May the 23rd, 2023 - The City of Zagreb has evolved from the place where one lands in order to travel further to a coastal destination somewhere in Istria or Dalmatia to a tourist destination in its own right. The British Post Office Travel Money's list has put it in seventh place on its list of value for money city breaks.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, according to research by the very well read British portal Post Office Travel Money page, which conducts a price barometer every single year, comparing costs in cities across Europe for tourists from the United Kingdom, Zagreb took an impressive seventh place on the list of the most affordable European cities.

Namely, the total cost of a so-called city break is calculated based on twelve typical items one might need for such a trip. This included, among other things, the cost of drinks, dinner for two with a bottle of locally made wine, two weekend nights spent in three-star accommodation, city sightseeing and city transport.

On this occasion, Martina Bienenfeld, the director of the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb, said the following: "First of all, we are happy that we were included in the aforementioned research, because only those cities that the British listed as their top choices for visiting were included in the selection.

Likewise, it's really interesting to see that Zagreb came in fifth overall in terms of the cost of eating a three-course meal with a bottle of wine, and second in terms of the most favourable prices for visiting the city's cultural and historical sights. We were happy when we saw this research and we believe that it will further popularise Zagreb on the British tourism market. In this regard, I'd like to point out that, since the beginning of the year, sixteen percent more guests from Great Britain have stayed in the city, who have achieved twelve percent more overnight stays, that is, we have recorded almost 10,000 arrivals and 26,500 overnight stays in total.''

It's worth noting that while many facilities such as banks and larger shops offer travel money in the United Kingdom, the Post Office is and always has remained a firm favourite among the majority of the British public, who use their service for the exchange of pound sterling into euros. As such, Zagreb's promotion by the Travel Money page will provide more of a spring in the step of the capital's tourism than one might initially expect.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated news section.

April the 20th, 2023 - The Zagreb tourism picture is looking brighter and brighter, and the number of overnight stays has now surpassed the numbers recorded this time last year back in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, the Zagreb tourism sector can now officially say that the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has finally well and truly passed, at least in terms of the physical traffic of tourists here in the capital. Visitors to Zagreb have now officially realised one percent more overnight stays than they did back during the same period of 2019.

This, of course, also includes the busy Easter weekend, which fell later on that year, more precisely on April the 21st, but this encouraging result has been realised despite the fact that guests from distant markets, primarily from Asia, haven't yet returned in full, while the return of Americans is more rapid.

In view of the return of guests from across the pond in the USA, as well as the growing renewed interest of guests from South Korea and other Asian countries, the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb has started a new promotional campaign in cooperation with Turkish Airlines.

As such, by using the strong communication network of Turkish Airlines, as a strategic partner of the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb, the recognition of the Croatian capital as an attractive tourist destination is significantly increased. Activities as part of the campaign are being carried out throughout April on all digital channels of this multiple award-winning airline with the aim of their mutual promotion in the aforementioned markets.

"We're satisfied with the results so far, which once again show that we've succeeded in positioning Zagreb as an attractive year-round destination. The American market is extremely important for Zagreb, and I'm pleased that, in cooperation with the Association of North American Tour Operators (USTOA), as well as with Virtuos, the leading network of the best American travel agencies specializing in luxury and leisure travel, we've also launched a campaign with Turkish Airlines. Within the Zagreb Tourist Board, we carry out a series of activities in accordance with our strategic plans, and with campaigns like this one, which is a great example of cooperation between a destination and an airline, we strive to improve the positive Zagreb tourism trends with a focus on the long-term and sustainable success of Zagreb as a tourist destination," stated Martina Bienenfeld, the tourist board director.

According to e-Visitor data, from the beginning of the year to mid-April, Zagreb tourism saw the highest number of arrivals and overnight stays in all of Croatia, i.e. 29 percent more arrivals than last year and 19 percent more overnight stays compared to the same period last year. Among foreign guests, the most overnight stays were realised by guests from Italy, followed by those from Germany, the USA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. Compared to 2019, the blossoming Zagreb tourism picture stands at 92 percent in terms of arrivals and has experienced an increase of 1 percent in terms of overnight stays.

As has since been learned from the Zagreb Tourist Board, since the beginning of the year, American guests have been the fifth most numerous tourists to visit Zagreb in terms of arrivals and the third in terms of overnight stays. Since the beginning of the year, Asia has also broken through to 10th place in terms of arrivals (5,111 arrivals), and they are not among the top 10 in terms of overnight stays either.

Korean nationals realised 1,231 arrivals in the city in April alone and are in 9th place among all foreign guests in the results for this month so far, so their return is noticeable. Before the coronavirus pandemic, more than 400,000 tourists from South Korea came to Croatia in 2019, realising more than 511,000 overnight stays.

For the City of Zagreb, guests from South Korea came second in the overall number of foreign guests. It's also worth noting that the capital is entering the 2023 season with the same number of beds in private accommodation than before the pandemic (and the earthquake), there are 9 percent more beds in hotels, and only the number of beds in hostels has fallen by 25 percent, from about 2,400 beds to about 1,800.

In 2023, 60 percent of the total overnight stays within the Zagreb tourism picture so far have been realised in hotels, 32 percent in apartments and only 7 percent in hostels.

For more, check out our news and travel sections.

March 18, 2023 - On Friday, the Zagreb police, in cooperation with the city's tourist board, presented an English language manual, as part of a project aimed at improving foreign languages and knowledge of the city of police officers who encounter tourists in their work.

As 24Sata writes, the project aims to improve foreign language competency related to police work, but also to the city of Zagreb and its historical, cultural sights, gastronomic offer, traffic and general information, so that the police officers can communicate with foreign tourists and help them feel good in Croatia's capital.

The project has been carried out continuously since 2018 as a form of partnership between the Police Administration and the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb, with previous successful partnerships for the "Advent" and "Safe Tourist Destination" projects, in which Croatian police officers conducted joint police patrols with foreign colleagues.

The final product of the project is a manual that was presented on Friday, called "Excuse me, officer, how do I get to St. Mark's square?", signed by Dora Fila Petković and Patrick Burton.

"This project is a true model of successful and fruitful cooperation for the benefit of the citizens and visitors of Zagreb, but at the same time an example of good practice and partnership between the police and the tourism sector for other cities that can apply this proven model in their area as well", said the State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior affairs, Irena Petrijevčanin.

The State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Josip Pavić, congratulating all participants and attendees of the course, emphasized that it is a commendable project that will increase the sense of security for tourists in Croatia and provide added value to tourism in the country.

"We see on the ground that the relationship, communication and coordination with tourists by the officers of the Zagreb Police Department is at an enviable level and we hope that this project will be recognized by other counties as well2, said the director of the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb, Martina Bienenfeld.

Cooperation between the Zagreb police and the tourist board will continue in the coming period with the implementation of new courses in English, with a German course and the creation of a manual for that language following.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated News section.

December the 21st, 2022 - Zagreb Advent 2022, the first to be held normally since the pre-pandemic advent of 2019, is drawing foreign visitors from across Europe and indeed from further afield to the Croatian capital this festive season, and the more or less constant fog and rain isn't bothering them.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, aside from those of us who make up the capital's local population, Zagreb Advent 2022 is also turning out to be real lure for all sorts of guests from abroad. Although the weather conditions (rain and fog) haven't been exactly favourable for visitors, there's no shortage of tourists here in the city. It is the foreign guests who are driving spending and consumption most of all, because if they weren't there, Zagreb Advent 2022 would already be in the red, at least according to a report from HRT.

The always popular ice skating rink on King Tomislav Square is a little bit different this year than it was back during previous years. Due to the ogoing rain, the number of visitors is - at least for now - significantly less than in the years before the global coronavirus pandemic shook the world.

"So far, the weather has been really awful. The first two weeks we had constant rain and maybe only two dry days. Despite this, there are really a lot of tourists in Zagreb, we can feel that at the Ice Park as well. So, regardless of the weather, the results are relatively alright,'' stated the organiser of the city's "Ice Park" Slavica Olujic Klapcic.

One hundred metres away, on Strossmayer's Square, lies the center of Zagreb Advent 2022's gastronomic offer. Most of the visitors there are foreigners.

"We can say that everything except the weather conditions, which aren't very favourable to us, is actually great. There are people coming, people come even in the rain, especially on weekends," stated restaurateur Ivan Badzek. It also seems that for our guests from abroad - given the fact that they're already here - the rain does not bother them. "This is our first time at Zagreb Advent. It's very beautiful and the food is very good,'' said Evelyne from Austria.

"We tasted some mulled wine and it was excellent. It's really very nice. We also tried some food, but we have more exploring to do,'' said Malou from the Netherlands.

Data from the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB/HTZ) shows that in the first two weeks of Zagreb Advent 2022, the number of arrivals is 50 percent higher, and the number of overnight stays is 34 percent higher than last year. To evaluate the touristic effects of Zagreb Advent 2022, HRT also turned to one hotel, located in the very heart of the city, near the popular Funicular.

"This year, the occupancy levels exceeded all our expectations, during the week we've been 80 percent full, and over the weekend we're 100 percent full. Advent greatly affects our occupancy rate," said hotel manager Nikolina Kuhar. In addition to locals, foreign guests mostly come from nearby countries, but also from Western European countries such as Germany and Great Britain, as well as from across the pond in the USA. Hotel capacities here in Zagreb are very well filled until the end of this year, so, unlike many restaurateurs, hotels and hostels have reason to be satisfied.

For more, check out our news section.

October the 8th, 2022 - Advent in Zagreb this year is set to be spread out further than the heart of the city, with cottages boasting festive food and drink of all kinds returning to Zrinjevac and King Tomislav Square as has become the norm.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, although the City of Zagreb announced the tender for Advent in Zagreb 2022 this summer, it will have to be repeated for certain city locations. The reason for the repetition, according to the city administration, is the non-fulfillment of the conditions that Zagreb does insist on. This year, unlike last year, festive cottages will be returning to Zrinjevac, and Advent in Zagreb in general will be spreading further out to the city's neighbourhoods, according to a report from HRT.

After the City of Zagreb changed the tender conditions for Advent in Zagreb, the interest of restaurant owners and various craft owners seems to be less than expected. Out of 32 locations, 25 were leased through bidding, and now another new round of bidding will follow for the remaining seven.

"The offers that came in for those locations didn't really match. None of them corresponded to the formal conditions of the tender when we talk about occasional sales and catering in the so-called bidding model of auctions,'' explained Tomislav Tomasevic, Mayor of Zagreb. Craft owners are also outraged, as they claim that entry into the Advent in Zagreb tender for this year costs a minimum of 3,000 kuna. Even if that sum is paid, it isn't any sort of guarantee of success. In order to seriously compete, the price goes up to 20,000 kuna, a sum far too much for most craft owners.

"It's a tender in which we didn't have any right of precedence, but it was open to everyone and our colleagues had to offer quite high prices in order to get to their positions for which they've already been recognised for years," said Antun Trojnar, vice president of the Zagreb Chamber of Crafts.

Bidding for the eight locations on the main square under the clock is a real roulette for most artisans. Besides having to spend money on the actual bidding, they also need it for production. When all is said and done, such a move is actually unprofitable for the vast majority. Restaurateurs are also being very careful. A weaker interest may also lie in the fact that this year many facilities will celebrate Advent in Zagreb on their own terraces.

"It's certain that this autumn and winter bring a certain amount of fear for restaurateurs due to the overall economic situation and the energy crisis we're currently in, not to mention the potential lack of manpower," said Ivan Tadic, secretary of the Zagreb Restaurateurs Association. That said, they do welcome the fact that the festive cottages are returning to Zrinjevac and King Tomislav Square, and this, they say, is the direction in which the capital should continue to go.

"When Advent in Zagreb was organised, it accounted for almost one-fifth of the total turnover in the hospitality industry that year," Tadic pointed out.

For the first time this year, Advent in Zagreb is expanding outside of the boundaries of the city centre, but even there, the level of interest is half-hearted. Out of ten different locations, the tender is going to need to be repeated for five of them.

Last year, Advent in Zagreb was held in a different atmosphere which was still dominated by the general fears of the public health situation and lockdowns. Some liked it, some didn't. This year, the city administration has claimed, will certainly be different.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

August the 13th, 2022 - It isn't just the Croatian coast that is booming this year, with the capital attracting more and more foreign visitors keen to discover the Croatia which lies away from the sparkling Adriatic Sea. Precisely what do tourists in Zagreb think of the bustling city?

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the devastating earthquake of March 2020 and the global coronavirus pandemic well and truly left their mark on tourism in Zagreb - some of the city's accommodation facilities haven't yet been restored after the earthquake. But despite this, the metropolis has enjoyed some truly excellent results: by the end of July, 80 percent of arrivals and 85 percent of overnight stays were achieved compared to the record year of 2019 by tourists in Zagreb. The most numerous guests there have been the Germans, Americans, English, Dutch and French, as reported by HRT.

Although the City of Zagreb seems empty during these sizzling summer months because local people have gone to the coast or have headed off abroad to enjoy time off work, the famous Tkalciceva ulica (street) and Gornji grad (Upper town) are still all full. Most of the people there are foreigners.

''We really like Zagreb. We went through the city by tourist bus where we saw the cathedral and the Church of St. Mark," said Alessia from Italy.

"I was in the Museum of Broken Relationships and it was really fun, and tomorrow I'd like to go to the Museum of Illusions. You have a lot of interesting museums," said Brandon from the USA.

The turnover in souvenir shops is incomparably higher this year compared to the previous one. Tourists in Zagreb who come from all over the world are most interested in Croatian products. "Licitar hearts and little statues of monuments like the cathedral and St. Mark's church are doing well in terms of sales,'' said Angela Zafranovic, the manager of a Zagreb souvenir shop.

“We like the relaxed atmosphere and architecture throughout the city. You never know what you'll find around the corner. Just now we discovered some stairs and decided to go through there," said Pawin from Australia.

"The culture, a beautiful landscape, history and wine. We've just come back from tasting Croatian wines, which are excellent", emphasised Eugene from Las Vegas.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

July the 26th, 2022 - Sava boats will connect Zagreb's popular Jarun lake with Borovje with the use of five piers. After many ideas like this one for Zagreb having floated around for years now, it will be interesting to see one come to fruition.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Brnic writes, throughout history, there have been many ideas on how to connect Zagreb and the Sava and how to make the Sava something more than just a river that divides the city. Until now, nothing has really succeeded, and only the embankment, which was created out of the need to protect the city from floods, has come to be.

However, after raising the standard along the coast with some new piers, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure is now preparing something for the capital as well. It has launched the project for the Promotion of Green Navigation on the Sava river in the City of Zagreb, for which the study and project documentation will be created in the first step by the IGH Institute, which was selected in a public tender announced back at the beginning of the year.

The very name of the project is associated with "Zagreb on the Sava/Zagreb na Savi" and the European 13 competition, a project that was relevant a few years ago, when the late Milan Bandic was in charge of Zagreb. However, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure has duly pointed out that this project isn't related to that megaproject.

This idea, which involves Sava boats, is a completely different project, and it is their independent project, that is, the City of Zagreb is not included in it at this stage. From the ministry with Oleg Butkovic at the helm, they noted that the involvement of the City of Zagreb is planned during the construction phase, that is, the arrangement of all of the access infrastructure.

In short, the project for which IGH will prepare the project documentation for the ministry envisages the creation of technical conditions for arranging the waterway and enabling the depth that would make the Sava safe for boat navigation. In the tender documentation, the ministry starts from the fact that in the area of ​​the City of Zagreb, the Sava river has very limited possibilities for navigation, and that due to the uneven water regime, it can actually be used mainly only for tourist purposes.

There is no serious navigation on the Sava in Zagreb, and the ministry recognises the possibility of improving the attractiveness of the tourist offer by improving the navigability by introducing, as they say, the water dimension of sightseeing in the city with Sava boats. The ministry also explained that their goal is to create a plan for future works aimed at regulating the Sava river bed in that area in a better way, as well as their intention to create a concept for all of the accompanying infrastructure facilities for Sava boats and a pier project.

In contrast to all previous ideas relating to Zagreb's dividing river, which included connecting and arranging the Sava from the border with Slovenia to Sisak, the current project covers only the area from the Bridge of Youth (Most mladosti) to the area near the Arena at Laniste. In this area, it would be quite possible to install five piers, in locations that would coincide with the most important points of urban transport, and which, according to the ministry, lack traffic connections as well as entertainment and recreational facilities.

Those five locations are Jarun-east, where the eastern part of the Jarun lake towards Laniste would be connected by a ferry crossing, and, until the Jarun bridge is built, the ferry crossing would also be located at another location on the right, connecting Laniste to Jarun. The third location is the Hendrix Bridge, where the navigation unit would be placed on the left side of the bank and would be a connection to both tram and bus transport at the Savski Most interchange, while the fourth location would be Liberty bridge (Most slobode) on the right side of the bank and would connect Bundek, and the last, of all, involving the Bridge of Youth again, would connect the settlements of Savica and Borovje.

Traffic on the Sava using Sava boats would take place in two directions, and two ships could dock at the pier at the same time. In accordance with the EU's green agenda, the wharves would have energy connections and power generation from RES, and, as can be seen from the documentation, they would be built so that they would self-adjust to the water levels on the unstable Sava bed.

As far as the dimensions are concerned, the starting point is a bed depth of 5 metres and a bed width of 80 metres, a pier draft of 1 metre, with the length of the access bridge being 25 meters. The deadline by which IGH needs to create a technical solution for the activation of the ambitious project is 36 months from the conclusion of the contract, which is worth 1.1 million kuna in total.

Then it will be clearer how much the realisation of that project would cost and how it would be financed.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

July the 26th, 2022 - The gorgeous Zagreb botanical garden has found itself ranked among the world's most beautiful gardens and parks by HouseFresh, which took to Tripadvisor reviews, one of the world's most popular ''go to'' websites for all things travel and leisure.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Tripadvisor has been used for many, many years by people from all over the world for various travel and tourism tips. Whether you're looking for a restaurant, accommodation, or a particular attraction, it is always good to read different opinions and views from all kinds of people, which will help you in your choice. This time, the best parks and gardens in the world were ranked by the platform, writes Pun Kufer.

Public parks and gardens are simply great places for just about everyone. Just think about it: huge areas for viewing flowers, enjoying nature or simply relaxing and watching the world go by – they're open to all and (most of the time) they're totally free.

If you've ever wondered which of all the parks and gardens in the world are the most beautiful, today is your lucky day. A study by air purification company HouseFresh looked at Tripadvisor's reviews of almost a thousand gardens and parks from all around the world, counted how many times each attraction was described as ''beautiful'' and then ranked them.

According to research, the most beautiful public park in the world is the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, which doesn't come as a shock at all given its giant man-made trees, stunning walkways and millions of different plant species. This hyper-futuristic park is quite a spectacular sight, as evidenced by the thousands of reviews that describe it as beautiful on the Tripadvisor platform.

Still, let's look a bit closer to come and see if any Croatian gardens and parks, of which there are many absolutely gorgeous ones dotted all around the country, stood out for HouseFresh. One Croatian park did make it onto this list, the beautiful Zagreb botanical garden, which, along with the Cathedral and the Upper Town (Gornji grad), is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Croatian capital.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

May the 21st, 2022 - The Zagreb Culture of Tourism project is continuing to involve the capital city's youth with the systematic education of high school students.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb (TZGZ) in cooperation with the City Office for Education, Sport and Youth is once again implementing the Zagreb Culture of Tourism project. This is a project where the systematic education of high school students, for whom tourism and hospitality are not primary subjects, seeks to raise their awareness of their own city and introduce young people to the tourist, cultural and natural potential of Zagreb.

This year, six schools participated in the Zagreb Culture of Tourism project, and the final presentation of the project will be held on Monday, May the 23rd, 2022, at 11:00 at the Zagreb Dance Centre at Ilica 10.

"We're very proud of all the students who are researching the touristic side of the city within this project and considering the possibilities of evaluating the existing tourist offer, as well as the development of a new one. In this way, students have the opportunity to get to know their city from a slightly different perspective and give their own views and ideas for the City of Zagreb as a tourist destination.

The Zagreb Culture of Tourism project seeks to involve young people in programmes to preserve ethnological, historical and cultural heritage, protect the environment, and raise the level of hospitality and create a welcoming climate, which should leave a mark on Zagreb's tourism and, in general, development of Zagreb,'' said Martina Bienenfeld, the director of the Zagreb Tourist Board.

It's worth noting that the Zagreb Culture of Tourism project is a project that the Tourist Board started way back in the academic year of 2010/2011. Every year, during a one-semester extracurricular activity, students from selected Zagreb high schools have the task, in agreement with project managers, to design and implement projects with a tourism theme, which they then present publicly.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

28 April 2022 - Many people associate Croatian tourism with its famous coastline and sunny beaches. But the nation’s capital is an underrated gem. Here, I show you the best way to visit Zagreb in 24 hours. 

Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of Croatia, with a rich history dating back to Roman times. Described by locals as a "big town disguised as a small city", Zagreb is a mix of Western Balkan and central European culture with laid-back, youth-led rhythm. Walking down the promenades, visiting the outdoor market, and drinking coffee in its vibrant settings, this 24-hour itinerary will have you feeling like a local in no time. From historic locations to museums to a bar crawl, everything covered is within the centre of Zagreb, at most a short tram ride away.

10.00 a.m-13.00 p.m.

Get a good start to the day by walking around the centre of Zagreb, where you’re going to want to pass through some of the iconic walking spots like Tkalčićeva street, where you can also stop for a quick coffee or drink at one of its many open cafes.

Image: Jorge Franganillo/Flickr

If you find yourself hungry right away, stop for breakfast or brunch at the nearby Otto & Frank. Definitely go for their signature dish, the Zagreb Breakfast - Zagreb’s answer to a traditional breakfast dish complete with toasted bread, cottage cheese, and crispy poached eggs. Their menu contains other brunch staples from oatmeal to French toast, many of which are veggie. 

Image: @otto_frank_bar/Instagram

Alternatively, go for a coffee at Mala Kavana, a coffee shop/brunch place overlooking the Josip Jelačić main square. Zagreb is home to its own coffee culture - sitting at a vibrant open space with a strong coffee and a friend is part of the ZG lifestyle. And for this packed day, I have planned for you, you're gonna want to fuel up on caffeine.

Image: Mala Kavana/Facebook

And if you prefer to eat on the go, quickly grab a pastry from one of Zagreb’s bakery chains such as Dubravica or Dinara - the nearest in the centre being in Dolac, from which you may detour towards the end of Tkalčićeva. An iconic place of Zagreb culture, the open-air farmer’s market is where traders from all over Croatia sell their locally grown produce, from fresh fruit and vegetables to different types of cheese. The market also has a butchery and fish market, in addition to pasta vendors, gift shops, and flower stalls. 

Image: Jerome Rondeau/Flickr

13.00-15.00 p.m.

You definitely will want to hit one of Zagreb’s museums, whether it’s one of the art galleries like Klovićevi dvori, or the more one of a kind ones, like the Museum of Naive Art, the Museum of Broken Relationships, or the Zagreb 80s Museum, all within walking distance of the upper town. Or, the quirky Museum of Illusions in Ilica or the Chocolate Museum in Varšavska street (near the Cvjetni square). The appeal of Zagreb museums is not only its diverse range and creative design, but also its prices and accessibility. Tickets can be bought upon entry, and are usually at an average price of 50kn per adult.

Image: muzejiluzija.com 

15.00-17.00 p.m.

From the upper town, head from one of the former museums to some of Zagreb’s historic landmarks, from St. Mark’s Church, to the Strossmayer Promenade, the idyllic walking space of the Zagreb upper town complete with a panoramic view of the city, and the location of the historic Grič cannon and the world’s shortest funicular - Zagreb’s first and oldest means of public transport. Connecting Strossmayer to Tomićeva street, this short and sometimes even deemed "pointless" ride is nonetheless a must when visiting Zagreb. If heading out from the Museum of Illusions or Chocolate Museum, take the funicular upwards from Tomićeva to Strossmayer.

Image: inavukic

But regardless of which route you take, by now you'll want a break from all that walking, and what better way to do so than to stop for some sweet delicacies. Right beside the funicular end at Tomićeva is Vincek, the famous Zagreb cake shop, or rather its small outdoor branch known as Vis a Vis. Their kremšnita (cream pie) is a Zagreb favourite, and definitely one to savour in the outdoor setting, next to the carrot cake or triple chocolate brownie. What’s more, all their pastries are gluten-free, meaning those with allergies do not have to miss out.

Image: Gilbertt G/Tripadvisor

18.00-20.00 p.m
As the sun sets, head down to Zrinjevac park, a popular hanging spot to just sit in the grass and enjoy the atmosphere. Stop at the nearby Studenac grocery shop for some drinks or snacks, and chill out in the park. If there is an event happening, such as Cest is dBest or the Food and Film Festival, enjoy the music, performances, food and drink, and souvenirs. 

Image: e r g a s/Flickr

Otherwise, just use the hours to rest and take in the scenes. Walk around the park and go into the other nearby ones like the Josip Juraj Strossmayer park or the one at Kralj Tomislav square.

20.00-23.00 p.m.

If you're after a night out at the club, know that the Croatian way is to go in late hours. Which leaves plenty of time for a bar crawl to get your energy going for a long night ahead! Zagreb has a rich nightlife scene that has only continued to grow in recent years, and no matter what you're into, there is something for everyone. On the main square you have the popular bar and club Johann Franck. Going in towards Bogovićeva street, there’s Bulldog, and in Ilica, the stunning Swanky Monkey Garden, with its chill garden terrace vibe and excellent cocktails. And in the summer, head on further down to Tuskanac for the Pop Up Summer garden. For more info on what to do in Zagreb during the summer season, check out our guide covering festivals and other events in Zagreb that are either cheap or totally free.

Image: ​​Swanky Monkey Garden/Facebook

Now, if you identify more with counterculture, a bar crawl of Zagreb’s range of alternative pubs is the way to go. Starting on Preradovićeva street, you have Alcatraz, the bar/nightclub that has earned itself a cult following thanks to its regular lineup of cheap drinks and rock tunes.

Image Credit: Neven Vukovic/CityPal

Nearby there’s Rock star, fully adorned on every wall with rock memorabilia, and just 9 minutes away is The Beertija, the rock-themed outdoor beer garden and nightclub with its long menu list of top-quality beers. 

23.00 p.m-early hours
Now that it's time to hit the clubs, there’s the trendy Opera on Petrinjska, known as one of Zagreb’s top clubs with the best events and party atmosphere, attracting large numbers of visitiors in the spacious interior from late night till the early morning hours. 

Image: Pjerino B/Tripadvisor

For those following the alternative bar crawl, there’s Vintage Industrial at Savska (easily go there from i.e. the Beertija, via the 4 or 17 tram), or for the younger crowd, Močvara at Trnjanski nasip (slightly further away and best reached via the bus).

Image: mochvara.hr

6.00-9.00 a.m.
If you’ve finished a long night out or just want to get a quick coffee before wrapping up the day, you can always head back to the main square and stop back at Mala Kavana, or grab a slice of pizza at Fries Factory - the latter being a classic post-night out snack stop. 

And there you have it, the best 24 hours spent in Zagreb, hopefully showing just how much the small capital has to offer - not just its history and culture, but also its people and way of living.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.