Join our community

Select...
Zagreb

Visit Zagreb

Zagreb is a city built on two hills called Kaptol and Gradec and it provides a gritty and authentic start to a Zagreb road trip across the Balkans. You should visit the stone gate which is the last remaining entrance to the medieval city and now serves as a quiet shrine lit by hundreds of candles. The city is famous for its blue trams that have rattled through the streets since 1910 and the funicular which is the shortest cable car in the world. For a local detail look for the solar system installation called the Grounded Sun where bronze planets are hidden throughout the city streets at a scale model distance from each other. The Dolac market is the best place to see the traditional Šestine umbrellas and buy the sour cream and cheese known as sir i vrhnje.

The Lower Town is designed as a green horseshoe of interconnected parks and plazas including the Zrinjevac park where old weather stations still stand among the trees. You should explore the British Square on a Sunday morning for the antique market or visit the Oktogon which is a glass roofed passage connecting two major shopping streets. The Lotrščak Tower fires a cannon every single day at noon and the sound echoes through the valley to signal the middle of the day. You can find the Mirogoj cemetery on the northern edge of the city which is famous for its long green domes and ivy covered walls that form one of the most beautiful burial grounds in Europe.

Heading out of the city involves crossing the Sava river toward the highway junctions that lead to the coast or the mountains. The road to the north takes you up the slopes of Mount Medvednica where you can see the medieval fortress of Medvedgrad watching over the suburbs. Zagreb feels like a bridge between the structured lifestyle of Central Europe and the relaxed energy of the Mediterranean. It is a city of gas lamps and concrete and vibrant street life that offers a solid foundation for any journey. The drive toward the south will eventually lead you through the Karlovac canyons and into the limestone heart of the country.

Top sights to visit

  • The Stone Gate Remove your hat and walk quietly through this medieval passage turned into a living shrine. Light a candle alongside the locals who come here daily to pray before the miraculous painting of the Virgin Mary. You will feel a deep, hushed energy here that is unique to the city’s spiritual heart.
  • Lotrscak Tower Cannon Sync your watch and stand at the base of the tower at exactly 12:00 PM. Brace yourself for the deafening blast of the Gric cannon, a tradition that has signaled noon for over a century. It is a loud, heart-pumping ritual that clears the pigeons and starts the second half of your day.
  • Dolac Market Umbrellas Arrive by 9:00 AM to see the sea of iconic red umbrellas sheltering the city's freshest produce. Buy a bag of local figs or some Pag island cheese to fuel your upcoming drive. This "belly of the city" offers the most authentic taste of Croatian rural life in the heart of the capital.
  • The Grounded Sun Find the massive bronze sphere on Bogovićeva Street and use it as your Center of the Universe. Start an urban scavenger hunt to find the other planets hidden throughout the city at their correct relative scale. This interactive art installation turns the entire downtown area into a giant, walkable solar system.
  • Mirogoj Cemetery Walls Walk along the outer perimeter to admire the massive green copper domes and ivy-choked arcades. Explore the interior to see the incredible sculptures and monuments that make this one of Europe's most beautiful cemeteries. The peaceful, park-like atmosphere is a perfect break from the noise of the road.
  • British Square Antiques Plan your visit for a Sunday morning to browse the eclectic treasures at the open-air antique market. Dig through boxes of old Yugoslavian coins, vintage cameras, and historic maps to find a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Grab a coffee at a nearby cafe and watch the local collectors haggle over relics.
  • The Oktogon Passage Take a shortcut through this elegant walkway to escape the rain or mid-day heat. Look up at the stunning stained glass ceiling in the central octagonal hall. This grand passage is a masterclass in Austro-Hungarian architecture and a perfect spot for a quick, stylish photo.
  • Strossmayer Promenade Hike or take the funicular to the Upper Town and walk this tree-lined path for the best views of Zagreb's red roofs. Visit during the summer months to enjoy pop-up bars, live music, and art stalls along the walkway. It is the most romantic spot in the city to watch the evening lights flicker on.
  • Museum of Broken Relationships Step inside this quirky museum to read the deeply personal stories behind objects donated by people after a breakup. Move through the rooms to experience a rollercoaster of emotions, from hilarious to heartbreaking. It is a modern, world-famous highlight that offers a refreshing break from traditional history.
  • Tkalciceva Street Cafes Find a seat on an outdoor terrace along this winding street and join the local ritual of "long coffee." Sip a drink while people-watching on what was once a riverbed separating two medieval towns. This is the social heart of Zagreb and the best place to soak up its laid-back Balkan energy.
  • The Gric Tunnel Enter this former WWII air-raid shelter under the Upper Town to cool off in the underground shadows. Walk the entire length of the tunnel to see rotating art exhibits or colorful light installations. It provides a mysterious way to navigate the city center.
  • Medvedgrad Fortress Drive the steep roads up to the mountain ridge to explore this restored medieval castle. Climb the main tower for a panoramic view that stretches across Zagreb all the way to the southern plains. It is a powerful fortress that serves as the perfect gateway for a drive into the northern mountains.

Hotel deals

Weather forecast

Top Local Experiences

Explore with a Local Expert

Like to plan a trip to Zagreb?

Enter your location and we’ll help you plan your adventure

History of Zagreb

The story of Zagreb is a tale of two rival hills, Kaptol and Gradec, which spent centuries looking across a creek at each other. Kaptol was the religious center, dominated by the cathedral, while Gradec was the secular home of merchants and craftsmen. Their rivalry was so fierce that the bridge connecting them was nicknamed the Bloody Bridge because of the frequent clashes. It wasn’t until 1850 that these two distinct medieval towns officially united to form the single city of Zagreb we navigate today.

Zagreb blossomed into a grand capital during the Austro-Hungarian era, adopting the elegant architecture and green parks that give it a mini Vienna feel. However, beneath the refined facades lies a gritty resilience. The city survived devastating earthquakes and the heavy hand of several regimes, always managing to keep its unique Balkan soul intact. This spirit is best seen in the Upper Town, where the Gric cannon has fired every single day at noon for over a century, originally to sync the church bells but now as a loud reminder of the city's continuity.

For you as a modern road tripper, Zagreb provides a perfect blend of Central European order and Mediterranean lifestyle. Life here happens outdoors on the Spica, the ritual of drinking coffee in the sun for hours on end. The city has transformed from a transit stop into a destination of its own, where street art, quirky museums, and medieval secrets coexist. Whether you are walking through the Stone Gate or driving the wide boulevards of the Lower Town, you are moving through a city that finally found peace between its warring hills.