Croatia’s capital has shaken off its post-war image and is now buzzing with new energy. Zagreb has the good fortune of being easily reachable by both sea and air, and more travelers are finding reasons to make their way to this dynamic city. As well as being one of the most accessible points in the Balkans, it is the natural jumping-off point to visit Croatia’s many and varied attractions.
The city is an attraction in itself, with its unique blend of architecture from Eastern and Western Europe and its many squares, churches and museums. Most notable are St Mark’s Church in Jalacic square and the Mimara Museum. A stroll through the city center will impress even the most jaded Europhile with its historical façades competing with cosmopolitan window dressing for your attention.
When the museum doors close and the shops pull down their shutters, Zagreb flaunts another side of itself with a restaurant/bar scene to rival its better-known European contemporaries. The food is on par with the famous cuisine of neighboring Italy, and when you’ve fueled up and are ready to take on the clubs, the Croatians show they’re not lagging in this department either, with numerous haunts to keep you amused until sunrise.
Highlights
Zagreb Cathedral: spires define the skyline from many points in the city. Aside from the aesthetic impression of the cathedral, its height was put to practical use as a military watchtower in the 17th century.** **
St Mark’s Church: showing its varied past in its eclectic mix of architectural construction, this 13th century church has seen a few styles come and go; pulling it all together with mosaics of historical emblems of both Zagreb and Croatia on its tiled roof.
Mimara Museum: if there is one museum to be seen in Zagreb, this is it. A distillation of European painting, you’ll find works by everyone from Rembrandt to Velasquez, Turner and Caravaggio here.
Museum of the City of Zagreb: if fine art is not your thing, the comprehensive exhibitions detailing the history of all facets of the city should give a more in-depth understanding of what makes the place tick.