Zagreb Croatia. What to see in Zagreb - the main attractions. City Gate and Lotrscak Tower

Walking through the quiet and beautiful streets of this cozy European city, you can trace the history of its life. Every street is a magnificent building, a work of art. Museums, of which there are a huge number, do not make the city lifeless. Everything here is harmonious and charming. This is a city where you want to stay.

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Zagreb became the capital of Croatia in the middle of the 16th century, and the first records about it appeared in 1094. Then the Hungarian king Laszlo I established a bishopric in a settlement on Kaptol hill. Nearby was the settlement of Hradec. Gradec became a city in 1242. At the same time, construction began on the city wall and the construction of a tower, where a bell hung, notifying the townspeople that the city gates were closing. At the beginning of the 17th century, Hradec and Kaptol merged into one city, which was named Zagreb. The history of the name is controversial. Many historians are inclined to believe that the old Croatian word “zagreb”, meaning fortification, gave the name to the city.

As a city with a long history, Zagreb boasts an abundance of buildings, each of which is one of a kind. Zagreb is sometimes called the city of museums. They are here at almost every step. For tourists, time and opportunities still have their limits, so it is necessary to highlight at least 10 of the very best, from which everyone will choose to their taste.

Tower with fortress wall

The most epoch-making building in the city is the tower with the remains of the fortress wall. Its age is about 800 years. The stone gate was built at the same time. There is a small chapel with an icon of the Mother of God protecting the city from misfortunes. Citizens often come here to pray and give thanks for their city, in which they really want to live. The height of the tower is about 30 meters. If you need to take a beautiful panoramic photo, then best place you won't find it. From here you can see almost the entire city. Every day at exactly noon, the cannon standing in the tower fires a shot, which over many centuries has become an integral part of city life. The clocks are set against it.

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saints Stephen and Vladislav

The next most important thing for the city is its symbol, emblazoned on national currency. This is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saints Stephen and Vladislav. This temple was born as a dedication to St. Stepan, in 1175. Until our times, it was rebuilt several times. The final height of the building is 105 meters. Thanks to the light stone and carved decorations, the temple appears to be floating in the air from afar. But up close, a person gets lost next to these impressive sizes. When you go inside, get ready for the atmosphere of this place.

The main shrine here is rightfully recognized as the sarcophagus with the relics of Cardinal Aloysie Stepinac. The sunlight entering the building through the multi-colored stained glass windows gives the whole setting a mysterious look. Unobtrusive stucco decorations and numerous sculptures decorate the cathedral, making it not an ordinary temple for prayer, but rather a museum.

Croatian National Theater

Another building can be admired in any weather. Depending on the lighting, it can be strict, solemn, or romantic. We will talk about the Croatian National Theater, which can safely be called a work of architectural art. It was built in 1895 and is located on Marshal Tito Square.

The theater looks organic from all sides, surrounded by neat flower beds and lawns. Its yellow color turns golden on a sunny day, and it all seems to glow. A evening illumination gives it solemnity and mystery. It seems that the ticket will turn into a fan or an elegant hat, and you will go inside as a different person, ready to contemplate this beauty not only outside, but also inside. And there is something to see here. Antique boxes, comfortable chairs. Everything is in velvet. The curtain is decorated with an illustration from the opera. In anticipation of the start of the theatrical performance, the setting creates the most suitable atmosphere.

The architecture of Zagreb is like a necklace of beautiful buildings, alternating between churches with their holy walls and more secular buildings created for museums, theaters or exhibitions.

St. Mark's Church

Temples decorate this city, like other architectural forms. The Church of St. Mark is ordinary only at first glance. Its roof is worth paying attention to. It is made of tiles of different colors. The result was a mosaic. Incredible, but it's a fact. And all the elements formed into the coats of arms of Croatia, Slavonia, Dalmatia and Zagreb. This project was carried out in the 19th century.

Continuing your tour of the city, you should definitely look at the Kallin House, located on the corner of Masarykov and Gundulichev streets. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century for an industrialist producing ceramic tiles and served as a kind of advertising, since the walls of this building are completely covered with ceramics upper class. Openwork balconies give it elegance.

Strossmayer Gallery

Zagreb is not only the political capital of Croatia. This and cultural center, which contains many theaters, museums, galleries and exhibitions. One of them is the Strossmayer Gallery or, as it is also called, the Gallery of Old Masters. It was founded in 1884 at the expense of Bishop Strossmayer. In this temple fine arts about 4,000 works have been collected. Among them there are works by Durer, El Greco, Goya. In front of the gallery there is a monument to the creator and inspirer.

Mimara Art Gallery

Another example of Zagreb's cultural significance is art gallery Mimara. Ante Topić Mimar, born in Zagreb but living in Austria, has amassed a collection of paintings and objects from around the world throughout his life. At the end of his life he gave it all to his hometown. For this priceless gift, they even opened a museum in the building of a former gymnasium, built in the 19th century. Its value lies in its unique paintings, of which there are about 3,700 copies. Works by the Flemings, Bosch, and Rubens are exhibited here. Connoisseurs of this type of art can spend the whole day within the walls of the museum.

Maksimir Park

Happy but tired tourists will happily relax in Maksimir Park, where city residents like to spend their free time. This delightful place will make you forget about fatigue with the murmur of water and the rustling of leaves. The park is simply drowned in the greenery of numerous plants. This work was created landscape art in 1794 and named after Bishop Maximilian Vrhovec, who was the main inspiration for its creation. There are many lakes on the shores of which you can simply sit on the grass. IN late XIX century, the park was supplemented by a Botanical Garden, whose collection includes tens of thousands of plants. Maksimir is recognized as a monument of park architecture.

Zagreb Zoo

Speaking about this corner of Zagreb, one cannot fail to mention the Zagreb Zoo, located in the park. Next to the animals that we have already seen before, outlandish animals such as the pygmy hippopotamus, the beautiful and proud snow leopard, and the graceful and graceful Saharan oryx walk in spacious enclosures. The entire zoo team participates in a program to preserve rare species of animals, birds, and reptiles on the planet. This kingdom spreads over an area of ​​about five hectares.

Cemetery Mirogoj

Every city is beautiful not only for its museums and theaters. The memory of people who are always living, but not with us, deserves to be respected. In Zagreb they know how to respect the memory of departed people. The Mirogoj cemetery is not just a resting place. Everything here is beautiful - from the entrance and the walls, surrounded by greenery, to the monuments at the burial sites.

The entrance with columns covered with ivy does not in any way indicate that this is a place of sorrow. Greenery, knowing the departure of a person, decorates this place. But it’s not at all sad here. Just peace, beautiful sculptures and lots of beautiful plants. I would like to think about the frailty of our existence. And nothing more.

Usually the cities of Croatia are considered as an excursion addition to beach holiday, but Zagreb is in in this case- an absolute exception to the rule.

Firstly, there is no sea in the immediate vicinity of the city, and secondly, the capital of Croatia is beautiful at any time of the year, and there is something to do for three or four days. But, most importantly, the city has its own unique atmosphere, imbued with which you fall in love with this place once and for all and begin to seriously think about moving to the capital of Croatia.

In the photo: art gallery in Gornji grad, Zagreb

By the way, there are quite a few expats living in Zagreb; the capital of Croatia attracts natives of England, Germany and Italy for the following reasons. Firstly, the city is very clean (especially when compared with Rome or Barcelona), even at the central station there were no cigarette butts on the pavement or beer bottles propping up the walls of the houses.

In the photo: park near the Central Station in Zagreb, evaluate the cleanliness

Secondly, the entire population of Zagreb speaks fluent English, so there is automatically no need to learn Croatian. The third point is that the city is excellent transport system, silent trams will deliver you anywhere in the Croatian capital at almost any time of the day. Fourth, nightlife in Zagreb is in full swing: bars and nightclubs are open everywhere, and local population visits entertainment venues not only during the weekend.

And, the last, but the first for the representatives of the stronger sex, moment - in Zagreb there is an incredible amount beautiful girls. It is simply impossible not to pay attention to young Croatian women, the reason is not only in the external data of the girls, but also in the local dress code: with the onset of warm weather, all residents of Zagreb under the age of 35 wear denim mini-shorts, which reveal more than they hide, - in a word, a paradise for men's eyes. The capital of Croatia consists of 17 districts, but if you decide to spend a weekend in Zagreb, we recommend not to spread yourself thin and focus on two: the atmospheric Dolni grad and the historical Gornji grad.

DOLNI GRAD: THE MOST ATMOSPHERIC AREA OF ZAGREB

It’s best to start getting acquainted with the city from Ban Josip Jelačić Square; it is easily recognized by the statue of that same Ban Josip Jelačić in the center. The square itself is the place for evening rendezvous for local residents; it is under the horse that fans wait for their girlfriends in mini-shorts.

In the photo: Ban Josip Jelacic Square

The buildings surrounding the square are an excellent illustration of the concept of eclecticism in a good, but not vulgar sense: houses in the style of classicism are adjacent to baroque and constructivism, and in the southwest of the square there is the first of the skyscrapers built in Zagreb, which in Croatia are called the funny word “ sky-bearers." To the left of the square is Tkalčićeva ulica. The street is famous for the fact that every house here has a restaurant open. local cuisine, or a bar, and in the evenings street musicians give concerts here. By the way, some bars on Tkalčićeva ulica are focused only on selling drinks. No, there are salads or kebabs on the menu, but if you come to a bar with food bought from one of the street stalls and just order a drink, no one will say a bad word to you.

In addition, there are several excellent shops selling handmade items on Tkalčićeva ulica. Bags with images of girls deserve special attention - there is a great chance of finding one similar to yourself.

In the photo: a ring in the form of a cassette tape and a bag with a girl, handmade from Zagreb

If you climb the stone steps from Ban Josip Jelacic Square to the top, then (provided you do it in the morning) you will find yourself at the farmers' market. In principle, the market is nothing special: carrots, parsley, local cheeses and fruits. But the sculpture of a collective farmer on the steps near the market deserves attention - a monument to a real Slavic woman who would enter a burning hut, collect the entire harvest, and then sell it at a triple markup.

In addition, visiting the market is educational from a linguistic point of view, in order to make sure that the Croatian names of fruits and vegetables are not too different from the Russian ones. Another attraction located right behind Ban Josip Jelacic Square is Zagreb Cathedral. Although the first building of the cathedral was erected already in the tenth century, practically nothing remains of it.

Zagreb Cathedral was almost completely rebuilt in the nineteenth century after the earthquake that occurred in the capital of Croatia in 1880, however, when you admire the beautiful sculptures adorning the facade of the building, you do not think about the age of the building.

It is worth noting that the vast majority of residents of the capital of Croatia are Catholics, and many of them are very proud of their adherence to this direction of Christianity, and therefore there is a crowd of parishioners in the cathedral (especially on weekends). It is better not to disturb those praying, not because it is dangerous, but simply for the sake of decency: they quickly entered, took a couple of pictures and quietly, without attracting public attention, left the cathedral.

In the photo: inside Zagreb Cathedral

To the left of Ban Josip Jelacic Square begins Ulica Ljudevita Gaja. From an architectural point of view, it is the complete opposite of Tkalčićeva ulica; if on Tkalčićeva there are small houses in a traditional style, then here it is completely modern, glass and metal.

The style is set by the Dubrovnik hotel, shining with glass showcases; in the center of the street you can see sculptures in the style contemporary art, and on the wall of one of the buildings there is even a panel for playing Tetris.

In the photo: contemporary art at Ulica Ljudevita Gaja

But, like on Tkalčićeva ulica, there are a great many bars and cafes, where there is nowhere to fall, regardless of the day of the week or time of day: in the morning, residents of Zagreb drop in here for a cup of coffee, and closer to 18.00 they switch to beer and wine. The bars on Ljudevita Gaja are located in the center of the street, so that guests of the establishments can watch passersby who are rushing about their business.

If you continue walking around Dolni Grad, you will definitely see the building of the Croatian National Theater. It is an excellent example of the so-called Viennese Baroque, which is not surprising, because the Austrian architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, who built all the most famous theaters in Europe, including the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater, worked on the theater project.

In the photo: Croatian National Theater

In general Zagreb - cultural capital Croatia not in words, but in deeds. Just imagine, in a city with a population of only 780 thousand people there are 16 theaters, 22 museums and 31 art galleries. However, we can talk about galleries separately; they are here, as they say, in every second house.

In addition to places where antiquities are exhibited, contemporary art galleries are incredibly popular, where you can find paintings for every taste: from realism to the wonders of post-impressionism or cubism.

Most galleries have cafes or bars, because according to local residents, it is bad form to saturate your soul and heart with culture on an empty stomach.

GORNI ​​GRAD – THE HISTORICAL CENTER OF ZAGREB

Although Gornyi Grad (or as it is also called Medveshk) in terms of atmosphere is inferior to the lively and more modern Dolniy Grad, it is still unforgivable not to visit it. As the name suggests, Gorniy Grad is located on a hill; you can get here either by the steps of a stone staircase or by cable car.

When exiting the cable car, be sure to stop at the observation deck to admire the view of the orange rooftops of Zagreb from the top.

In the photo: view of Zagreb from observation deck

Near the observation deck, a stone's throw from the bar decorated with figures of pirates, street artists usually settle down. Incredibly, but true, many of them offer tourists not only eye-watering paintings with views of the capital of Croatia, but also very pleasant miniatures, abstractions, and also good still lifes.

In the photo: paintings sold near the observation deck

The main historical attraction of the area is the Church of St. Mark, considered one of the symbols of the city. Although the first mention of the church dates back to the thirteenth century, the current building with its famous colorful mosaic roof was erected in Zagreb only at the end of the nineteenth century.

The same Austrians Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer worked on the reconstruction of the church, and the decorative design of the building was done by the Croatian artist Jozo Kljaković. Unfortunately, the church is usually closed during the day, so all that remains is to admire the colorful roof.

Among the modern attractions of Gorniy Grad, the “Museum of Broken Relationships” or, as it is also called, the “Museum of Broken Hearts” deserves attention. The museum exhibit consists of things that couples donated here after their relationship ended.

In the photo: Museum of Broken Relationships, exhibition

Next to each exhibit is a love story associated with this item. Here is a drawing of a map of Italy on a sheet of book, made by a guy who promised to take his girlfriend on a Vespa around the country. Here is a teddy bear, hugging which a girl fell asleep when her lover was not around, and here is an old red coat that another couple bought together at a sale.

In the photo: exhibits of the Museum of Broken Relationships.

The stories (like the exhibits) are different, some are cute and touching, but there are also creepy and sometimes vengeful ones: for example, one girl donated to the museum a frisbee plate that her boyfriend gave her for the two-year anniversary of their relationship. In the comments to the exhibit, the girl said that the presence of the plate in the Museum of Broken Relationships should be a lesson not only for her former unlucky lover, but also for all men, because there is no point in giving girls any nonsense.

Also in Gornji Grad is the parliament building (easily identified by the impressively sized coat of arms on the wall) and the Mirogoj cemetery, where the most famous figures of Croatia are buried.

GASTRONOMY: YOU MUST TRY THIS!

If you think about it, the name of the capital of Croatia will tell you more than it might seem at first glance. “Zagreb” means beyond the ridge of the mountain and, indeed, the nearest mountains can be reached from the center of the Croatian capital in just an hour. Accordingly, the national cuisine of Zagreb, as it should be in mountainous area, consists mainly of meat dishes.

Most famous local dish- cevapchichi, cutlets made from ground pork or beef, grilled. Typically, classic chavapcici look like small sausages, but in Zagreb you can also find variants in the form of one giant cutlet. One more thing, in restaurants in Zagreb they add much more garlic to cevapcici than in Pula, so brushing your teeth after lunch is a must.

Another local meat dish is Kobasica. Direct associations with sausage can be misleading, because kobasica is minced meat with spices, compacted into the intestine and twisted into a knot; accordingly, kobasica is grilled before eating. All kinds of sausages and hams are also common in Zagreb. The names are telling: prosciutto = prosciutto, salama = salami, spik and slanina = bacon and lard, and so on. Local varieties of feta and suluguni are popular cheeses.

In the photo: Croatian cheese, a local variety of feta

One more thing national dish— frittele, belongs to the category of so-called street food. Croatians call frittele pancakes, although, in fact, these are typical donuts sold on the streets of the city. Donuts can be sprinkled with powdered sugar, and liqueur, cognac, lemon zest or raisins can be added as a filling to the frittele.

Throughout my entire life in Zagreb, I have never ceased to be amazed by the attitude of tourists towards it. Although it is the capital of Croatia, Zagreb is undeservedly not spoiled by the attention of tourists. On the way to the attractive seaside towns, Zagreb becomes, at best, transhipment point. However, it is not only a cultural center, but also the center of Croatian architectural treasures. At first glance, it seemed to me to be a mixture of Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade, combining the best of these cities. Its uniqueness and urban identity were revealed to me only the second time.

In fact, Zagreb is two in one, where everyone can find a neighborhood to their liking. On the mountainside lies Gorniy Grad, with narrow cobbled streets, Baroque mansions and majestic churches, and the main government buildings are located here.

Below - Donij Grad, the center of business and cultural life, with huge squares, wide streets, demonstrating all the possible riot of imagination of architects at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Personally, I love Zagreb dearly for its combination of urban and natural. It is located at the foot of the Medvednica mountain range, the Sava River flows through it, and in the city itself there are lakes where you can swim. Unlike the Croatian coast, where so many cultures mix, Zagreb is the soul and heart of Croatia, where you can feel its history.

How to get there

The fastest and most convenient way to get to Zagreb from Moscow or St. Petersburg is to take a direct flight (more expensive) or with transfers (cheaper). For train lovers, there is an option to travel by train with a transfer in Budapest, but by train it is not only long to travel, but also more expensive than by plane. The journey by car will also take several days (travel time is about 25 hours), and the route passes through countries with toll roads and relatively expensive gasoline.

By plane

• Direct flights from Moscow operate every day Aeroflot, this option is the fastest, but rarely costs less than 300 EUR for a round trip flight.
• There is a direct flight from St. Petersburg on Thursdays and Sundays Croatia Airlines. With a lucky coincidence, I was able to buy round-trip tickets from them for 230 EUR, and tickets for 300 EUR are almost always available.

Of course, it is cheaper to fly with transfers.

• For example, Air Serbia via - the cheapest option with comfortable connections, you can spend 170-200 EUR. If you choose a long connection, you can have time to walk around Belgrade; you don’t need a visa. In the summer, when Air Serbia has a flight -, this option is also available to St. Petersburg residents on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but the price is comparable to a direct flight from Croatia Airlines.
• WITH Austrian Airlines You can fly with transfers in Vienna, there are very short connections of 40 minutes, more choice of departure times. The price is about 220 EUR.
• Turkish Airlines offers options with three-hour transfers; if purchased in advance, the price will be about 250 EUR.
• Another transfer point is , but you have to take into account that this flight KLM Performs jointly with other companies.

By bus

One of the cheapest ways to get to Zagreb is by bus from, after flying with low-cost Wizz Air from Moscow. You can get from Budapest Airport to the Nepliget bus station by bus (220E) and metro. The bus from Budapest takes about 5 hours, tickets cost 13-16 EUR one way. In terms of time spent, it is comparable to flights with transfers.

You can get to Zagreb by bus from Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Slovenia. Schedules and prices can be found on the bus station website, you can also buy on the website electronic tickets in most directions.

How to get to the city center

The station is located near the city center, two kilometers from central square ban Josip Jelacic.

You can walk, take tram No. 6 or No. 17, or take a taxi, the cost of the trip should be about 7 EUR. The bus is the best solution for moving around the country. This is the fastest way to get to any seaside town or, for example, national park Plitvice lakes.

By car

The journey from Moscow to Zagreb by car is about 2200 kilometers, 4-5 countries and more than a day of travel. It is better to plan one or two overnight stays along the way. The shortest route is through Belarus, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, but this route contains mountainous sections with serpentines. Longer, but not longer - through Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovenia, but toll roads on this route are more expensive.

In a number of countries you will have to buy a vignette (payment for travel on toll roads for a certain period of time): (8.9 EUR), (from 9.5 EUR to 19 EUR depending on the class of car), Slovakia (10 EUR), (15 EUR), (12 EUR ). In Croatia itself, payment is made according to the distance traveled at rates that vary for different routes. The journey from the Hungarian border to Zagreb will cost 5.6 EUR for a passenger car, and 0.9 EUR from the Slovenian border. Additional fees apply for some tunnels and bridges. Detailed information and cost estimates can be found on the Croatian Highways website.

Besides toll roads, to calculate your budget, take into account the cost of gasoline, which when traveling from Moscow ranges from 0.62 EUR in Belarus to 1.32 EUR in Croatia itself. A factor that can significantly increase travel time is crossing the border. According to my feelings, in this regard, the Slovenian-Croatian border is more comfortable than the Hungarian-Croatian border.

Clue:

Zagreb - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Season in Zagreb is from April to October. The optimal choice is the beginning or end of the season, it is already/still warm, there is no influx of tourists. Zagreb - very green city, it blooms beautifully in May and turns golden in autumn. My favorite time to visit Zagreb is October, pleasant weather for walking, little rain and a riot of autumn foliage colors.

Summer in Zagreb is not very hot, daytime temperatures range from 19 to 26 degrees, but June and August are the rainiest months. The city is filled with tourists, but during this period there is an active nightlife, various festivals and outdoor events take place.

In winter, the temperature is usually around zero, quite comfortable for walking, but it can be cloudy and grey. But in winter, prices in cafes and hotels are slightly lower, and there are few tourists (especially in February).

Zagreb - weather by month

Clue:

Zagreb - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

The main attractions and many hotels are located in Gorniy Grad. It would be logical to settle here, but two nuances need to be taken into account. Firstly, prices here are significantly higher. Secondly, getting anywhere other than Gorniy Grad is already a problem; this area is on the slope of a mountain, so to go to the city you need to either go down/ascend stairs or slopes, or pay for a taxi or funicular.

The optimal solution is to stay at one of the many hotels in Donje Grad. This area has a more developed infrastructure (shops, shopping centers, trams and other transport), close to all attractions. From Donego Grad it is more convenient to get to the train and bus stations. Beyond the most tourist places, it makes sense to live close to the bus station if you plan to travel around the area a lot. It is also worth paying attention to the surroundings of Ilica, Grada Vukovara and Savska cesta streets (highlighted in red on the map). Ilica has convenient tram connections to the center, and many of the city's cultural institutions are located near Grada Vukovara street. Accommodation at Savska cesta is suitable for sports lovers or nightlife, this street leads to Lake Jarun (more about it in the “Parks” section).

Zapresic

It is a city that is part of the Greater Zagreb urban agglomeration, just 13 kilometers to the west. In Zaprešić and its suburbs there are historical palaces, forming the so-called “palace path”. One of them, Novi Dvori, was the residence of Ban Jelacic and in the park of the palace there is a crypt of his family, made in the neo-Gothic style.

From Novi Dvori you can walk to the Lužnica Palace, built in the early 18th century. From the center of Zagreb you can get there by tram and bus: first trams 6 or 11 to the Črnomerec bus terminal, then bus 172. Travel time is about an hour.

Archaeological Park "Andavtonia"

Located on the site of a Roman settlement, near the village of Šćitarjevo, 20 kilometers southeast of the city. This Roman settlement appeared in the 1st century AD. and was one of the largest in this region. Visitors can see the remains of the city with its streets and ruins of buildings, spread over an area of ​​2500 m2. The park is open to visitors on weekends from May 1 to October 31, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Entrance ticket costs about 2.7 EUR. To get to the park you need to take trams 6 or 14 from the center to Zaprudje station, and from there buses 307 or 308 to Šćitarjevo III station.

Museum of Krapina Neanderthals

Fans of even more ancient antiquities should go to the city of Krapina, located 50 kilometers north of Zagreb. There is located (Muzej krapinskih neandertalaca). The new museum building took almost a decade to build, and now it is one of the most modern and multimedia museums. The main collection consists of Neanderthal household items, geological and archaeological exhibits. The park around the museum contains sculptures depicting people and animals from that period. An entrance ticket to the museum costs approximately 3.4 EUR. You can get to Krapina by bus or train from central stations in Zagreb.

Food. What to try

Croatian cuisine varies from region to region. You can try it in Zagreb national cuisine any region (Dalmatian, Istrian, Slavonian), but it is better to pay attention to the dishes of central Croatia and Zagreb County. Among them are, for example, pork knuckle with stewed cabbage (buncek sa zeljem), Žganci (a dish made from corn flour), which in the vicinity of Zagreb is often prepared with sour cream and bacon. Ajngemahtec or ujušak soup, which is made from chicken and root vegetables, is popular and is popularly considered a hangover cure. The main pride of Zagreb cuisine is Zagreb steak (zagrebacki odrezak), it looks like a schnitzel stuffed with cheese and ham.

Local pastries deserve special attention. For example, bučnica - pies filled with cheese from a local variety of pumpkin. Such a local dish as Štrukli was generally recognized as a national Croatian treasure. They are made from a very thin dough in which a salty or sweet filling is wrapped. There are two methods of preparation - boiled or baked. The classic dessert in Zagreb are cakes: Zagreb kremšnita and krempita. The difference between regional options is not noticeable to an inexperienced connoisseur, but local residents claim that it exists.

Safety. What to watch out for

There is no need to worry about security in Zagreb, the country has a low crime rate, and in Zagreb, especially in the center, you are absolutely safe both day and night. As elsewhere, tourists should carefully monitor their belongings in crowded places. Be careful with discussions on political and religious topics with local residents, Croats are a proud and sometimes touchy people.

Things to do

Shopping and shops

Zagreb has several large shopping centers and malls (Avenue mall, Garden mall, Arena Centar), as well as outlets (the largest are two Moda Sport Outlet branches, one in the west, the other in the south of the city).

Of particular interest is the Hrelic flea market - a huge amount of useless things with a slight touch of nostalgia for socialist Yugoslavia. Most large number sellers - on Sundays. To get there, you need to take tram number 6 to the Zaprudje station, and from there walk along the embankment (Sajmišna cesta). On Sundays from 8 am to 2 pm there is an antique market on British Square (Britanski trg).

Vintage lovers will love the store called “Street Closet” (Ulični ormar) at Jurišićeva 16, where in addition to clothes you can also find shoes and accessories. Actually, shoe production is the main Croatian pride, so you should definitely check out one of the stores of the local Borovo brand. One of them is located at Ilica 142. This street is for local lovers, there are many shops on it, both famous foreign brands and Croatian designers.

Bars. Where to go

There are great bars everywhere in Zagreb. On weekdays, most of them work until 12, on the night from Friday to Saturday and from Saturday to Sunday, many work until 2 or 4 in the morning. You can choose a suitable bar based on your penchant for certain drinks. If you want to try different types raki, direct route to Rakhia bar (Tkalčićeva ulica 45), they serve more than 50 types, both traditional and experimental.

There is plenty to do for beer lovers - a great atmosphere and live music in the Bikers Beer Factory (Savska cesta, 150), and in the Craft Room (Opatovina ul. 35) there is a huge selection of craft beer, as well as a view from the terrace of the old town. In numerous pubs in the city you can find local beer (Ožujsko, Karlovačko, Osječko, etc.). Prices on average are about 2-3 EUR.

There are many themed bars in the city:

• in Latin style (Mio Corazon);
• with jazz (Bacchus Jazz Bar);
• cyberpunk (Nikola Tesla Powerhouse);
• fantasy (Tolkien's House) and many others.

Clubs and nightlife

At night, Zagreb transforms, the calm, dimensional city is flooded with groups of young people moving from bars to clubs and back again. Most places are open until 4 am, face control is inactive. Clubs in former factory buildings have become particularly popular lately. For example, a club converted from warehouse premises. Open on Fridays and Saturdays, there are parties with electronic music.

For fans of techno and house, a must-visit Club No.1 – Jedinica, conveniently located near Gornji Grad at Nova ves 2. Parties are held every day.

For those who prefer rock and alternative music, a direct route to legendary place. Concerts almost every day, a range of music - rock, punk, jazz, funk. Entry prices vary depending on the events from free entry to 13 EUR. It’s worth visiting during the day, as in addition to concerts and parties, exhibitions, performances and film shows are held here.

Of particular interest to tourists is the funicular that connects Doniy grad with Gorniy. It allows you to get there in 1 minute, instead of a 15 minute walk up the steps. This pleasure will cost 0.5 EUR for a one-way trip.

The Zagreb urban transport system also includes two lines sightseeing bus: red and green. The red one goes through the city center, and the green one goes past lakes Jarun and Bundek, as well as Maksimir Park. The ticket price, at first glance, is unreasonably expensive - 10 EUR. However, the ticket is valid for 24 hours on both lines, and you can enter and exit at any station an unlimited number of times.

On weekends, a tourist train runs around Donem Castle, the ride on which is free. It departs every 40 minutes from Ban Josip Jelacic Square.

Taxi. What features exist

A taxi ride from the airport to the city center will cost about 16 EUR. The tariff rates of different companies are approximately the same, landing is about 1.7-2 EUR, a kilometer of travel is 1 EUR. At night, as well as on Sunday and holidays There is a 15-20% surcharge. Make sure the taxi driver turns on the meter. It is more convenient to order a taxi by phone, but there are taxi stands in all large squares and near train stations, in this case there is a risk that the taxi driver will want to inflate the cost of the trip. I advise you to demonstrate a confident knowledge of prices.

My favorite among Zagreb taxis is . They have a convenient app, when ordering through it you will immediately see the price. Payment is made automatically via bank card, and for Mastercard and Maestro cardholders there is a 20% discount.

Trams

There are 15 daytime tram lines and 4 nighttime tram lines in Zagreb. Unlike buses, trams travel through the very center of the city. The most useful lines for tourists are 6, 2 and 11. They all start a little west of the city center, trams No. 6 and No. 2 go to the south, and No. 11 to the east of the city. Among the night lines, a tourist may find the N31 line useful, which actually duplicates the route of tram No. 6.

Buses

The bus network is the most extensive; there are about 140 daily lines in the city, which connect not only the districts of Zagreb, but also deliver to the nearest suburbs. Bus lines are tied to terminals, usually from these terminals they go from the city center, rather than to the center. From the Kaptol terminal (part of Gorniy Grad) buses go up the mountainside. Buses 238, 106, 226 can get to the Mirogoj cemetery. Bus 201 connects Kaptol with Kvaternika Square (from where the bus is coming 290 to the airport).

Transport rental

There are many car rental companies in Zagreb. About 15 different companies offer their services at the airport. It is better to use the services of international companies, as the websites present detailed information and you can choose thoughtfully. Here you can compare prices from different rental companies. The cheapest rentals are from Coldcar and Avantcar; if you want to rent a car in Zagreb and drive to the coastal cities, pay attention to the offers of Sixt and Europcar. In Croatia, gasoline 95 costs about 1.25 EUR, and gasoline 98 costs 1.32 EUR. In Zagreb it is possible to rent a Vespa scooter, but the price in relation to car rental prices is discouraging.

When arriving by car or renting one, take into account paid parking. Parking on the streets of Zagreb is divided into four zones. In the very center there is a red zone where you can park only for two hours at a cost of 0.8 EUR per hour. On Sundays, parking is free. It will be more convenient to use covered parking services (called Javna garaža), some of them are located close to the center. Parking a car for the whole day costs about 4 EUR, an hour during the day 0.5 EUR. All the necessary information (zone map, time, parking price) is presented on.

We arrived in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, from Zagorje.

Zagorje is the northern part of Croatia, separated from Zagreb by the Medvednica mountain range.

Zagreb is limited from the north by mountains, from the south and southeast by the Savoy River (a tributary of the Danube). The city seems to be sliding towards the river.

We enter Zagreb. In the background - mountain range Medvednica. On highest point in the Slieme massif (1033) there is a TV tower.

In the city center Medvednica disappears somewhere, and smaller hills come to the fore.

Unlike many cities built on seven hills, the Croatian capital was quite content with two.

The Zagreb hills stand opposite each other. One of them is Kaptol, originally churchmen lived on it. Another hill, steeper, higher and more spacious - Hradec, populated by ordinary people. At one time there was a Hungarian military garrison there.

Previously these were two separate cities. The Medvescak River flowed between the hills, and the bridge thrown over it was called Bloody. You can easily guess what kind of relationship existed between the inhabitants of the neighboring hills.

Time passed, and the two towns merged into one - Zagreb. Mills were set up on the river. And then the river was completely filled up, and the resulting street was named Tkalchicheva. Now Tkalchicheva Street is a pedestrian zone with numerous cafes.

Ban Jelačić Square

At the foot of the hills lies the main square of Zagreb - Ban Jelačić Square. Ban was the name given to the supreme ruler of Croatia.

There is also a fountain on the square - seemingly simple, but respectfully fenced with chains. This fountain is built over a spring Mandesuvac, which was the main source drinking water for the residents of Zagreb. Water was taken from the source until the end of the 19th century.

Buildings on Jelačić Square

On the square there is a tourism office (house 11), where, in addition to a map of the city, you can pick up booklets in Russian describing the sights of Zagreb. The booklets are very detailed, convenient, made with the desire to present your city down to the smallest detail. Descriptions of Zagreb sights are interspersed with articles about the most prominent representatives of Croatian history, science and art. There are many writers and poets. Of the representatives of science, only two seem to be mentioned - Nikola Tesla and Slavoljub Penkala (who invented the fountain pen and built the first Croatian airplane in 1910).

Memorial plaque to Nikola Tesla in Hradec

Jelačić Square – the border between Upper town and Nizhny. Let's start, of course, with Upper, since it was on the hills that the first settlements arose, which later grew into the capital city of Zagreb.

Kaptol

First, let's climb the right hill - Kaptol. A column with a gilded sculpture of the Virgin Mary is visible in front.

The column stands in the center main square Kaptola.

The area is spacious. Her dominant is cathedral Assumption of the Virgin Mary, main cathedral Zagreb.

Fortress walls were erected around the cathedral. They were built in the mid-16th century for protection against the Turks.

To the right of the cathedral is one of the towers. The tower connects with the bishop's palace.

Cathedral, bishop's palace and fortress tower

Behind the tower there begins a narrow street that leads down.

Behind the fortress walls there were once ponds in which priests fished. Now here is the Ribnjak city park.

Cafe near the park

On the other side of the square is a large open space - the Dolac food market.

Let's walk along the main street of Kaptol.

These are the houses there.

Musical theater

Church of St. Francis. The church was built in the 17th century. Previously, there was a 13th century church on this site, where, as rumor goes, Francis of Assisi lived for some time.

Behind the Franciscan church, the street descends into a small shady park, and from there it opens onto the busy Tkalčičeva Street.

Tkalchicheva street

Tkalchicheva - these are endless rows summer cafes, these are three-story houses with hillsides rising above them.

Somewhere these slopes are densely built up - houses creep up in steps. Somewhere - covered with vineyards.

From Tkalchicheva, here and there, narrow stairs go up...

At the bottom the street is filled with people, but as you go up, the number of people on the street decreases.

This is the house with the hussars at the top.

At the beginning of Tkalčičeva Street there is a monument to local journalist and writer Maria Jurich, who wrote under the pseudonym Zagorka. She wrote historical novels, including ones about the powerless and difficult fate of women, about girls who flocked to the city in search of work and ended up on the panel.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, persecution of witches spread in Zagreb, and many women were burned. Trials by the local Inquisition and the burning of women began in the early 17th century and continued until the mid-18th century. It took the intervention of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, who issued a decree banning the persecution of witches. In one of the novels, the writer describes the events of those years.

A little way up Tkalchicheva Street, we see a monument to one of those whose unfortunate fate Zagorka wrote about - we are not talking about a witch, but about a girl who ended up in a brothel. It is no coincidence that this monument stands here - in the 19th century there were many brothels on Tkalchicheva.

To the left of this monument is an inconspicuous path that leads to a narrow, steep staircase.

Hradec

We begin our climb up Hradec Hill.

Lanterns are another sign of Old Zagreb. Gas lamps are still used here, which are lit by lamplighters in the evenings.

There is a street in the middle of the slope Radicheva. It runs parallel to Tkalchicheva. The most remarkable place on it is sculpture of St. George with a defeated serpent.

From the monument a path leads to Stone gate. When we were there, the gates stood in the forests

Inside the gate is the chapel of Our Lady with an icon that survived one of the fires. The icon is considered miraculous and is highly revered. Our Lady of the Stone Gate is considered the patroness of Zagreb.

Passing through the Stone Gate, we rise higher

and soon we find ourselves on the top of Gradec hill, in the middle St. Mark's Square with a magnificent and original cathedral in the center - the Church of St. Mark. On the roof of the church are the coats of arms of Croatia and Zagreb.

To the left of the church is the Croatian government building, to the right is the building parliament(in Croatian – Sabora).

There is an unusual monument on the corner of the house. Pictured Matija Gubec- Croatian “Emelyan Pugachev”, leader of the peasant uprising. In St. Mark's Square, Matius, who was captured, was tortured and then quartered.

We go down the hill along Cyril and Methodius Street, or, in local terms, Chirilometodskaya. On Chirilometodskaya Street there is the Church of Chiril and Method.

We pass by the Museum of Naive Art.

A look back at St. Mark's Church

On our way there is a square Jesuitski Trg from baroque St. Catherine's Church. The Jesuits built it in the 17th century, and next to it a gymnasium, which became the first gymnasium in Zagreb (1607).

View of Zagreb from the Church of St. Katarina

Lotrscak Tower- a tower that has survived to this day, which was part of the city fortress of the 13th century.

Lotrscak Tower

We leave the fortress walls and begin to descend along the wall along a steep staircase. This descent is called Strossmayer alley.

And here we are again at Ban Jelacic Square.

Lower Zagreb

The lower city was built up thoughtfully and meaningfully. The architect Milan Lenuzzi designed a chain of squares-parks, forming the letter “U” on the plain in front of the hills. This series of park spaces was nicknamed “Lenuzzi’s Horseshoe”. It seems to me that it looks more like a green garland around the neck of the Mountain City rather than a horseshoe.

The buildings along the park areas are built in the form of closed fortresses, with front facades facing outward and hiding green courtyards inside.

Plane tree alleys, fountains, sculptures follow each other - as well as numerous museums: archaeological, Academy of Sciences and Arts, Art Nouveau Gallery, ethnographic, art pavilion, decorative and applied arts and the famous Mimara Art Museum.

Mimara Museum

Among the outstanding buildings are the building of the Croatian National Theater in the center of Broz Tito Square and the University of Zagreb.

The Botanical Garden is built into the lower part of the “horseshoe” of parks.

The modern city has reached the river Sava and spread to the other side.

In the south of Zagreb there is the so-called “Zagreb Sea” - an artificial lake Yarun.

And in the north rises the Medvednica mountain range. On the slopes of the mountains are laid walking routes, mountain shelters and cafes have been set up. There is a chapel, a fortress, and a cave on the mountain. A funicular takes you to the top of Slieme. In winter they go skiing there.

Now the population of Zagreb is creeping up to a million. There is no metro in the city. There are traffic jams.

However, the most cursory and superficial acquaintance with Zagreb leaves the impression that the city is quite comfortable for everyday life, there is a lot of greenery, the urban space is thoughtfully built, there are a lot of people walking, a lot of young people, you feel some kind of healthy fullness and cheerfulness. At the same time, the southern climate brings a feeling of lightness and carefreeness.

At first impression, Zagreb is very different from. It seemed to me that he was like... In this case, Booking will return 1 thousand rubles to your card after you book your accommodation and make your first trip). GetYourGuide

The busiest meeting place is at the monument to Ban Josip Jelacic on the square of the same name. Previously, the square was named Mandusevac, after the name of the spring, which is mentioned in the legend associated with the name of the city "Zagreb". In its place there is now a fountain.

Radićeva ul. leads to Gradej. (Radicheva St.), built in the 19th century. houses of industrialists, built in the style of classicism. At the intersection of Radićeva and Kamenita there is a bronze figure of St. George, one of the patrons of Zagreb. It is easy to climb along Kamenita to the central square of Hradec, at Markov Trg (St. Mark's Square). On this street you will see the only surviving medieval Stone Gate (Kamenita Vrata). According to legend, the fire of 1731, having destroyed all the wooden parts of the gate, spared only the icon of the Mother of God. Now this icon is Miraculous, it is located in the Baroque chapel. The mace, installed in front of the gate in the 17th century, protects the city from witches.

Along Kamenita we get to Markov trg, the center of which is considered to be the Church of St. Mark built in the 14th century. - emblem of Zagreb. In the 19th century it was reconstructed and the roof was covered with multi-colored tiles with the coat of arms of Zagreb and the united principality of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia. In the 20th century The interior was restored and sculptures by the world-famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović were installed.

From the west the square is limited by the Palace (Banski dvori, Markov trg, 1). From 1809 to 1918 it housed the residence of the Croatian governors (bans). Ban Josip Jelacic ruled here and is now the residence of the President of Croatia.

Nearby on the street. Matoševa (Matosheva) in luxurious palace, built in the Baroque style (1763), housed Croatian Historical Museum.

North on the street. Mletačka, 8 there is a museum-atelier of Ivan Meštrović, where a collection of the sculptor’s works is kept. South on the street. Čirilometodska located the building of the city hall, in which in the 19th century the meetings of the Sabor (Parliament) were held, and National Theater, and also Gallery of naive art. On the Katarinski trg square stands one of the undisputed landmarks of Hradec - Church of St. Catherine(1620-1632). On the northern part of the square there is Museum of Modern Art, and in the northeast - Gallery Klovićevi Dvori.

The easiest way to get to Kaptol is along the street. Bacačeva, which starts at the northeastern part of Trg Bana Jelačića. The most prominent building here is the symbol of Zagreb - the largest neo-Gothic building in Croatia Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (XII-XIX). In front of the cathedral there is a gilded column statues of the Virgin Mary with four angels , and also nearby is the arched ensemble of the Bishop's Residence - Bishop's Palace. The street runs north from the square. Kaptol, on both sides of which there are houses built in the 15th-17th centuries. The most beautiful building counts Tom Kovacivech's house (Kaptol,8).

Franciscan monastery(Kaptol,9) with Church of St. Francis exist, according to legend, since the time of Francis of Assisi, i.e. from the 13th century On the street Opatovina from the 15th century. Ordinary townspeople of Kaptol settled. It is home to one of the most colorful markets in Europe - Dolac.

In the lane connecting Dolac stands one of the oldest churches in Zagreb - Church of the Virgin Mary (XVIII).

Lower town, located south of st. Ilica, built in the style of neoclassicism and Viennese Art Nouveau. Under the canopy of centuries-old plane trees on Zrinjevac Square there is a meteorological column. On the contrary, in the western part of the square - Archaeological Museum. In the center of the square - music pavilion-gazebo.

South of the street. Strossmayerov trg is the area Trg kralja Tomislava - the first Croatian king , bounded from the south Pavilion of Sciences and Arts, and from the north by the building Railway station , next to which it is installed Monument to King Tomislav. South-west of the station is Starčićev trg in the most beautiful in Zagreb Hotel Esplanade, from which you can via shopping mall go out to Botanical Garden on the street Mihanovićeva.

In the north of Marulićev trg is located Ethnographic Museum. On the street Savska, located before Rooseveltov trg Mimara Museum- one of the best galleries in Europe.

North of Rooseveltov trg there is Croatian National Theatre.