Zagreb
Travel Guide
Welcome to our Zagreb travel guide, exploring the capital city of Croatia which is full of history, some dating back to Roman times. The city is clean, compact, well connected and well suited to walking, making it a perfect city break.
With plenty to do for a few days, countless cafes and restaurants, and parks spread throughout the city, Zagreb is more of a relaxing city break rather than a hectic one. The locals are friendly, the food is good and inexpensive, and the architecture is rich with history and stories. The café culture here can be seen all over the city, with locals on every corner stopping for a coffee. The mix of the Lower and Upper towns offer variety and an insight into a real working city, which is a breath of fresh air for well travelled tourists. Whether it’s your choice for a long weekend, or your starting point for jumping off into Croatia, either way, it’s a city that shouldn’t be missed.
Travel Guide Contents
Zagreb Travel Guide
How to get to Zagreb
Franjo Tuđman Airport is the only airport in Zagreb and caters to both international and domestic flights. The airport is modern, well equipped and is located only 10km from the central train station in Zagreb city. These are the options for getting to and from the airport:
Airport Shuttle – The airport shuttle is called Pleso Prijevoz and costs 30HRK ($5) per person one way. It departs around every 35 minutes and takes 35-40 minutes to get to the last stop which is Zagreb central bus terminal
ZET bus – This is the cheapest way to get from the airport to Zagreb city centre. The ZET bus costs 6HRK ($1) per person, one way and departs approx every 35 mins. The journey time to the last stop, the Kvaternikov Tram stop in the centre, is 35 minutes
Taxi – Available from outside arrivals and available 24 hours a day, a taxi will cost 180HRK ($30) to Ban Josipa Jelačića square in the centre and will take approx 30min, depending on traffic
Uber – Uber is available in Croatia and is more affordable than standard taxi’s. An Uber from the airport to Ban Josipa Jelačića square will cost around 80HRK ($13) and will take 30min, depending on traffic (This is what we did and, if there is two or more of you, this will likely be your best option, plus you don’t have to wait around and it takes you right to where you need to go, so no additional transport or expenses at the other end!)
Areas to stay in Zagreb
There are two distinct areas in Zagreb city, Lower town and Upper town. Both areas have a good range of things to see and do, as well as, restaurants, shops etc. The main train station is located in Lower town, so if you require easy access to this then it might be best to stay in this area, otherwise, you will generally be fine staying in either area. For the best experience, try to base yourself near Ban Josipa Jelačića square as, this is not only one of the major squares in the city but also well placed between the Lower and Upper town for access to everything including public transport.
Accommodation in Zagreb
As with most metropolitan cities, Zagreb has a good range of accommodation options including hotels, apartments and hostels ranging from inexpensive to well, whatever you want. However, it’s generally less expensive than other major European cities so you can get more for your money here. Some of our top picks for where to stay in Zagreb are:
Budget Option | Main Square Hostel – A great option for those on a budget, Main Square Hostel is located right in the city centre, close to all the major Zagreb attractions and offers modern dorm rooms or private rooms with a/c and free WiFi
Mid-range apartment option | Apartment Baltazaar – Another excellently located option, Apartment Baltazaar is a modern one bedroom apartment in a residential block which has great facilities
Mid-range hotel option | Hotel Dubrovnik – Situated in the heart of Zagreb, Hotel Dubrovnik is a solid mid-range option offering a buffet breakfast and all the amenities one would expect from a large hotel
Luxury hotel option | Esplanade Zagreb – This is where to go for luxury in Zagreb. Esplanade Zagreb offers classic rooms with a modern touch, a fine dining restaurant, a fitness centre and a sauna. All conveniently located in the Lower Town near the train station
How to get around Zagreb
Zagreb is a very walkable city, walking between the most major attractions in Upper Town and Lower Town takes around 30 minutes maximum. As a result, you may not need to use public transport during your visit, however, if you do then there are plenty of options available. Here’s a quick guide to the most useful types of transport available for getting around Zagreb:
Tram – There are trams covering most of the Lower Town area and further into the larger Zagreb area. They run frequently, are cheap, and many stop at either the main train station or the main square. The easiest way to purchase a ticket is from a nearby Tisak (newspaper stand), they cost 4HRK ($0.65) for a single one-way ticket which is valid for 30 minutes. Remember to validate your ticket once you get on the tram in the machines near the first and last doors
Bus – These also run all over the city and use the same timed ticketing system as the Tram network. The bus network is not as widely used by tourists as the tram network but it’s useful for getting to an area that the tram may not cover
Taxi – Three taxi companies are operating in Zagreb city centre and their prices vary slightly. Expect to pay around a 10HRK ($1.50) flat rate plus 6HRK ($1) for every additional kilometre. Taxi’s are available from all over the city and are generally a reasonably priced way to get around, especially if you’re looking to visit somewhere outside of the main city centre or are in a group.
Uber – Uber is available all over the city and is generally cheaper (and more convenient) than standard taxi’s
Things to do in Zagreb
Zagreb is a city filled with history, great architecture and a wealth of things to see and do. We don’t want to bore you with a list of everything to see and do in Zagreb (although you can check out our more extensive list of things to do in Zagreb for more information), so we’ve picked out our top 5 things to do in Zagreb:
Cathedral of Zagreb – This is arguably the highlight of Zagreb and is located at Kaptol in the Upper Town. Entrance inside is free
Dolac Market – If you take the steps up from Ban Josipa Jelačića square, you will find Dolac Market consisting of the flower market, farmers market, an indoor fish market and a large indoor market with meat and other fresh produce such as dairy and pasta. Open from 06.30-14:00 weekdays and until 13:00 on Sundays
St Mark’s Church – One of the most iconic attractions in Zagreb, St Mark’s Church is located on St Marks square in the Upper Town. Visitors are only allowed inside during mass but the roof and building from outside are worth seeing regardless
Explore the Upper Town – Home to the majority of major attractions in Zagreb, the Upper Town is a beautiful area with old, historical buildings, busy streets and lots of restaurants, particularly on Ul. Ivana Tkalčića
Maksimir Park – Maksimir Park is the largest park in Zagreb and is home to 5 lakes and Zagreb Zoo. It is one of the best places to escape the city. Entry into the park is free
What to eat in Zagreb
Croatian food is a tasty mix of Mediterranean and Balkan cuisine, with a strong Italian influence, which means that there is something for everyone. Zagreb is home to over 750 restaurants covering all types of cuisine and budgets, including 1 Michelin Star restaurant and 14 in the Michelin guide. If you want to try some of the local dishes of Zagreb (and you should!), then here are our top picks of what to eat in Zagreb:
Strukli – A traditional Croatian pastry filled with sour cream and cottage cheese
Zagrebački odrezak – Breaded and fried veal, pork or chicken steak stuffed with cheese and ham
Orehnjača – A walnut roll log, absolutely delicious!
Cevapi – Cevapi is minced meat rolled into a sausage shape and is commonly served with pitta
Fuzi – A quill shaped homemade pasta, usually served with stews
Money - Zagreb Travel Costs
The currency in Croatia is the Croatian Kuna (HRK). Credit & Debit cards are widely accepted throughout Croatia and there are plenty of ATM’s which accept foreign cards. A service charge is generally not added to the bill so you can leave a tip if you are happy with the service. A tip of 5-10% is the norm and you can round up for taxi’s. Zagreb is a very reasonably priced city and is suitable for backpackers and budget travellers, as well as luxury travellers. Depending on where you are in the city, prices can fluctuate a little, particularly on some of the more popular squares, but not to the extent of some other European cities. Here’s a guide for what you can expect to pay (per person) for:
A local draught beer – 16-30HRK ($2.50-$6.50)
A coffee – 9-16HRK ($2-$2.50)
A grab and go pastry or pizza slice – 10-15HRK ($1.50-$2.50)
Budget restaurant meal – 90-140HRK ($15-$22)
Mid-range restaurant meal – 175-250HRK ($28-$40)
High-end restaurant meal – 325HRK+ ($50+)
When to go to Zagreb and for how long
The best time to visit Zagreb is between May and September when there is less rain and the weather is warmer. The city is perfect for a long weekend trip or, if you want to relax a little more, 4 nights would work well to see all the sights at a slower pace. We’ve put together a one-day itinerary for Zagreb for those that are short on time and want to see as much of the city as possible and a three-day itinerary for Zagreb which is perfect for those looking to enjoy a long weekend in the city.
Local language and phrases
Take a look at our Croatia travel tips on our Croatia page for more information about the language in Croatia and some of the most useful phrases that you can use when visiting Zagreb
Zagreb travel tips
– Zagreb is generally a very safe city and is suitable for lone travellers, including lone females
– There are a range of places to eat including those specialising in vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diets
– The water is safe to drink in Zagreb
– If you require a Covid-19 test during or at the end of your journey, PCR and Antigen tests are available at Zagreb airport. See the Zagreb airport website for more information
Zagreb travel guide written in June 2021
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Zagreb Travel Articles
Zagreb Walking Tour Videos & Maps
Check out our Youtube Channel for more Zagreb and Croatia walking tours, and tours for other destinations too.
Zagreb Lower Town Route
A walking tour video highlighting the sights of the Lower Town and accompanying map showing the route we walked!
Zagreb Upper Town Route
A walking tour video highlighting the sights of the Upper Town and accompanying map showing the route we walked!
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