What to do in Zagreb in 7 days (plus some photographs of the town)
Our take
 | Summer is nearing, so I thought I'd make a recommendation list on what to do in Zagreb in 7 days (which can then of course be shortened depending on your time here and preferences). Although Zagreb is often described as a town for just one afternoon, there's actually plenty to do here so hopefully this post will inspire you, whether you're a foreigner or local. Day 1: Explore Upper and Lower Town Explore the most notable sights: ban Jelačić square, Dolac Market, the cathedral, Tkalčićeva street, parks Opatovina and Ribnjak, Stone Gate, St. Mark Church, Lotrščak tower (make sure to be there at noon to hear the cannon fire), the shortest funicular in the world, Strossmayer promenade, Grič tunnel that served as a bomb shelter, Mirogoj arcades (most beautiful graveyard in Europe), Dubravkin put and Tuškanac park, the Octagon, Croatian National Theatre, the Botanical garden, Tomislavac and Art pavilion, Zrinjevac park... Most important advice: don't rush. Zagreb's old town is relatively small, so take time to enjoy each stop. You can take a break at some point for lunch or dinner at traditional cuisine restaurants like Stari Fijaker, Didov San or Vinodol. You can try the most famous local dish "štrukli" at La Štruk, Esplanade hotel or see them made by hand at Štrukli To Go. For drinks, try beer from local brewery Medvedgrad. In the evening, you can book a night tour in costumes with Secret Zagreb that immerses you in medieval witch stories. Zagreb is very peaceful at night and most places close at 11 p.m. or midnight, but if you're young and craving more action, you can go to clubs like Katran or Alcatraz for a night out. Day 2: Hike to Medvednica You can hike to Medvednica mountain under which Zagreb is situated. There are many routes you can follow that vary in difficulty, or you can take the cable car to the top. Stop by restaurants like Puntijarka, Runolist, Grafičar, Stara Lugarnica or Grofica and try more old fashioned local dishes like "grah s kobasicom" (beans with sausage) or "purica s mlincima" (turkey with mlinci). You can also visit the medieval fortress of Medvedgrad or the Zrinski silver mine. Day 3: Museum hopping Did you know Zagreb is one of the towns with the most museums per capita in the world? There are large public museums like the Archaeological museum (with the famous Zagreb mummy), Museum of Zagreb, the Ethnographic museum, the Technical Museum of Nikola Tesla (where you can see demonstrations of his experiments and inventions), the Museum of Naive Art, the Natural History museum... And many small and unique museums like the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Museum of Hangovers (where you can drink beer while you go through the exhibition and get a free shot of rakija at the end of the tour), the Museum of Chocolate (where you get free chocolate samples and unlimited melted chocolate by spoon), Museum of necktie (necktie is a Croatian invention, the museum also has a nice café with cake made by 17th century recipe), the Museum of Illusions, the Museum of 80s, the Museum of Selfies, the Museum of Video Games, the Museum of Lost Tales (Slavic mythology and Croatian folklore with fairy tale, Tim Burton-like setup), the Museum of Travel, Hahahouse and many more. With 30-ish museums to choose from, there's something for everyone and you can spend an entire day (or two) just exploring different ones. Day 4: A day trip to Samobor, Zagroje or Plitvice lakes If you want a change of pace, take a field trip from Zagreb. Samobor is a charming little town with a stream where you can walk around and try the famous "Samoborska kremšnita" (puff pastry and custard dessert) and it's easily reached by bus. You can also rent a car and go to Zagroje region with lovely vineyards on hills, wooden barns, traditional houses and fields. There you can also visit the Ethno village in Kumrovec, Marija Bistrica pilgrimage site, Trakošćan castle on a lake or Museum of Krapina Neanderthals. The most famous trip from Zagreb is to Plitvice lakes national park, just make sure to get there in the morning to avoid crowds, especially in the summer. On your way, you can stop by Rastoke, a beautiful traditional village on waterfalls. Day 5: Jarun or Maksimir (or both) Visit the lake Jarun, the largest and only natural lake in Zagreb that you can swim in, or ride a bike around it. If you're traveling with friends, it's also a great spot for barbecue. There's also Maksimir park, one of the oldest parks in Europe. There you can also rent a bike to ride, a boat to row or visit the zoo. Day 6: Activity day or chill day Explore different activities in Zagreb, like painting on ceramics while drinking coffee at Chez Marie or Monami café, paint and wine, or airplane flight simulator at the The Flight Room or AreoZone. If you're more into something laid-back, take a blanket and make a picnic at one of the parks or head west to Grmoščica forest park, a hidden gem that even many locals don't know about, that has great views on Zagreb and a swing overlooking the town. For a coffee break, try some unique cafés like Tres Chic, Chia Cups or Cat Café. Zagreb is famous for its coffee culture. Sit down, chat with friends (or people watch) and enjoy. Day 7: Explore Novi Zagreb Explore a lesser known side of Zagreb that tourists often miss. If you're into brutalist architecture, head over to Novi Zagreb and explore the Yugoslav era architecture, with the most famous building "Mamutica" (She Mammoth) housing over 5000 people. If brutalism is not your thing, no worries. You can also visit the Museum of Contemporary Art in Novi Zagreb, escape into nature by Bundek lake or walk along river Sava in the sunset, a perfect way to wrap up your stay. Final remarks: Zagreb may not be a "must-see" town on online lists and it may not have a "wow!" factor that some bigger Central European or coastal Croatian towns have, but it has a unique soul and, in my opinion, its biggest advantage: it's a lived-in city and not Disneyland-like. You won't be surrounded by swarms of tourists here clicking their cameras at every corner, but by local people going to and from work and enjoying their everyday life. It's a town that manages to be charming while not trying too hard to impress, and that's exactly what makes it impressive. Happy travels and lots of love to everyone visiting, from a Zagreb local. 💙 Photo locations:
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