Free things to do · Zagreb · Croatia
12 free things to do in Zagreb
Zagreb without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Zagreb without paying an entry fee: Ban Jelačić Square, Dolac Market, Zagreb Cathedral and St Mark's Church are all free. Trams are cheap; buy a day ticket if you plan to ride several times.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 12
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- February
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · Donji Grad (Lower Town)
1.Ban Jelačić Square
Use it as your starting point: the Dolac market steps lead up from the north-east corner.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
Market · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
2.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Religious site · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
3.Zagreb Cathedral
Check locally whether the interior is open during your visit; the exterior and square can be seen at any time.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Iconic
.jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
4.St Mark's Church
Photograph the roof from the corner of the square opposite the parliament, where you can see both crests.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
5.Stone Gate
Pass through quietly and in the evening, when candlelight fills the passage.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- After dark
Viewpoint · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
6.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.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
.jpg){kind=link}
Historic site · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
7.Grič Tunnel
Use it as a flat shortcut between Ilica and Tkalčićeva when you are tired of the hills.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Street · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
8.Tkalčićeva Street
Walk its full length and take one of the side lanes up to the Stone Gate.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Photo spot
.jpg){kind=link}
Historic site · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
9.Mirogoj Cemetery
Take bus 106 from Kaptol or walk 20 minutes uphill; visit on a sunny autumn day or around All Saints' Day, when it fills with candles.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Park · Donji Grad (Lower Town)
10.Green Horseshoe (Lenuci Horseshoe)
Walk from Zrinjevac past the yellow Art Pavilion to the Botanical Garden, then cut across to the National Theatre.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Architecture
- Kids
Park · Maksimir
11.Maksimir Park and Zagreb Zoo
Take trams 11 or 12 from Ban Jelačić Square, which stop by the main park entrance.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Nature · Trešnjevka
12.Lake Jarun
Rent a bike and ride the loop around the lake; the full circuit is about 6 km.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Donji Grad (Lower Town) | Ban Jelačić Square and Green Horseshoe (Lenuci Horseshoe) | 20 minutes + 1.5–2 hours |
| Kaptol and Tkalčićeva | Dolac Market, Zagreb Cathedral, Tkalčićeva Street and Mirogoj Cemetery | 1 hour + 30 minutes + 1–2 hours + 1–1.5 hours |
| Gornji Grad (Upper Town) | St Mark's Church, Stone Gate, Strossmayer Promenade and Grič Tunnel | 20 minutes + 15 minutes + 30 minutes + 15 minutes |
| Maksimir | Maksimir Park and Zagreb Zoo | Half a day |
| Trešnjevka | Lake Jarun | Half a day |
Worth a small ticket
Experience · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
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.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Trešnjevka
Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
Time your visit to catch one of the guided tours of the mine or the Tesla demonstrations.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Gallery · Novi Zagreb
Museum of Contemporary Art
Combine it with a walk around Bundek Lake park nearby; trams cross the Sava in about 15 minutes from the centre.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Nature · Medvednica
Medvednica and Sljeme cable car
Ride the cable car up and hike down past Medvedgrad for views across Zagreb.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Views
- Active
- Nature
- Kids
More ways to save
- Trams are cheap; buy a day ticket if you plan to ride several times.
- Look for gablec, a filling weekday lunch menu offered by many traditional restaurants.
- Many of the best experiences — the Upper Town, Dolac, Mirogoj and the parks — are free.
- Hotels are much cheaper outside December's Advent weekends.
- The Zagreb Card is worthwhile only if you plan to visit several museums.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Zagreb expensive to visit?
Zagreb is affordable for most visitors, but 12 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Zagreb?
Ban Jelačić Square: Use it as your starting point: the Dolac market steps lead up from the north-east corner.