Last Updated on 22/04/2024 by kami
Zagreb, Croatia, is one of the most underrated capitals in Europe to visit. The city is often in the shadow of more popular places to see in Croatia (such as Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, or Pula, to name a few). Still, you will find solid reasons to visit Zagreb.
I’ve been there a few times, always enjoying all the great things to do in Zagreb and often returning to spend more time in this charming capital. And every time, I fall for the city more and more.
If you ask yourself, “Is Zagreb worth visiting?” I’m here to dispel doubts. Below, you will find all the reasons you should include the city in your Croatian itinerary. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!
Reasons to visit Zagreb
Without further ado, here is a short overview of why you should visit Zagreb.
Beautiful architecture
If you enjoy grand cities like Vienna, Budapest, or Prague, you will like Zagreb too. Since the capital of Croatia was part of the Habsburg Empire, you can expect to find buildings of a similar style to those three mentioned capitals as well as other beautiful cities in Central Europe.
The Lower Town is the best area to admire the magnificent architecture from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. This part of Zagreb was created at that time, when the city gained its importance, hence the abundance of the Belle Epoque townhouses does not surprise. Many of them are rich in decor and details, so it’s good to look around closely when wandering around, as you never know what kind of gems you might find.
The most beautiful part of the Lower Town is between the main train station and Trg bana Josipa Jelačića, where interesting buildings intertwine with lovely green spaces – a result of smart urban planning of that time.
Historical landmarks
Since Zagreb has a long history, dating back to the 11th century, you can also expect some interesting historical sites and landmarks in the city. You will find them mainly in the Upper Town, the oldest part of the country’s capital.
Some of the most important places are the neo-Gothic Cathedral (originally from the early 13th century, the tallest building in Croatia), Stone Gate and Lotrščak Tower – both part of the medieval city walls, the beautiful Mirogoj cemetery from the 19th century, or St. Mark’s Church – one of the oldest monuments in the city.
A quirky Zagreb attraction is the funicular – one of the shortest in the world, covering a distance of only 66 meters and connecting the Upper and Lower towns. Another interesting Zagreb landmark is the Grič Tunnel from World War 2 – a former bomb shelter used today as a pedestrian shortcut.
These are only a few historical landmarks in Zagreb, but the city offers many more monuments worth visiting.
Great museums
Zagreb is known for having the biggest number of museums per capita in the world. You can find some really interesting places there, but the most popular one is the world-famous Museum of Broken Relationships.
As the name indicates, the museum focuses on broken relationships. People from all over the world contributed to its exhibition by donating personal items that tell the story of their past relationships. Some are funny or swoon-worthy, others heartbreaking, but they all show how different each relationship can be. This museum might sound a bit quirky, but that’s why it’s so popular and worth visiting.
Other interesting museums in Zagreb are more traditional ones, such as with contemporary art, Modern Gallery, or War Photography Museum.
A unique cultural place to visit is the Art Pavilion – the oldest gallery in South-East Europe, opened in 1898. There is no permanent exhibition here, so what you might see there depends on your luck. In the past, works of well-known artists like Andy Warhol or Auguste Rodin were shown here.
Quirky attractions
The Museum of Broken Relationships isn’t the only quirky attraction in Zagreb. There are more unique places you can add to your Zagreb itinerary.
One of them is the Solar System – the model of nine planets and the Sun, located all over the city on a scale of 1:680 000 000. The first one – the Sun – is right in the center of the city, and all the others are farther and farther away.
Other unique attractions you might be interested in checking out are Oktogon Passage with a beautiful stained-glass rooftop, Medika – the first legalized squat in the city, or Zagreb Rockets – the three residential buildings in the shape of a concrete rocket, built in 1963, the most iconic example of brutalist architecture in the Croatian capital.
Fans of street art or great cafes will be satisfied too, as Zagreb is a leading destination in the region for both.
Vibrant atmosphere
The center of the city, especially on sunny and warm days, is bustling with a mix of locals and tourists. Numerous outdoor restaurants and cafes are packed with people enjoying a good meal and drink and relaxing in the sunshine. If you like places with a vibrant atmosphere, Zagreb is a place for you.
Good base for day trips
If you want to see more of Croatia but don’t like moving around with all your belongings, you can use Zagreb as the base and see more of the country from there. Some fantastic places in the country are within a reasonable distance from the capital; you can also jump across the border to visit Slovenia!
The best places you can visit on day trips from Zagreb are:
- Plitvice Lakes
- Samobor
- Varazdin
- Istria
- Castle Trakošćan
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Maribor, Slovenia
- and more!
A perfect introduction to Croatia
While the majority of tourists focus on the Croatian seaside, with its breathtaking coastline and charming towns, Zagreb is a bit in the shadow of more popular places. But the capital can be a great introduction to Croatia, where you can get to know local culture and food, learn more about the country, and see a bit of its regular face before heading to more popular places along the Adriatic Sea.
Further reading
I published many articles about Croatia that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:
- 33 Best Places to Visit in Croatia
- 25 Wonderful Things to Do in Zagreb, Croatia
- The Bay of Abandoned Hotels in Kupari, Croatia – the Urbex Heaven
- 23 Amazing Things to Do in Dubrovnik, Croatia
- How to visit Krka National Park in Croatia
- 11 Perfect Day Trips From Split, Croatia
- 17 Fantastic Things to Do in Hvar, Croatia
- Visiting the Abandoned Željava Air Base in Croatia
- 19 Best Things to Do in Rijeka, Croatia
- Visit Opatija, Croatia – the Charming Seaside Town
- and many more!
If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in the Balkans and ask your questions there.
Travel Resources
Below you can find the brands I trust and use when planning trips:
- You can find the best accommodation options at Booking. They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Zagreb
- I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Viator or Get Your Guide.
- To always stay connected I use Airalo eSim cards – click here to get yours!
- For transportation and booking tickets online, I usually use 12Go or Omio
- Looking for the airport pickup? Check Welcome Pickups!
- Never travel without travel insurance, you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Croatia here.
- If you plan to rent a car during your trip to Croatia check Discover Cars to compare prices and find the best deals
- Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me.
For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:
- Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
- Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
- I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Croatia too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!
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