Things to Do in Zagreb

Founded in 1890 and covering more than 11 acres, the Zagreb Botanical Garden is home to more than 10,000 species of plants, including 1,800 exotic plants and many native to Croatia. Designed in an English landscape style, the Garden features rock gardens, ponds, symmetrical French-style flower beds and trees and shrubs from around the world. Though not open to the public, hothouses hold tropical and subtropical plants, while more temperate glasshouses are home to palm trees and cooler glasshouses house plants that are sensitive to frost. The original Art Nouveau gardener’s lodge still stands, as does an old exhibition pavilion dating to 1891. A public lavatory and a storeroom also date to the end of the 19th century. During summer months, the Garden hosts concerts on Thursdays at 5:30pm.

Reputedly the most visited tourist attraction in Zagreb, the Eye is on the highest, 16th floor of the aptly named Zagreb Neboder (Zagreb Skyscraper), a bland and utilitarian high rise completed in 1959 that was nevertheless the tallest and most modern building in former Yugoslavia for many years. The Eye’s observation deck and covered terrace are known as Zagreb 360° and give spectacular panoramas across Ban Jelačić Square to the rooftops of the upper and lower towns, the twin-spired cathedral and to the Moslavačko hills beyond.

It was closed in 1989 at the start of the Balkan Wars and did not permanently reopen until 2013; today it is a romantic spot from which to watch the sun setting over the foothills or to take photos of the spires, streets and gardens of the city. Along with information boards pointing out the various landmarks, occasional live music and board games, food and drink are available all day in the Eye’s smart, dusky-blue bar and restaurant, including morning coffee or punchy cocktails to accompany night fall over the city.

With its towering spires and magnificent neo-Gothic design, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (or simply Zagreb Cathedral) is one of the Croatian capital’s must-see attractions. The imposing twin spires are 354 feet (108 meters) high, making the cathedral the tallest building in Croatia. 

Zagreb Cathedral hovers over the city, and its spires can be seen from almost anywhere in town. As one of the city’s major sights, the cathedral is included in most sightseeing tours along with other notable landmarks such as the Stone Gate, Bloody Bridge, and Ban Jelačić Square. Cathedral highlights include its magnificent architecture, 13th-century frescoes and intricate shrines, and colorful stained glass windows. 

You’ll find the Zagreb Cathedral in the Upper Town (Gornji Grad). Trams are the simplest and most efficient way to get around the city, and several trams will get you within a 5-minute walk of the cathedral. Alternatively, take the bus or the world’s shortest cable car, the Zagreb Funicular, from Lower Town. 

The Zagreb Cathedral can be visited year-round. A great time to visit is during Mass, which is held daily in the morning and evening with several services held on Sundays and holidays. You’re free to explore the cathedral on your own when Mass isn’t being celebrated.  

With over 6,000 flue pipes and 78 registers, the Zagreb Cathedral Organ is considered one of the largest and most impressive organs in the world. In addition to regular organ concerts, the cathedral celebrates an annual organ festival throughout the summer. Check the cathedral schedule to see if any recitals are scheduled during your visit. 

Opened in 1954 and originally located in a grand palace in Zagreb’s Baroque Upper Town, the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU, or ‘Muzej suvrememe umjetnosti’ in Croatian) relocated to its gleaming white, purpose-built home in 2010. The gallery was designed by architect Igor Franić and is found in Novi Zagreb, south of the River Sava and slightly out of the center of the city. Its collections are on three floors and feature masterpieces of Croatian modern art, of which around 600 examples are on display from a repository of 12,000 works dating from 1950 onwards. The sleek, white and airy exhibition spaces highlight the works of Croatian art movements that may be little known but are nevertheless worth visiting for their innovation and style. Masterly paintings by Josip Vaništa and Marino Tartaglia, and drawings by Milan Steiner intermingle with whacky installations, sculpture, videos and photography as well as computer-generated art from New Tendencies, an international art movement that had its foundations in Croatia. 

Various guided tours of the treasures of the museum are available daily, and there is a sprinkling of interactive artworks that will appeal to children as well as futuristic spiral slides on which to zip downwards between floors, specially designed for the museum by Belgian artist Carsten Höller. The terraces around the museum also contain several bespoke installations and the whole edifice looks spectacular when floodlit at night.

Dotted with landscaped gardens, century-old trees, and lovely fountains, Zrinjevac Park is a popular relaxation spot for Zagreb locals. Take a break from exploring the city and stroll along the tree-lined paths or simply rest on a park bench, watch the fountains, and enjoy the aroma of fresh flowers.

Many walking tours of Zagreb include a visit to Zrinjevac Park and cover its history: an old livestock marketplace, now park, that’s dedicated to the 16th-century Croatian military hero Nikola Šubic Zrinski. It’s a natural place to rest a bit before heading out to explore more of the city center. The park is especially festive during the winter months; in fact, it’s a highlight of many organized Christmas Advent tours. 

Zrinjevac Park is just a short walk from the main square and easily reachable by tram from anywhere in the city. Trams 6 and 13 will get you closest to the park if you get off at the Zrinjevac station; or, take any tram to the main square and make the short walk to Zrinjevac Park.

Zrinjevac Park is open to the public year-round. The sprawling plane trees provide plenty of shade during the summer months and are beautifully decorated with twinkling lights during the Advent season. In fact, winter may indeed be the best time to visit—that’s when you’ll find local artisans selling Christmas ornaments and handcrafted souvenirs. You can also enjoy live holiday music in the pavillion and sample seasonal snacks like strudel. 

In addition to the popular winter Advent festivities, Zrinjevac Park hosts a range of special events. You can catch classical, jazz, rock, and pop concerts, plus the occasional stand-up comedian or literary talk, at the music pavilion. The park also sponsors morning yoga and meditation classes, as well as other Croatian activities.