The Complete Zagreb Travel Guide

Strossmayer Promenade (Love Rails Viewpoint)

Zagreb is full of interesting history, unique architecture, and beautiful parks — and yet, remains under the radar as a top travel destination. The inland, capital city is perfectly balanced with a combination of old and new, subtle and artful, peaceful and vibrant. Spend a fews days enjoying the cafe culture, quirky museums, imaginative street murals, and vegan food!

My complete Zagreb travel guide will highlight the best things to do in Zagreb, where to stay and eat, and what you can expect during your stay.

What to Expect

How to get there: If you are flying, you can land at the Zagreb airport (ZAG) — from there you can take a bus to the city center. If you are visiting from a nearby country or city, I recommend using my favorite transportation app – Omio.

When to go: April to October. Late spring or early fall are the best times to visit if you are trying to avoid the dense crowds that the summer months bring.

Language: Croatian is the main language spoken in Croatia, however, many people know English. I found that many Croatians appreciated the effort I made to learn a few common phrases, though.

Currency: As of January 1, 2023, Croatia uses the Euro. Travelers will find Croatia to be quite affordable in all aspects including transportation, food, and accommodation.

Safety: I always felt very safe in Croatia but I would exercise normal precautions, i.e. watching for pickpockets in crowded tourist places.

Packing: If you do visit Croatia in the shoulder seasons, you might find mornings and nights to be cool, and days to be hot, so bring layers. Summers are very hot so pack light clothing.

Food: My veg friends will be happy to hear that there are lots of vegan and vegetarian food to be found in Croatia!

Transportation: There are a few ways to get around Croatia but the easiest and most affordable is by taking buses. You can book your buses online using Omio, or at the bus stations. To get around Zagreb, you can take the tram which is very affordable and easy to use.

Where to Stay

I stopped in Zagreb two separate times during my 3 month long trip to Europe and I found that staying in a hotel near the bus station was the easiest for me. I stayed in Hotel National, which was only a few minutes walk from the bus station, as well as from the tram that takes you into the city center. The tram is quite cheap and runs often, so you don’t have to worry about not being in the heart of the city. You can buy your tickets at the nearby news stands.

How long should I stay in Zagreb?

Zagreb is a cool city with enough to see for 2 full days. Make sure to save enough room in your travel itinerary to see the rest of Croatia! And check out my Complete Croatia Travel Guide.

Best things to do in Zagreb

Museum of Broken Relationships

As someone who typically only visits art museums, I was hesitant to visit the Museum of Broken Relationships. But when it kept coming up in my research and the free walking tour, my curiosity peaked. The museum was created by a couple who had ended their relationship and realized how many items they owned that were from their relationship. This got them thinking: What are you supposed to do with the items that are left behind?

The museum is a collection of these items — each with a note from the owner — that represent a broken relationship, either with a partner, a friend, a parent, or themselves. You get to read the stories of people from around the world, some are funny and some are heartbreaking. I found it beautiful to realize we all share the same experience of love and loss. It’s truly one of my favorite museums in the world.

Free Walking Tour

Whenever I visit a city with free walking tours, you can bet that I will be joining, and my visit to Zagreb was no exception. On the tour I learned about the history of Zagreb including the Lower and Upper town, the stories of the cathedrals/churches, visited the best viewpoint, and saw the cool street murals. These tours are also a great way to get recommendations for restaurants, museums, and activities from your local guide.

Extra tip: Be mindful that even though it’s called a “free” tour, you are still encouraged to give a tip at the end in the amount of your choosing. It’s more of a “pay-what-you-can” tour.

Zrinjevac Park

Zrinjevac Park is a vibrant spot all year round and I highly recommend spending some time here during your visit. The park offers views of gorgeous buildings, mature trees, and water fountains. In the summer, you could pack a lunch and spend an afternoon hanging out with the locals. In the winter, you could visit after dark to admire the trees decorated with lights and ice skate at the temporary ice skating rink.

Other things to see in Zagreb

Central Plaza
Upper town / Lower town
Tkalčićeva Street
St. Mark’s Church
St. Catherine’s Church
Strossmayer Promenade (Love rails viewpoint)
Stone Gate
Mirogoj Cemetery
Cathedral of Zagreb
Market Dolac
Street Murals
Kala’s Cat Village

Where to Eat Vegan in Zagreb

Even more so than other cities in Croatia, it was super easy to find good vegan and vegetarian friendly eateries. With a variety of full vegan cafe’s ranging from healthy to fast food, to restaurants with vegan options, it can be overwhelming to choose where to go. I like to do a little research using the HappyCow app where I can read reviews from other vegans, and locate restaurants in the area that I will be visiting.

Recommendations in City Center