Best Things To Do in Zagreb

Zagreb, Croatia’s largest city and capital, is the most common arrival city for international flights and worth visiting for a day or two before heading to Croatia’s awesome sites. In addition to walking its charming old town, there’s plenty of things to see and do in Zagreb. It’s full of beautiful historical architecture, has a lively nightlife on its famous Tkalciceva street, a great cafe culture, tons of unique and interesting museums, as well as opportunities for hiking and more. Zagreb is also a great place to experience genuine Croatian culture as it’s located away from the top tourist spots.

This post covers the best things to see and do in Zagreb.

Explore Zagreb Old Town

Located in northwestern Croatia, Zagreb’s history dates back to Middle Ages, with records of settlements here in the 11th century.

The Old Town, otherwise known as Old Zagreb, is divided into the upper town, Kaptol, which was historically inhabited by the clergy, and the lower town, Gradec, where the craftsmen and merchants lived. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that these two areas were finally united into one.

Visit Tkalciceva Street

The heart of old city, and its social center, is Tkalciceva street (Tkalca for short). This lively street is my favorite spot in the old town and is one of the top places to visit in Zagreb.

It’s full of restaurants, bars, and shops, in old historic, pastel-painted homes with al fresco dining, so you can people watch while trying great Croatian delicacies and drinks.

Located between upper town and lower town, this street was once just a stream, filled with watermills and public baths. Back then, the residents of the upper town and lower town didn’t mingle, now, it’s filled with Croatians and tourists from around the world.

Zagreb Cathedral

The upper town, or Kaptol, where the clergy used to live, is perched on the slope of Medvednica Mountain. This is the oldest part of town and still retains much of its original charm. The most important thing to see in the upper town is Zagreb Cathedral.

The Zagreb Cathedral, or Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a landmark church dating to the 13th century. Its Neo Gothic facade, however, came later. This is the tallest building in Zagreb at 354’ (108 m). The spires were added after an earthquake in the 19th century that permanently damaged the structure.

Unfortunately, the construction was not done properly, so restoration has been going on for more than 30 years…and is still going on today!

How to Get to Zagreb Cathedral: See the Zagreb Cathedral’s location, which is at the top of the hill in Kaptol.

St Mark’s Church

This Parish church, in St. Mark’s Square, is another iconic landmark. The colorful roof tiles display the medieval coat of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia, and Slavonia as well as the emblem of Zagreb. Taking a photo here is one of the top things to do in Zagreb, and there will be many others doing it.

It sits in the historic square, which is lined with key government and parliamentary offices. If you want to see the changing of the guard here, arrive before noon on weekends from late April to October.

How to Get to St. Mark’s Church: St. Mark’s Square and church is located a 10-minute walk west of Zagreb Cathedral.

Museum Of Broken Relationships

Although this museum sounds somber, and actually can be a title bit, it’s really worth visiting. It showcases personal possessions associated with past loves. You’ll see all kinds of unusual things donated by people, like scabs someone saved from a first love, a coffee machine from love gone bad, dreadlocks, fake breasts, artwork, and more. All with personal stories, some funny, some crazy, and some sad, showcasing the weird objects we sometime associate with lost loves.

You can make a submission of your own to donate a personal possession and story, or you can pin your story (without an object) on the website.  

How to Get to the Museum of Broken Relationships: The must-visit Museum of Broken Relationships is located a short walk from St. Mark’s Square.

Lotrscak Tower

For a small fee, you can climb this 13th century tower for a view of the area and the colorful rooftops of Zagreb. It was built to protect the city, and true to history, a real cannon is shot from here every day at noon.

How to Get to Lotrscak Tower: Lotrscak Tower is just south of St. Mark’s Square.

Zagreb Funicular

There’s a funicular ride between upper and lower town right outside Lotrscak tower. It’s one of the shortest public funiculars in the world. So short, that the nearby stairs are really a better choice.

How to Get to the Funicular: The Funicular is located just south of Lotrscak Tower.

Mini Bars and Instagram Spots

Hand-Lit Gas Lamposts

Another unique feature of upper town is its 200 gas lampposts. Zagreb is one of only three European cities that still have functional gas lights. These century old lanterns add a romantic charm to upper town.

Ben Jelacic Square

Ben Jelacic Square is in the lower town, the medieval core of the city. Once home to artists and tradesmen, the streets here are now full of shops, businesses, museums, and parks.

Ben Jelacic Square is the main square of Zagreb. It’s named after a historical figure here, Josip Jelacic, a military ruler from the 19th century. Make sure to also notice the buildings here, which showcase various architectural styles including Art Nouveau, post-modernism, and Biedermeier periods.

How to Get to Ben Jelacic Square: Ben Jelacic Square is south of Dolac Market and Tkalciceva Street.

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Zagreb 360 Observation Deck

The Zagreb 360 Observation Deck is on the 16th floor of the Zagreb, or Ilica, Skyscraper. Your ticket is valid for the full day and there is a bar.

How to Get to the Observation Deck: This high-rise, at 1 Ilica Street, is a two minute walk from Ben Jelacic Square.

Ilica Street

This street in lower town is one of the longest streets in Zagreb. Walking it, you’ll find a variety of shops, fashion stores, bars, cafes, and cultural sites. It starts as a narrow cobblestoned street before turning into a wide modern boulevard. You can walk its 3 mile (5 km) length, shopping and eating, or take the blue tram.

How to Get to Ilica Street: Ilica Street starts jest west of Jelacic Square.

Dolac Market

Technically between both upper and lower town, Dolac Market is where the locals buy their produce. It’s located on two levels. The upper level is an open-air market with souvenir shops, clothing stalls, cafes, and bars. The lower level features a butchery, bakery, dairy section, and specialty food stores.

This market is open early mornings to early afternoon and is really a fun stop.

How to Get to Dolac Market: Dolac Market is a 3-minute walk east of Zagreb Cathedral.

Gric Tunnel

This pedestrian tunnel was used as to shelter civilians in WWII and the Croatian War of Independece. It’s located under the historic neighborhood of Gric, between Radiceva and Mesnica streets. Admission is free.

How To Get To Gric Tunnel: Gric Tunnel is a 10-minute walk from Tkalciceva Street.

Take A Day Trip To Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park is truly a stunner and I highly recommend it if you’re in Croatia. There are 16 interconnected lakes here with around 90 waterfalls. Each lake is a slightly different shade of blue or green, depending on the elevation and the angle of the sun.

I personally think it’s best to stay nearby the lakes for a night to explore the park early in the morning without the crowds, but if you must take a tour, I recommend this one: Plitvice Lakes with Ticket & Rastoke Small Group Tour from Zagreb.

See my post on the Best Photo Spots and Where To Stay Near Pltivice Lakes National Park for more details.

Museums In Zagreb

Although the Museum of Broken Relationships is one of the top museum attractions, the following are also worth a visit.

Museum of Hangovers: The Museum of Hangovers is where drunken mishaps are immortalized. There’s also fun here, like a “drunk” floor path, a drunk-driving simulator, and more. It’s located about a 10-minute walk east of the Museum Of Broken Relationships.

Mushroom Museum: This quirky museum has over 1,500 freeze dried mushrooms on display detailing which are edible, poisonous, and deadly. It’s located on the main square, not far from the museum of Broken Relationships. Mushroom Museum location.

Museum of Illusions: Another quirky museum, there are over 70 exhibits showcasing brain teasers and optical illusions. Located a 15 minute walk from Tkalciceva Street, click here for directions.

Klovicevi Dvori Gallery: Klovicevi Dvori is a popular little gallery with 4 stories of exhibition space and up to 30 exhibits a year. Located a 5 minute walk from Tkalciceva Street, click here for directions.

Museum of Contemporary Art: Full of abstract-geometric and computer generated art. This museum is located a 15 minute drive or hour walk south of Tkalciceva Street. Click here for directions.

Lauba House For People & Art: Lauba is an Austro-Hungarian riding stable turned contemporary art showroom. Located a 45. minute walk from Tkalciceva Street, click here for details.

Mimara Museum: Zagreb’s finest art collection founded by a donation from Ante Topic Mimara. It’s located a 20 minute walk from Tkalciceva Street. Click here for details.

Archeological Museum: This museum has nearly half a million artifacts. Zagreb Archeolgical Museum location.

See the full list of museums in Zagreb.

Hike Medvednica Mountain

If you’re into hiking, you can hike Medvednica Mountain, located north of Zagreb. A popular trail is the hike up to Puntijarka House, at 3,139’ (957 m), for a rewarding traditional meal and some apple pie. You can also get here by bus or car if you don’t have the time to hike.

How To Get To the Trail: The hike starts at the last tram station in town, #14 from the main square.

Where To Stay In Zagreb

The place I stayed in is a little too far away from the old town, but I’ve listed a few centrally located places that all get exceptional reviews. Check them out.

Affordable

Color Of Music Zagreb units come with parquet floors and a fully equipped kitchen. The apartments are located about a 15-minute walk east of Ben Jelacic Square.

Pod Zidam Rooms are located a few steps from the main square. It offers terraces with street views and a restaurant.

Bed and Breakfast Sky City Center is located in the city center, a few steps from Ben Jelacic Square. Rooms have a terrace, some with a courtyard view and some with a city view.

Gallery Duplex Studio is a charming place located a short walk south of Ben Jelacic Square.

B&B Dolac is centrally located just a few steps from Ben Jelacic Square. It offers city views.

Splurge 

Met Boutique Hotel offers a terrace, a restaurant, a bar, and private parking. It’s centrally located, about a 1-minute walk from the Archaeological Museum of Zagreb.

How To Get To Zagreb

Zagreb International Airport is the top airport in Croatia for international arrivals, so if you’re visiting, chances are you will fly into Zagreb.

The airport is located about a 25-minute drive southeast of the old town and can be reached by car, taxi, and bus.

Bus

See www.plesoprijevos.com for the bus from the Zagreb Airport to the Zagreb Bus Station. The bus station on Zagreb is about a 20-minute walk to Ben Jelacic Square.

Taxi

For taxi, you can book an Uber. Bolt and Eko Taxi are other rude hailing apps. If you hire an unmetered taxi at the airport, make sure to negotiate the price before getting in. You can use the ride hailing app costs to start negotiation.

Want To Learn More About Croatia?

Croatia really is a stunner. It’s no surprise that this is a top tourist destination. Of course, there’s the most popular stop, UNESCO listed old town Dubrovnik, one of the finest, most well-preserved, medieval towns in the world.

Other spectacular cities to visit include Split, which is a beautiful bay in itself, but also boasts the worlds best Roman palace remains, Emperor Diocletian’s.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, about 2 hours south of Zagreb, offers a stunning spectacle of nature with 16 multi-hued, interconnected lakes and around 90 waterfalls.

And if you’re heading south past Plitvice, Zadar’s ancient Roman ruins and 16th century Venetian Walls, perched on the Adriatic are an interesting stop.

Or, for the ultimate Croatian adventure, try island hopping along the Dalmatian coast, stopping at one of the 79 islands and 500 islets to explore their variety. Hvar, Korcula, Vis, Brac, and Mljet are the most popular stops.

To help you plan your trip, see my Croatia Travel Guide, which provides an overview of all the top places, along with information on how to get around, safety, scams, logistics, and more.

Safe Travels!

Julie

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