History · Zagreb · Croatia
6 historic sites to see in Zagreb
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Myriam Thyes, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Zagreb Cathedral, Zagreb Funicular and Lotrščak Tower and Stone Gate. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 5–5 hours across 3 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 5–5 hours
- Areas
- Kaptol and Tkalčićeva, Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and Trešnjevka
Historic sites in Zagreb
Religious site · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
1.Zagreb Cathedral
It was damaged again in the March 2020 earthquake, and restoration work, including on the twin spires, has been under way since then. The square in front has a gilded Virgin Mary column.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Iconic
Experience · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
2.Zagreb Funicular and Lotrščak Tower
At the top stands the 13th-century Lotrščak Tower, from which the Grič cannon is fired every day at noon.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Iconic
Religious site · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
3.Stone Gate
Locals light candles and pray here, and the walls are covered in thanksgiving plaques.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- After dark
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Historic site · Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
4.Grič Tunnel
It is cool even on the hottest days.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
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Historic site · Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
5.Mirogoj Cemetery
Notable Croats buried here include the poet Petar Preradović and the first president, Franjo Tuđman.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Museum · Trešnjevka
6.Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
It also has a small planetarium and is one of the city's best rainy-day options for families.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Kaptol and Tkalčićeva | Zagreb Cathedral and Mirogoj Cemetery | 30 minutes + 1–1.5 hours |
| Gornji Grad (Upper Town) | Zagreb Funicular and Lotrščak Tower, Stone Gate and Grič Tunnel | 30 minutes + 15 minutes + 15 minutes |
| Trešnjevka | Technical Museum Nikola Tesla | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 4 free, 2 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Technical Museum Nikola Tesla; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Kaptol and Tkalčićeva and Gornji Grad (Upper Town)): Zagreb Cathedral → Mirogoj Cemetery → Zagreb Funicular and Lotrščak Tower → Stone Gate → Grič Tunnel, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Trešnjevka): Technical Museum Nikola Tesla, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 9 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Cold and quiet, with low hotel prices and carnival celebrations in some neighbourhoods and nearby towns.
- January: highs of 4°C (39°F), about 10 rainy days, very quiet crowds. The coldest month, often grey and foggy with occasional snow; Advent ends in early January and the city goes quiet.
- August: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. The quietest month in the city, with many locals on holiday; some restaurants close for a week or two.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Gornji Grad (Upper Town) — Medieval hilltop of gas lamps, government palaces and St Mark's Square
- Kaptol and Tkalčićeva — The cathedral hill and Zagreb's busiest street of café-bars
- Trešnjevka — Residential district with a big local market and good-value apartments
More of Zagreb
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Zagreb?
Zagreb Cathedral. The neo-Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption, rebuilt by Hermann Bollé after an earthquake in 1880, dominates the Kaptol skyline.
+Which of these are free in Zagreb?
Zagreb Cathedral, Stone Gate, Grič Tunnel and Mirogoj Cemetery.