Back to Home

Zagreb City Break

Zagreb, Croatia

Having been to coastal Croatia previously, Zagreb was not a place on my bucket list. I’m somewhat familiar with Croatia’s coastline, having spent some time in Split (would recommend, but not in the summer), but I wasn’t sure what to expect of Croatia’s capital city.

Slowing Down

City breaks are what you make of them. Some prefer diving deep into a city’s history, while others are more inclined to explore the party scene (or a mixture of both).

I generally prefer a mixture, but when I’m travelling solo, I usually set off with little to no itinerary and build up a list of things to do once I arrive. This gives me the flexibility to chop & change my plans as I meet new people or discover new activities.

It also leaves me with a lot of time to slow down, sip on coffee/beer at scenic spots throughout the day, and really get a feel for the local culture. This also happens to be an important part of Croatian culture. Fjaka is a Croatian term used to describe the process of taking things easy, slowing down and settling into a more peaceful state of mind. The Croats are onto something there.

Don’t be afraid of doing ‘nothing’ for a few hours a day. I’d recommend bringing a book if people watching isn’t for you.

Zagreb Street

Walking Tours

Prior to this trip, I had never done a walking trip before; I prefer to carve my own path through a new location. Having said that, I frequently see them recommended online for solo travellers, so I decided to give one a go.

I don’t regret it! Made some friends, got some great inside info on where to eat and learned about the city’s history in a more exciting way. Did you know Zagreb used to consist of two separate - often warring - cities? If you’re travelling solo and you have 1-2 hours to spare, this is a must.

I went with Free Spirit Tours, and I would wholeheartedly recommend them. Just remember to bring some cash to tip your guide (€10-€20 is a good amount, depending on the quality of the tour).

Church of St Mark

Scaffolding

While most of us had just begun hiding from The Disease That Shall Not Be Named, Zagreb suffered an earthquake (5.5 on the Richter scale) in March 2020. Being an old city, it wasn’t prepared and many buildings were damaged.

One of them being the Cathedral of Zagreb, which unfortunately is covered in scaffolding and is inaccessible to the public, as of February 2023.

Zagreb Cathedral

Notable Spots

Here are some spots I found were worth visiting if you ever end up in Zagreb. If you have the time, I’d also recommend a day trip to the Plitvice Lakes based on what I heard, but I didn’t get round to it this time unfortunately.

If you visit the Lotrščak Tower (great view of the city), try to get there just before 12pm. A cannon is fired from it once a day at noon!

Tips

Bring water with you. Everywhere. This is such an obvious one. I’ve traveled enough that it shouldn’t even need to be mentioned. Alas, in my 27 years of life, I still have not learned to bring a bottle of water with me. If the hostel lacks a vending machine, and you’re in Europe where everything seems to shut early, you’re stuck. Maybe tenth time’s the charm.

View of Zagreb