Sightseeing in Zagreb - Trg Ban Jelacic

Although it’s the capital of Croatia, Zagreb is sometimes overlooked as a destination by visitors to the country…which is a real shame, because it has plenty to offer! Sure, it doesn’t have the Adriatic sea or beaches, but it has many fine sights, plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars, lots of entertainment and regular events, a huge selection of accommodation (with something for all budgets), some decent shopping and is very easy to reach from elsewhere in Europe. Those other popular Central European cities – Prague and Budapest – have a strong competitor!

The city is certainly very suitable as a destination for a weekend break in Croatia!

Zagreb - Trg Ban Jelacic
Trg ban Jelacic, the main square

The city is divided into three parts: the thousand-year old Gornji grad (Upper Town) which contains the Presidential Palace, the iconic St Mark’s Church, the Croatian parliament (Sabor), and museums and galleries which are all set in cobbled streets lit by gas lamps; the 19th century Donji grad (Lower Town) with its shops, restaurants, cafes, theatres and parks; and the modern post-World War II area of Novi Zagreb (‘new Zagreb’) which is full of high-rise buildings and basically has little to offer visitors.

Zagreb is also called a city of museums as there are more of them per square foot than any other city in the world. But this doesn’t mean that there is nothing else for you to do if you aren’t a history buff. One of the many pleasures that the Zagrebcani (the locals) enjoy is sitting in one of the numerous cafes watching the world go by. In the evening, you can visit one of the many restaurants, sampling a delicious Croatian dish, and finish the day in the one of the bars or clubs. Whatever you choose to do, you are guaranteed to have a good time!

Guide to Zagreb

Take a look at our guide to the city on the following pages, or read on for a general introduction below:

Be sure to also see our Photos of Zagreb photo album!

More information

  • The Around Zagreb is a great source information for day trips on the outskirts and just outside Zagreb
  • Blue Bike Offer a whole host of bike tours of the city, taking in many of the city’s most famous sights. There’s even an early bird tour (starting at 6/7am!) in summer, as well as a forest tour/ride on MTB bikes for those who like the more adventurous side of things!
  • University of Zagreb Founded in 1699
  • Walk Zagreb Walking tours with Inga Juraga, a fully licensed city guide
  • Zagreb Live Webcam of Trg ban Jelacic
  • Zagreb Tourist Office with plenty of useful information on what to see and do