Zagreb is Croatia’s capital and the cheapest, least crowded base in the country — most visitors skip it entirely en route to the coast, which is exactly why its Austro-Hungarian Upper Town, sprawling Dolac market, and museum scene feel refreshingly uncrowded even in August.
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Ban Jelačić Square and the Upper Town
Zagreb’s main square is named for the 19th-century ban (viceroy) whose equestrian statue anchors it. From there, the Zagreb Funicular — one of the shortest public funiculars in the world at under 66 meters — climbs to the Upper Town (Gornji Grad) in under a minute for a nominal fare. Up top: the neo-Gothic twin-spired Zagreb Cathedral, St. Mark’s Church with its tiled coat-of-arms roof, and the Stone Gate, a small shrine tucked into the old city wall that locals still stop to pray at.
Museums worth the detour
The Museum of Broken Relationships crowdsources breakup mementos from around the world — a genuinely odd, well-curated stop that’s become one of Zagreb’s most-reviewed attractions. The Museum of Illusions and the quieter Mimara Museum (a large private art collection spanning Egyptian to Impressionist works) round out a rainy-day itinerary.
Dolac Market
Just above the main square, Dolac is Zagreb’s daily open-air market — red umbrellas, farmers selling produce and flowers, and a fish hall downstairs. It’s as much a locals’ errand as a tourist stop, which keeps prices honest. Go in the morning for the best selection.
Day trips from Zagreb
Plitvice Lakes National Park is doable as a long day trip from Zagreb (around 2-2.5 hours each way by car or organized tour), though staying a night nearby lets you see the park without a tour-bus schedule — see our Plitvice guide. Closer in, Samobor is a half-hour away and known for kremšnita custard cake, and Varaždin‘s baroque old town makes an easy half-day trip by train.
FAQ
Is Zagreb worth visiting if I’m only doing the coast?
If you have a spare day or two, yes — it’s a different, calmer side of Croatia than the summer coast, and noticeably cheaper for food and lodging.
How do I get from Zagreb to Plitvice without a car?
Regular bus services run from Zagreb’s main bus station to the park entrances; organized day tours are also widely available and include transport.
Photo: Ban Jelačić Square in central Zagreb, by Isiwal, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.