As Croatia’s capital city, Zagreb is a vibrant and busy city all year round. Often overlooked by tourists for Croatia’s coastline, or other nearby European cities, Zagreb has a lot to offer and is well worth visiting. There are many things to do in Zagreb but the city is very walkable, with the main tourist sites fitting into a reasonably compact area, therefore making it an ideal long weekend trip. As well as having a variety of museums and paid attractions, the city’s sightseeing also covers lots of free things to do, making it ideal for those on a budget. So if you’re asking what to do in Zagreb? We’ve got just the list for you, let’s take a look at the top things to do in Zagreb:
1. Zagreb Cathedral
Located at Kaptol in the Upper Town area of the city, Zagreb Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the tallest building in Croatia. The Roman-Cathloic church, originally built in the 11th century, has twin towers, which are an iconic landmark and can be seen across much of the city. One of the two spires were damaged in an earthquake in March 2020 and is currently under reconstruction. The interior of the Cathedral is equally as stunning and also contains one of the finest organs in the world. As an iconic piece of architecture in the city, this is one of the top Zagreb attractions. The Cathedral is open Monday – Saturday 10:00-17:00 and Sunday 13:00-17:00. Admission inside is free.
2. St Mark’s Church and Square
St Mark’s Church is located in St Mark’s square in the Upper Town area of the city. The church has become an icon for the city, mainly due to it’s unique roof, which has been tiled to represent the coat of arms of Zagreb and Truine Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia. As one of the oldest architectural monuments in the city, a Zagreb sightseeing list wouldn’t be complete without seeing this church. However, the only guaranteed way to see the interior of the church is to visit at mass times (free) which are weekdays at 18:00, Saturday at 7:30 and on Sunday at 10:30 and 18:00.
3. Dolac Market
Take the steps up from Ban Josipa Jelačića square, walk through the flower market and you will find the farmers market, an indoor fish market and a large indoor market below. The market is the best known market in Zagreb and has been trading since 1930. The stalls here sell a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, bread, pasta, dairy and cheese and local produce. It’s a great place to see the heart of the city and to try some of the local foods. Also, as visiting the market costs nothing, we think this is one of the best free things to do in Zagreb. The market is open from 6.30 – 14.00 weekdays, until 15.00 on Saturdays and until 13.00 on Sundays.
4. Walk the streets of the Upper Town
Zagreb city centre is quite unique in that it is split into areas named Upper Town and Lower Town. Both areas deserve time to wander the streets and explore. The Upper Town starts from Kaptol and goes to Gradec, with lots of small streets in between. It is the oldest area of the city centre and full of many of the most iconic Zagreb attractions, some already listed above. Full of restaurants, cafes, beautiful architecture and landmarks, you can spend a few hours getting lost in this area. Make sure you head to Ul. Ivana Tkalčića, which is one of the main streets and full of great places to have lunch or dinner. Check out our Upper Town walking tour video here .
5. Maksimir Park
Opened in 1794, Maksimir Park was the first large public park in South-Eastern Europe, and is a great place to get away from the city, take a walk, and relax by one of the lakes. With 5 lakes in total, and covering 316 hectares, there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the park. There are also statues, pavilions and houses to visit in the park, as well as Zagreb Zoo. Spread across such a large and area and so close to the city, we rate this as the best park to visit in Zagreb. The park is open 24 hours a day and entrance is free. The park is a 45 minute walk from Ban Josipa Jelačića square or a 10min tram ride.
6. Zagreb Botanical Gardens
Zagreb Botanical Gardens are conveniently situated in the Lower Town area of the city. Set over 5 hectares, the gardens are home to over 10,000 plant species. The gardens are well kept and take approx. 1 hour to walk around and enjoy (Walk the gardens with our Botanical Gardens walking tour video). Tickets are 10HRK ($1.60) per adult and the gardens are open Monday-Tuesday 9.00 – 14.30 and Wednesday-Sunday 9.00 -19.00. Please note that the gardens close over winter and open again in Spring.
7. Zrinjevac Park and Surrounding Parks
Zrinjevac Park is located in the Lower Town area of the city and is a well kept park with fountains, a pavilion (which sometimes hosts live music) and statues. Further south of the park, extending down to the main train station, are some of the Lower Towns most striking, large architectural buildings and more green parks with fountains and plenty of benches to take a seat. Walk the Lower Town of Zagreb with us in our walking tour video here.
8. Ban Josipa Jelačića square
This square was named after Ban Josipa Jelačića, and is the main central sqaure in the city. It is almost impossible to spend time in Zagreb and not walk through the square, as it connects the Lower Town to Upper Town, and is adjacent to Dolac Market and Zagreb Cathedral. The square is very large and has numerous cafes, shops and bars all around, as well as stops for the tram.
9. Panoramic Viewpoint
Located in the Upper Town, around a 4 minute walk from St Mark’s Square, this panoramic viewpoint is the perfect place to snap a good photo of the city. You can see over the Upper Town and Lower Town and there are plenty of benches to sit, relax and admire the view. This is a great way to appreciate the city, and get a good feel for how close some of the most popular Zagreb sightseeing spots are to each other.
10. Ride the Zagreb Funicular
Opened in 1890, the Zagreb Funicular is a fun way to get from the Lower Town to Upper Town. At only 66-metres (217 ft) long, it is one of the shortest public-transport funiculars in the world. You can board the funicular from the lower part in a street just off the main street, Ilica, or at the top near the Museum of Broken Relationships. The ride may only be short but we think it’s worth it, and is certainly one of the more unusual and fun things to do in Zagreb. It runs from 6.30 – 22.00 and tickets cost 4HRK ($0.70) one way, per adult.
If you have visited Zagreb and have done any of the things to do in Zagreb that are on our list, or have any of your own suggestions of what to do in Zagreb, let us know in the comments below. For more information on Zagreb including how to get in, out and around the city, what to do, where to stay and when to go, check out our Zagreb travel guide. We also have a useful Zagreb 3 day itinerary packed with recommendations on what to do and when, where to eat and where to stay.
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