The city of Zagreb consists of Upper Town and Lower Town which are connected by a Funicular Railway that climbs the hill between the two areas. Upper Town and Lower Town each have plenty of cafes, restaurants, museums and historical sites to see.
Tkalčićeva Street – a main street in Zagreb’s city center lined with restaurants, cafes and art galleries.
Ban Jelačić Square – located in Lower Town, this expansive square is great for people watching and exploring.
Dolac Market – located in Upper Town, this daily market features farmers selling fresh produce and stalls sampling local foods.
Lotrščak Tower - climb the spiral staircase to the wooden deck of this 13th-century tower built as protection from the Turks and enjoy a 360-degree view of the red-tiled rooftops below.
Stone Gate - Medieval stone gate in town with a Virgin Mary shrine popular for prayer & candle lighting.
Strossmayer Promenade - one of Zagreb's beautiful promenades, especially popular in summer when artists flock here. The tower nearby offers stunning views.
Avenue Mall & Arena Mall – shopping malls with stores, food and a movie theater.
Zagreb Hop-on-Hop-off Bus - a great way to explore the city
Taste Traditional Ŝtrukli- when taken to try štrukli in a traditional local restaurant, most first-time visitors are impressed by the gentle taste of the soft dough, creamy cheese, the eggs and sour-cream sauce. Many venues pride themselves on their štrukli, although the kitchen at the landmark Esplanade Hotel provides some of the best - if not the best - in town.
Tour of Mirogoj - the final resting place for 300,000 souls of many religious backgrounds, Mirogoj is Zagreb’s High gate, and encapsulates the city’s rich patchwork history.
Participate in Špica: the local custom of špica is the Saturday-morning habit of having coffee in Zagreb’s city centre. More specifically, it takes place where Gajeva meets Bogovićeva and Preradovićeva by the flower market on Cvjetni trg, and between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, after everyone has paid a visit to the Dolac market across the main square.
Botanical Gardens - the Botanical Gardens form the east-west anchor of the ‘Green Horseshoe’, a U-shaped band of greenery laid out by Milan Lenuci in the 19th century. Nearby but removed from the bustle of the train station, it offers a wonderfully relaxing way to escape the busy city.
Britanski Trg - on Sundays the fruit and veg stalls that fill Britanski Trg during the week are cleared away, and an attractive bric-a-brac and antique market is laid out. In total, some 100 stallholders trade goods from first thing in the morning. Paintings, jewelry, old currency, badges, glass bottles, posters, crockery, silver, old farming tools and religious icons are all on display on wooden trestle tables. The morning is also a social occasion, locals gathering at nearby cafés such as Kava Tava and Eli’s Caffè to gossip and show off their purchases.
Maksimir Park and Zoo - Maksimir Park comprises an attractive 18 hectares (45 acres) of welcome greenery opened to an appreciative public in 1794.
Hiking and Skiing at Sljeme - the highest peak of Medvednica Nature Park near Zagreb, Sljeme is also the name used to define a series of accessible slopes that welcome hikers and ramblers all year round. They’re best known for their climbing and skiing.
Local Parks - visit Zagreb’s most famous parks including Jarun lake (called Zagreb’s sea), Bundek lake, Ribnjak, Art Park Zagreb, Zrinjevac
Underground & Medvedgrad Castle Tour - explore the underground bunkers, abandoned hospital and a medieval castle from the 13th century
Attend a concert at Vatroslav Lisinski - a concert hall in Zagreb offering music and performances
Museums
Zagreb is a museum lover’s paradise offering more than 20 museums to visit. Some notable ones include:
Museum of Broken Relationships - dedicated to failed love relationships, its exhibits include personal objects left over from former lovers, accompanied by brief descriptions.
Museum of Illusions - attraction featuring various optical illusion exhibits & a "smart playroom" with games & puzzles.
Arts and Crafts Museum - museum exhibits furniture, textiles, metal, ceramic and glass ranging from the Middle Ages to today.
Museum of Contemporary Art – the largest and most modern art museum in Croatia.
Zagreb City Museum – exhibits on the cultural, artistic, economic and political history of the city.
Day Trips
Plitviče Lakes National Park - a forest reserve in central Croatia known for a chain of 16 terraced lakes, joined by waterfalls that extend into a limestone canyon. Walkways and hiking trails wind around and across the water. Approximately 2 hours east of Zagreb.
Istria – a pastel-colored seaside town on the Adriatic Sea. Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes west of Zagreb.
There are many tour operators that offer tours that will introduce you to all that Zagreb and the surrounding areas have to offer including sightseeing tours, nature tours, historical/heritage tours and day trips. Ask your RIT Zagreb staff for suggested tour operators.
Theaters
Zagreb theatres are the best places to visit for a cultural showcase. Even though there are theatres that don't offer performances in English, a few like the Croatian National Theatre perform shows both in both English and Croatian. Every theatre has its own distinctive style, but put together, they all display the opulence of Zagreb's developed theatre life. Whether it is comedy, drama, opera, ballet, a contemporary play or a puppet show, Zagreb offers you a fantastic choice of shows.
Movies
Cinestar Zagreb offers a variety of movies