11 Essential Things to See in Zagreb, Croatia

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, but tourists quickly notice that it isn’t on the Adriatic coast and seem to lose interest. People rave about how great Split and Dubrovnik are for sightseeing and holidays, but they sure don’t seem to talk that way about the things to see in Zagreb.

Hey, even I had difficulty fully appreciating the city during my first trip there. After a second visit, I realized there are more than enough things to do in Zagreb to make the city worth visiting. Sure, I was visiting in winter, which is not always ideal, and yet I still managed to find Zagreb attractions I hadn’t experienced the first time around.

How to get to Zagreb

Zagreb is a pretty easy place to get to from neighbouring countries in Europe, thanks to its location.

Thanks to Flixbus, buses connect Zagreb with plenty of other major Croatian destinations, including cities like Ljubljana, Vienna, and Budapest. Train travel to Zagreb is possible through Slovenia but is usually too complicated to worry about.

Flying into Zagreb is another way to go. Zagreb Airport is the country’s main airport, despite how busy and popular the coast is. Routes to Zagreb are almost all from other European capitals, except for a few routes from the Middle East.

Once you get to Zagreb, you’ll need to work on how to get around the city.

Trams are usually the answer, and the city’s distinctive blue trams can take you to many places. If you don’t get a prepaid transit card, you can buy paper tickets at Tisak kiosks or from the driver.

Where to stay in Zagreb

Now, for where to stay in Zagreb, my recommendation is to go no further south than the city’s train station.

Both the Upper and Lower Towns are fine for sightseeing and finding restaurants, as you can walk around both or take public transport. You should find plenty of hotels, guesthouses, and apartments throughout the city centre, leaving you with the benefit of choice.

Some highly-rated places to stay in Zagreb include:

• Hotel PARK 45
• Elenas Rooms & Apartment
• Bed & Breakfast Sky City Center
• Bed & Breakfast Donji Grad

Places to visit in Zagreb

At this stage, you’re probably still wondering whether Zagreb is worth visiting.

But take a look at the different local attractions waiting for you there and you’ll see that the city is more than just a place to pass through. Culture, history, and scenery combine in Zagreb to make it an important place to visit in Croatia.

So, let’s get to it shall we?

1. St. Marks Church

When sightseeing in Zagreb, there’s no way you can miss the iconic Church of St Mark. For me, the first image I picture when I think of the Croatian capital is the incredible roof of this church.

Adorned in colourful tiles, the roof of St Marks features clever tile patterns that create the Croatian coat of arms and the city’s coat of arms against a vibrant background. Interestingly, you can only enter the church when participating in mass, so most people only ever see it from the outside in St Mark’s Square.

2. Upper Town

To see Zagreb’s medieval history, head to the city’s Upper Town. A walk there is definitely one of the best things to do in Zagreb.

This area is just above the rest of the city and is the oldest part of it. Walk through its narrow alleys, and it becomes plain as day.

Scattered throughout the Upper Town are plenty of historic buildings, including some palaces, as well as the fascinating Stone Gate. Passing through one layer of city walls, this gate is home to a small chapel and shrine.

The Upper Town is also known for its long pedestrian streets like Ivana Tkalčića, which is simply packed with bars, cafes, and restaurants. You’ll also find the occasional landmark here, too, like the old Sun Dial and various street art.

3. Cathedral of Zagreb

Looking at Zagreb’s skyline, the towering spires of the Zagreb Cathedral are nearly impossible to miss. In fact, these twin Gothic twin towers make the cathedral the tallest building in Croatia.

The cathedral was first finished in 1217, built upon an existing church. Threats to the cathedral over the years resulted in fortifications, some of which can still be seen today. The southern tower of the cathedral has been covered in scaffolding both times I’ve visited Zagreb—five years apart.

I have no idea if the restoration is still ongoing, but it’s quite subtle and doesn’t take much away from the cathedral’s beauty.

4. Strossmayer’s Promenade Viewpoint

With the centre of Zagreb split between its Upper Town and Lower Town, you know you’re in for some views.

Running right along the edge of the Upper Town in Zagreb is the Strossmayer’s Promenade, a gentle place made for city views. To me, the place for perfect views across the city of Zagreb is just by the funicular line that joins the two halves of the city centre.

From here, you can see a great deal of downtown Zagreb, both its historic buildings and more modern additions in the distance. Directly behind you is the Lotrščak Tower, but the promenade’s view is free, and I really don’t think the tower’s views are all that much better.

5. Ban Josip Jelačić Square

Marking the divide really between Zagreb’s Upper and Lower Towns is the bustling Ban Josip Jelačić Square.

With a mounted statue of the famed Croatian leader and general as its focus, there are also several nice buildings around the sides of the square. Unlike St Mark’s Square in the Upper Town, this square is never without people and is an important transit hub.

6. Dolac Market

Personally, I think one of the nicer places to visit in Zagreb for a sense of local life is the city’s Dolac Market.

This great big central marketplace sits between the city’s Upper and Lower Towns, and you get the feeling that it’s done so for quite some time. Essentially an open-air farmers market, it’s a nice touch of the old world and contrasts with all the more modern department stores and shops found in the city centre.

Plus, you get a good view of the Cathedral towers too.

7. Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb

One of the more distinctive sights in Zagreb is its trend of neo-Baroque buildings painted in a certain shade of yellow.

After I first visited, this style of architecture quickly became the look I pictured when I thought of Zagreb. Perhaps the best example is the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, because it’s hard not to notice the building’s grandeur and how its yellow hue makes the building really stand out, especially against winter snow.

Around the theatre are a number of other elegant buildings like the Mimara Museum and State Archives, but this iconic gem is hard to top.

8. Park Zrinjevac

Zagreb certainly isn’t a huge city compared to other European capitals, but it still has a city atmosphere to it. So if you’re looking for a calm park to escape the city rush, I’d recommend Zrinjevac Park. With plenty of trees, fountains, and a nice pagoda in the middle, you couldn’t ask for a nicer spot to take a break.

9. Square of King Tomislav

At times, Zagreb can feel quite built up, so when you reach the wide open space of King Tomsilav Square it’s immediately noticeable.

With the gleaming yellow Art Pavilion up one end and plenty of interesting residential buildings around the sides, the square is a real showcase of what Zagreb looks like.

Depending on the season you visit, you might find beautiful flowers and fountains in the square’s gardens, a festive ice-skating rink, or a bed of white snow, as I did when I came to Croatia in late winter.

10. Lower Town

Compared to the Upper Town, the Lower Town of Zagreb is decidedly larger and more modern.

Although it does have its pedestrian streets here and there, most of the Lower Town features wider streets and a mix of architectural eras. It’s in this part of the city that you’ll find all the shops and stores you’d expect in a major modern city.

Among the various grand buildings here, you’ll even find the occasional inner arcades, like the Oktogon building. The further you get from the Upper Town, the wider the streets become and the more parks you find, as previously mentioned. Here, it’s less about seeing specific landmarks and more about the feel of Zagreb in general.

11. Grič Tunnel

One Zagreb attraction I wasn’t really aware of beforehand was the Grič Tunnel that runs under the city’s Upper Town.

Built in World War II as a bomb shelter and then reused during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s, the tunnels are still in a pretty good state today. Making an “L” shape, the tunnels run under Grič Park and are freely used for pedestrian access, so you can go for a wander through if you feel like it.

Other things to do when visiting Zagreb

While I share many of the things to do in Zagreb, this list is by no means complete.

I haven’t covered many of Zagreb’s museums, such as the city’s Torture Museum, Mushroom Museum, or the Croatian Society of Fine Artists Museum.

Several attractions also exist in the hills north of the city, from the castle remains of Medvedgrad to the city views at Vidikovac Kraljičin Zdenac.

You don’t even have to stick to what there is to see in Zagreb during your visit. Day trips from Zagreb let you see what else this part of Croatia is like and include:

• Samobor – a small town just outside Zagreb with a pretty square and castle ruins
• Plitvice Lakes – the famous national park with cascading lakes and waterfalls
• Varazdin – an old-fashioned city in Croatia’s far north
• Trakoscan – perhaps the most beautiful castle in Croatia

Have you ever visited Zagreb before or ever considered visiting the Croatian capital? Would you suggest other sights to see in Zagreb that I have missed? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.