Just a few steps downhill, the Lower Town opens into wide, leafy boulevards, Austro-Hungarian facades, galleries, and grand cafés. The heart of the city beats around Ban Jelačić Square, where trams hum by and locals gather beneath statues and old clock towers. From here, a network of “Green Horseshoe” parks and squares stretches out—inviting you to stroll, sit, or simply observe the poetry of daily life.

Zagreb is a city of culture, curiosity, and contrasts. You’ll find over 30 museums, including quirky standouts like the globally-acclaimed Museum of Broken Relationships—an emotional, creative collection of real-life stories told through objects. For something more classic, the Mimara Museum houses a vast art collection, while the Museum of Contemporary Art is an architectural and cultural landmark just outside the center.

Art spills into the streets as well. Street murals, pop-up galleries, and artisan markets animate formerly quiet corners. The Dolac Market, open daily behind the main square, overflows with fresh produce, local cheeses, lavender products, and hand-stitched linens—a sensory window into local life.

But Zagreb isn’t just for art lovers—it’s a café city at heart. The local pastime is not “grabbing coffee” but drinking coffee slowly—preferably in the sun, in a courtyard, or in one of the countless sidewalk cafés of Tkalčićeva Street, the city’s pedestrian café and bar strip. The coffee culture here is deeply social, unhurried, and at the center of Zagreb’s rhythm.

In the evening, the city transitions gently. Craft beer bars, wine bistros, and small theaters begin to fill. Live music drifts from basements and squares. You might find yourself sipping Graševina wine, trying a local štrukli (cheese pastry), or sitting in a jazz bar built into a 19th-century building. There’s nightlife, but it’s more about atmosphere than noise—more slow burn than bright flash.

Zagreb’s seasons bring new character. Spring fills the parks with flowers and street festivals. Summer is alive with outdoor cinema, concerts, and locals escaping to nearby lakes. Autumn brings golden trees and wine tastings, while winter turns the city into a glowing wonderland—Zagreb’s Advent has repeatedly been voted one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, complete with mulled wine, local treats, and open-air concerts.

Getting around is easy. The city is walkable, and the blue trams are both efficient and charming. Zagreb is well-connected by air and rail, making it an ideal starting point for Croatian road trips, from Plitvice Lakes to the Istrian coast.

With Viewpoint Horizons, Zagreb becomes more than a stop—it becomes a story. Whether it’s a food tour through hidden markets, a private visit to a museum curator, or a quiet afternoon in a hidden garden café, we tailor your experience so that you don’t just see the city—you feel it.

Because Zagreb is not a checklist. It’s a conversation, a flavor, a mood. It’s where locals make time to talk, where art and politics share street corners, and where travelers are welcomed not just with hospitality—but with genuine interest. Come to Zagreb with curiosity, and you’ll leave with connection.