7 Places You Must Visit

The central Ban Jelačić Square, the Ilica shopping street and the Dolac Market – these are the sights that many enjoy Zagreb-Travelers are the first to arrive – and rightly so! But there is from Croatia There is much more to see in the capital. Some sights are a bit more hidden or outside the old town. Others are alternatives to the big, well-known hotspots.

The travel reporter will take you to beautiful, exciting and diverse places in Zagreb that you may not have heard of. We will also introduce you to a custom that you can easily join and immerse yourself in the daily life of Zagreb residents.

1. Check out Hotel Esplanade

Most travelers probably only look at it from the outside, but it is worth taking a look at the luxurious interior: Hotel Esplanade is not only known for its elegant interior, but especially for its extraordinary history. Built in 1925, the hotel served for a long time as accommodation for passengers of the famous Orient Express, which ran between Paris and Istanbul. The guests who stayed at the Esplanade were as colorful as its history. Among them were Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Pierce Brosnan, Tina Turner and Queen Elizabeth II. The Croatian high society also liked to meet there in the 1920s.

The rooms at the Esplanade are not exactly a bargain these days, but they are still reasonably priced for a five-star hotel. The rooms are elegantly decorated. Particularly spectacular are the Emerald Ballroom and Zinfandel’s Restaurant, where you can treat yourself to a snack or two. So: If you have the opportunity, take a look at the Esplanade. The hotel is about a ten-minute walk from the central Ban Jelačić Square.

2. The alternative to Dolac: Walk through British Square

One of the most popular meeting places in Zagreb is the Dolac market: life is busy there, locals and travellers meet there. An alternative to the well-known Dolac is the weekly market on British Square near the shopping street Illica in the city centre. Things are more relaxed there; the market is more manageable than Dolac. Traders sell vegetables, fruit and flowers. Like Dolac, the weekly market on Britanski trg also opens early in the morning. By noon the fun is over again; then most stalls close.

If you like flea markets, it is also worth taking a walk through British Square on Sundays. Then you will find antique treasures or cheap trinkets on the tables. Whether there is much to do at the flea market is a matter of luck and also depends on the weather. What is always possible at British Square: drinking coffee. On the edge of the square you will find good cafés for breakfast or a break. You can also watch the hustle and bustle on British Square while enjoying a cup of coffee.

3. Explore Zagreb like a local: Do Špica

Špica is not a sight, but a custom that exists only in Zagreb with this name. Špica means being out and about in the city, shopping at the weekly market, doing groceries. The end of this ritual is drinking coffee in a café or eating in a restaurant, including people watching.

Many locals even dress up to go for a walk, so if you want to feel like a Zagrebian, take your best clothes out of your suitcase and head out to take part in the Špica.

Špica time is mainly on Saturdays, approximately between 10:00 and 14:00. The favorite places to see and be seen are the Old Town with the shopping street Ilica and Ban Jelačić Square. The weekly market Dolac and the area around the market are also popular Špica routes. Even on Sundays in Zagreb, especially in the city center, you can find many young people and families walking through the city center and window shopping.

4. Zagreb’s hidden attraction: walk through the Grič tunnel

Another attraction that you can easily miss if you don’t know about it is the Grič Tunnel. It is 350 meters long and connects Mesnička Street with Radićeva Street. It is named after the neighborhood it is located in, the Grič neighborhood. During World War II, the tunnel was intended to provide shelter to the population during a bomb attack. After the war, it gradually fell into disrepair and became a refuge for the homeless and drug addicts.

For everyone else, the tunnel was forgotten. It wasn’t until 1993, when a rave took place there, that the public slowly became aware of the building again. The tunnel was renovated in 2016.

Why is the Grič Tunnel still interesting today? First of all, it is a practical passage for pedestrians. With its vaulted ceiling and six entrances and exits, it is also popular because of its special construction. Exhibitions, fashion shows and other events are now more often held in the Grič Tunnel. It can also be decorated particularly beautifully during Advent: in 2022, for example, it was transformed into a polar landscape.

5. Not just for cat lovers: visit Miceki iz Centra

The travel writer also has an insider tip for animal lovers: there is a hostel for stray cats on a patch of grass next to a staircase leading from the restaurant mile Ulica Ivana Tkalčića to the upper town. A series of small, brightly painted houses have been built there for the animals to retreat to. You might come across these houses while walking around the city. If you are looking for cat content for your Instagram account, this special place is not to be missed.

You can find the cat hotel on Google Maps under the name “Miceki and Centers“, which means “cats in the middle”. With a bit of luck, you will also meet some animal villagers there. As the name suggests, cats are the focus here. However, the cat village, or rather the staircase leading there and further into the Upper Town, is also worth a walk if you are not a cat person: from the staircase you have a beautiful view of Zagreb.

6. Continue along the Sava: See the sculptures on the banks of the Sava

Get out into nature and still enjoy the urban flair and even art: it is possible on the banks of the Sava. The Sava is the largest river in Croatia and Slovenia. In the so-called Sculpture Alley you can walk along the river through a varied open-air exhibition, from sculpture to sculpture. Here you can discover works by famous Croatian artists and at the same time enjoy the view over the river.

On Google Maps, you can find the Avenue of Sculptures under the name “Aleja skulptura”. Some individual sculptures are also marked. The sculptures are a 45-minute walk from the central Ban Jelačić Square. It is best to take the train from the city centre to reach the banks of the Sava. As a starting point for your tour of the Zagreb Open Air Museum, you can go to Dječic Park, which is located right by the Avenue of Sculptures. Or you can combine your walk with a visit to the Pogon Cultural Centre.

7. The alternative Zagreb: Visit the cultural centre Pogon on the banks of the Sava

Are you interested in a completely different, alternative Zagreb, far away from the touristic center? Then the cultural center around Bar Močvara might be something for you. You can also find that there Pogona cultural and youth centre that regularly hosts exhibitions, theatre performances and shows. If you want to enrich your trip to Zagreb with unique cultural experiences, check out the Pogon programme and perhaps choose an event where understanding Croatian is not so important – unless you can, of course.

In addition to the events, you can also visit artists’ studios in Pogon. In short, Pogon and Bar Močvara are a must for your evening program. If you are there for the first time, we recommend arriving before sunset so that you can get to know the location of the old factory on the Sava riverbank in daylight. The cultural center and especially the Močvara bar are also great places to chat with people.

Looking for more inspiration? Here are tips for all the top travel destinations bundled with the travel reporter.