Zagreb in 2 Nights and 3 Days

Croatia has gained popularity as a tourist destination in the last few years. The ancient walled cities, picturesque landscapes and pristine blue waters of Croatia has always fascinated me and so this summer season I made holiday plans to visit and explore Croatia with my family.

As we were already in the neighboring country of Slovenia, we took a train from the capital Ljubljana to Zagreb. It took us 2 hours 30 minutes. If you want to travel from Dubai to Zagreb, there are direct flights daily.

As we already had a Schengen Visa, we didn’t require the additional Croatian Visa.

About Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital and largest city of Croatia. The city is mainly divided into two parts- Gornji Grad(upper town) and Donji Grad(lower town). The upper town is the old part of the city and the lower town is the new part of Zagreb.

Like the other cities and towns in Croatia, Zagreb does not have the Adriatic Sea or the beaches. But it has plenty of other stuff to offer like historical sights, museums, churches, parks, exhibitions, shopping and dining.

What is the best time to visit Zagreb?

April till September is the best time to travel to Zagreb. We visited Zagreb in July and it was warm in the daytime and rained in the evenings.

Where to Stay in Zagreb?

Zagreb offers all kinds of accommodation from luxury hotels to medium-range and low budget hotels, hostels, hotel apartments, serviced apartments etc.

We stayed in a serviced apartment in the heart of the city- Irundo Apartments. It was a perfect location as everything was close by.

Getting around Zagreb

Zagreb has efficient transport system which is reasonable and affordable. There are buses, trams, trains and taxis. And of course, walking is the best way to explore any city.

Things to see and do in Zagreb

We did a one day private city tour which we had booked through a travel agency. The next two days we explored Zagreb on a leisurely pace on our own.

The places you cannot miss in Zagreb

For us the best and favorite part was the upper town which is the old and medieval part of the city. We spent half a day in upper town and also returned the next day. The upper town also has many good restaurants, cafes and bars.

In upper town we visited:

• St. Mark Church
• St. Mark Square
• Lotrscak Tower
• Museums of Broken Relationships
• Kamenita Vrata (stone gate)
• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Strossmayer’s Promenade
• Dolac Open Air Market
• Zagreb Funicular
• Jelacic Square

Apart from the upper town, the other must-visit places are:

• Zagreb Botanical Garden
• Maksimir Park
• The Modern Gallery
• The Croatian National Theatre
• The Museum of Mimara
• Mirogoj Cemetery
• Jarun Lake
• Marshal Tito Square
• Tomislav Square
• Archeological Museum

Zagreb is a vibrant and bustling city with the right mix of old and new. It is close to places like Plitvice lakes,Trakoscan Castle, Varazdin and other attractions. Planning a one day trip to these attractions outside Zagreb it is a good idea.

To explore Zagreb, 2-3 days is enough as it is not a huge place. A city rich in history, culture, art, architecture, museums, cafe culture and culinary delights- Zagreb makes a great 3-days getaway.

Want to explore Croatia? Why not start your journey from Zagreb, the capital.