WHAT TO DO IN ZAGREB – 1 day itinerary

Croatia is definitely one of the most popular places to visit in Europe, especially in the summer, the beaches and scenic views are breathtaking! But it always bothered me why people didn’t talk about Zagreb enough. So I decided to go visit and see for myself what the capital of Croatia is all about. And I’m so glad I did. The city is lovely, bright, warm and so different from the other cities we visited. The sense of community was stronger there and I was able to meet and talk to locals a lot more as well. We spent one day but I wish I had stayed longer! So, to make your trip easier, here are some of the highlights of our trip in Zagreb!

For more real life tips, make sure to follow me on instagram @marthasachser and @blognyandabout! Have fun!

Where we stayed:

We stayed at the beautiful Esplanade Hotel, built in 1925 to accommodate travelers from the Orient Express train, many famous personalities have stayed in this hotel! The lobby was kept just like old days and other parts were renovated, but the hotel has the same atmosphere and elegant decor from when it was first inaugurated. The staff is super attentive, the breakfast buffet was SOOO good and the location is very convenient, by the train station and within walking distance to all major attractions. You can learn more about the hotel HERE!

Fun things not to miss in Zagreb!

The Lotrščak Tower and Grič cannon

Head to the Lotrščak Tower to catch the cannon firing at 12pm. This tradition is super well known in Zagreb and you can hear it everyday from pretty much anywhere but I recommend going to the tower and watching for yourself!

The funicular!

The first idea of public transportation in ZagrebAnd it was inaugurates in 1890!It’s a short ride, only 66 meters long and it costs 5 kunas oneway, which is almost one euro! You can get to Upper town by foot but I recommend taking the funicular for the experience!

WHAT TO SEE IN ZAGREB IN ONE DAY

Jelačić plac or Jelačić Square

This is the Central Square of Zagreb and from here you can walk anywhere or catch buses and trams to explore other parts of the city. The square was named after ban Josip Jelačić but the official name is Trg bana Jelačića.

Old Zagreb (and St.Mark’s Square)

There are some very interesting places to visit, museums to explore and restaurants to eat at and if you do visit them all you might need an extra day in Zagreb for sure. For me, the main attractions there were the Church of St. Mark (parish church of old Zagreb) in St. Mark’s Square and Museum of Broken Relationships. It’s such a lovely place to visit and walk around!

Zagreb Cathedral

This gothic cathedral is the tallest building in Zagreb (and Croatia!) and I love how you can see it from different parts of the city! The cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and to kings Saint Stephen and Saint Ladislaus. It is beautiful inside!

Mesnica Neno

This was one of my favorite parts of our day in Zagreb! I got to walk around the open market, talk to locals, buy fresh fruits… There is also a nice flower market, so feel free to spend some time there!

Stone gate

This brings back history (1266!) of when there were strong walls and gates surrounding the city but today it is also a significant place of worship. The city back at that time was mainly built out of wood so fires were a common thing and in one of them the building that used to be on top of it was severely damaged but only one painting was saved from the fire in perfect condition. And this painting of Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus is the one you will find to this date inside the passage at Stone gate.

Art Pavillion Zagreb

This beautiful building holds the Art Pavilion in Zagreb, which is an art gallery, by the Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square and King Tomislav Square and only a few minutes from our hotel (Esplanade Zagreb). The facade of the building is beautiful and stands out in between the two sqaures. The gallery was established in 1898 and it is the oldest gallery in Southeast Europe, pretty impressive. I didn’t get to go inside (it was closed) but hopefully next time!