Moment in the Alps with a Day Trip to Samobor, Croatia

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People tend to think only of Croatia’s epic coastline when planning trips to the country. Many don’t realise there are other sides to the country, include the mountain ranges of the Dinaric Alps that stretch through to the rest of the Balkans. When in Zagreb, the easiest way to experience this alpine side of Croatia is with a day trip to Samobor from Zagreb.

A small town on the edge of the mountains, Samobor shows that Croatia is far more diverse than people give it credit for. Walking around, it was almost hard to believe I was actually in Croatia, especially with the winter snow at my feet. Yes, visiting in early March right after a blizzard swept through meant I saw snow in Croatia of all places. But anyway, here’s what you have to look forward to with a day trip from Zagreb to Samobor, Croatia.

Getting to Samobor

First of all, let’s talk about getting to Samobor from Zagreb. Certainly the easiest way is with regional bus 155 that leaves from platform 610 at Zagreb Bus Station. There are two to three departures an hour with the latest 2018 timetable found here. The ride is around 30 minutes, it’s really not far.

Now, don’t make the same mistake I did and buy it at the bus station kiosks. It actually costs a little less if you buy straight from the driver so just head straight to the platform. Either way though, it’s a little more expensive than you might suspect at 28kn (~3.75€) one way.

Old Town

A short walk from Samobor bus station and I’d arrived in the small historic centre of the town. While the snow had melted in Zagreb, it was still chilly with snow on the ground here which immediately set the town apart. At the very centre of Samobor is King Tomislav Square, surrounded by typical buildings like that of Zagreb’s Old Town.

Interestingly, the most beautiful building here isn’t the Town Hall but a random Art Deco building. For day trippers, it’s useful to know that this square is your best point for cafes and restaurants in Samobor.

Samobor Riverfront

But actually the most beautiful part of Samobor has to be the town’s riverfront. It was along the river, surrounded by snow, that made me think of the Alps and marvel that I was still in Croatia. Slovenia maybe but not Croatia!

Flowing right through Samobor is the Gradna River and its modest size perfectly matches the town. While there are various ways to enter town, the walk along the river is the one I recommend. In various spots, you’ll find bridges crossing the river, varying from functional to downright pretty like the covered, wooden bridge past the main square. There’s even a small castle by the river in Wiesner-Livadic Castle, which hosts the town museum.

Cream Cake

Now a visit to Samobor wouldn’t be complete without sampling the town’s local treat, the Samobor Cream Cake. Unlike the Bled Cream Cake, this one doesn’t have a layer of whipped cream, meaning there’s even more room for the vanilla cream. Plenty sugary goodness to be had there maybe together with a coffee. If you’re looking for it in town, I can recommend Livadic Cafe on the main square.

Churches

In Samobor you’ll find a few churches that seem to take the best spots in town. One, the St. Anastasia Parish Church, sits directly over the main square and its yellow bell-tower is visible most places. The church interior is rather simple, but outside you’ll find a small park and a great view-point of the main square.

Further up the hill you can find the Franciscan Monastery which I think is even nicer, with its orange and white colours. The frozen orchard outside also sets quite the scene. I didn’t have a chance to go inside the monastery church, but I think it’s still worth a look.

Samobor Castle

The other big landmark to visit on a day trip to Samobor are the ruins of Samobor Castle. Just outside town in the nearby hills, the castle can be seen above the trees from town. This 13th century castle is now just ruins, although its jagged remains do look quite impressive. To reach the castle, simply follow the river out towards it and you should be able to take the hiking trails up onto Tepec Hill. There is also a back road up there but is quite a lot further to walk around to.

Sadly, I was unable to visit the castle ruins as the hiking trails up were snowed over with hard, icy snow and I didn’t want to risk it. By the time I reached the low-lying Sveti Mihalj Church, the snow was already pretty dicey and the church itself was half-buried in snow. Definitely my biggest regret of visiting Samobor in winter was missing out on this castle. But still, seeing Samobor covered in snow was quite a memorable sight.

Would you consider making a day trip to Samobor, Croatia? Where else would you recommend visiting from Zagreb? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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