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Varaždin

Baroque Beauty and Festival Spirit

Varazdin is a city in northern Croatia known for its historic architecture and cultural events. The town features well-preserved Baroque buildings, including the Varazdin Cathedral and the Town Hall with its ornate façade. Local museums display regional art and history, while annual festivals celebrate music, theater and traditional crafts. Surrounded by fertile plains and close to the Mura River, Varazdin provides a quiet alternative to busier coastal destinations. Its central location makes it easy to explore nearby towns and natural parks throughout Croatia’s countryside.

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City in Croatia

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.6

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and by younger locals. Tourist information is available in English, making it easy for visitors to get around and enjoy the city.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Varaždin Summary

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Strong in baroque architecture and culture. Walk elegant old town streets, visit castles and museums and enjoy music festivals and cafés.

Place score

7.4

Best at:

Walkable

Cosy towns

Rivers

Spotless

Architecture

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Croatia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted, but some smaller businesses may prefer cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. Leaving 5-10% in restaurants is common.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed, especially in tourist areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in public places but allowed in designated areas.

Statehood Day (May)	Events and closures occur.
Easter (March/April)	Religious observances and closures.
Christmas (December)	Markets and celebrations.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt, Cammeo
Other:	Island-hopping and exploring the Adriatic coast are highly recommended. Summer can be crowded.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Varaždin, Croatia

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

☀️

Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Špancirfest street festival, late August to early September: the town's biggest event, book accommodation ahead

Advent festivities in the old town, December

Don't miss

🏛️ Explore the baroque beauty of Varaždin Old Town streets
🏰 Visit the historic Stari Grad Castle and City Museum
🖼️ Admire art at the Miljenko Stančić Gallery
🌳 Relax in Varazdin’s scenic Drava River Park
🎶 Attend the annual Varaždin Baroque Evenings music festival
🦶 Touch the Grgur Ninski statue’s toe for good luck

You've been here?

Why travel to Varaždin?

Varaždin is a delight for anyone who loves history, art and a relaxed, walkable atmosphere. The city’s Old Town is packed with elegant palaces, churches and the impressive Stari Grad Castle. It comes alive with events like Špancirfest, a street festival full of music, parades and creativity. The city’s parks and the beautifully landscaped cemetery are peaceful spots to unwind, while the local markets and cafés offer a taste of everyday Croatian life. It’s not a big city, so you can see a lot in a day or two, but that also means it can feel quiet outside of festival season. Some attractions may close early, especially in winter and crowds can swell during major events. Still, Varaždin’s friendly vibe and rich heritage make it a rewarding stop.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Dvorac Konjščina
2 Gradsko groblje Varaždin
3 Museum of Angels
4 Ursuline Church of the Birth of Christ

🎡Places for activities

1 Varaždin Old Castle
2 CineStar

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Arboretum Opeka
2 Park
3 Gradsko groblje Varaždin

🛍️Shopping

1 market Plus

🎈Events

Špancirfest (Street Festival of Good Emotions)
Varaždin Baroque Evenings
Trash Film Festival
Flower Festival
Christmas Market
City Day Celebrations
Summer Concert Series
Artisan Fairs
Open-Air Theatre Nights
Carnival Parade

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Visit Old Town fortress housing city museum exhibits.
Watch Saturday Purgari civic guard procession on main square from May to October.
Stroll Baroque Korzo square lined with colorful mansions, Town Hall and pink cathedral.
Explore landscaped City Cemetery designed like Schönbrunn gardens with notable sculptures.

How to travel to Varaždin

Varaždin is about 80 km north of Zagreb. The nearest major airport is Zagreb Airport, with regular bus and train connections to Varaždin. Direct buses run from Zagreb and other Croatian cities. Driving is straightforward via the A4 motorway.

Access summary

From Zagreb Airport (ZAG): Bus or car via Zagreb, around 1.5–2 hours.
From Zagreb city: Direct bus or driving, typically about 1–1.5 hours.
From Ljubljana: Cross-border bus or car via Zagreb region, roughly 3 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Varaždin

Varaždin offers a range of small hotels, charming guesthouses and boutique accommodations, many in historic buildings. Options are comfortable and affordable, but book ahead during festivals, as rooms fill up quickly.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Robinzonski Kamp Hofman - Private Bungalow

Wellness Apartments - Studio Apartment with Terrace G3

Studio apartment with terrace in Varazdin

Modern and cozy apartment in the center!

Villa Una by Villas Guide

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Varaždin

The city is compact and easily explored on foot or by bicycle. Local buses connect neighborhoods and nearby villages. Taxis are available, but most sights are within walking distance of the Old Town. Cycling along the Drava River is popular.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-33 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 33% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Murska Sobota, Slovenia - 42 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£52	£102	£250
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£21	£45	£98
🍝 Food per day	£20	£47	£130
🚕 Transportation per day	£11	£10	£23

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£20
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£10
🍟 Fast food combo	£6
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£7
☕ Cappuccino	£1.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.60

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£11.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.40

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.40
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£45
🤧 Cold medication	£10.50
💇 Basic haircut	£8.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Varaždin is very safe, with low crime rates and a relaxed atmosphere. Standard precautions apply, especially in crowded festival areas. The city is family-friendly and welcoming.

Health & Medical

Medical care is good, with clinics and a hospital in town. Pharmacies are easily found. Tap water is safe and no special vaccinations are needed. Emergency services are reliable.

Accessibility

Most of the city center is accessible, though some cobbled streets and historic buildings may pose challenges for wheelchairs. Public transport is accessible and information is available for travelers with special needs.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and clean, available everywhere in the city. Bring a reusable bottle to refill as you explore. Public fountains are also available in parks and squares.