Guide to Zagreb, Croatia

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Diamond Durant

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  • Boutique Travel

  • City Travel

  • Food & Wine

  • Arts & Culture

  • Solo Travel

  • Outdoors

  • Local Culture

  • Sightseeing

buildings with golden hour sun and harbor
Curator’s statement

Zagreb is a connection city that has more to offer in your lesser known stopover. It has distinct history dating back to Roman times which has translated this city into the bustling diverse economy of Croatia. It being one of the most important transportation hubs, Zagreb is perfect for continuing your journey throughout the rest of Croatia, but not before enjoying the art, wine, architecture and sights. This definitely can be more than just a a day trip! Perfect for solo, LGBTQ and small group trips!

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Where to stay in Zagreb

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Le Premier Boutique Hotel Zagreb

A 20th-century palace turned into swanky hotel.

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel

Dating back to 1925, this hotel property in Croatia has beautifully designed rooms blended with the delicate combination of Art Deco heritage and contemporary touches.

Fora Perks
  • Food / beverage credit.

  • Breakfast daily.

  • Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.

Hotel Puntijar

Cozy Croatian hotel that taps back into the country's history.

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Travel advisor Diamond Durant posing for a selfie on a beach

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Things to do in Zagreb

calm white sand beach with mountains behind

Make your way to Lower Town to see the parks, greenery, statues and monuments. This is more of the business district and you can easily get lost in a cafe while spending money at shops. This is the most walkable city where you can see something and be led to a new adventure.

If you are not too tired from walking around the town, take the tram up to the Lotrščak Tower for the most beautiful views of the city.

If you're a coffee lover, explore all of the small coffee shops Zagreb has to offer.
Hang in the city center and visit Ban Jelaic Square. This is where you meet lower town, or the more modern artsy contrast from the old historic upper town. Here you will find Dolac Market where you can get goods such as honey, soaps, meats, clothing and books all while seeing street performers.

And now that you've made your way towards Upper Town, check out St Mark's Church. It is a beautiful site and I was able to witness some beautiful weddings there. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city with a roof made of a unique and distinct tile — coats of armor.

End your walk at the Museum of Broken Relationships and read about relationships that ended in heartbreak.

If you're looking for nightlife, look no further. Zagreb is big into house music, trap music and techno. Katran and Cafe de Paris are nice for club like scenes. You can catch some of their larger events at the Zagreb fair pavilions.

Day Trips

Zagreb is the perfect stopover city. You can also rent a car and drive to Slovenia and neighboring towns to explore. Take a 2-hour train ride to Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Places to eat & drink in Zagreb

Blintz in Zagreb with berry compote.

To start your day for breakfast, check out Hey Mia and pick up a breakfast pastry and coffee. The bagels and croissants are delish!

Velvet has a small sweet driven menu that is cute for on the go and sitting for a quick bite. Might be lucky if you return later in the day to catch live music too.

For a more traditional breakfast or brunch, check out Melt Gelato & Brunch Bar for pancakes, breakfast bowls, avocado toast and egg dishes. Try Eggspress for more egg dishes including omelets, poached eggs and eggs benedict.

For a casual lunch, try Heritage Street Food for a delicious prosciutto and truffle sandwich.
In Upper Town, check out Time4Wine and have a charcuterie board with a perfect wine paring.

There are so many options to choose from near Centar Cvjetni for lunch and dinner, but I would recommend checking out the wine bars along the strip.

If you're looking for somewhere fancy, check out Noel. Its aesthetically pleasing dishes are perfect for dinner dates and small groups and a nice outfit.

Maredo Grill is perfect. Lamb chops, pasta and a good wine pairing is all you need. Good vegetarian options.

For steak lovers, I recommend Latin inspired El Toro Restaurant for their black angus sirloin and tomahawk to share.

End the night at Tesla New Generation cocktail bar or a late, late night at Craft Room for beer and bar bites.

Need to Know

Looking for more travel inspo? Check out this Fora advisor-curated guide: Landscape Trekking: 7-Day Croatia Itinerary.

Travel advisor Diamond Durant posing for a selfie on a beach

Travel Advisor

Diamond Durant

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This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Croatia.