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There are so many cool things to do in Zagreb, Croatia. The capital of Croatia is a medium-sized city with a big personality — yet it often ends up in the shadow of the islands, beaches, and waterfalls that define how many travelers see Croatia.
But Zagreb is one of the best places to visit in the country. Here you have a wonderful walking city — parts with candy-colored buildings and traditional cobblestone alleyways, parts that are gleaming and modern, and a fabulous collection of parks. The cafe scene here is fabulous, and here you’ll find the best restaurants in the country.
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Zagreb is also home to my favorite museum in the world (yes, the WORLD) — the Museum of Broken Relationships, which will move you again and again with its bite-sized stories of love lost.
Some come to Zagreb for the beginning of your Croatia road trip. Come to Zagreb for a city getaway weekend when the weather is warm. Come to Zagreb for the best Christmas markets you’ve never heard of.
Some of the best things to do in Zagreb include strolling through Dolac Market, exploring Upper Town, and visiting the superb Museum of Broken Relationships.
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I recommend spending one or two days in the city of Zagreb to get the most out of the city before heading on to further destinations in Croatia.
One of the best things to do with kids in Zagreb is visiting the parks — and don’t miss the Botanical Garden!
Like most European capitals, you can visit Zagreb year-round, thanks to there being lots of outdoor and indoor things to do in Zagreb. Spring and fall have the nicest weather, but summer brings festival season and December is all about Christmas markets!
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Zagreb has a lot of cool things to do for all kinds of travelers. At the very least, I recommend taking a Zagreb walking tour. This guided tour will introduce you properly to the city, including lots of tourist attractions, and teach you lots of interesting tidbits you never would have known otherwise.
The oldest part of Zagreb is the Upper Town, also known as Gornji Grad, and was first settled in the 11th century. The only way into Upper Town is through a medieval stone gate and at the center you’ll find St. Mark’s Square, home to St. Mark’s Church, a 13th-century church with a tiled and colorful roof.
Zagreb’s Upper Town is located high on a hill above the city and has narrow cobbled streets and beautiful buildings. It’s much quieter than the Lower Town and a historic place great for photos.
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To get to Upper Town, you can either walk up the stairs or take the shortest funicular ride in the world. It costs 0.66 EUR (less than $1) to ride the funicular railway to Upper Town, making it a fun part of the experience.
Lower Town is where you’ll find Zagreb’s city center. It’s the busiest area in the city and home to high-end shops, street vendors, restaurants, bars, and parks. This is the stop for concerts, festivals, cultural events, and more.
Lower Town, also called Donji Grad, is known for its variety of museums and its amazing architecture, where modern architecture meets crenellated pastel buildings.
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Located in Lower Town, Tkalčićeva Street (locals call it Tkalča) extends from Ban Jelačić Square, the central square of Zagreb. The street was once a river that separated the two early districts of Zagreb — Gradec and Kaptol — until the end of the 19th century. After contamination and pollution from all the shops, the river was filled and turned into a street.
Once a well-known brothel street (spicy!), today it’s famous for its bars, restaurants, cafes, and shops. The buildings are very colorful, making it one of the most photographed places in the city.
It’s of the most popular places to visit in Zagreb and the perfect place to grab a bite to eat, or people-watch, and enjoy Zagreb. I recommend stopping for a morning coffee and an evening beer.
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Dolac Market is an open-air farmer’s market in Zagreb that has been operating daily since 1930. It’s located very close to Ban Jelačić Square and has both an open area and a covered market.
Farmers from surrounding region sell their fresh produce and homemade goods. You’ll find bakery items, flowers, souvenirs, butcheries, fresh pasta vendors, and a fish market. You can truly find it all at Dolac Market! (Even a Dolac Market food tour — more on that below.)
Definitely pop in here, even if you don’t plan on cooking during your Zagreb visit. Pick up some outstandingly fresh fruit to snack on.
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The Museum of Broken Relationships is my favorite museum in the world. Seriously. I love it more than any museum I’ve visited in New York, Paris, Rome, you name it. This museum is a collection of artifacts that people submit from their past relationships, along with a story.
This museum! There is so much vulnerability that people share, and with just a few paragraphs you hear the whole story. The cork from a bottle of a champagne a woman popped to celebrate her leaving the man who cheated on her. A video game from an ex who didn’t pay attention to her. An Oktoberfest gingerbread cookie from a long-distance relationship that couldn’t make it.
You will want to read every single story in this museum. They’re so funny, and sad, and uplifting. Sometimes they even make you reevaluate your life.
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The museum is located in the Kulmer Palace in the Upper Town. Admission is is 7 EUR ($8) per adult. And if you’re traveling the world, you’ll often see pop-up exhibitions of the museum. I once went to one in New York!
Looking for more quirky museums in Zagreb? Don’t miss the Croatian Museum of Naive Art (no, that’s not a typo), the Zagreb Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of Illusions, the Mimara Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
I love seeking out cool cafes on my travels, and always need a caffeinated afternoon pick-me-up! (Here’s a tip — search for “flat white” on Google Maps and you’ll find the
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Coffee spots.) Zagreb is home to a fantastic coffee scene with numerous third wave coffee shops, including some that roast their beans in-house.
Elliscaffe is an absolute MUST for hardcore coffee snobs. Here you can have coffee prepared in a variety of scientific ways with outrageously good beans from all over the world.
Botaničar is located near the Zagreb Botanical Gardens and it’s both a cafe and bar. The establishment is full of greenery with a retro vibe, inspired by the nearby gardens. The menu has a variety of drinks including coffee, tea, craft beer, and wine. It also doubles as an art gallery.
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Finjak has one of the most ostentatious interiors in Zagreb, with heavy gold picture frames and chandeliers hovering above the tables. It’s quite a classy coffee shop with its luxury and timeless decor. You’ll find French teas, coffee, juice, and beer.
If you’re a cat lover, visiting the Cat Caffe is a must! Cats roam freely through the cafe so you can pet and cuddle them all you want. You can enjoy a cup of coffee in a relaxing and loving environment. Especially nice if you’re missing your fur babies at home.
Located in Lower Town Zagreb, Zagreb Botanical Garden was founded in 1889 as part of the University of Zagreb. Today, there are over 10, 000 species of plants in the garden, including 1, 800 exotic plants.
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With extensive grounds covering 12 acres of land, it’s a great place to explore, relax, and enjoy the greenery and blooming flowers. There are also ponds for the water plants.
The Botanical Garden is open at 9:00 AM daily and closes at 2:30 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays and at 7:00 PM the rest of the week. Adult tickets are 2 EUR ($2 USD).The gardens are closed during the winter months.
If you’re looking to visit more parks in Zagreb, don’t miss Maksimir Park, the largest park in Zagreb, as well as Zrinjevac Park.
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The Mirogoj Cemetery was built in 1876 and designed by the same architect who worked on the Zagreb Cathedral and St. Mark’s Church. You might be surprised to see how gorgeous the architecture is here, with ivy-covered porticoes stretching along the length of the monument.
There are over 300, 000 people buried at Mirogoj Cemetery, including many wealthy and famous Croats you may recognize. Even if you don’t know anyone, the graves are often works of art. It’s one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe.
It’s free to visit the cemetery and one of the best things to do in Zagreb when you need fresh air and nature. It’s open from dawn to dusk.
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Do you like to enjoy new cities by bicycle? It’s not my thing, but if you enjoy that, GOOD FOR YOU! Seriously! You can get some exercise in and easily see a lot of landmarks in a much shorter amount of time than on foot.
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