11 Superb Sights to See in Zagreb, Croatia

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Even though Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, the fact that the city isn’t on the country’s coast seems to work against it. People rave about how great Split and Dubrovnik are for sightseeing and holidays, but they sure don’t seem to talk about Zagreb in the same way.

Hey, even I had a hard time fully appreciating Zagreb during my first visit. But second time around I’ve realised that there’s more than enough sights to keep you thoroughly occupied during your stay. Sure, I was visiting Zagreb in winter which is not always ideal and yet I still managed to find plenty of sights to see in Zagreb.

1. St. Marks Church

When sightseeing in Zagreb there’s no way you can possibly miss the iconic Church of St Mark. For me, the first image I picture when I think of the Croatian capital is the incredible roof of this church.

Adorned in coloured tiles, the roof of St Marks features clever tile patterns that create Croatian coat of arms and the city’s coat of arms against a vibrant background. Interestingly, you can only enter the church when taking part in mass, so most people only ever see it from the outside in St Mark’s Square.

2. Upper Town

When it comes to Zagreb’s medieval history, the Upper Town is where it’s at. Sitting on hills above the rest of the city, walking around the Upper Town is definitely one of the best things to do in Zagreb. This is the oldest part of the city and when you walk through its narrow alleys that becomes plain as day.

Scattered throughout the Upper Town are plenty of historic buildings, including some palaces, as well as the fascinating Stone Gate. Inside this tunnel through one layer of city walls you’ll actually find a small chapel and shrine.

The Upper Town is also known for its long pedestrian streets like Ivana Tkalčića street that is simply packed with bars, cafes and restaurants. You’ll also find the odd landmark too here, like the old Sun Dial or street art.

3. Cathedral of Zagreb

Looking at the skyline of Zagreb, it’s nearly impossible to miss the towering spires of the Zagreb Cathedral. No wonder given that the towers on this gothic cathedral make the building the tallest in all of Croatia.

The cathedral was first finished in 1217, built upon an existing church, and threats to the cathedral over the years resulted in fortifications, some of which can still be seen today. Both times I’ve visited Zagreb – five years apart – the southern tower of the cathedral has been covered in scaffolding. No idea if the restoration is still ongoing but it’s actually quite subtle and doesn’t take much away from the sight of the cathedral.

4. Strossmayer’s Promenade Viewpoint

With the centre of Zagreb split between its Upper Town and Lower Town, you know you’re in for some views. Running right along the edge of the Upper Town in Zagreb is the Strossmayer’s Promenade, a gentle place made for city views. To me the place for perfect views across the city of Zagreb is just by the funicular line that joins the two halves of the city centre.

From here you can see a great deal of downtown Zagreb, both its historic buildings and more modern additions in the distance. Directly behind you is the Lotrščak Tower, but the promenade’s view is free and I really don’t think the tower’s views are all that much better.

5. Ban Josip Jelačić Square

Marking the divide really between Zagreb’s Upper and Lower Towns is the bustling Ban Josip Jelačić Square. With a mounted statue of the famed Croatian leader and general as its focus, there are also several nice buildings around the sides of the square. Unlike St Mark’s Square in the Upper Town, this square is never without people and is an important transit hub.

6. Dolac Market

Personally, I think one of the nicer places to visit in Zagreb for a sense of local life is the city’s Dolac Market. This great big central market place sits between the city’s Upper and Lower Towns and you get the feeling that it’s done so for quite some time. Essentially an open air farmers market, it’s a nice touch of the old world and contrasts with all the more modern department stores and shops found in the city centre. Plus, you get a good view of the Cathedral towers too.

7. Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb

To me one of the more distinctive sights in Zagreb is neo Baroque buildings painted in a certain shade of yellow, like the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb for example. After I first visited, this style of architecture quickly became the look I pictured when I thought of Zagreb.

With the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb it’s hard not to notice the building’s grandeur and the buildings colours make it really stand out, especially against the snow in winter. Around the theatre are a number of other elegant buildings like the Mimara Museum and State Archives but this iconic gem is hard to top.

8. Park Zrinjevac

Zagreb certainly isn’t a huge city compared to other European capitals, but it still has a city atmosphere to it. So if you’re looking for a calm park to escape the city rush, I’d recommend Zrinjevac Park. With plenty of trees, fountains and a nice pagoda at the middle, you couldn’t ask for a nicer spot to take a break.

9. Square of King Tomislav

Zagreb can at times feel quite built up, so when you reach the wide open space of King Tomsilav Square it’s immediately noticeable. With the gleaming yellow Art Pavilion up one end and plenty of interesting residential buildings around the sides, the square is a real show case of what Zagreb looks like.

Depending on the season you visit, you might find in the square’s gardens beautiful flowers and fountains, a festive ice-skating rink or a bed of white snow as I did coming to Croatia in late winter.

10. Lower Town

Compared to the Upper Town, the Lower Town of Zagreb is decidedly larger and more modern. Although it does have its pedestrian streets here and there, most of the Lower Town features wider streets and a mix of architectural eras. It’s in this part of the city that you’ll find all the shops and stores you’d expect in a major modern city.

Among the various grand buildings here you’ll even find the occasional inner arcades, like at the Oktogon. The further you get from the Upper Town the wider the streets become and more parks you find, as previously mentioned. Here it’s less about seeing specific landmarks and more the feel of Zagreb in general.

11. Grič Tunnel

One Zagreb attraction I wasn’t really aware of before hand was the Grič Tunnel that runs under the city’s Upper Town. Built in World War II as a bomb shelter and then reused during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s, the tunnels are still in pretty good state today. Making an “L” shape, the tunnels run under the Grič Park and are freely used for pedestrian access, so you can go for a wander through if you feel like it.

Visiting Zagreb

While we’ve touched on many of the things to do in Zagreb, this list is by no means complete. I haven’t covered many of Zagreb’s museums like the city’s Torture Museum, Mushroom Museum or the Croatian Society of Fine Artists Museum. Then there are the many day trip possibilities to consider, like Samobor and Plitvice Lakes.

Now for where to stay in Zagreb, my recommendation is to go no further south than the city’s train station. Both the Upper and Lower Towns are fine for sightseeing and finding restaurants, as you can walk around both or take public transport. You should find plenty of hotels, guesthouses and apartments throughout the city centre, but don’t rule out Airbnb as another option.

Thanks to its location, Zagreb is a pretty easy place to reach from neighbouring countries in Europe. Zagreb is connected by bus to not only plenty of other major Croatian destinations, but also cities like Ljubljana, Vienna and Budapest thanks to Flixbus. For taking trams around the city, tram tickets can be bought at Tisak kiosks or from the driver if needed.

Have you ever visited Zagreb before or ever considered visiting the Croatian capital? Would you suggest other sights to see in Zagreb that I have missed? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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