tour of the lower town. Some will use 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.
