We spent one day in the Croatian capital of Zagreb as part of our Balkan Road Trip. Zagrab is a pleasant city, but it’s not very big (with a population of around 767,000), so a day is probably enough to see the main sights.
How to get to Zagreb
As mentioned above, we drove to Zagreb as part of a road trip, arriving from Slovenia and departing the next day for Serbia. Zagreb is well connected with motorways, so driving is easy. If you’re not driving, Zagreb is equally well served with buses and trains from across Europe. It has its own airport, around 10 miles south east of the city. Bus No 290 runs between the airport and the city.
Getting Around Zagreb
Zagreb isn’t very big, so is easily explored on foot. The city is divided into an upper and lower section, which are connected by a funicular railway.
Where to Stay in Zagreb
We stayed at 4citywindows, which is a small, centrally located B&B run by a lovely couple. It’s beautifully decorated (the owner is an illustrator and each room is unique). The owners are extremely welcoming, there is free parking on site and an excellent breakfast (we were served pancakes with home made plum jam). I can thoroughly recommend a stay here.
Zagreb in 1 Day Itinerary
| Day 1 | Drive to Zagreb Accommodation – 4citywindows Zrinjevac Strossmayer Square Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Dolac Market Trg Bana Jelačića Funicular Railway Museum of Broken Relationships St Mark’s Church Stone Gate |
Zagreb Day 1
Drive to Zagreb
The drive to Zagreb is a breeze, if a little dull and we arrive at our destination by mid morning.
Accommodation – 4citywindows
We check in to our B&B; 4citywindows, which is run by a lovely couple. We are in the Cartoon Room, which features hand drawn cartoons from war time animated films.
Our hosts help us plan a route to visit the old city and we set forth to peruse the various churches, notable buildings and parks. It’s a pleasant walk as most of the roads are pedestrian and there are plenty of parks and squares.
Zrinjevac
We start with a wander round the gardens of Zrinjevac, a pretty park with fountains, flower beds and sculptures.
Strossmayer Square
I can’t resist a bit of communist art and there are some interesting statues in Strossmayer Square.
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Zagreb Cathedral (or the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to give it its full name) with its twin spires dominates the city.
The cathedral is undergoing renovation. On display are new and old pieces of stonework to demonstrate the damage which has occurred over time. If pollution can cause so much damage to stone, what chance do our lungs have?
Dolac Market
Next, we cross the square to Dolac Market, vibrant with flowers and all manner of produce. We purchase some lunch from one of the stalls.
Trg Bana Jelačića
Then we sit on the edge of the statue in Trg Bana Jelačića to eat our calzones. It’s all glamour, this travelling malarkey! A peruse of my guide book tells me that the statue is of a 19th Century Viceroy, who led Croatia into battle against Hungary. During his reign, President Tito ordered it to be taken down. But after his demise, the statue was returned to its place in the square.
Funicular Railway
After lunch, we take the 18th century Funicular Railway to the Upper Town. The Zagreb Funicular is the oldest means of public transportation in Zagreb. At just 66 metres long, it claims to be the shortest funicular in the world. From the top, you can look out across the Lower Town. The Upper Town is the oldest part of Zagreb. You can wander through the ancient cobbled streets admiring some of the old buildings.
The funicular is open daily from 6.30 am until 10 pm operating every 10 minutes. A one way ticket costs €0.66. Alternatively, if you’re in a hurry, you can pay €3.32 for an urgent ride.
Museum of Broken Relationships
Next, we head for the intriguingly named Museum of Broken Relationships (somewhat ironically in Dverce street). People donate items which remind them of the end of a relationship, together with an explanation. There’s quite a range on display, from the moving (a mother’s suicide letter) to the more humorous (a Divorce Day mad dwarf thrown at an ex’s new car).
My guide book describes the museum as ‘quirky and innovative’. While some of it is interesting and poignant, there are many long-winded self-indulgent explanations of failed love affairs. However, it’s kind of a Zagreb must-see, so overall I’m glad we visited.
The Museum of Broken Relationships is open daily from 9 am until 9 pm (10 pm between June and September). Entry costs €7.
St Mark’s Church
We round our day of sightseeing off at St Mark’s Church. The roof, tiled in the colours of the Croatian flag, complete with coats of arms, is emblematic of the city, and indeed Croatia.
Stone Gate
We return to our accommodation via the imposing Stone Gate. The gate formed part of the old town’s fortifications and is the last remaining city gate.
- Trip Taken: September 2018
- Updated: March 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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