Zagreb

Croatia's capital and largest city, featuring elegant Austro-Hungarian architecture, world-class museums, and vibrant cultural life centred around Ban Jelačić Square and the Upper Town. Essential for understanding Croatian history, art and contemporary culture.

Things to do

• Ban Jelačić Square — Stroll through Zagreb's main plaza, surrounded by Austro-Hungarian palaces and street cafés, and watch the daily rhythm of the city unfold.
• Museum of Broken Relationships — Visit this unique museum showcasing personal objects and stories from failed relationships, offering unexpectedly poignant insights into human emotion.
• Upper Town (Gradec) — Wander the narrow medieval streets, hidden courtyards, and hilltop viewpoints of Zagreb's historic Old Town, crowned by the striking Church of Saint Mark.
• Croatian Museum of Natural History — Explore extensive collections of minerals, fossils, and taxidermied specimens spanning Croatian natural heritage in an elegant 19th-century building.
• Mirogoj Cemetery — Tour this ornate 19th-century cemetery with Neo-Gothic arcades, bronze sculptures, and the graves of notable Croatian figures in a park-like setting.
• Gallery of Old Masters — View Croatian and European paintings from the medieval period through the 19th century in an intimate palace setting near the cathedral.
• Maksimir Park and Zoo — Relax in Zagreb's largest green space featuring themed gardens, a lake, and one of Europe's oldest zoos among peaceful tree-lined pathways.

Food to try

• Čobanac — A hearty hunter's stew of mixed game or pork, paprika, and vegetables, traditionally served in earthenware pots and deeply rooted in Croatian rural tradition.
• Strukli — Rolled pastry sheets filled with cottage cheese and sour cream, either baked or boiled, representing Zagreb's comfort-food heritage.
• Zagreb Schnitzel (Zagrebački odrezak) — A breaded veal cutlet pounded thin, typically stuffed with ham and cheese, and a signature dish of Croatian cuisine.
• Pašticada — A slow-braised beef stew cooked in wine with prunes and spices, embodying continental Croatian flavours from the Dalmatian hinterland.
• Custard-filled pastry at a local bakery — Seek out fresh makovnjača (poppy-seed roll) or rozata (caramel custard tart) from neighborhood pekara (bakeries) for authentic Zagreb morning treats.

Local customs & good to know

• Greet with firm handshakes and direct eye contact — Croatians value personal courtesy and expect a respectful greeting; use formal titles until invited to use first names.
• Observe siesta culture — Many shops and smaller establishments close between 2 and 5 pm; plan accordingly and embrace the local rhythm rather than expect continuous availability.
• Respect church visits — If entering religious sites like Saint Mark's or the Cathedral, dress modestly and observe quiet, reverent behaviour; avoid loud conversation.
• Use euros or kuna wisely — While the kuna remains official currency, euros are increasingly accepted; smaller vendors and markets prefer kuna, so carry both.

Nearby

• Samobor — 21 km
• Kumrovec — 36 km
• Krapina — 40 km
• Plitvice Lakes National Park (Northern Dalmatia) — 40 km