3 days in Zagreb

Day by day

1. Day 1: Ban Jelačić Square and Green Horseshoe (Lenuci Horseshoe)

   Ban Jelačić Square, Green Horseshoe (Lenuci Horseshoe) and Museum of Illusions, then Stone Gate in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Green Horseshoe (Lenuci Horseshoe)

      Walk from Zrinjevac past the yellow Art Pavilion to the Botanical Garden, then cut across to the National Theatre.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Štrukli

      Traditional restaurants in the Upper Town and Lower Town; ask for 'zapečeni' for the baked version.

   4. Afternoon

      Museum of Illusions

      The original Museum of Illusions, opened on Ilica in 2015 before the concept spread worldwide, is a small, hands-on collection of optical illusions, tilted rooms and puzzles.

   5. Evening

      Stone Gate

      Pass through quietly and in the evening, when candlelight fills the passage.

2. Day 2: Dolac Market and Zagreb Cathedral

   Dolac Market, Zagreb Cathedral and Tkalčićeva Street, then Strossmayer Promenade in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Dolac Market

      Go in the morning, ideally on a Saturday, and try fresh cheese and cream with a slice of bread from a market bakery.

   2. Late morning

      Zagreb Cathedral

      The neo-Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption, rebuilt by Hermann Bollé after an earthquake in 1880, dominates the Kaptol skyline.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Zagreb schnitzel

      Classic restaurants and gostionicas (inns) across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Tkalčićeva Street

      Walk its full length and take one of the side lanes up to the Stone Gate.

   5. Evening

      Strossmayer Promenade

      Come at sunset with a drink from the summer bar, or in December when it becomes one of the most atmospheric Advent locations.

3. Day 3: St Mark's Church and Zagreb Funicular and Lotrščak Tower

   St Mark's Church, Zagreb Funicular and Lotrščak Tower and Museum of Broken Relationships, then Tkalčićeva Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Zagreb Funicular and Lotrščak Tower

      Be at the top station just before noon to hear the cannon; if the funicular is not running, the stairs beside it take about five minutes.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Turkey with mlinci

      Traditional restaurants in Zagreb and the countryside inns of Zagorje.

   4. Afternoon

      Museum of Broken Relationships

      Founded by two Zagreb artists after their own break-up, the museum displays everyday objects donated by people around the world, each with a short story of a relationship that ended.

   5. Evening

      Tkalčićeva Street

      The densest strip of café-bars and restaurants, busy every night of the week.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Grič Tunnel (Gornji Grad (Upper Town)): Use it as a flat shortcut between Ilica and Tkalčićeva when you are tired of the hills.
• Swap in Technical Museum Nikola Tesla (Trešnjevka): Time your visit to catch one of the guided tours of the mine or the Tesla demonstrations.
• Swap in Museum of Contemporary Art (Novi Zagreb): Combine it with a walk around Bundek Lake park nearby; trams cross the Sava in about 15 minutes from the centre.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Donji Grad (Lower Town) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Gornji Grad (Upper Town) ($$$) suits couples, quiet stays and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 8–9 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.7 hours in December to 15.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Zagreb
• 2 days in Zagreb

Questions travellers ask