Zagreb Travel Guide: Things to Do in Croatia's Capital

Zagreb is Croatia’s capital and easily worth a full day or two before you head for the coast. The compact historic core splits into the hilltop Upper Town (Gornji grad) — St. Mark’s Church, the Cathedral, the funicular and the Stone Gate — and the grand 19th-century Lower Town (Donji grad), a string of leafy squares, museums and café terraces. Add the Dolac farmers’ market and a tram ride or two and you have a relaxed city break that costs far less than Dubrovnik or Split.

Croatia uses the euro (€) and has been in the Schengen Area since 1 January 2023, so for most visitors there are no border formalities once you are inside the EU.

How long to spend in Zagreb

One full day covers the highlights; two days lets you slow down, add a museum or two and a park. A practical first day: ride the funicular up to the Upper Town, see St. Mark’s Church and Lotrščak Tower, walk down through the Stone Gate to Dolac and Tkalčićeva street for lunch, then spend the afternoon on the Lower Town museum-and-park promenade known as the Green Horseshoe.

Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb with the equestrian statue and green clock — Ban Jelačić Square is the city's central meeting point — the giant green clock is the classic "see you at…" spot. Photo: Fred Romero / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The Upper Town (Gornji grad)

The medieval hill towns of Gradec and Kaptol grew together into today’s Upper Town, and it is the most atmospheric part of Zagreb. The single must-see image of the city is St. Mark’s Church, whose tiled roof carries the coats of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia on one side and the city of Zagreb on the other. You can’t usually go inside outside of services, but the square in front — flanked by the Croatian Parliament (Sabor) and the government palace — is free to wander.

St. Mark's Church in Zagreb with its colourful coat-of-arms tiled roof — St. Mark's Church and its famous tiled roof — the single most photographed sight in Zagreb. Photo: Hrvoje Bađinec / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

A few minutes away, Lotrščak Tower guards the old southern gate; climb it for a rooftop view, and listen for the Grič cannon, fired every day at noon. Just below, the Zagreb funicular has shuttled people between the Lower and Upper Town since 1890 and is one of the shortest public funiculars in the world — a short, fun ride rather than serious transport.

The historic blue funicular car of Zagreb — The Zagreb funicular has linked the two halves of the old town since 1890. Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Don’t miss the Stone Gate (Kamenita vrata), the last surviving medieval gate, now a quiet shrine where locals light candles. The Upper Town is also home to two of the city’s best small museums — the Museum of Broken Relationships, a genuinely original collection of donated objects and their stories, and the Croatian Museum of Naïve Art.

The Stone Gate passage in the Upper Town of Zagreb — The Stone Gate (Kamenita vrata) — a medieval gateway turned candle-lit shrine. Photo: Adam Harangozó / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Cathedral and Dolac market

On the Kaptol side, Zagreb Cathedral and its twin neo-Gothic spires are the tallest structure in the country. The cathedral was badly shaken by the March 2020 earthquake and one spire has been under restoration since, so expect scaffolding — check the latest before you visit.

The twin neo-Gothic spires of Zagreb Cathedral — Zagreb Cathedral — its twin spires are the tallest structure in Croatia. Photo: CAPTAIN RAJU / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Right beside it is Dolac, the city’s main open-air market since 1930. Locals call it “the belly of Zagreb.” Under a sea of red parasols you’ll find seasonal fruit and vegetables, while the covered level below has fish, cheese, cured meats and the local fresh cheese sir i vrhnje. Mornings are best; many stalls wind down by early afternoon.

The red parasols of Dolac market with the Cathedral spires behind — Dolac market and its trademark red parasols, with the Cathedral spires behind. Photo: Miroslav.vajdic / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

From the market, Tkalčićeva street runs north — a pedestrian strip of bars, cafés and restaurants that is the heart of Zagreb’s nightlife and its best spot for a long, slow coffee, the city’s unofficial sport.

Cafés along Tkalčićeva street in Zagreb in the early morning — Tkalčićeva street, lined with café and bar terraces — quiet in the morning, packed at night. Photo: stelios84 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

The Lower Town (Donji grad) and museums

The flat Lower Town was laid out in the 19th century as a U-shaped chain of parks and grand institutions — the Green Horseshoe. Walking it is the easiest sightseeing in Zagreb: start at Zrinjevac, a tree-lined promenade with a wrought-iron music pavilion, and continue past the Art Pavilion and the Croatian National Theatre, a butter-yellow neo-Baroque landmark from 1895.

The neo-Baroque Croatian National Theatre building in Zagreb — The Croatian National Theatre (1895) anchors the western arm of the Green Horseshoe. Photo: Larisa Uhryn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

For rainy days, the Lower Town has the lion’s share of the museums: the Mimara Museum, the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the Archaeological Museum and the Ethnographic Museum are all within a few blocks.

Where to stay: best areas

For a short visit, base yourself in or near the Lower Town — you’ll be walkable to almost everything and steps from the main tram lines.

Area	Good for	Notes
Lower Town (Donji grad)	First-timers, walkability	Around Ban Jelačić Square and Zrinjevac; most hotels and trams
Upper Town (Gornji grad)	Atmosphere, quiet evenings	Cobbled, charming, a little uphill; fewer hotels
Britanski trg / west	Cafés, weekend antiques market	Residential, calmer, short tram ride to the centre

Zagreb is a year-round city — summer is warm, while the Advent Christmas market (regularly voted among Europe’s best) makes December a highlight. Compare current rates and locations before booking.

Getting in from the airport

Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG) is about 17 km southeast of the centre. Your options:

From the airport	Time	Notes
Croatia Airlines airport bus	~30 min	To the main bus station, then a short tram to the centre
Taxi / ride-hail	~25–35 min	Door-to-door; fares vary — agree or app-meter first
Rental car	~25 min	Useful only if you’re driving on to the coast

Once in town you rarely need a car: the ZET tram network covers the centre well, and the historic core is walkable end to end. If you’re continuing to the Adriatic, see our guide to renting a car in Croatia.

Where to eat

Zagreb’s food is hearty continental Croatian rather than coastal: look for štrukli (baked or boiled dough with fresh cheese), purica s mlincima (turkey with baked pasta), grilled meats and, in autumn, game and mushrooms. Graft a market visit onto it — buy fruit at Dolac, then eat at one of the konobas nearby. Tkalčićeva and the streets around Dolac are the easiest places to find a table; for our standards on picking places, see the food directory.

A little further out

If you have extra time, Mirogoj cemetery — a monumental complex of ivy-covered arcades and domes — is a surprisingly beautiful 15-minute bus ride north. For green space, Maksimir Park (with the city zoo) and the Jarun lake are local favourites in summer.

Plan the rest of your trip

Zagreb pairs naturally with the coast and the lakes. To slot it into a wider route, see our 7-day Croatia itinerary and, for picking your dates, the best time to visit Croatia. Both lean on the same practical basics covered here, and the cities hub collects our other Croatian city guides.

Opening hours and prices change, and the Cathedral restoration is ongoing — confirm current details with the official sources above before you go.