2 DAYS IN ZAGREB: HOW TO SPEND 2 FANTASTIC DAYS IN NORTHWEST CROATIA!

Wondering how to spend 2 days in Zagreb? While the capital might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of Croatia, it definitely deserves a spot on your itinerary. It may not be a postcard-perfect coastal town, but Zagreb offers a completely different side of the country that you really shouldn’t miss.

If you’re travelling to Croatia, there’s a good chance you’ll be flying into Zagreb anyway, so why not spend a couple of days exploring the city before heading south? I live in Zagreb and honestly find it really charming, so I’d absolutely recommend staying at least a day or two.

If exploring Zagreb interests you, this guide is exactly what you need, so keep reading!

WHERE IS ZAGREB AND HOW TO GET THERE:

Zagreb is in the northwest part of Croatia, in central Europe. As the city is the capital of Croatia, all major airlines are connected with it. If you’re flying into a coastal town but still want to visit Zagreb, you can easily reach it by bus or by renting a car.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN ZAGREB:

I am a big foodie so I feel obligated to tell you what my favourite spots for eating are in Zagreb. These are only a few, but I have a whole blog post on best restaurants in Zagreb, so check it out!

LA STRUK

If you want to try a local specialty from Zagreb and the northwest region of Croatia, come here for lunch! This restaurant is famous for serving only strukli, one of the most traditional and well-known dishes in Croatia.

It’s an incredibly delicious baked or boiled dough dish filled with different fillings, though the classic cheese version is the most popular one. The restaurant also offers really good value for money, with generous portions and reasonable prices and it’s in the city centre!

SUBMARINE BURGER

If you’re in search of the best burger in Zagreb, this is the right place! Every piece of your burger is going to be fresh and organic, from meat to your bread buns. If you’re looking for a vegan option you have an excellent choice of vegan burgers here. They have many locations in town, near many important landmarks or parks, so it won’t be hard to find the restaurant. Do not miss out on their cheese and truffle fries!

STARI KOTAC

This might honestly be my favourite place to eat in Zagreb! Stari Kotac is a local, traditional restaurant focused on popular Croatian and Balkan meat dishes. It’s the perfect place to try cevapi or pljeskavica, and the prices are more than fair for the portions you get. I do have to say though, if you’re planning to visit, definitely reserve a table because it’s almost always crowded!

A’E BAR

If you’re gonna visit one location from all of these, please choose this bar, because you really don’t want to miss it. The bar is located in the Upper town and it has a wonderful terrace that overlooks one of Zagreb’s most famous streets – Tkalciceva Ulica. Not only that, it gives you a wonderful view of the cathedral. The bar is one of Zagreb’s most visited spots during summer so be prepared that you won’t get a seat so easily, but it’s totally worth it!

HARAT’S PUB  

Right above Dolac market you can find Harat’s Irish pub franchise. It’s a typical pub, nothing extraordinary, but if you love that vibe you will enjoy it! My recommendation is the incredible black cherry beer called Lindemans beer!

THE PERFECT 2 DAYS IN ZAGREB

DAY 1:

THE UPPER TOWN

Gornji Grad or Gradec is Zagreb’s Upper town – a place you must visit because it’s historically the most important part of Zagreb. Zagreb is divided into Upper and Lower town and the former is the home to some of the key attractions of Zagreb. These are the places of Gradec you must visit:

THE CHURCH OF ST. MARK

The church of St. Mark is one of the most important and most recognisable landmarks of Zagreb. The church is situated on St. Mark’s Square and it’s one of two churches in Zagreb you can’t miss. The church was built sometime in the 13th century and later has been turned into a neogothic church. Engraved in the church there is the oldest coat of arms of Zagreb, all the way from the 15th century. The church is extremely beautiful because of its roof which has tiles laid to represent the coat of arms of Zagreb. St. Mark’s Square is also known for the fact thatthe residence of the Croatian government is there.

THE STROSSYMAYER PROMENADE

The Strossmayer Promenade is a walkway with a view of the whole city. It looks especially lovely at night with old-fashioned street lighting, but you can visit it at any part of the day. You can access the promenade by taking a short walk from the church of St. Mark, or you can use a cable car that’s going to take you up from Ilica Street!

THE DOLAC MARKET

Dolac Market is Zagreb’s biggest and most popular farmers’ market. It’s an open-air market where many locals come to buy fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, and other products. If you want to experience Zagreb the way locals do, this is definitely a place you shouldn’t miss. If you’re visiting, make sure to come before 1 p.m., as that’s when most vendors start packing up for the day. At the moment, the market is temporarily located on Ban Jelacic Square while its usual location is under construction.

THE ZAGREB CATHEDRAL

The second most famous church in Zagreb is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The incredible neogothic cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks of Zagreb and you must visit it. The cathedral looks incredible from the outside but please find the time to visit the inside of the church as well. Many Croatian heroes are buried in this church, like Fran Krsto Frankopan and Alojzije Stepinac. It’s been damaged in an earthquake so currently, it has a picture of how it used to look over the church towers, but it’s still beautiful.

ILICA STREET

Once you’re done with Zagreb’s Upper Town, descend to Ilica Street –one of the longest and most famous streets in Zagreb. It’s 5.6 kilometers long and it’s the home to many shops, theaters, and other important buildings in Zagreb. If you want to do some shopping, this is the right place!

THE MUSEUM OF CHOCOLATE

This is the sweetest museum in Zagreb you could visit! In the museum, you can learn many interesting things about the history of chocolate as well as try different versions of chocolate. The ticket is not a standard piece of paper but a little box with chocolate samples! The ticket is 9 euros (7 for students and 6,5 for children)!

PARK ZRINJEVAC

One of Zagreb’s most visited parks is a green oasis in the middle of the city, only a few minutes away from the main square. Nikola Subic Zrinski Square, lovingly nicknamed Zrinjevac, is located in the Lower Town of Zagreb, right in the middle of Ban Josip Jelacic Square and the main railway station. With its music pavilion and many water fountains, the park has become a favourite spot for people to relax or have a picnic in the city centre. Get yourself some takeaway lunch, sit on the green grass of Zrinjevac and enjoy your afternoon!

LAKE JARUN

Lake Jarun is the prime spot for people of Zagreb interested in nature, sports, or coffee culture. If you’re into sports you can cycle, row, paddle, or even swim in the lake, and if you want to relax you can sunbathe or have a drink in one of the many cafes around the lake. It’s not so close to the city centre, but you can easily reach it in 30 minutes by tram number 17!

DAY 2:

MIROGOJ

I bet you don’t get many recommendations to visit a cemetery but this one is an exception.  While it might be a bit morbid to walk among the dead, this cemetery is a well-known Zagreb landmark. Why? The cemetery is open to all religious groups, so people of all religions have been buried there for the last 150 years. The cemetery is also the last resting place for many of Croatia’s famous writers, artists, musicians, and politicians. The architecture of the cemetery includes arcades and cupolas which were affected by the earthquake but are still worth a visit.

ZAGREB BOTANIC GARDEN

Zagreb’s Botanical Garden is a lovely place to enjoy the tranquility away from the crowds. It’s the home to over 10 thousand plants and 1800 exotic ones. The garden is not big, it will only take you around 30-45 minutes to explore it, but it’s lovely and the entrance is only 2 Euros. It’s minutes away from the main railway station and it’s open from 9 a.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and until 4 p.m. the rest of the week.

MAKSIMIR

Maksimir Park is the oldest public park in Zagreb, and it’s also the most loved one. With over 780 acres of green area, you will completely forget you’re in the capital city. The well-preserved park has three lakes and parts of an old forest around them, making it much different than any other structured park with carefully planted trees. People of Zagreb often use Maksimir grounds to spend time in nature, have a picnic, spend time with friends and family, as well as for running, cycling, or any other sport. The entrance is free, but it’s not so close to the city center so you will either have to use an Uber or a tram (no. 6).

BUNDEK

Although you might love Maksimir enough to just stay there, if you want another lovely park with a lake, visit Bundek. The park has a  Big Lake and a Little Lake and it’s got a wonderful promenade all around the lakes. Bundek is often a center of various festivals in Zagreb, but on any regular day, people go there for a walk or a coffee.

THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Only a short walk from Bundek, you can visit Zagreb’s Museum of Contemporary Art. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, and every Wednesday the admission to the museum is free. Come and explore many of the art exhibitions there. If you want to, you can even get a free guided tour for a group of 4 or more people!

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CONCLUSION: 2 DAYS IN ZAGREB

You definitely don’t need a huge amount of time for Zagreb, but spending a few days here is absolutely worth it. Two days is enough to see the main highlights of the city, and if you have more time, you can easily add some great day trips to places nearby.

I personally love spending time in Zagreb, especially when the weather is sunny. During the summer, the city is full of outdoor festivals, events, and terraces, which makes the atmosphere really lively and fun.