Where to stay · Zagreb · Croatia
Where to stay in Zagreb
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Suradnik13, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Donji Grad (Lower Town). Grand Habsburg squares, the Green Horseshoe parks and the main station. Best alternatives — budget: Britanski trg and upper Ilica; nightlife: Kaptol and Tkalčićeva.
Key facts
- First visit
- Donji Grad (Lower Town)
- Families
- Donji Grad (Lower Town)
- Budget
- Britanski trg and upper Ilica
- Nightlife
- Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Donji Grad (Lower Town) | Grand Habsburg squares, the Green Horseshoe parks and the main station |
| Families | Donji Grad (Lower Town) | Grand Habsburg squares, the Green Horseshoe parks and the main station |
| Couples | Gornji Grad (Upper Town) | Medieval hilltop of gas lamps, government palaces and St Mark's Square |
| Budget | Britanski trg and upper Ilica | Antiques market square and independent shops west of the centre |
| Nightlife | Kaptol and Tkalčićeva | The cathedral hill and Zagreb's busiest street of café-bars |
| Food lovers | Kaptol and Tkalčićeva | The cathedral hill and Zagreb's busiest street of café-bars |
| Solo travellers | Kaptol and Tkalčićeva | The cathedral hill and Zagreb's busiest street of café-bars |
| Shopping | Donji Grad (Lower Town) | Grand Habsburg squares, the Green Horseshoe parks and the main station |
| Quiet stays | Gornji Grad (Upper Town) | Medieval hilltop of gas lamps, government palaces and St Mark's Square |
Zagreb neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
Gornji Grad (Upper Town)
The Upper Town, the old royal free town of Gradec, has cobbled lanes lined with Baroque palaces, the Croatian Parliament and government buildings around St Mark's Square, and small museums. Its gas street lamps are still lit by hand each evening. It is quiet at night and a few minutes by funicular or stairs from Ilica and Ban Jelačić Square.
- Good
- Historic and peaceful; City views from the promenade; Walkable to everything
- Watch out
- Few hotels, mostly apartments; Steep cobbled streets
- Nearby
- St Mark's Church, Stone Gate, Museum of Broken Relationships, Strossmayer Promenade
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, shopping and culture
Donji Grad (Lower Town)
The Lower Town is a 19th-century grid of boulevards and squares between Ban Jelačić Square and the main railway station, including the U-shaped chain of parks known as the Green Horseshoe, the Croatian National Theatre and many museums. It has the widest choice of hotels and easy tram links across the city.
- Good
- Central with excellent trams; Wide choice of hotels; Parks and museums close by
- Watch out
- Some streets busy with traffic; Older buildings can lack lifts
- Nearby
- Ban Jelačić Square, Zrinjevac Park, Croatian National Theatre, Main railway station
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and first-timers
Kaptol and Tkalčićeva
Kaptol, historically the bishop's town, is crowned by the cathedral and borders Dolac market. Below it, Tkalčićeva Street follows the course of a buried stream and is lined with café-bars, restaurants and pastel houses that fill late into the evening. It is lively and central, but can be noisy.
- Good
- Lively evenings; Next to the market and main square; Good-value restaurants
- Watch out
- Noise from bars at night; Crowded at weekends
- Nearby
- Zagreb Cathedral, Dolac Market, Tkalčićeva Street, Ban Jelačić Square
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and quiet stays
Britanski trg and upper Ilica
West along Ilica, Zagreb's longest street, Britanski trg has a daily produce market and a Sunday antiques fair, surrounded by cafés, bakeries and independent shops. Apartments here are a 10–15-minute walk from Ban Jelačić Square and feel more residential.
- Good
- Local atmosphere; Good bakeries and cafés; Lower prices than the centre
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels; Trams along Ilica can be noisy
- Nearby
- Britanski trg market, Ilica, Gornji Grad
$ · Best for budget and solo travellers
Trešnjevka
South-west of the centre, Trešnjevka is a working neighbourhood of apartment blocks, the busy Trešnjevka market and inexpensive cafés. It is well connected by tram and close to Lake Jarun, which suits budget travellers and anyone heading to summer festivals at the lake.
- Good
- Low prices; Local markets and cafés; Tram links to the centre and Jarun
- Watch out
- Few sights; Plain residential setting
- Nearby
- Trešnjevka market, Lake Jarun, Lower Town
$$ · Best for families and quiet stays
Maksimir
East of the centre, Maksimir is a green residential area around Maksimir Park, one of the oldest public parks in south-east Europe, with lakes, oak woods and the Zagreb Zoo. Trams reach Ban Jelačić Square in about 15 minutes, which makes it a calm base for families.
- Good
- Space for children; Quiet nights; Direct trams to the centre
- Watch out
- Few restaurants nearby; A tram ride from the sights
- Nearby
- Maksimir Park, Zagreb Zoo, Maksimir Stadium
$ · Best for budget and families
Novi Zagreb
Across the Sava river, Novi Zagreb was built after the Second World War as planned residential districts of tower blocks and green spaces. It has the Museum of Contemporary Art and Bundek Lake park, and apartments are inexpensive, but it is a tram ride from the old centre.
- Good
- Low prices and modern apartments; Parks and lakes; Near the motorway for road trips
- Watch out
- Far from the historic centre; Little evening atmosphere
- Nearby
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Bundek Lake, Arena Zagreb
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Gornji Grad (Upper Town) | $$$ | St Mark's Church, Stone Gate, Museum of Broken Relationships, Strossmayer Promenade |
| Donji Grad (Lower Town) | $$$ | Ban Jelačić Square, Zrinjevac Park, Croatian National Theatre, Main railway station |
| Kaptol and Tkalčićeva | $$ | Zagreb Cathedral, Dolac Market, Tkalčićeva Street, Ban Jelačić Square |
| Britanski trg and upper Ilica | $$ | Britanski trg market, Ilica, Gornji Grad |
| Trešnjevka | $ | Trešnjevka market, Lake Jarun, Lower Town |
| Maksimir | $$ | Maksimir Park, Zagreb Zoo, Maksimir Stadium |
| Novi Zagreb | $ | Museum of Contemporary Art, Bundek Lake, Arena Zagreb |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Zagreb for first-time visitors?
Donji Grad (Lower Town). The Lower Town is a 19th-century grid of boulevards and squares between Ban Jelačić Square and the main railway station, including the U-shaped chain of parks known as the Green Horseshoe, the Croatian National Theatre and many museums.
+Where should families stay in Zagreb?
Donji Grad (Lower Town): Central with excellent trams.
+Which area of Zagreb is best for a budget stay?
Britanski trg and upper Ilica ($$): Antiques market square and independent shops west of the centre.