Zagreb Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Zagreb, Croatia)

Tourist attractions can be enjoyed in both the Upper and Lower towns, as well as out of town on Mount Medvednica. Zagreb has a stunning collection of old buildings, along with many more modern places of interest.

Ban's Palace is one of the most notable attractions of the Upper Town - Zagreb's medieval core, and is the home of the Croat government. Dolac Market is also in the Upper Town and has been operational for centuries. Further out is the Mirogoj Cemetery and Maksimir Park, the latter being where you will find the family favourite, Zagreb Zoo.

Walking Tours

What better way to familiarise yourself with the city and its sightseeing opportunities than to take a self-guided walking tour of Zagreb. All local tourist offices stock the free 'City Walks' guide, which recommends two different routes, around the Upper Town and the Lower Town. If you have plenty of time and are looking to take in the main attractions, consider the following route:

• Trg Josipa Jelacica - a prominent public square and a convenient place to begin any walk
• Dolac Market - a good place to shop and find cheap eats
• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - based on Kaptol Square
• Stone Gate - a shrine, functioning as the easterly gateway to the medieval attractions of Gradec Town
• St. Mark's Church - an iconic place of worship, known for its extremely colourful tiled roof
• Croatian Sabor - the neo-classical Parliament Building of Croatia, built in 1910
• Ban's Palace - the presidential palace, otherwise known as the Banksi Dvori
• Mestrovic Atelier - celebrating the work of famous Croatian artist Ivan Mestrovic
• Croatian Museum of Naive Art - a small museum with in excess of 1,000 paintings, drawings and sculptures
• Galerija Klovicevi Dvori - formerly a Jesuit monastery and now a leading venue for art exhibitions
• Jesuit Church of St. Catherine - a fine early 17th-century church with Baroque architecture
• Lotrscak Tower - built in order to protect the city's southern gate, with a cannon fired daily at midday
• Ilica - the principal shopping street and commercial thoroughfare
• Trg Petra Preradovica - just across from the Ilica, the perfect place to finish your walking tour, with lots of cafes offering al fresco dining and a great atmosphere

Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Ban's Palace (Banski Dvori)

Address: Markov Trg, Zagreb, Croatia, HR
Ban's Palace, the palace of the president, is located in the Upper Town, overlooking St. Mark's Square (Markov Trg). The Government of Croatia have their offices here, although it was originally built as the residence of Croatian rulers. This palatial complex comprises two Baroque mansions and is home to offices, courts and archives, plus there is a guard-changing ceremony that takes place here each Friday, Saturday and Sunday at noon, from April to September. In 1991, Ban's Palace suffered at the hands of Federal Army bombers, in what many think was actually an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate President Franjo Tudman (in office between 1990 and 1999). Tourists should note that Ban's Palace is closed to the public.
Open hours: view from the exterior only
Admission: free

Dolac Market / Dolac Fruit and Vegetable Market

Address: Dolac Quarter, Zagreb, Croatia, HR
The vibrant Dolac Market is a traditional fruit and vegetable market based within the Dolac Quarter of the Upper Town. It is colourful and bustling, and worth a wander even if you are not buying. This market has been here since the early 1930s, being established in a convenient space between the Lower Town and the Upper Town. The Dolac Market is home to much more than just fruit and veg, with the largest concentration of stalls residing on a slightly elevated square, and further stalls lining the surrounding streets. Sightseers will also enjoy checking out the period buildings around the square.
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 15:00
Admission: free

Mirogoj Cemetery (Mirogoj Zagrebacko Groblje)

Address: Mirogoj 10, Zagreb, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 01 469 6700
Off to the north of the city centre is the stunning Mirogoj Cemetery. This is no ordinary cemetery park, since it houses many intriguing architectural forms, along with its important residents. The Mirogoj Cemetery is arguably one of Europe's finest, being laid out in the 1870s by a leading Croatian architect of the time. There are many attractions here apart from the graves of famous local politicians and achievers, including large domes, an arcade, fine gardens, and a mixture of Christian, Jewish and Muslim headstones.
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 22:00
Admission: free

Maksimir Park and Zoo (Maksimirska)

Address: Maksimir Park, Zagreb, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 01 230 2198
Zagreb's largest park is off to the east of the city centre and is a beautiful place in which to spend time. Maksimir Park covers some 44 acres / 18 hectares and is well connected by public trams. This English-styled garden has been here for over 200 years and comes with various family friendly attractions, such as pavilions, a zoo, beautiful foliage and pathways. Whilst the zoo is not a must-see, it is worth taking bored kids to and features thousands of animals across almost 300 species, with favourites including brown bears, camels, lemurs, leopards, lions, monkeys, parrots and seals, amongst many others. The zoo has been around since the 1920s, although has been fully revamped in recent years. Also onsite is the Swiss House, where you can enjoy a coffee.
Open hours: Maksimir Park, daily - 09:00 to dusk; zoo, daily - 09:00 to 20:00
Admission: entrance for park is free, charge for zoo admission, discounts available for children under 14 years old, children eight years old and under are free

Botanical Garden (Botanicki Vrt)

Address: Mihanoviceva, Zagreb, Croatia, HR
The Zagreb Botanical Garden provides a pleasant alternative to sightseeing and shopping, covering around 12 acres / 5 hectares. These gardens are actually on the historic side, being first landscaped towards the end of the 19th century. Therefore, you can expect innumerable mature specimens. In total there are approximately 10,000 different plant species, as well as an arboretum, small lakes, Alpine-style rockeries, more than a dozen tropical glasshouses, a network of pathways, seating areas and an abundance of seasonal colour.
Open hours: April to October, daily - 07:00 to 21:00
Admission: free

Skiing and Winter Sports

Tel: +385 01 455 5833
Although most will not be planning a holiday in Zagreb for the skiing opportunities, if you are here in the winter months, then skiing and other winter sports are very possible, particularly during periods of heavy snowfall. Sljeme village is the place to come, being particularly close by and the most prominent peak of Mount Medvednica. Here you will find everything from seasonal ski runs and chairlifts to equipment hire.
Open hours: seasonal
Admission: charge for equipment hire