Things to Do in Zagreb

With its narrow cobblestone streets and pastel-painted buildings, overlooked by the ruins of the 13th century Stari Grad fortress, Samobor is one of Croatia’s most picturesque medieval towns and famous for its riotous annual carnival celebrations.

Located 25km west of Zagreb, Samobor makes a popular day trip from the capital and a scenic base for exploring the woodland trails of the surrounding Samobor Hills, as well as the caves and gorges of the Zumberak I Samobor Gorje Prirodni Nature Park. In the town itself, the majority of sights are clustered around the central Kralja Tomislava square, including the Gothic St Michael's Church, the Church of St Anastasia and the Town Museum (Gradski Muzej) - all striking examples of Samobor’s historic architecture.

Samobor is also renowned as a center of Croatian gastronomy and has a wealth of fine restaurants and local specialties to impress even the most seasoned foodies. Samobor's famous aperitif, Bermet is traditionally sipped before a meal, but most indulgent are the desserts, including traditional dishes like Rudorska Greblica, a rich cheesecake, or Samoborska Kremšnita, a delicious vanilla custard pastry.

The dramatic Stone Gate (Kamenita Vrata) marks the eastern entrance to Zagreb’s medieval Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, providing a useful navigation point for visitors passing between the Upper and Lower towns. The stone-carved arch is more than just a gateway though – local legend has transformed it into a shrine and the adjourning chapel flickers with candles, lit daily by local worshippers in honor of the Virgin Mary.

The origins of the Stone Gate date back to as early as 1266 and today the restored archway forms a key part of the ruins of the ancient city walls. The story goes that the original gate featured a painting of Mary holding baby Jesus and after a devastating fire swept through the capital in 1731, the artwork miraculously survived, appearing to locals like the image of the Virgin Mary was emerging from the ashes. Today the painting is the centerpiece of the chapel built in its honor, protected by an ornate iron grille, and forming the basis of the country’s largest shrine.

With its grand neo-Renaissance façade presiding over Roosevelt Square in Zagreb’s Donji Grad (Lower Town), the Mimara Museum (Muzej Mimara) is impossible to miss, but the dramatic building is more than just a pretty face. This is the city’s biggest and most important art history museum, housing over 3,750 works, including paintings, sculptures and crafts, spanning over three millennia. The permanent exhibition is made up of the personal collections of Wiltrud and Ante Topić Mimara, an extraordinary assemblage of artifacts bequeathed to the city in 1987.

Elements of the collection come from all around the world, including Persian carpets, ancient Egyptian glassware, elaborate Renaissance altarpieces and archaeological finds from Greece, Rome and early-medieval Europe. Highlights include an enameled 13th-century crucifix, a series of ancient Far Eastern artworks and paintings by Dutch artists Rembrandt and Ruisdael, Spanish painters Velāzquez and Goya, and other famous names like Rubens, Van Dyck, Manet and Caravaggio.

Running along the remains of Zagreb’s medieval defense walls and marking the southern border of the Upper Town (Gornji Grad), the Strossmayer Promenade is one of the city’s liveliest and most scenic walkways. Named after the famous 19th-century Croatian bishop and politician Josip Juraj Strossmayer, the romantic terraced promenade is shaded by towering chestnut trees and its scenic lookouts offer expansive views over the Lower Town below. The easiest way to reach the promenade is by the funicular railway which runs from Tomićeva Street, close to the central Bana Jelačića Square, and despite being one of the shortest funiculars in the world, riding the 66-meter long track is a quintessential Zagreb experience.

Although most visitors stroll the walkway to take in the panoramic views,  the most atmospheric time to visit the Strossmayer Promenade is during the summer months, when the Strossmarte street festival takes over the area and the street is teeming with artists, musicians and food stalls.

Rising to heights of over 1,000 meters and surrounded by forested foothills, Mount Medvednica (‘Bear Mountain’), looms over the city of Zagreb and makes an easy escape from the capital. Sljeme is the highest point at 1,033 meters and while hiking the scenic route to the summit is a popular choice, the peak is also reachable by road and cable car, making it the focal point for most day-trippers. The wooded slopes around the summit make up the protected area of Medvednica Nature Park, crisscrossed with hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as restaurants, traditional mountain lodges and a winter ski area.

Another key attraction of Medvednica is the medieval fortress of Medvedgrad, originally built in 1242 and now home to the Altar of the Homeland memorial, a poignant dedication to the local soldiers who fought and died in the Croatian war of independence. Alternatively, pay a visit to the Veternica Cave, one of the largest in Croatia, or tour the historic silver mining area of Zrinski Mine.

Mount Medvednica also serves as the backdrop for a number of annual events, including medieval reenactments and knights’ tournaments held in the grounds of the historic castle and the winter Snow Queen festival, held in honor of legendary Croatian skier Janica Kostelic, who first learned to ski on the slopes.

With its emerald-green lakes, rocky caves, and cascading waterfalls framed by soaring dolomite cliffs, ancient woodlands, and fields of wild orchids, Plitvice Lakes National Park is the natural playground of Croatia. The UNESCO World Heritage site has over 73,000 acres (20,500 hectares) of unspoiled landscapes, boasting 16 lakes and 90 waterfalls linked by a network of hiking and biking trails.

The Basics
Most visitors opt to explore Plitvice Lakes National Park on a day trip. Tours run from a number of Croatian cities, including Zadar (the closest), Split, Zagreb, Trogir, Rijeka, and even Dubrovnik. A Plitvice Lakes tour typically takes in the best viewpoints and boardwalks, while an entrance ticket includes an electric boat ride around the lakes and a ride on the park’s panoramic train. It’s possible to take in the highlights in two hours, but for a more comprehensive visit, book a full-day tour.

• Restaurants, snack bars, and restrooms are located near the park visitor center.
• Regular shuttle buses run between the park’s main attractions.
• Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection (in the summer months), and plenty of water.
• Park buses accommodate wheelchairs, but due to uneven terrain, some of the lakes and park attractions are inaccessible for wheelchair users.
• Ticket lines can take over an hour in peak season—book in advance to save time.

How to Get There
The closest airports to Plitvice are in Zadar, 80 miles (130 km) southwest, and in Zagreb, 85 miles (140 km) northeast. Buses run regularly from both cities to the national park in summer, but it’s far more convenient to visit with your own vehicle or as part of a group or private tour. Most day tours include round-trip transport, while those coming from further afield often offer the chance to end your trip in a second destination—for example, being picked up from Split and dropped off in Zagreb.

When to Get There
Plitvice is open year round, and while summer is the most popular (and busiest) time to visit, each season brings its own highlights. Spring and autumn are ideal for photographers with fewer crowds, colorful foliage, and high water levels, while the frozen landscapes of winter are unforgettable—although boat trips won’t be possible. To avoid the crowds, plan for an early arrival or stay until sunset.

How to Photograph the Plitvice Lakes
The natural beauty of Plitvice National Park is undeniably photogenic, and there are photo opportunities around every corner. Follow the boardwalks between the Upper Lakes (Gornja jezera) and the Lower Lakes (Donja jezera), then climb up to the most dramatic viewpoint—a lookout over the limestone canyon of Veliki Slap, meaning ‘big waterfall.’

It might seem surprising that a cemetery features on Zagreb’s list of top tourist attractions, but the exquisite Mirogoj Cemetery is no ordinary graveyard. Laid out in 1876 by acclaimed German architect Hermann Bollé, the 7-acre plot is renowned as one of Europe’s most beautiful cemeteries, fronted by a grand 500-meter long neo-Renaissance arcade and set against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Medvednica.

Strolling the tree-lined walkways through Mirogoj Cemetery unveils an elaborate series of mausoleums and chapels, landscaped gardens and monumental statues, most notably the Bollé-designed Chapel of Christ the King; the modern Crematorium and Urn Grove; and sculptures by Ivan Mestrovic and Mihanovic. Read the inscriptions on the ornate tombstones and you’ll recognize the names of many of Croatia’s most prominent artists, politicians and soldiers, including playwright Miroslav Krleza, American NBA basketball player Drazen Petrovic, poet Petar Preradovic, Croatia’s first president, Franjo Tudman and, fittingly, Hermann Bollé himself.