If one asked me how I can describe Croatia in a few words, I would say it is the pearl of the Adriatic. How shouldn’t be? Medieval architecture, cobblestone pavements, centuries-old but still standing palaces, sandy beaches, as well as stunning islands, vibrant nightlife on the one side and peaceful places for reclusion on the other…
Witnessed several wars during the history, the map of Croatia explains the contested geography of the country. Its shape resembles the head of a huge alligator, and it enclaves Bosnia and Herzegovina on its west. Here Neum is the only town to be situated along Bosnia and Herzegovina’s coastline, making it the country’s only access to the Adriatic Sea. The interesting shape of these Balkan countries resulted in a place where the cultures and ethnic origins are intertwined.
Yes, Western Balkans have always been among my bucket list! Rich culture, great cuisine, amazingly kind and hospitable people, and a history from which everyone should learn a lesson. In 2017, I started with Skopje, Pristina, Budva, Kotor, and Tirana in April; and continued with Sarajevo, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Mostar in June. What I was expecting about that part of the Balkans was a chaotic journey where I thought that I wasn’t going to be able to arrange all the route by myself. But it all ended up with great memories, new stories from amazing people I met during my journey, and a lifelong fulfillment!
I will talk about my Western Balkan experience in another blog post. But overall, the Croatia part of my Western Balkan route happened to be spectacular! The medieval cities of Split and Dubrovnik, and the island of Hvar took me to years before, whereas the capital city of Zagreb made me feel the modernity and history at the same time. And if you’re a big fan of Game of Thrones, Croatia would be great to visit a few of the key filming locations including King’s Landing, and experience the epic series from the first hand!
So, let’s start to explore!
Witnessed several wars during the history, the map of Croatia explains the contested geography of the country. Its shape resembles the head of a huge alligator, and it enclaves Bosnia and Herzegovina on its west. Here Neum is the only town to be situated along Bosnia and Herzegovina’s coastline, making it the country’s only access to the Adriatic Sea. The interesting shape of these Balkan countries resulted in a place where the cultures and ethnic origins are intertwined.
Yes, Western Balkans have always been among my bucket list! Rich culture, great cuisine, amazingly kind and hospitable people, and a history from which everyone should learn a lesson. In 2017, I started with Skopje, Pristina, Budva, Kotor, and Tirana in April; and continued with Sarajevo, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Mostar in June. What I was expecting about that part of the Balkans was a chaotic journey where I thought that I wasn’t going to be able to arrange all the route by myself. But it all ended up with great memories, new stories from amazing people I met during my journey, and a lifelong fulfillment!
I will talk about my Western Balkan experience in another blog post. But overall, the Croatia part of my Western Balkan route happened to be spectacular! The medieval cities of Split and Dubrovnik, and the island of Hvar took me to years before, whereas the capital city of Zagreb made me feel the modernity and history at the same time. And if you’re a big fan of Game of Thrones, Croatia would be great to visit a few of the key filming locations including King’s Landing, and experience the epic series from the first hand!
So, let’s start to explore!
Zagreb
Mini Info about the City
Being the capital and most populated city of Croatia, Zagreb is located along the Sava River on the northwest side of the country.
Unlike the blog posts that I came across on other websites, for me, Zagreb was a vivid and youthful city. It was probably because of the season, as I went there in June. Crowded parks where you could listen to soothing classical music, as well as lively and jam-packed streets and bars made me feel so alive! With a charming medieval old city with Gothic-style architecture and cobbled streets, the city of Zagreb resembles Central European cities of Budapest, Prague or Vienna.
There are two parts within the city: Donji Grad (Lower Town) with modern architecture, Austro-Hungarian buildings, and several refreshing parks; and Gornji Grad (Upper Town) with glamorous sights, amazing medieval architecture, and colorful streets.
Thanks to Zagreb municipality, there are several spots which provide free WiFi access in the city center 😊
There are several airline companies flying from and to Zagreb International Airport. If you arrive by flight, the easiest way for getting to the city center is taking a shuttle bus to bus station (Autobusni Kolodvor) of Zagreb. You can access their timetable from here.
If you arrive Zagreb by bus, the bus station is very close to the city center. You can take trams 2 or 6 to the center which takes only 10-15 minutes. The same trams also pass from Glavni Kolodvor (Main railway station). So if you arrive by train, you can go to the city center by taking the same route.
During your visit, you can join the free walking tour offered by Wayoudo. The tour starts from Ban Jelačić Square in front of the statue, and takes about 2.5 hours. I found the tour very informative and useful as our guide was very friendly and told us very interesting facts about Gornji Grad!
Mini Info about the City
Being the capital and most populated city of Croatia, Zagreb is located along the Sava River on the northwest side of the country.
Unlike the blog posts that I came across on other websites, for me, Zagreb was a vivid and youthful city. It was probably because of the season, as I went there in June. Crowded parks where you could listen to soothing classical music, as well as lively and jam-packed streets and bars made me feel so alive! With a charming medieval old city with Gothic-style architecture and cobbled streets, the city of Zagreb resembles Central European cities of Budapest, Prague or Vienna.
There are two parts within the city: Donji Grad (Lower Town) with modern architecture, Austro-Hungarian buildings, and several refreshing parks; and Gornji Grad (Upper Town) with glamorous sights, amazing medieval architecture, and colorful streets.
Thanks to Zagreb municipality, there are several spots which provide free WiFi access in the city center 😊
There are several airline companies flying from and to Zagreb International Airport. If you arrive by flight, the easiest way for getting to the city center is taking a shuttle bus to bus station (Autobusni Kolodvor) of Zagreb. You can access their timetable from here.
If you arrive Zagreb by bus, the bus station is very close to the city center. You can take trams 2 or 6 to the center which takes only 10-15 minutes. The same trams also pass from Glavni Kolodvor (Main railway station). So if you arrive by train, you can go to the city center by taking the same route.
During your visit, you can join the free walking tour offered by Wayoudo. The tour starts from Ban Jelačić Square in front of the statue, and takes about 2.5 hours. I found the tour very informative and useful as our guide was very friendly and told us very interesting facts about Gornji Grad!
Must-See Places
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- Tkalčićeva Street is one of the most visited streets in Zagreb with a great variety of bars, pubs and restaurant. It is told that the street flowed Medveščak creek long before, but it was covered in the 19th century to construct a street. I was very amazed when I heard this fact about the street during the free walking tour 😲
- St. Mark’s Church is one of the most renowned landmarks of Zagreb, located in the middle of St. Mark’s Square in the Upper Town. Built in the 15th century, the tiles on the roof were laid as the coat of arms of Zagreb and Croatia.
- St. Catherine’s Church is a Baroque-style Roman Catholic church in the Upper Town. Built in the 14th century, the church was reconstructed in the 19th-20th centuries.
- Kamenita Vrata (Stone Gate), now a shrine, was the eastern gate to medieval Gradec Town in the Upper Town of Zagreb. The reason that the gate is used as a shrine is based on a legend. Accordingly, a huge fire in 1731 destroyed the wooden gate besides the painting of the Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus.
- King Tomislav Square is dedicated to the first Croatian king, Tomislav, and named after him in 1927. The square is located just opposite of Glavni Kolodvor (Main Train Station) in the Lower Town. An equestrian statue of King Tomislav is also located on the square.
- Mimara Museum is an art museum located in the Lower Town. It houses a collection donated by Ante and Wiltrud Topić Mimara, which comprises more than 1,500 exhibits from the prehistoric times to the 20th century.
- Mirogoj Cemetery is a graveyard located in the north of Zagreb’s city center. The tombs of several notable people stands in the cemetery. The enchanting and picturesque arcades, as well as the church of Christ the King at the entrance of the cemetery make Mirogoj among the most impressive cemeteries in the world.
- The Grounded Sun is a 2-meter wide sculpture located in the Lower Town. It represents the Sun, with 9 planets of the solar system in their scaled size and distance compared to this Sun. Other planets can be found in different locations within the city. By the help of my friend in Zagreb, I found Venus just next to Ban Jelačić Square 😃
Where to Stay
There are a lot of cheap accommodation options in Zagreb, and the hostels where price-quality index is very reasonable are located very close to the city center. I stayed at Hostel Chic where I paid €11 per night for 8-person room. What I liked most about the hostel was its proximity to center and the main bus station, as well as the kindness of staff and cleanliness of the hostel.
There are a lot of cheap accommodation options in Zagreb, and the hostels where price-quality index is very reasonable are located very close to the city center. I stayed at Hostel Chic where I paid €11 per night for 8-person room. What I liked most about the hostel was its proximity to center and the main bus station, as well as the kindness of staff and cleanliness of the hostel.