Are you looking for the best things to do in Zagreb? If so, you have come to the right place!
From experiencing vibrant cultural attractions and sampling delicious culinary delights to exploring scenic natural wonders, there is something for everyone in this charming Croatian city.
The stunning capital of Croatia is filled with historical landmarks and modern attractions that draw visitors from all over the world. The city has an abundance of incredible sights that will capture your heart and make it difficult to leave once you experience all it has to offer.
Take a stroll down Ilica Street and explore the shops, cafes, and galleries that line the beautiful street. Enjoy a leisurely boat ride through Zagreb’s canals or take a guided tour of one of its many historical sites, such as Mirogoj Cemetery or Medvedgrad Castle. Taste traditional Croatian cuisine at some of Zagreb’s many restaurants or sample local craft beers at one of its hidden microbreweries.
Discover what lies beneath the surface by taking a tour of Tunnel Grič or climbing up Mount Medvednica for breathtaking views of the city below. Spend time wandering around Zrinjevac Park or participate in many festivals held throughout the year, such as the INmusic Festival or the Interliber Book Fair. Or wander around Upper Town (Gornji Grad) and admire its unique architecture while soaking up the atmosphere.
No matter what type of experience you are looking for, things to do in Zagreb will certainly delight and surprise even those who thought they had seen it all before! Explore all this magical city has to offer by uncovering its hidden gems and discovering new adventures along the way – it promises an unforgettable journey!
Do you need help planning your trips? Start here!
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Experience and top things to do in Zagreb, Croatia
Jarun Lake
If you are wondering what to do in Zagreb to satisfy your sporty side or if you wish to enjoy recreational activities, head to Jarun Lake, especially in summer. You can go swimming here, and also have a barbecue or picnic.
Enjoy biking, skateboarding, roller-skating, and try rowing or even wakeboarding at this sports and leisure center. If you are looking for fun Zagreb activities, this is the place!
The area also has a buzzing energy at night due to nightclubs and bars near the lake. Go clubbing or relax with a drink!
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Book this tour and visit another country: Ljubljana and Lake Bled Tour from Zagreb
Read also: Top 17 Most Beautiful and Best Lakes in Europe to Visit
Dolac Market
What you must do in Zagreb is visit a farmers market, the best place to procure local produce and assorted items. The vibrant Dolac Farmers Market, with its indoor and open markets under striking umbrellas, is a great place to buy all sorts of things.
You can purchase bakery items, assorted food products, seafood, meat, fruits, vegetables, honey, cheese, other dairy products, fast food, and fresh juice. Artisanal pieces, jewelry, clothes, souvenirs, and other knick-knacks, too, can be found here. A flower market is also situated in the vicinity. This farmers market is listed in almost every Zagreb city guide.
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Read also: Top Tourist Attractions and Things to do in Split
Museum of Broken Relationships
Looking for unique Zagreb attractions? The name ‘Museum of Broken Relationships’ is bound to make people curious. Broken hearts failed relationships, and heartache is at this museum’s crux but is eventually therapeutic.
The museum is the brainchild of artists and ex-lovers Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić. You can see on display objects and items donated by former lovers from Croatia and across the world. Short panels give information about the objects; some are sad, and some are funny.
Put this museum on your list of things to do in Zagreb; it is open all days of the week!
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Save time with this tour: Skip-the-Ticket-Line Museum of Broken Relationships
Read also: Top 12 Museums in Europe (For Arts, History, and Culture)
Go on a Day Trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park
A place of breathtaking beauty and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is among the Zagreb tourist attractions you can visit on a day trip. 16 pristine lakes, connected to each other, flow at various levels at this park, forming numerous cascades and waterfalls.
These are divided into upper and lower lakes, where the waters can be seen in dazzling shades. You can explore the beautiful Lake Kozjak on a boat ride. Do remember that swimming is not allowed in the lakes.
You can also discover the area by walking around, although it will take many hours. Buses, too, are available. If you are sightseeing in Zagreb or around it, the Plitvice Lakes should be on your tour agenda.
With so many things to do in Zagreb, there can never be a dull moment. Both summer and winter are fun times to be in the city, although summer, with its countless activities, is a great time to see the marvelous attractions in Zagreb.
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Book this unique day trip: Plitvice Lakes and Rastoke Day Trip from Zagreb
Read also: 26+ Best National Parks in Europe You Must Check Out!
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Top Landmarks and attractions in Zagreb, Croatia
Upper Town (Gornji Grad)
Besides the Cathedral and St. Mark’s Church, the two top sights in Zagreb, there are several other attractions in Upper Town. The Stone Gate (Kamenita Vrata) was destroyed in a fire, but the Mother of God painting is housed in a chapel here.
You can also take a walk down the Strossmayer promenade. Also, see the 13th-century Lotrščak Tower, where a cannon is fired daily at noon. If you like museums, visit the Meštrović Atelier museum, the former residence of Croatia’s most famous sculptor.
Another interesting place is the Croatian Museum of Naïve Art, where works of untrained but well-known artists are displayed. Lovely cafés, restaurants, and bars in the Upper Town, especially on Tkalciceva Street, are among the other Zagreb highlights.
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: 2.5-Hour Croatian Homeland War Tour
Cathedral of the Assumption (Zagreb Cathedral)
One of the top things to see in Zagreb, the Zagreb Cathedral is a significant landmark, and its two tall spires can be seen from many parts of the city. The 13th-century cathedral was destroyed in an 1880 earthquake. It was subsequently restored in the Neo-Gothic style. Some restoration work is still in progress. You can see paintings, statues, stained glass windows, and a marble altar inside the cathedral.
Also situated here is a relief of Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac by Ivan Meštrović. The cathedral is on every tourist’s list of tourist attractions in Zagreb.
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Private Historic Walking Tour with a Local Guide
Read also: Top Tourist Attractions and Things to do in Dubrovnik
St. Mark’s Church
As you stand in front of St Mark’s church, among the top tourist attractions in Zagreb, its roof commands immediate attention. White, red, and blue chequered tiles are used to showcase the design of the coat of arms of Zagreb as well as that of Croatia, Dalmatia, and Slavonia.
Constructed and modified in the 13th and 14th centuries, the church’s south portal is notable for sculptures in the niches, including that of St Mark, the twelve apostles, and Mary and Joseph with Baby Jesus. You may even be able to watch the guards changing on the outside square. If you visit Zagreb, make your way to this church.
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Read also: Top 10 Day Trips from Zagreb
Medvednica Mountain
A cool refuge in the summer heat and a winter skiing destination in the cold months, Medvednica Mountain is a mountain and nature park with forested areas. It’s one of the highlights of Zagreb tourism.
At Slejme, its highest peak, there is a winter sports center. During winter, snow covers the slopes for over three months peaking in February. So if you wish to try skiing here, make a trip to Zagreb during winter.
There are mountain cottages for day trips and restaurants in the area. Summer, too, is an excellent time to go; there are various hiking trails that you can explore. Relax in the meadows, or enjoy a picnic in the areas with wooden benches. You can go up the mountain hiking or road in a bus or car.
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Read also: Top 6 Mountains to Go Hiking in Europe (For Outdoors Enthusiasts)
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Mirogoj Cemetery
If you wish to know what to do in Zagreb, off the beaten path, a visit to Mirogoj Cemetery is recommended. While some may find cemetery visits eerie, Mirogoj has a beautiful and artistic setting, with a church, domes, arcades, beautiful gardens, and cemeteries with lovely sculptures.
Interestingly, this is the final resting place for people of various religions, including Christians, Muslims, Jews, and even irreligious ones. You can experience the serene atmosphere of this cemetery, which is unquestionably one of the best attractions in Zagreb. Famous people, as well as ordinary folk, are buried here.
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Check out this unique experience: Medieval Zagreb Night Tour
Read also: Street arts in Europe: Top 10 Best Cities in Europe For Street Arts and Graffiti
Tkalciceva Street
One of the most entertaining activities in Zagreb is taking a walk along Tkalciceva Street or relaxing in one of its cafés. During the daytime, you can admire the buildings painted mostly in pastel colors on either side of the street and visit the shops and restaurants.
As you stroll, you can see an old sundial and the statue of Marija Jurić Zagorka, writer and first female Croatian journalist. At night, there is a different vibe to the street.
You can hang out with your friends at a café or other nightspots to drink beer or wine. Agava, Mali Medo, and Otto and Frank are great places to eat and drink. This place scores high on the Zagreb tourism circuit.
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Read also: Best Cities in Europe to Visit 2019: Top Weekend Getaways in Europe!
Maksimir Park
A beautiful place for recreation and fun activities, Maksimir Park is among the principal Zagreb tourist attractions. You can reach the park via the tram. It is Zagreb’s oldest public park, known for its lush green landscape and lakes, creeks, and pavilions, such as the Bellevue Pavilion, flora, and fauna. Enjoy biking, walking, or just relaxing in the scenic locale. It is quite romantic too!
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Visit another city in Croatia with this tour: Istria Day Tour From Zagreb
Read also: European Honeymoon: The Most Romantic Destinations in Europe
Lower Town (Donji grad)
Walking down the spacious streets of Lower Town, you can see shopping areas, museums, art galleries, and restaurants. Of the several things to see in Zagreb, the Lower town is an impressive area with its ‘Green Horseshoe.’
It is a zone with parks, gardens, and buildings with striking architecture. Visit the Botanical gardens with numerous plant species, Zrinjevac Park with its lush gardens, a music pavilion, and water fountains.
In Lower Town, you can also visit the Mimara Museum to view its art collection and stop by the Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters. Among the Zagreb tourist places, Lower Town is highly important.
Where to stay in Zagreb? Check out this list of beautiful hotels and find great deals!
Read also: Top 10 Stunning Castles in Croatia to Visit
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Where to stay in Zagreb?
Hotel President
The 4-star Hotel President Pantovca offers a relaxing and comfortable stay in Zagreb. The nature-oriented atmosphere of this boutique hotel is exceptionally beautiful. All rooms are well decorated and have a lush garden view and terraces. Their best service towards guests made them one of the top-rated hotels in Croatia. The popular sightseeing attractions Museum of Broken Relationships and Zagreb Cathedral are just 2 km from the hotel.
Check the latest price at Booking.com and reviews over at TripAdvisor!
Anastasia Suites Zagreb
Anastasia Suites Zagreb is a 4-star apartment kind of hotel and offers all luxuriously decorated suites to stay. They provide all high-class services to their guests. You’ll get a homely relaxing atmosphere during your stay here. Many sightseeing attractions are near the hotel to explore. This hotel is kid-friendly as well.
Check the latest price at Booking.com and reviews over at TripAdvisor!
Esplanade Zagreb Hotel
Esplanade Zagreb is a beautiful 5-star luxury hotel. All rooms and suites are elegantly decorated and offer spectacular facilities to their guests. The hotel is renowned for its high-class service. They have their health club of complete relaxation for you. The popular Museum of Contemporary Art is 4 km away from the hotel.
Check the latest price at Booking.com and reviews over at TripAdvisor!
Planning to visit Croatia? Check out these posts!
- Croatia Points of Interests: Castles to visit, Places to visit
- Split Travel Guide: Things to do, Day trips, Split to Krka National Park
- Zagreb Travel Guide: Things to do, Day trips
- Dubrovnik Travel Guide: Things to do, Day trips
- National Parks to visit: Plitvice National Park
- Other Places to Visit: Istria, South Dalmatia, Zadar, Split
Where to stay in Zagreb
Booking.comTours to do in Zagreb
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