Travelling to Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital and largest city in the republic of Croatia. Located in the northwest part of the country, on the river Sava, the city is the centre of administration, travel, business and culture in the country. Its strategic location at the point where western Europe and the Mediterranean meet southeastern Europe gives it great significance as a transport hub for not just Croatia but the entire region as a whole.

Zagreb traces its origins back to the Roman times, its first settlement dates back to the 1st Century. Zagreb itself was not officially founded until nearly a millennium later by the Hungarian King Ladislaus, and in 1242 it gained the honour of Free Royal Town. In 1845 it became the capital of Croatia and got its first mayor 6 years after that. After the mid-1950s the city expanded rapidly to the south, east and west, including the formation of a new district on the other side of the Sava: Novi Zagreb. Although some fighting took place in the city during the Croatian War of Independence and it suffered being hit by rocket strikes, Zagreb did manage to escape the war largely intact.

Since the end of the war, Zagreb has attracted close to a million visitors annually. The historic part of the city, comprising the Gornji Grad and Kaptol, is a whole network of winding Medieval streets populated by churches, museums, palaces, galleries and government buildings.

The months between spring and autumn are the busiest times of the year for tourists, but with good reason, as they are also the best times of year to visit the city.

How to Get to Zagreb

Flying into Zagreb International Airport

Zagreb Airport is the main international airport of Croatia, and the primary hub for Croatia Airlines. It serves more than 2 million passengers a year and construction of a second terminal is underway. The airport is located about 10km southeast of the city centre.

Getting from Zagreb International Airport to the City Centre

There is a bus link between the main airport (Zračna luka) and the main bus station (Autobusni kolodvor) in Zagreb. A single ticket costs 30 HRK. From the bus station in downtown Zagreb, you can connect to the city's trams, which have a major terminal just down the street. The journey from the airport to the main bus station should take around 25 minutes. The bus leaves the airport every 30 minutes between 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. In the hours between these, there is a bus leaving for Zagreb bus station every time a Croatia Airlines plane arrives. Additionally there are buses run by Croatia Airlines/Eurolines.

There is also the option of taking a taxi from outside the airport - just remember to ask for the fare before boarding.

By car the journey is straightforward: follow the D8 main road and it shouldn't take much more than half an hour.

Trains to Zagreb Glavni kolodvor

Zagreb's main station is also the largest station in Croatia as a whole and forms the primary hub of Croatia's railway network. Located 1km south of the city's main square, it was constructed in the Neoclassical style towards the end of the 19th century. It runs direct services to major European cities such as Vienna (6 hours), Budapest, Zurich, Munich, Salzburg, Ljubljana, Sarajevo and Belgrade (return ticket €44, only one train a day), as well as domestic services to all major towns (except Dubrovnik). There is also a night train between Zagreb and Split, costing 197 HRK and taking nine hours. Hrvatske željeznice (Croatian Railways) is the main provider of rail services from the station.

Getting from Zagreb Glavni kolodvor to the City Centre

The train station is a major tram terminus - tram route 6 goes to the town centre. The main bus station is also located nearby.

There are taxis outside the train station; a ride into town will cost about 30 HRK. Make sure this is the case before setting off!

The drive is a short one, barely worth making, and the walk through the parks into the city centre is much more pleasant.

Buses to Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb

The bus station in Zagreb was first built in 1961, its current incarnation dates from 1987 when a new bus station building was built with associated terminals. It offers fast and safe transport to all destinations in Croatia as well as to many bigger European cities.

Getting from Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb to the City Centre

It is directly next to the train station: see above.

Driving to Zagreb

Many of the motorways in Croatia start or end in Zagreb.

• (from Vienna) pass by Graz and Maribor and then take the A2 upon entering Croatia. The road in Slovenia is tolled.
• (from Budapest) pass by Székesfehérvár and then use the A4.
• (from Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia and further east) take the A3 westbound.
• (from Ljubljana) use the A3 eastbound.
• (from the west - Italy/Rijeka or Istria) use the A7, A6 and then the A1 (Bosiljevo-Zagreb).
• (from the south - Dalmatian coast) use the A1 northbound

When driving on Croatian motorways you'll need to pay the toll either in HRK or in EUR.

The speed limits are:

• 50 km/h in built-up areas
• 80 km/h on open roads
• 130 km/h on motorways

You also need to have a reflective jacket in the car that is to be worn if you're in an accident. Roads are generally well maintained, although smaller ones remain unlit at night.

How to Get Around in Zagreb

Public Transport in Zagreb

Zagreb's public transport system is well-developed and efficient and consists of a network of trams, buses and trains, as well as the famous funicular.

The tram network runs 24 hours/day - from 4:00 a.m. to midnight there are 15 "day-time lines" (tram lines 1-9, 11-15 and 17), and from midnight to 4:00 a.m. there are 4 "night" lines (tram lines 31-34) that run on a less frequent schedule. Tram line 3 runs on neither weekends nor public holidays.

Regarding buses: there are 113 day-time and 4 night lines. ZET buses cover the area outside the city centre, as well as some neighbouring towns that administratively belong to Zagreb county.

Using public transport is more popular than getting around the city by car as Zagreb does not have a car-centric culture; its citizens are happy to take advantage of the 24/7 public transport network.

• Public Transport Provider: ZET
• Cost of a Ticket: 10 HRK (day)/15 HRK (night). If you'll be making more than 2 journeys it probably makes most sense to get a daily ticket.
• Discounted Ticket Types: 24 hours = 30 HRK/ 3 days = 70 HRK/ 7 days = 150 HRK
• Availability of Public Transport at Night: There are a few night trams, numbers 31-34.

Cycling in Zagreb

Cycling is fairly common and there are a few companies offering tours of the city. There are some cycle lanes but in some parts of town they may appear a bit of an afterthought.

• Rental Costs: With Nextbike the first 30 minutes are free, then 4 HRK an hour, until more than 5 hours which costs 79 HRK.

Taxis in Zagreb

Taxis are pretty common, with a number of new companies springing up in the past few years. The resultant price war means that taxis offer a viable, affordable alternative.

• Base Minimum Fare: 8-15 HRK
• Cost: each further kilometre = ~5 HRK

Driving in Zagreb

You can drive in Zagreb, but be warned that the very centre of city is pedestrianised and where it isn't is probably part of the - to some people counterintuitive - one-way system.

There are supposedly some 25,000 parking places in Zagreb but finding one is never easy, especially in rush hour! Zagreb is divided into 3 parking zones. Parking in the red zone in the city centre costs 6 HRK/hour, in the yellow zone 3 HRK/hour and in the green zone 1.5 HRK/hour. The daily rates are 100HRK in the red zone, 60 HRK in the yellow and 20 HRK in the green. All-day tickets can be purchased at the post office.

Walking Around Zagreb

The city is undoubtedly pedestrian-friendly. The large number of walking tours on offer is testament to this! The centre of town, including many of the main sights, is pedestrianised. Indeed much of the city can be explored on foot, although cars become more prevalent the further from the old town you go.

Zagreb is the capital and largest city in the republic of Croatia. Located in the northwest of the country, on the river Sava, the city is the centre of administration, travel, business and culture in the country. Its strategic location at the point where Western Europe and the Mediterranean meet southeastern Europe gives it great significance as a transport hub for not just Croatia but the entire region as a whole.

Zagreb can trace its origins back to the Roman times, its first settlement dates back to the 1st Century. Zagreb itself was not officially founded until nearly a millennium later by the Hungarian King Ladislaus, and in 1242 it gained the honour of Free Royal Town. In 1845 it became the capital of Croatia and got its first mayor 6 years after that. After the mid-1950s the city expanded rapidly to the south, east and west, including the formation of a new district on the other side of the Sava: Novi Zagreb. Although some fighting took place in the city during the Croatian War of Independence and it suffered being hit by rocket strikes, Zagreb did manage to escape the war largely intact.

Since the end of the war, Zagreb has attracted close to a million visitors annually. The historic part of the city, comprised of the Gornji Grad and Kaptol, is a whole network of winding medieval streets populated by churches, museums, palaces, galleries and government buildings. The months between spring and autumn are the busiest times of the year for tourists, but with good reason, as they are also the best times of year to visit the city.

Best Time to Visit Zagreb

Popular among travellers, Zagreb is a haven for culture, architecture, food, and art. If you are after some outdoor fun and sightseeing, then summertime is the best period to visit Zagreb. Summer temperatures are warmer but pleasant. Between June and August, day temperatures reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit while night temperatures drop off to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer activities are endless, but the streets are also crowded. You can tour the cobbled streets of Zagreb, visit the many museums, or even sample some local street delicacies. Summer also comes alive with numerous open-air concerts and festivals. If you are in the city in summer, look out for the Zagreb International Folklore Festival that is held annually in June and enjoy performances by the skillful local orchestras. For those who do not fancy the summer crowds, spring is the perfect time to visit Zagreb. April and May afford milder temperatures and the city is less congested.  The Festival of Light welcomes spring and kicks off in March and is one of the city's most stunning events. The sight of Zagreb's streets completely transformed by unique light art is impressive. Colorful projections dot every city street at night, making for a dreamy experience.