The capital city of Zagreb is located near the geographical junction of the horseshoe shaped nation of Croatia. Situated between the countries of Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, it is a natural place to visit on a tour of the Balkan section of Eastern Europe.
In modern Zagreb, you will see a city with over a million inhabitants in it’s metro area. A close knit community, Zagreb retains the tradition of a tourist center.
A unique offer in the city is the Zagreb Card. Created by the Zagreb Tourist Board, this card can be a boon to the visitor to this historic city. The card is available on line or at many locations throughout the Metropolitan Area. The Zagreb Card can provide discount admission to many of the cities museums and other attractions, as well as price breaks at various local hotels and restaurants. It is also good for unlimited travel on the cities public transportation system. At a price of around 12 Euro, it is a three day pass to a more enjoyable stay in the Croatian capital.
Though the area around the city of Zagreb has been populated as far back as the Neolithic era, it did not become a true community until the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The actual city that came to be known as Zagreb was formed in the early sixteen hundreds.
The name of the city may have originated from a word meaning to dig. Legend has it that a thirsty group of Croatian soldiers were traveling through the area where Zagreb was founded. The leader, a Croatian official, supposedly ran his sabre into the ground in an act of frustration and anger. According to the story, water gushed from the wound and the official ordered to scrape and dig away at the soil to get at the water.
The beauty and mystery that envelopes Europe continue to draw the fascination and imagination of tourists to this continent. If you plan to run away to Europe for a much needed vacation, you itinerary will not be complete if you do not devote a few days to spend in Croatia. A definite stopover while you are in this part of the world would be to enjoy the sights and sceneries that are exclusive to Zagreb, the Republic’s capital and its largest city. It is strategically surrounded by mountains and rivers that lend the necessary charm to attract numerous visitors every year. Zagreb is highly populated as opposed to the other cities but its land coverage is huge enough to accommodate both its local residents as well as foreigners who are sightseeing.
There are two ways to reach the City of Zagreb or Grad Zagreb, which are by air and by land. The airport is located at Pleso that is approximately 17 kilometers from the heart of the city. Upon leaving the plane, you will certainly appreciate the modern facilities that are available in the arrival section. There are the usual services of a bank, postal service, and souvenir shops together with the meals and drinks offered in the restaurants and bars.
Via land, two more options that you can choose from are – by rail or by road. Zagreb is connected to the other main cities such Osijek and Split, through the Croatian railway. This railway service likewise offers international connection coming from Belgrade, Budapest, Munich or Vienna, to name a few. Motorways can also be utilized as there are direct routes connecting the City to other areas. Private coaches may be rented and this service covers both local and international point of destinations.
While in the city, you can pick among the numerous forms of transportation – the busses, trams, taxis, and car rentals, which include bicycle rentals. Relying on a particular vehicle is vital if you plan to pass through the cobbled streets that seem to be like a maze for those unfamiliar to this territory. The influences that this place has undergone while under Budapest and Vienna is imprinted on the many structures and buildings that are standing in this City. Touring Zagreb will keep you busy, as you would want to visit the historical museums and parks that are spread all over the City.
Zagreb is the only city that has a population of over a million people. Based on the 2001 census, Croats comprise a whopping 92% of the populace with the balance divided into at least 8 more ethnic minorities. The bustling economy on Zagreb makes it the top contributor to Croatia’s Gross Domestic Product. The strong performance can be attributed to its manufacturing industry – electric machines and devices, processing, textile, pharmaceutical, among others. Furthermore, tourism as a separate sector is slowly beginning to make its significant contribution to the government’s revenue as its landmark museums, recreational centers, shops and other attractions are enticing newcomers from the rest of the world to take a trip in this City for a memorable holiday.
About the City
No visit to Croatia is complete without a corresponding visit to Zagreb, the capital city of the country. Not only is it the largest city in Croatia, but it is also one of the country’s major tourism destinations. The 1 million people that live within the city are able to live in a city that is truly one of Europe’s oldest, with the medieval flair that the city was initially given still shining through to this very day. For this reason, Zagreb has a lot in common aesthetically with classically beautiful Central European cities in countries like Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
If you are interested in traveling to Croatia, then you are going to need to know some basic facts about the country beyond just where it happens to be located. The government of Croatia is a parliamentary democracy and for that reason there are actually open question period sessions that you can attend if you’d like to see how things work within the capital city of Zagreb (it also happens to be the largest city in the country and one of the major tourism destinations, so you would not be going out of your way in order to attend a question period).
Must See Places When Visiting Zagreb
- Main City Square is located in the Donji grad section of the city, and is a good starting point for your travels.
- Several museums, including the Strossmayer Gallery and the Zagreb Modern Gallery are located here.
- The Zagreb Music Pavilion, Botanical Garden and Croatian National Archives are also located nearby.
- The Kaptol section of the city, located near the central city square, it hosts the cities main cathedral.
- The section known as Dolac is the site of Zagreb’s largest open market.
Located only 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from Zagreb, the city of Samobor dates back to medieval times. Founded in 1242, Samobor was known as one of the first tourist attractions and resort cities of Eastern Europe. History buffs will love the well preserved town center, which features centuries old architecture and living styles. Stop and try the local delicacy, the Samobor Cream cake.
Places to Eat Zagreb
In the center of the Zagreb, the mix of restaurants is typical of any major European city: Italian food abounds, along with French, Chinese, and Indian. Le Bistro is a French restaurant located in the Regent Esplanade Hotel.
To sample traditional Croatian cuisine, you will need to move out to the edge of the town, in the so called Green regions of the city.
Velika Klet obitelji Bunčić, located in the nearby town of Dugo Selo, is known for it’s Croatian cooking and music.
Tours of Zagreb
A variety of tour companies are listed with the Zagreb Tourist Bureau, including
- Adriatours 385 1 48-26-377 [email protected]
- Ban Tours 385 1 48-14-806 [email protected]
- Ferek Tours 385 1 49-24-024 [email protected]
- Olymptours 385 1 48-55-680 [email protected]
- Sovatours 385 1 48-56-220 [email protected]
Activities Zagreb
One thing that you absolutely must do when you get to Zagreb is to take a tour of the upper town. This tour is held every day at 10 AM and starts at the information office for tourists. It is a two hour tour, so make sure you are fit enough to survive the whole thing, because it is easily the best way to make sure that you see all of the major sights in that area of the city.
Another popular activity in Zagreb is the movies, many of which are located at easy to reach locations from major tourist residential areas. Movies can be both local productions in Croatian as well as large productions that are shown in English with Croatian subtitles and it is also a good way to meet many of the locals in the city.
For classical music enthusiasts, Zagreb is home to Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Croatian Music Institute (Glazbeni Zavod) performs Chamber Music and the Croatian National Theater (Hrvatsko Narodno Kazaliste) performs opera .
Modern and alternative music is available at the many clubs in the downtown Zagreb area.
Car & Bike Rentals Zagreb
- Hrvatska Bim 385-1 461 35 04
- Unis Bike centar 385-1 461 97 78
- Avis Car Rental 385-1 483 64 66
- Dollar & Thrifty 385-1 626 53 33
Getting There & Away Zagreb
Zagreb has it’s own airport, located less than 20 kilometers from the city center. Opebn 24 hours a day, the facility is serviced by from many European population centers, including Germany, Belgium, Holland and Switzerland.
Taxi service is available from the terminals, with fairs into the city ranging from 31-39 Kuna, or around $20US.
Many hotels have limousine service available, with some at prices that are comparable to the taxi fairs. Most have the added convenience that the fair can be added to your hotel bill.
Buses run hourly between 7:00am and 8:00pm every day, and twice per hour at peak times. Travel time is less than half an hour and the cost is less than $5US.
Unique to Zagreb
Zagreb combines European sophistication with a Medieval facade, in an area which has catered to the tourist for centuries. With one of the most dynamic economies in all of Eastern Europe, this young nation with a long history is ready to charm even the most jaded tourist.
Annual Events in Zagreb
Animation Festival Zagreb
World Festival of Animated Films.
Zagreb Film Festival (16-22 October)
The Zagreb Film Festival is a relatively your film festival, but in its short live it has managed to attract more than 35,000 people
Facts & Figures about Zagreb
Phone Prefix – 01
Postcode – 10000
Population – 779,145
Previous Name – Agram – German
Zagreb weather at the moment is: 6 ºC
Tourist Office Zagreb
Address: Trg bana J. Jelacica 11
Phone: +385 1 48-14-051
E-mail: [email protected]
The tourist office has maps of Zagreb and surrounding areas available.