Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Europe › Croatia › Zagreb

Zagreb

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A blend of history and modern charm

Zagreb serves as Croatia’s political and cultural center, located in the northern part of the country along the Sava River. The city features wide boulevards lined with historic buildings, lively markets and numerous parks that provide green spaces for residents and visitors alike. Museums and galleries display both Croatian heritage and contemporary art, while cafes line streets where locals gather to talk or relax. Zagreb’s architecture reflects a mix of styles from Gothic to modern design, creating an urban environment that feels welcoming without relying on flashy displays.

City in Croatia
Climate zone: Mild oceanic

Mild oceanic: Marine-influenced climates with cool summers, mild winters and frequent precipitation year-round, typical of western coasts at mid-latitudes.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 8.0
General Safety:8
Health & medical:8
Accessibility:7
Tap water:9
Read details
Tourist English: 4/5
English is widely spoken, especially by younger generations and in tourist areas. You’ll have no problem communicating in most shops, hotels, and restaurants.
Last update: 12 Oct 2026
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Zagreb Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work
Strong in city culture and historic streets. Visit museums and markets, walk lively squares, relax in cafés and explore parks and viewpoints.
Place score
7.4
Best at:
Walkable
7
Spotless
7
Fine dining
7
Local cuisine
7
Street food
7
Personal score
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Log in to see how this place matches your personal travel interests.
Suited for
👶 8
Families
🧓 7
Seniors
🛡️ 8
Travel Beginners
💻 8
Digital Nomads
Croatia – Quick facts
Power Grid: 230 V, 50 Hz
Plug: Type C , Type F
Type C:
Diagram of a Type C power plug
Type F:
Diagram of a Type F power plug

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 Zagreb, Croatia
❄️
Jan
☁️
Feb
🌥️
Mar
🌥️
Apr
🌤️
May
🌤️
Jun
🌤️
Jul
☀️
Aug
🌤️
Sep
🌤️
Oct
☁️
Nov
❄️
Dec
High season: May - June, Sep., Dec.
Shoulder season: April, July - Aug., Oct.
Crowdedness: 8 (Very crowded)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Advent in Zagreb: Christmas markets from late November to early January
August: some restaurants and shops close as locals head to the coast
Many visitors use Zagreb as a base or stopover, with the coast far hotter in summer

Why travel to Zagreb?

Zagreb offers a perfect mix of history, culture and laid-back vibes. You can wander through charming medieval streets, explore fascinating museums and enjoy lively markets. Plus, the city’s cafe culture is unbeatable! Zagreb is also a gateway to Croatia’s natural wonders, making it a great base for exploring the country. While it doesn't have the beaches of the Dalmatian coast, it makes up for it with a thriving cultural scene and genuine local experiences.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Zagreb Cathedral
    The Zagreb Cathedral stands as a grand Romanesque landmark within the historic city center. Its towering spires and intricate stone facade dominate the skyline, offering visitors a glimpse into centuries of religious heritage and architectural splendor.
  • 2 Lotrščak Tower
    This distinctive tower in Zagreb's historic center offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding hills. Its unique architecture stands out against the backdrop of traditional buildings, making it a popular spot for photography and relaxation near the river.
  • 3 St. Mark's Church
  • 4 Museum of Broken Relationships
  • 5 Groblje Mirogoj
  • 6 Ban Jelačić Square
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 Stadion Maksimir
  • 2 Arena Zagreb
  • 3 Lauba House
🏞️Natural landmarks
  • 1 Maksimir Park
    This historic park in Zagreb features lush green lawns, mature trees and a central fountain. It offers peaceful walking paths, open-air concerts and a charming atmosphere perfect for relaxation and family gatherings.
  • 2 Zagreb Botanical Garden
  • 3 Bundek
  • 4 Zrinjevac
  • 5 Park šuma Mirogoj
  • 6 Medvedgrad
🛍️Shopping
  • 1 Importanne Galleria
  • 2 Westgate Shopping City
  • 3 Centar Kaptol
  • 4 Cvjetni salon - Art Roses J d.o.o.
  • 5 Dolac Market
  • 6 Arena centar
🎈Events
  • Advent in Zagreb (Christmas market)
  • Zagreb Film Festival
  • INmusic Festival
  • Cest is d'Best (street festival)
  • Zagreb Burger Festival
  • Zagreb Winter Fest
  • Animafest Zagreb (animation festival)
  • Zagreb Pride
  • Strossmartre (summer event series)
  • Festival of Lights

Knowledge before you go

  • Split your time between the historic Upper Town and lively Lower Town.
  • Base near Ban Jelačić Square for easy walks to Dolac Market, Tkalčićeva’s cafés and major tram connections across Zagreb.
  • Ride the short funicular to Gornji Grad, then wander St. Mark’s Church area, viewpoints and quirky museums like Broken Relationships.
  • Join locals on evening promenades along Tkalčićeva Street or Strossmayer Promenade, combining relaxed bar-hopping with great skyline views and live summer events.

How to travel to Zagreb

Zagreb is accessible via Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG), with regular flights from Europe and beyond. It's also well-connected by train and bus, making it easy to reach from other parts of Croatia and neighboring countries.

Access summary

  • From Zagreb Airport (ZAG): Shuttle or bus 290 to centre, about 30–45 minutes.
  • From Ljubljana: Direct buses or trains to Zagreb, usually around 2–3 hours.
  • From Vienna: Intercity buses or trains to Zagreb, typically about 5–7 hours.

Where to stay in Zagreb

Zagreb offers a range of accommodations from budget hostels to boutique hotels. The city center is ideal for easy access to major sights, while neighborhoods like Tkalčićeva Street are great for a vibrant atmosphere.

How to get around Zagreb

Zagreb is well-connected with trams and buses. Walking is also a great option in the city center. The Zagreb Card offers free public transport and discounts to various attractions.
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 Zagreb 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

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
£44
£101
£278
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£19
£45
£120
🍝 Food per day
£22
£50
£137
🚕 Transportation per day
£3
£5
£20
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£10
🍟 Fast food combo
£7
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£8
☕ Cappuccino
£1.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£2.60
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£0.48
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£13
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£1.30
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£6.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£36
🤧 Cold medication
£6
💇 Basic haircut
£7

Safety information overview

General safety
8
Zagreb is generally safe with low crime rates. Standard precautions apply, like avoiding poorly lit areas at night and keeping valuables secure.
Health & Medical
8
Healthcare in Zagreb is of good quality, with hospitals and pharmacies readily available. No special vaccinations are needed, but travel insurance is recommended.
Accessi­bility
7
Zagreb offers good accessibility in many public places, but older historic areas may present challenges for those with mobility issues due to cobblestone streets and stairs.
Tap water
9
Tap water in Zagreb is safe to drink and of high quality. Public fountains are also available in many parks and squares.

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