Zagreb is the capital of Croatia. Its history dates back to 11th century when it was founded by Hungarian king Ladislav. With population of about 800 000 people, many find it an attractive place to live in. It has developed social and cultural life (many theatre plays, many museums and galleries, caffes etc.).

Many travelers consider Zagreb a very interesting place to visit, and it has more or less become an unavoidable place of interest for many backpackers, and generally many travelers that are touring Europe. There are several reasons for that: unique culture, local cuisine, favorable geographical location (next to the very central Europe), interesting architecture and a beauty of surrounding areas.

Many travelers that visit Zagreb take daytrips to various exquisite destinations, such as Plitvice lakes, Varazdin, Ljubljana etc. After Zagreb they usually head for the seashore and visit Adriatic jewels in Istria and Dalmatia regions, such as Split, Dubrovnik, Pula and Rovinj.

I’ve met and guided many international travelers and I am yet to meet one that was or seemed to be disappointed by visiting Zagreb :)

Here are some tips about using public transportation in Zagreb:

Both trams and buses run the same company (ZET – Zagreb Electric Trams). You can buy tickets for your ride in every kiosk in the city. One ticket costs 12 kuna, which is about $2. With it you can enjoy a ride in one direction that lasts for maximum of 90 minutes. You can step out of the tram and catch other trams and buses, as long as you are going in just one direction (i.e. not back as well), and as long it is for 90 minutes. Ticket controllers are common in Zagreb so it’s best to pay attention to this.

When you are waiting on a bus/tram stop for your transport to arrive, you should pay attention to the following scenario: if two buses/trams come together, and the one you are waiting for is behind the first one, you should walk towards it. In such scenario the second bus will most often NOT wait for the first one to leave in order to move to the beginning of the bus stop to open its doors. If you see that the second bus is opening its doors while behind the first bus (in most cases this will be the case), you should go towards it. It won’t open its doors twice.

If you just started your journey with a bus/tram and haven’t yet validated your ticket, always try to enter through the front doors of the transport. That’s because a machine for validating the tickets is only at the front. No big deal if you do not, but it’s much less of a hassle this way.

1. Walk around the Upper town (Cathedral, main farm market, Stone Gates, Saint Mark square, Parliament, Lotrscak Tower…)

2. Visit Museum of the city of Zagreb (hosts chronological history of Zagreb, mostly in artifacts)

3. Walk through the Lower town (National Theatre, Botanical garden, King Tomislav square, Jelacic square, City Library…)

4. Visit Mimara museum (also known as Croatian Louvre; it is my favorite museum. It has a nice collection of historic artifacts and paintings).

5. Visit Jarun park (big park with lakes, with many cafes and restaurants)

6. Visit Bundek park (a newer park in the New Zagreb part of the city, next to the Sava river).

7. Visit astronomical observatory of Zagreb, located on the top terrace of the Popov tower on the Upper town. One of the best views in Zagreb, and you will also get to see some nice stars and planets.

8.Visit Samobor (charming little town only about 20-30 mins away from Zagreb)

9.Visit Varazdin (ex-capital of Croatia, a story in itself. A must if you’re staying in Zagreb for more than 1-2 days. Located about an hour away from Zagreb).

10.Visit Trakoscan castle (The most famous and according to many, the most beautiful castle in Croatia. You can connect this trip with the visit to Varazdin, or a visit to Ivansica mountain, which has unique villages, towns, and a dreamy natural places to visit on the mountain itself)