Travel guide · Croatia
Zagreb travel guide
Habsburg squares, café terraces and a medieval hilltop Upper Town
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Croatia's capital splits into the medieval Upper Town (Gornji Grad and Kaptol) on its hill and the grid of 19th-century squares, parks and boulevards of the Lower Town below, joined by one of the world's shortest funiculars. Ban Jelačić Square, the Dolac market and the café terraces of Tkalčićeva and Bogovićeva set the rhythm of daily life. Zagreb is far less crowded than the coast, has a strong museum and café culture and an Advent season that fills its squares each December, and it is the gateway to Plitvice Lakes and the hills of Zagorje. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June, September–October and December.
Key facts
- Country
- Croatia
- Best time to visit
- May–June, September–October and December
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- ZAG
- Mid-range daily budget
- $110–$190 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Upper Town, St Mark's Church, Dolac market and Café culture
Why visit Zagreb
- The Upper Town's tiled St Mark's Church, the Stone Gate shrine and the Strossmayer Promenade are a 10-minute walk or a one-minute funicular ride above the main square.
- Café culture is a way of life: the Saturday-morning špica sees locals parade and sip coffee on the terraces around Cvjetni trg and Bogovićeva.
- Original museums such as the Museum of Broken Relationships and the Technical Museum Nikola Tesla are found nowhere else.
- Advent in Zagreb turns the parks and squares into a month-long winter festival of food stalls, lights and concerts.
- Plitvice Lakes, Samobor, Varaždin and the castles of Zagorje are within about two hours.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Landmark · Donji Grad (Lower Town)
Ban Jelačić Square
Zagreb's main square, named after the 19th-century governor Josip Jelačić whose equestrian statue stands in the middle, is lined with Secessionist and neoclassical buildings.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
Market · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
Dolac Market
Zagreb's central market, open since the 1930s, sits on a raised terrace just above the main square, where farmers sell fruit and vegetables under red umbrellas.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Religious site · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
Zagreb Cathedral
The neo-Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption, rebuilt by Hermann Bollé after an earthquake in 1880, dominates the Kaptol skyline.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Iconic
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Religious site · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
St Mark's Church
The Gothic parish church of the Upper Town has a roof of glazed tiles laid out as two coats of arms: the medieval Kingdom of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia on the left and the city of Zagreb on the right.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Experience · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
Zagreb Funicular and Lotrščak Tower
The funicular, in service since 1890, climbs about 66 metres of track from Tomićeva Street off Ilica to the Upper Town, making it one of the shortest public funiculars in the world.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Iconic
Religious site · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
Stone Gate
The last surviving gate of medieval Gradec is a vaulted passage containing a shrine with a painting of the Virgin Mary, said to have survived the great fire of 1731 unharmed.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- After dark
Where to stay
Donji Grad (Lower Town) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
Medieval hilltop of gas lamps, government palaces and St Mark's Square
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, shopping and culture
Donji Grad (Lower Town)
Grand Habsburg squares, the Green Horseshoe parks and the main station
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and first-timers
Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
The cathedral hill and Zagreb's busiest street of café-bars
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and quiet stays
Britanski trg and upper Ilica
Antiques market square and independent shops west of the centre
What to eat
- Štrukli — Thin pastry rolled around fresh cottage cheese, then boiled or baked with cream until golden.
- Zagreb schnitzel — A veal or pork escalope stuffed with ham and cheese, breaded and fried, usually served with chips or potato salad.
- Turkey with mlinci — Roast turkey served with mlinci, thin dried flatbreads softened in the roasting juices.
- Fresh cheese and cream — Soft fresh cow's cheese with sour cream, sometimes with paprika and spring onion, sold by village women at the market and eaten with bread.
- Kremšnita — A thick slab of vanilla custard and cream between layers of puff pastry, most associated with the nearby town of Samobor.
- Burek — Flaky pastry filled with cheese or meat, sold hot from bakeries as a cheap breakfast or late-night snack, often with drinking yoghurt.
When to go
The best times to visit Zagreb are May to June and September to October, when weather is warm, café terraces are full and day trips to Plitvice are at their best. December is busy and festive with Advent markets. July and August are hot and quieter as locals leave for the coast, and January to February is cold and grey but low-priced.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Light festivals, blossom in the Green Horseshoe and terraces reopening, with mild temperatures and frequent showers. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm to hot, with festivals at Lake Jarun and open-air bars in the Upper Town; quieter in August as residents go to the coast. |
| Autumn | September–November | Settled September weather, autumn colour in October and the start of Advent in late November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold with occasional snow; December is lively with Advent markets, while January and February are the quietest and lowest-priced months. |
Getting there and around
Franjo Tuđman Airport is about 15 km south-east of the centre. A shuttle bus runs to the main bus station in about 30 minutes, and a city bus links the airport with the Kvaternikov trg area. Taxis and ride-hailing cars take about 20–30 minutes to the centre.
Central Zagreb is compact: the Upper Town, Kaptol and the Lower Town are within 15 minutes' walk of Ban Jelačić Square. ZET's blue trams form a dense network across the city, supplemented by buses, the funicular and the Sljeme cable car.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Upper Town, Kaptol, Dolac, the Lower Town squares and Mirogoj. A third day adds museums, Maksimir Park or the Sljeme cable car; with four or five days, add Plitvice Lakes, Samobor or Varaždin as day trips.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Croatian
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink and of good quality.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory.
Zagreb is generally calm for visitors. Watch for pickpockets in crowded trams and Advent crowds, and be careful on icy cobbles in winter. Football derby nights can bring large crowds around the stadium in Maksimir.
Flights to Zagreb
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Zagreb?
Two days covers the Upper Town, Kaptol, Dolac, the Lower Town squares and Mirogoj. A third day adds museums, Maksimir Park or the Sljeme cable car; with four or five days, add Plitvice Lakes, Samobor or Varaždin as day trips. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Zagreb?
The best times to visit Zagreb are May to June and September to October, when weather is warm, café terraces are full and day trips to Plitvice are at their best. December is busy and festive with Advent markets. July and August are hot and quieter as locals leave for the coast, and January to February is cold and grey but low-priced.
+What is Zagreb known for?
Upper Town, St Mark's Church, Dolac market, Café culture, Advent in Zagreb, Museum of Broken Relationships and Mirogoj Cemetery. The Upper Town's tiled St Mark's Church, the Stone Gate shrine and the Strossmayer Promenade are a 10-minute walk or a one-minute funicular ride above the main square.
+Is Zagreb expensive?
Zagreb is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $110–$190 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Zagreb?
No. The centre is walkable and trams are excellent. A car is useful for Plitvice, Zagorje castles and the coast, though buses run regularly to Plitvice and Samobor.