Visiting Croatia? Make Sure to Include Zagreb and Do These Top Things!
- Amy Leggett
- 10 minutes ago
- 9 min read
When people think of Croatia, they usually picture the sun-drenched Dalmatian coast or Game of Thrones--style fortresses in Dubrovnik. But tucked inland, Zagreb is a city that quietyly wins you over with its charm, café culture, and quirky soul. If you are planning a visit to Croatia, make sure to leave time in your itinerary to visit the beautiful city of Zagreb.
About Zagreb:
Zagreb was named the capital of Croatia in 1991 at the beginning of the Balkan Waar. Zagreb features a lively cityscape, historical landmarks and lush green parks. In order to navigate the city, it is important to know that Zagreb is divided into various parts. There is Upper Town (Gornji Grad) and Lower Town (Donji Grad). The Upper Town is considered the Old Town and is where you find more of the historical and religious landmarks. The Lower Town is the newer, more modern part of the city and is where you find the theaters, parks and businesses. Additonally, the city of Zagreb was formed in the early 17th century as a result of a merger of two historic towns located on neighboring hilltops. Gradec and Kaptol were separated by a stream running between the two hilltop cities and the two towns historically fought over the privilege of using the water of that stream (along with other political battles that constantly caused conflict). Today, where the stream ran there is a bustling city street filled with cafés and shops. But the two distinct towns are still referenced in the modern Zagreb and constitute the Upper Town area.
It is easy to get to Zagreb because it has an airport that services many other international hubs, so it makes it a perfect starting point for a visit to Croatia. We started our triip in Zagreb and spent two days exploring the city. Unfortunately for us, our visit fell on a national holiday so I don't think we got to experience the true vibe of Zagreb because most Croatians were enjoying a long holiday weekend outside of the city. Regardless, we were still impressed with all that Zagreb has to offer.
The Top Things to Do in Zagreb:
Zagreb is a beautiful city filled with amazing architecture, interesting history, and discoveries around every corner. Here is my guide to the top things to do when visiting Zagreb:
Enjoy the Beautiful Parks: Zagreb is home to a number of gorgeous parks perfect for leisurely strolls, picnics or simply taking a relaxing break from exploring the city. No visit would be complete without taking some time to enjoy these beautiful outdoor spaces. You have a number to choose from:
Park Kralja Tomislava-This beautiful park is flanked at one end by Zagreb's grand train station and by the breathtaking Art Pavillion on the other end. The Art Pavillion was actually my favorite building in Zagreb! You can also find a statue of King Tomislava, Croatia's first king, in the park. During the winter season, the pond in the park freezes over and serves as a local ice rink.
Gorgeous Park Kralja Tomislava 
Art Pavillion in Zagreb 
Statue of King Tomislava Park Zrinjevac-Park Zrinjevac is a beautiful tree-lined park with fountains, statues, walking paths and a gazebo. It is where they hold summer concerts and the annual Christmas market. It is only a couple of blocks from Park Kralja Tomislava so it is very easy to enjoy both as you stroll along the city streets.
Nice Tree-Lined Walk-ing Paths in Park Zrinjevac 
Park Zrinjevac Statues and Fountains 
Gazebo in Park Zrinjevac Botanical Gardens-In addition to the public parks, Zagreb has a botanical gardenr right in th middle of the city. There is a small fee to enter the gardens, but it is only a couple of euro and it is worth it to wander the winding paths and enjoy the serene atmosphere. Click here to check out hours, ticket prices and exact location if you want to visit this spot.
Lily Pond at the Zagreb Botanical Gardens 
Beautiful Flowers Throughout Zagreb Botanical Gardens 
Exhibition Pavillion Stroll Ban Jelačić Square. Ban Jelacic Saquare is the heart of the city of Zagreb in more ways than one. It is a central point of orientation you can use to navigate your way from place to place. It is (usually) a bustling hub of the city filled with busy sidewalk cafés, various shops and Zagrebians waiting for friends as it is a central meeting place for locals. As I noted abovve, we happened to be in Zagreb on a national holiday so it was very quiet. I am bummed I didn't get the chance to experience the daily energy of the city. We did take the opportunity to sit at one of the cafés and enjoy a pastry and a coffee (or in my case a nice, cold Coke Zero). Ban Jelacic Square is a must see if you are visiting Zagreb.
Statue of Count Josip Jelacic in the Center of Ban Jelacic Square 
An Unusually Quiet Ban Jelacic Square Visit Zagreb Cathedral. A short stroll from Ban Jelacic Square, as you head toward the Kaptol region of Upper Town, you will find the famous Zagreb Cathedral. It is the second tallest building in Zagreb and is one of Zagreb's most recognizable structures. Unfortunately, the building was damaged in a strong earthquake in 2020 and is currently still closed for restoration and repair. Scaffolding around the iconic twin spires prevented a full appreciation of this beautiful building. Repair work was scheduled to be done in 2024, but clearly is delayed. Hopefully it will be completed and the Cathedral will be open to the public by the time you visit! Even if the Cathedral is closed, you can still see the Holy Mary Monument Fountain outside of the Cathedral. It is a tower with a gold statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by four gold angels at the base representing the Christian virtues of Faith, Humility, Innocence and Hope. Beyond the Holy Mary Monument are charming streets of Kaptol.
Zagreb Cathedral Under Construction from 2020 Earthquake Damage 
Holy Mary Monument Outside Zagreb Cathedral 
View of Kaptol from the Zagreb Cathedral Square Dolac Market. From Zagreb Cathredral, you can walk a few meters to reach Zagreb's historic open-air Dolac Market. The Dolac Market has been in operation for over 80 years and it is where the locals go to purchase their produce, seafood, meat, cheese, baked goods and flowers. I was so excited to visit this market, but alas, it was closed due to the holiday. I am including it on my list of things to do in Zagreb because if you are visiting you will want to check it out. I have included a picture of th empty space, but use your imagination to picture a bustling market and all the tables filled with colorful goods. You can also reach Dolac Market directly from Ban Jelacic Square if you want to go their to grab something to eat before heading to Zagreb Cathedral. You will have to let me know how it is since I missed it on my visit.
An (unusually) Empty Dolac Market Check Out the Historic Stone Gate. In Zagreb's Upper Town, you can find the historic Stone Gate which was built in the 13th century as one of four entrances into the town through its fortification. The Stone Gate served as the eastern entrance into the medieval town and is the only remaining gate. Inside the gate is a shrine to the Virgin Mary.with a painting of the Mother of God secured behind an artistic forge. This painting is said to hold special powers because it miraculousy survived a fire in the 17th Century that even burned the frame. People come from all over the world to see this painting, light a candle and give thanks to the Virgin Mary for protection. There are pews inside the gate entrance for those who wish to sit and pray. As you walk through the passageway you definitely feel the peace and tranquility that fills the space.
Stone Gate Entrance from Lower Town 
Miraculous Painting of the Virgin Mary St. Mark's Church. St. Mark's Church, with its' colorful tiled roof, is one of the most emblematic symbols of Zagreb. The church was originally built in the 13th century and was almost subject to demolition. However, it was decided the church would be restored and that restoration included the addition of the elaborate tiled roof in the late1800's. The roof includes the coat of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia alongside the emblem of Zagreb. St. Mark's is located in the oldest part of Upper Town, a short stroll from the Stone Gate passage.
St. Mark's Church and it's Colorful Roof 
View of St. Mark's from End of the Street Experience the "Noon Boom" at Lotrščak Tower. After checking out St. Mark's Church, stroll over to the Lotrščak Tower. The Tower is a fortified tower that was built in the 13th century to protect the sourthern gate of the Upper Town wall. If you find yourself by the Tower around 11:50 am, you will see a crowd of people gathered to observe a beloved Zagreb tradition of the Grič Cannon being fired at noon. The "noon boom" has been happening since 1877, only stopping after World War I (from 1918-1926) and for a short period after the earthquake of 2020. The cannon fires precisely at noon and the job of firing the cannon has only been held by four different people over the years. A few minutes before the firing, you will see the "cannon firerer" lean out the window to wave to the crowd before completing his daily job at noon. Even though I was waiting for the cannon to be fired, it still scared me because it is LOUD!
TIP: If you are coming from the Lower Town to experience the "noon boom", you can ride the world's shortest funicular. It is only about 66 meters, but is a popular tourist attraction. It was closed for repair when we visited so I didn't get to enjoy this historic funicular ride. I can say the walk up to the Upper Town involves a lot of stairs and incline, so the funicular, no matter how short, would be a nice option!
Lotrščak Tower Wait for it....(and ignore our pre-boom chatter).
Tik, tik...BOOM! Visit the Museum of Broken Relationships. Zagreb is home to a multitude of museums, many of them with unique themes. The quirky museums include the 80's Museum, the Museum of Lost Tales, the Museum of Hangovers, the Museum of Illusions and the Museum of Chocolate, to name a few. But the most popular unique museum in Zagreb is the Museum of Broken Relationships. This museum is a short walk from the Lotrščak Tower, so it is a great stop after you enjoy the "noon boom". The Museum of Brokern Relationships is a globally-sourced museum collecting objects and stories from people around the world. People can send in symbolic possessions along with the related story of love and loss to be exhibited in the Museum. The exhibits constantly change as new submissions are received, so this is a museum you can go back to on repeat visits! The stories are heartbreaking, crazy and sometimes funny (like a letter describing a break up with gluten after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease with the object being a box of pancake mix). I highly recommend visiting this Museum if you find yourself in Zagreb.
Description of Purpose of the Museum 
One of the Exhiibits Grab a Gluten Free Bite at Melt. As both of my daughters have Celiac Disease, we have to do our research before we travel to see where we can eat safely. Taylor found this restaurant that was 100% gluten free! Melt was a quaint little cafe that had a variety of gluten free options. Taylor got Raspberry Pancakes (which if you are gluten free, you know is quite a treat) and Madison got an egg sandwich. They both said their meals were delicious, so even if you aren't gluten free, you will want to stop at Melt to grab a bite while exploring Zagreb.
Melt is 100% Gluten Free 
Taylor's GF Raspberry Pancakes Check Out the Beautiful Croation National Theater. Even if you aren't able to catch a performance, it is worth the time to walk by the Croatian National Theater. This building is the same beautiful yellow color as my favorite building (the Art Pavillion). There is also some beautiful artwork to see on the grounds of the Croation National Theater.
The Beautiful Croatian National Theater 
Fountain in Front of Croatian National Theater
Conclusion
I will be honest, when I planned my Croatian vacation I was mainly focused on seeing Split and Duubrovnik. The tour started in Zagreb so that is how I ended up there. But that is one reason I love organized tours because they take you to places you might not have considered and you discover a beautiful destination. I enjoyed visiting Zagreb and learning about the history of the city. It was a great starting point to set the stage for exploring the rest of Croatia and I highly recommend including it in your Croatian itinerary!
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