Zagreb Holidays & City Breaks

Zagreb Holidays & City Breaks

Deals from £161 per person

Zagreb city breaks mean discovering a vibrant national capital, complete with superb gastronomic offerings and a lively bar scene. Historic sights dot the cobbled streets of the quaint Upper Town, while a cutting-edge Museum of Contemporary Art stands on the other side of the Sava river. All is connected by an affordable, user-friendly network of trams and buses.

 What might a day in Zagreb look like? Well, mornings start with top-quality coffee, ideally taken on a pretty terrace, and many local restaurants offer lunchtime deals. Sightseeing can be interspersed with relaxing walks amid city greenery, or a tram ride along atmospheric Ilica, the oldest street in town.

Arrive at the right time of year and you might also find street performances on every other corner or a Christmas market filling the city – there’s a year-round calendar of festivals in Zagreb. Dinner depends on you – fine dining at an ornate, heritage hotel or inventive cuisine concocted from what’s fresh at the market that day?

Nights run late in Zagreb and may involve an in-the-know haunt of alt-rock, top cocktails or a bar crawl with easy distances between drinking spots.

Take a tour of the city museums

Stately museums filled with art treasures line the Green Horseshoe, the tranquil network of parks and squares that’s a focal point of the Lower Town. It’s not all Grand Masters – the most popular museum in town displays the strange items left over from romantic break-ups.

Go bar-hopping

Bars of all stripes are concentrated along one downtown street – the Mediterranean-flavoured Tkalciceva, near the main square – and around the flower market nearby. Live music is staged at a top-notch concert hall and alternative venues across town.

Tuck into Michelin-star meals

Earning its first Michelin star in 2019, Zagreb can compete with the top culinary capitals in the region. Contemporary dining options complement the ornate, heritage restaurants on the city’s leafy slopes, with everything in between. Look forward to plenty of fresh, seasonal ingredients, much of it organic.

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Map of Zagreb

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4-22 ℃

Zagreb enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with warm summers and cold winters. 

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2-3 hours

Zagreb airport (DBV) lies approximately 10 miles from Zagreb city centre.

Zagreb is best for...

Culture vultures: With dozens of quirky museums to explore, Zagreb is a true culture vulture's paradise.

Families: From spring to the Christmas Advent festival, Zagreb's central park Zrinjevac is always buzzing with cultural happenings and family-friendly fun.

Foodies: Zagreb is home to some of the best restaurants in Croatia. If you're looking to splash out, you'll find some amazing fine dining options here.

Fast facts for Zagreb

Language: The language spoken in Zagreb is Croatian.

Currency: The currency used in Zagreb is Croatian kuna (HRK).

Local time: Zagreb is one hour ahead of GMT/UK time.

Fly to: Zagreb airport (DBV) lies approximately 10 miles from Zagreb city centre.

Flight time from UK: 2 to 3 hours.

 

Getting around Zagreb

By bus: All neighbourhoods within the city are easily accessible by local buses.

By taxi: All major taxi apps work in Zagreb, so it's easy to hail a ride wherever you are.

By tram: Zagreb's famous blue trams are a great way to zip around the city. Don't forget to buy a ticket from the driver or local newspaper stand before hopping on.

Events in Zagreb

Summer festival: INmusic takes place in June, so get your tickets early. A breathtaking location and an impressive artist line-up make this three-day event a perennial favourite with music lovers across the globe.

Open-air performances: Every year, in July and August, Zagreb hosts a wide range of music, dance, and film performances in various outdoor venues throughout the city.

Night of the museums: There's no better time to visit the city's museums than the Night of Museums in January when entry is free and opening hours extend until midnight.

Safety and security in Zagreb

Phone ahead to check your bar or restaurant provides disability access.

Though homosexuality was legalised in Croatia decades ago, you won't find people especially tolerant so discretion is advised when it comes to public displays of affection.

It’s a good idea to carry your passport with you at all times as it’s the only recognised form of ID for tourists visiting the country.

The currency here is the Croatian Kuna. You can withdraw money from cash machines using most international debit and credit cards, but your card issuer may charge you a fee.

Visa / health: Before you travel, visit UK government foreign travel advice for Croatia for recommendations and advice on visas and health for your holiday to Zagreb .

Zagreb weather

Temperature: -10-30 (°C)

As spring approaches, Zagreb sees temperatures in the mid-twenties (°C) in April. On a typical day in the summer, temperatures can reach over 30 (°C) and the city has up to 13 hours of sunshine. Autumn brings cooler temperatures, but you can still enjoy blue skies and average temperatures in the teens. Zagreb has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers, and Christmas brings German-style seasonal markets - and snow, if you're lucky. Temperatures can dip to as low as -10 (°C), so bring a heavy coat if you’re arriving at this time.

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Popular Zagreb holiday resorts