Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and a charming medieval city with architecture and cobbled streets reminiscent of Vienna, Budapest, Prague and other Central-European capitals. In 2005 it was visited by over half a million tourists, mainly from Austria, Germany and Italy.
Get in
By car
Almost all motorways (autocesta) in Croatia start or end in Zagreb. Travellers from Vienna can take the A2 which is completed up to Krapina. The Croatian part of this motorway is expected to be completed by 2008.
Travellers from Budapest and Varaždin can use the A4. The Croatian part of the motorway is finished. Hungarian portion is expected to be completed in 2007.
Travellers heading from Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey can use the A3 to reach Zagreb. This motorway was completed in June 2006.
Travellers heading from Ljubljana can use the A3. However, the Slovenian portion of the motorway is still under construction.
Travellers heading from the Dalmatian coast or Montenegro can use the A1 motorway which was completed in 2004. Those heading from Dubrovnik should note that the section between Split and Ploče is under construction. It will be finished in 2008.
Those travelling to or from Rijeka and Istria can use the A6 - which will be completed in 2008 - and A1.
To use motorways in Croatia you must pay toll either in Croatian national currency - the kuna or in foreign currencies. There is also an option to pay using American Express, Diners, Master Card, Maestro or Visa cards. As of recently there is the so-called Hac Smart Card which can reduce the cost of travelling on the Croatian motorways. It is issued by Hrvatske Autoceste.
By bus
The central bus station (Autobusni kolodvor) is located to the south-east of the railway station - approximately 5 minutes by tram (lines 2 and 6).
There is a number of Croatian coach operators which maintain scheduled international coach lines covering all major European cities, as far as London, Paris, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, numerous cities in Germany [1], Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia.
By train
Zagreb is a railway hub which has direct links with other major European cities such as Vienna (6 hours), Budapest, Zurich, Munich, Berlin, Salzburg, Venice, Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Belgrade etc. Also, as of 2004 you can ride on the new 160kph “tilting trains” that connect Zagreb with Split and other major cities in Croatia such as Rijeka and Osijek. If you make a reservation early enough you can get a substantial discount.
Tourists coming from or going to neighbouring capitals should note the following EuroCity and InterCity railway lines:
- EC "Mimara": Berlin - Leipzig - Munich - Salzburg - Ljubljana - Zagreb
- IC "Croatia": Vienna - Maribor - Zagreb
- IC "Kvarner": Budapest - Zagreb - Rijeka
Detailed train schedules are also available on the internet in English: http://www.hznet.hr/ENG/
By air
Zagreb International Airport (Template:IATA) (Template:ICAO), is located 17km south-east from the city center.
Croatia Airlines, the national carrier and member of Star Alliance, flies to Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt,Istanbul, London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Prague, Tel Aviv, Rome, Sarajevo, Skopje, Vienna, Zurich and - during the tourist season - Manchester.
Zagreb airport is also served by the low-cost carrier German Wings that flies to and from Cologne, Stuttgart, Hamburg and Berlin (Schönefeld).
CSA Czech Airlines flies from Prague to Zagreb all year round.
Scandjet is a Scandinavian low fare airline that connects Gothenburg to Zagreb
TAP Portugal is flying from Zagreb to Lisbon three times a week (Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays).
Wizz Air flies between Zagreb and London (Luton Airport).
BH AirlinesBH airlines connects Sarajevo and Mostar with Zagreb.
Neighboring airports in Rijeka, Ljubljana, Graz, Klagenfurt and Trieste are serviced by low-cost carriers and are often a viable alternative to travelling directly to Zagreb. EasyJet flies to Rijeka, Ljubljana and Ryan Air flies to Graz and Klagenfurt.
There is a bus link between the airport (Zračna luka) and the bus station (Autobusni kolodvor) in Zagreb. A single (one-way) ticket costs 30 kuna (~ 4,2 Euro). The bus leaves the airport at 7AM and every thirty minutes between 8AM and 8PM. Between the last regular bus at 8PM and the first one at 7AM the next morning, there is a bus leaving for the bus station every time a Croatia Airlines airplane lands.
The bus line between the bus station and the airport is slightly more complicated. Full details are available in English from http://www.plesoprijevoz.hr/schedulezg.htm
Get around
Zagreb has a well-developed public transport system that consists of trams, buses and trains. Trams operate 24 hours a day. However, from 4AM to 12PM there are 15 "day-time lines" (tram lines 1-9, 11-15 and 17). From 12PM to 4AM there are 4 "night" lines (tram lines 31-34). Tram lines 3 and 8 do not operate Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays. The price of single-ticket is 6.5 Kuna (~ 0.8 €) only paid in local currency KUNA. There is also a 24 hours ticket (dnevna karta) available: 18 Kuna (~ 2.5 €).
As for the buses there are 113 day-time and 4 night lines. Buses cover the area outside the city center including neighboring towns that belong administratively to Zagreb county.
Trains which are operated by Croatian Railway (Hrvatske Željeznice) run every 15 minutes from east to west. They connect the suburbs of Zagreb with the central railway station. They are usually the quickest form of transport for those coming from the portions of Zagreb far from the railway station (Glavni kolodvor).
Zagreb taxi service is considered quite expensive due to monopolistic position of the taxi company[2][3]. Starting rates from June 2005 are fixed at 19 kn (~2,5 €), price per kilometre is 7 kn/km (~0.95 €/km), waiting hour is 50 kn/h (~6,8 €/h) and additional fee for luggage is charged (3 kn per piece (0,4 € per piece of luggage)). Also bear in mind that all the rates go up 20% from 10 PM to 5 AM (Mon-Sat) and during Sundays and national holidays (the whole day).
Also, recently Zagreb became richer for one more way of getting around - by bike. You can rent a bicycle at Sputnik rent-a-bike, Gundulićeva 39, located in the city's center, just five minutes from Main Railway Station, as well as from the main square - Ban Jelačić square.
See
Museums
Muzej Mimara (Mimara Museum; Rooseveltov trg 5) houses some 3,700 works of art donated by Ante Topić Mimara. The collection comprises more than 1,500 exhibits dating from the prehistoric period up to the 20th century. Some of the most famous exhibits include works by Lorenzetti, Raffaello, Giorgione, Veronese, Caravaggio, Canaletto, 60 paintings by the Dutch masters Rembrandt, Van Goyen, Ruisdael, 50 works by the Flemish masters Van der Weyden, Bosch, Rubens, Van Dyck, more than 30 by the Spanish masters Velasquez, Murillo, Goya, some 20 paintings by the German masters Holbein, Liebermann, Leibl, some 30 paintings by the English painters Gainsborough, Turner, Bonington and more than 120 paintings by the French masters Georges de la Tour, Boucher, Chardin, Delacroix, Corot, Manet, Renoir, Degas.
Arheološki muzej (Archaeological Museum; Trg Nikole Šubića Zrinskog 19) possesses over 400,000 objects, not all of them being exhibited. The holdings include evidence of Croatian presence in this area as well as rare samples which have made the museum known to the whole world. The most famous are the Egyptian collection, the Zagreb mummy and bandages with the oldest Etruscan inscription in the world (Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis), as well as the numismatic collection. A part of the museum is set aside for the collection of stone monuments dating back predominantly to the Roman period.
Muzej suvremene umjetnosti (Museum of Contemporary Art; Katarinin Trg 2) follows and presents contemporary trends in fine arts. Klovićevi dvori (Jezuitski trg 4) introduces Croatian and foreign cultural and artistic heritage. Umjetnički paviljon (Art Pavilion; Trg Kralja Tomislava 22) by famous Viennese designers of theatres in Central Europe Hellmer and Fellmer is a neo-classical exhibition complex and one of the landmarks of the city center. The exhibitions are also held in the impressive Meštrović pavillion on Trg žrtava fašizma. Hrvatski muzej naivne umjetnosti (Croatian Museum of Naïve Art; Sv. Ćirila i Metoda 3) houses more than one thousand works belonging to Croatian naïve art. The World Centre "Wonder of Croatian Naïve Art" (Trg Bana Jelačića 2) exhibits masterpieces of Croatian naïve art as well as the works of a new generation of artists. Moderna galerija (Modern Gallery; Hebrangova 1) comprises all relevant fine artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.
NOTE: Most museums and historical sights close at 1pm on Sundays and do not reopen until Tuesday.
Mirogoj
Mirogoj is the central cemetery of Zagreb. It was opened in 1876 north of the city center. The mortuary, the impressive and picturesque arcades with the church of Christ the King (architect H. Bollé, 1883-1914) make it one of the most impressive cemeteries in the world. You can find there the tombs of notable personalities who are relevant to Croatian history. To get there from the central square go to the near-by Cathedral and take the bus number 106 (Kaptol - Mirogoj - Krematorij). The ride takes around 10 minutes.
Do
Cinemas
- CineStar Zagreb (Branimirova 29; ticket reservation +385 1 46-86-600) - a multiplex cinema (13 screens) in the vicinity of the Sheraton Hotel. The website is in Croatian.
- Broadway Tkalča (Nova Ves 11; +385 1 46-67-686) - a multiplex cinema (5 screens) within the Kaptol Shopping Center situated to the north of the Cathedral.
- Kino Europa (Varšavska 3) - this cinema is located in the city center.
- Kino Zagreb (Trg Petra Preradovića 4; 062-100-100 (within Croatia))
- Kino Croatia (Katančićeva 3; +385 1 48-13-711)
- Kino Jadran (Ilica 42; 062-100-100 (within Croatia))
- A1 (Iblerov trg bb - Importanne galerija; +385 1 46-19-133)
- Kino Central (Petrinjska 4; 062-100-100 (within Croatia))
Clubs
- Jazz and blues lovers should check out B.P. Club which is open daily from 10 PM to 2AM (Nikole Tesle 7, (+385-1) 481 44 44)
- SAX! - Klub hrvatskih glazbenika is a great place to enjoy live music of a wide array of styles including blues, jazz, rock and pop. (Palmotićeva 22/2, (+385-1) 48 72 836)
- The Best Largest club in Zagreb, out near the Jarun Lake complex. Mainly dance style music. (Jarunska 5, +385 1 3011 943)
- A new bar, featuring live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus a DJ on Saturday nights, Hopdevilhas 101 different types of Belgian beer. The unique interior features a waterfall that runs along entire wall, and stone archways. The water from the waterfall flows beneath a glass floor, which you can sit on.
Snow Queen Trophy: Ladies Night Slalom
Zagreb is the only capital in the world that hosts a Ski World Cup race. The slalom event - known as the "Snow Queen Trophy" (Snjezna kraljica) - takes place in January. It is the most expensive race on the women's world cup tour and an exceptionally popular sporting event in Croatia that attracts a crowd of around 25 thousand people. As of 2007 best skiers in men's competition are also expected to compete on Mount Sljeme that overlooks the city. If you fail to secure your ticket, you can watch the whole event on a giant screen in the Ban Jelacic Square.
Buy
If you are looking for a souvenir from your trip to Zagreb, perhaps the best place to visit is the Turistički informativni centar which is located in the central square in Zagreb (Trg bana Josipa Jelačića 11). There you can find everything ranging from picture postcards and books to artefacts made of ceramic, crystal and other materials. Also, be sure to check the two shops on your right as you are walking from the central square to the Cathedral.
Internet
There seem not to be many Internet Cafés in Zagreb
Eat
Restaurants
- Le Bistro, Mihanovićeva 1; ++ 385 1 45 66 666. A French restaurant within the Regent Esplanade Hotel
- Srčeko, Vinogradska 135, [4]. open Mon - Sat 12AM - 11PM, Sun 12AM - 6PM; ++ 385 1 373 10 07) - a very romantic little restaurant.
- Velika Klet obitelji Bunčić - although technically not in Zagreb, but in Dugo Selo - a town 20 km far from Zagreb, which is part of the metropolitan area - this is a very popular place that offers Croatian cuisine, live music on weekends, a stable, fish pond and basketball courtyard. Do not forget to CONTACT them on phones for information how to reach them: ++385 1/ 2781-132 | 01/ 2781-133 | fax: 01/ 2781-140
- Takenoko, Nova Ves 11 (Centar Kaptol); ++ 385 1 48 60 530, [5]. Zagreb may not be synonymous with sushi restaurants, but this is one is superb. It is located in the Kaptol Centar Shopping Center. It is not cheap, but sushi they make is incredible.
- Asia, A. Šenoe 1; ++ 385 1 48 41 218. Chinese restaurant open between 12AM and 12PM
- Restaurant Suhina, Dr. F. Tuđmana 1, Orešje near the Podsused bridge, ++ 385 44 1 33 71 562. An old family-run restaurant on the old Samobor road that offers a variaty of rosted food.
- Panino, Nova Ves 11 (Centar Kaptol); ++ 385 1 46 69 013, [6]. Nice little restaurant with great service and wonderful food. If you are into French and Istrian style food you will probably love this place.
For a comprehensive list of Zagreb restaurants visit http://www.asker.com/restaurants/
Pizzas
Pizza is a famous Italian dish, but many people say that in Zagreb you can eat pizzas which are better than in Italy. Here is only a small list of some pizza restaurant.
- Dvojka on Kaptol near to Centar Kaptol,Nova ves 2
- Stara Sava near to "rotor" and Mladost sports center
- Colonia in New Zagreb, in "Mamutica"
- Nocturno on Kaptol, between Tkalčićeva street and Cathedrale
- Baschiera 2 on the end of Savska street and beginning of "Horvaćanski zavoj"
- Gigi in Precko, Petrovaradinska; be sure to visit this pizzeria if you're going to the Jarun lake.
Drink
- see Hopdevil
Sleep
Budget
- Hotel Central [7] (+385 1 48-41-122) 3-star hotel situated 150 meters from the railway station (Glavni kolodvor) (Branimirova 3). The hotel was refurbished in 1996.
- Astoria Best Western Premier Hotel (+385 1 48-08-900) 3-star hotel in Petrinjska 71 not far from the central square of Ban Jelačić.
- Hotel Dora [8] (+385 1 63-11-900) 3 star hotel behind the Lisinski Music Hall (south of the main railway station - Glavni kolodvor). The hotel's website is in Croatian
- Hotel Golden Tulip Holiday [9] (+385 1 34-96-621) 3-star hotel situated at the western entrance to Zagreb not far from the Zagreb Fair.
- Hotel I [10] (+385 1 65-42-238) 3-star hotel situated near the southern entrance into Zagreb (Remetinečka cesta 106). This hotel is located south of the Sava and in the vicinity of Zagreb Fair.
- Hotel International [11] (+385 1 61-08-800) 3-star hotel located several hundred meters south of the central railway station (Miramarska 24).
- Hotel Jadran[12] (+385 1 45-53-777) 3-star hotel (Vlaška 50) is situated in the city center some 500 meters east of the Cathedral. There is a big shopping center near-by - the Importanne Gallery.
- Hotel Laguna [13] (+385 1 30-47-000) 3-star hotel (Kranjčevićeva 29) located near the Cibona Business Tower. The hotel's website offers information in Croatian.
- Hotel Phoenix [14] (+385 1 20-06-333) 3-star hotel (Sesvetska cesta 29, 10 360 Sesvete) situated in an eastern suburb of Zagreb - Sesvete. It is located some 500 meters from the motorway on the main road that leads from Zagreb to Dugo Selo. The hotel's website contains more information in Croatian.
- Ravnice Youth Hostel [15] (I. Ravnice 38d).
Mid-range
- Hotel Palace [16] (+385 1 48-14-611) 4-star hotel located in the very heart of Zagreb on J.J. Strossmayer Square. It was built in the Secession style in 1891 and converted into a hotel in 1905. The Arts Pavillion is 50 metres away.
- Hotel Dubrovnik [17] (+385 1 48-63-500) 4-star hotel (Gajeva 1) overlooking Zagreb's main square - Ban Jelačić Square.
- Arcotel Allegra [18](+385 1 46-96-000) 4-star hotel (Branimirova 29) which is Zagreb's first "lifestyle" hotel. It is situated within five minute walking distance (300 meters) from the central railway station (Glavni kolodvor). All rooms are spacious and air-conditioned and feature mini bar, safe, internet connection, bigscreen TV and DVD player. A very cool touch are the free apples supplied in your room in a very funky holder !
- Four Points by Sheraton Panorama Hotel Zagreb [19] (+385 1 36-58-333) 4-star hotel (Trg Kresimira Ćosića 9) is located in the business district of Zagreb some 2.5 kilometers away from the central railway station (Glavni kolodvor).
- Hotel Aristos [20] (+385 1 66-95-900) 4-star hotel located in the vicinity of the Zagreb airport at the southern gates of Zagreb, in the Buzin commercial center (Cebini 33, Buzin, 10010 Zagreb)
- Hotel As [21] (+385 1 46-09-111) 4-star hotel located in Zelengaj (Zelengaj 2A), some 2,5 kilometers to the north-east of the railway station (Glavni kolodvor). The hotel's website contains a map on how to get to the hotel.
- Hotel Phoenix is at the east end of Zagreb, and has 50 modern styled rooms and a restaurant.
Splurge
- The Regent Esplanade (+385 1 45-66-666). Luxury hotel in the heart of Zagreb (Mihanovićeva 1, just across the central railway station) that offers everything that you would expect from one of the world's finest hotels. It was built in 1925 for passengers of the famous Orient Express train, which connected Paris and Istanbul. If you can, check the Emerald Ballroom with its soaring dome shaped roof. The hotel also includes the Zinfandel's Restaurant, Le Bistro and the Esplanade 1925, the hotel's lounge and cocktail bar.
- The Westin Zagreb [22] (+385 1 48-92-000). Luxury hotel (Kršnjavoga 1) next to the Mimara Museum and the Croatian National Theatre. The hotel was renovated in 2004. It features the legendary Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Shower and probably offers the best view in the city.
- Sheraton Zagreb Hotel [23] (+385 1 45-53-535). Luxury hotel situated in Kneza Borne 2 that features air-conditioned rooms and suites with classic furniture and marbled bathrooms. It also includes King Tomislav Restaurant, Fontana Restaurant, Piano Bar, Café Imperial, 17 meeting rooms and an 800-square-meter Grand Ballroom.
Zagreb Card
Travelers who are staying for several days should consider buying the so-called Zagreb Card. It gives them unlimited travel on public transport in Zagreb, discounts at virtually all of the city’s museums, reduced prices at many restaurants, shops, and service providers and many other concessions. It costs 90 kuna (approx. 12 euros) and it is valid for 72 hours from the date and time entered on the card. Holders of the card also receive a special booklet with the list of all the establishments and the discounts available to them. The card can be bought at any of the Zagreb's Tourist Information Centers and at the reception desks of the majority of Zagreb’s hotels.
Get out
There is a number of interesting places in Zagreb's vicinity. Travelers should certainly check Samobor which is a picturesque medieval town with well preserved old core and long tourist tradition. The prevailing architecture is that of the Baroque period. The town is also reputed to be the place where best "kremšnite" - one of Croatia's best known cakes - are made. Samobor is only 20 minute drive from the Zagreb city center. You can get there by bus or take the A3 towards the Slovenian border.
Also worth a visit is Jarun Lake, on the outskirts of the city.
It's a recreational area based around a large lake where the locals to go and relax, exercise and party ! The centrepiece of the area is the actual lake itself, which is used for windsurfing and has a large rowing section with spectator stands. There are also shingle beaches surrounding the water, alongside which are some bars which get very busy at the weekends but are also nice for a sunny lunchtime snack.
You can get there by catching Tram number 5 or 17, alternatively a taxi will take 10 minutes (traffic dependent) from the centre of town.
Jarun Lake website (Croatian language only)
There is also a large nightclub very close to Jarun that is called Klub The Best. It is the largest in Zagreb !