8 reasons why you need beautiful Zagreb on your travel list

If you enjoy destinations less covered by their neighbors, you’ll love Zagreb. The city of around 770,000 people is the capital of Croatia and in my opinion the most underrated European travel destination!

While Croatia’s main tourist trail allows visitors to explore coastal areas like Split and Dubrovnik (thanks, Game of Thrones), Zagreb is often overlooked by travelers who don’t know what they’re missing. The city is full of beauty, has a long list of unique attractions, and is affordable to boot. Zagreb frequently appears on lists of Europe’s cheapest capital cities and is equally popular in rankings of the continent’s best places to visit, thanks to its good crime rate, pollution levels and visitor services.

Located in northeastern Croatia, the city is only a few hours from Vienna, Sarajevo and Venice, and transport links are easy. There are daily trains from Zagreb to Split (and then you can catch buses to Dubrovnik or the Adriatic islands). If you’re on a day trip, Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, is a short and charming train ride away. Zagreb is also connected to Munich and Zurich by overnight sleeper trains. Croatian Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, Iberia and others fly to Zagreb Airport.

There are countless reasons to visit Zagreb, Croatia and I’m happy to share them. But first…

Zagreb neighborhoods

From my experience, the city is walkable, and it’s easy to find your way around, but it’s never bad to get a primer on the main neighborhoods where you’ll spend most of your time.

Zagreb’s old town developed as two distinct hilltop communities. The Kaptol is where the clergy are based and the home of the Zagreb Cathedral. Its neighbor and rival Gradec was home to artists and merchants. It still has a very public feel with lots of shops and galleries. Gradec includes the Croatian Parliament, the Constitutional Court and the only remaining Old Town Gate. Finally, Lorrainetown is very modern and is home to beautiful shops, contemporary hotels, and well-reviewed restaurants and museums.

And now, without further ado, the reasons why you should add this beloved city to your travel list.

1. Fewer people (especially during the shoulder season)

I visited Zagreb for the first time in the middle of summer. Europe in summer – that means I’ve managed crazy people, right? oh no! Of course there were crowds of people like Tkalchicheva in the main public squares and the most popular shopping streets, but it was certainly not oppressive. On a sunny summer afternoon, it felt exactly what a lively city would expect as locals and visitors shopped and visited. It was busy but not crowded. If you’re thinking that all European capitals are as crowded as Rome and Paris, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Zagreb.

During the shoulder season (late spring and early autumn) there are even less people in the city. I personally think Zagreb has a bit of a student feel – there are lots of college age people around, reading in cafes and walking around with nap bags. It’s a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere, and the mild weather is wonderful.

2. The architecture is amazing.

Zagreb sits at that proverbial crossroads, influenced by the West and the East at the same time. In this way, the city’s buildings show the influence of centuries from competing forces and international neighbors. As a result, Zagreb has its own look. Those with a keen eye will notice Belle Epoque influences from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as Art Nouveau design and Modernist minimalism. The tourism board has a helpful pocket guide to local architecture available for download.

3. The city is full of flowers.

Zagreb seems to come alive in the spring, when the entire city is covered in flowers and blossoms, but garden lovers will find that there is plenty here all year round. Started in 1889, the Zagreb Botanical Garden is home to 10,000 plant species. Visitors will especially appreciate the Botanical Garden Arboretum, which is fashionable in English-style gardens and particularly beautiful.

The Zagreb Botanic Garden offers free admission and is open from April 1 to November 1. If you need an English-speaking tour, you can call the management office at least 5 days in advance to make an appointment. These tours cost around €5 per person (a real bargain if you ask me).

4. You can join the locals for sports and more at Maksimir Park.

Another beautiful public space, Maksimir Park is Zagreb’s oldest public park. In the year Opened in 1794, it was once a predominantly wooded area, and many old trees still remain. But now the park contains the Zagreb Zoo, five lakes, meadows and a variety of flora and fauna. There are more than 100 species of birds that visit Maksimir Park, and you can even join a bird-watching tour!

Visitors to Maksimir Park can participate in Nordic walking, sport fishing and yoga classes (as well as enjoy hiking, running and cycling). If you want to learn a little about all aspects of the park, there are guided tours that include information on history, culture and ecology.

5. Zagreb Gourmet offers delicious food tours

Zagreb’s food scene doesn’t get the press it deserves. The city is full of delicious options and Zagreb gourmet food tours are one of the best ways to discover new favorite flavors. Their classic Zagreb food tour lasts up to 4 hours and includes a visit to the city’s oldest bakery for cheese, grilled meats, wine, cake, coffee, pumpkin seed oil tasting (a regional dessert).

For those short on time, there is a 2.5-hour brunch and wine tour that includes a visit to Dolak Market. Brunch is a big deal in Zagreb, and this tour provides valuable insight into the city’s favorite pastime.

The same company also offers cooking classes that allow participants to explore a variety of Croatian cuisine (such as beach favorites and traditional Zagreb fare). Additionally, there are Christmas and Christmas themed lessons.

6. Dolak market is amazing

Even if you don’t join a food tour or cooking class, Dolak Market should be on your travel list. Sometimes nicknamed the “Belly of Zagreb,” this is the place to go to pick up local produce, meat, dairy, and seafood from the Croatian coast (plus, watch the locals get gossip!). Nearby is the flower market, Opatovina – a great place for sightseeing and photography.

7. It is rich in folklore.

My favorite thing to do in Zagreb is enjoy a winding tour. Mysterious Zagreb “Ghosts and Dragons Tour” is an absolute delight. From May to October, it reveals the city’s old town that you might not have known on your own. It covers everything from myths and legends to ghosts and horror stories.

Despite some moderate hills, stone steps and uneven paths, this is generally an easy walk and proceeds at a gentle pace. And you never know what you might see. At the end of my visit, I crossed paths with a ghostly white cat. Was this a visitor from abroad or just one of the many wild animals in the city? I want to imagine that the spirits of Zagreb are very happy to see me!

More secret Zagreb tours

Mysterious Zagreb offers a Christmas tour from the end of November to the beginning of January and a “badass women” tour from May to August. They describe the latter visit as follows: “Opera singers, car drivers, models, scientists, soldiers… learn about Croatia’s unconventional, bold, daring, game-changing women who have lived in Zagreb their entire lives.”

8. It’s home to a fun, quirky museum: the Broken Relationship Museum

The Museum of Broken Relationships is a fascinating, unusual and rather bittersweet look at failed romantic relationships. But this is not a fool’s errand. In the year In 2011, it was awarded the Kenneth Hudson Award for the most innovative museum in Europe.

So what can you expect to see when you’re there? It’s more than torn photos and discarded wedding rings! A clothes iron used to neatly press a wedding dress, a picture of a couple painted on a train by a stranger, and even an ax (don’t worry – it was used to turn an ex-boyfriend’s furniture into a neat pile of firewood, nothing more). It’s hard to imagine that anyone can wander through the museum and see something that tugs at their heartstrings. Visiting is a cathartic and exhilarating experience.