Croatia’s capital and largest city is full of remarkable architecture and green parks.
Most of the things to see in Zagreb are in a small walkable area. If you’re traveling throughout Croatia or to other places in the Balkans, you probably only need a day or two to see everything.
Luckily most of the attractions are free to visit. These are the places to visit in Zagreb that I recommend. Plus, read on to find out some places you should skip.
1. Walk through Zrinjevac Park.
Zrinjevac Park is also called Horseshoe Park because of its shape. The u-shaped park goes around most of Zagreb. It’s full of fountains, trees, and flowers.
The park is also home to a Christmas festival in the winter, and considered one of the best Christmas festivals in Europe.
2. See the street art in Ribnjak Park.
Visit Ribnjak Park on the northeast side of Zagreb to see some of the city’s street art. The north area of the park has the most murals.
3. See St. Mark’s Church.
This unique looking church is in the upper part of the city. The iconic roof shows the coat of arms of Zagreb and the Triune Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia.
4. See Zagreb Cathedral.
This gothic cathedral is the second-tallest building in Croatia. The Monument of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is in front, and the Nebojan Fortress is to the left.
5. See the viewpoint from Strossmayer Promenade.
This area in the upper town hosts events and festivals. The viewpoint here is the best photo spot in the city, with a panoramic view including Zagreb Cathedral.
6. See the National Theatre.
I visited Austria shortly before I went to Croatia. When I walked through Zagreb I was surprised by how much it reminded me of Vienna. The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb is the grandest example of this architecture style. The large yellow building is surrounded by a fountain and perfectly-manicured flower beds.
7. Visit Ban Josip Jelačić Square.
The main square in Zagreb’s city center. You’ll probably pass through it on the way to see other attractions.
8. Walk through Tunel Grič.
Tunel Grič was built as a bomb shelter during World War II, and later used as a shelter during the Balkan wars. In between it was used for raves.
Now it’s open to the public and you can walk through it for free. There’s even a bathroom inside, although it’s a little sketchy.
9. Swim at Bundek Park.
With most of Croatia known for it’s beautiful coastline on the Adriatic sea, Zagreb feels left out without any beaches. But there is still a free place to swim outside here. Bundek Park has a small lake you can swim in.
Bundek Park is on the south side of Zagreb, below the Sava river.
Skip These Attractions in Zagreb
If you’re traveling on a budget, it’s not worth paying for these 3 attractions.
1. Museum of Broken Relationships
This museum is full of items people have submitted along with stories about their past relationships. Some are funny and some are sad. But overall, I could find the same stories on reddit without paying to walk through a crowded museum.
2. Museum of Hangovers
This museum has such a fun concept, but most of the exhibits look like elementary school craft projects. One exhibit was a bunch of handwritten post it notes. The best parts are reading the submitted stories of people’s drunk adventures, which again, I could read on reddit for free.
3. The funicular
It’s not that big of a hill and you can see the same view from the staircase, so I don’t think it’s worth paying for the cable car. If you are a huge cable car fan then by all means go for it.
Planning a trip to Croatia? Check out my recommendations for free things to do in Split and Dubrovnik.