HOW TO SPEND ONE DAY IN ZAGREB, CROATIA

Croatia's capital, Zagreb is often skipped by travellers, who wish to visit just Croatia's coastline or see it as nothing more than a transit city. However, no matter how beautiful the croatian countryside is, visiting the capital is, to our eyes, crucial and gives visitors a more complete image of the country.

Zagreb can be reached either by plane or by train, bus and car. If you find flights to the croatian capital a bit expensive, try booking a flight to nearby Ljubljana and then take the train to Zagreb. That's what we did, during our recent summer trip.

Zagreb's divided into The Upper and Lower Town. The first one is where most of the historic sites are found, while the second one is the city's more modern part.

Your explorations can start from Zagreb's Cathedral, a church dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Cross Kaptol Street and find yourslef in Dolac Market, where you can buy fresh croatian products to make some breakfast, or save them for a light lunch later.

Dolac Market. The two towers you see, belong to the Cathedral.

Go down the stairs at the end of Dolac Market and keep walking till you find Jelacica Square, one of Zagreb's most central spots and meeting points. From there, you can walk to the popular Zagreb Eye on Ilica Street, a 360o observation deck, which offers a panoramic view of the city for a few kunas. Once you get out of the Zagreb Eye, turn right on Ilica street and keep walking till you turn on the left, on the first street you'll encounter.

Walk straight ahead, looking for Kamenita Street, named after the Kamenita Vrata (aka Stone Gate), Zagreb's gate to Upper Town. Pass through the gate and you'll soon see St Mark's church which is maybe Zagreb's most photographed building! That's also the square where the croatian parliament house is located.

You can climb up to Lotrscak Tower, which is located a bit further, and take your own

must- have picture of St Mark from above, and if you go even higher, of the entire city.

From there, you aill also be really close to the famous "Museum of Broken Relationships", honoured for its innovative theme.

You can then move back to Ilica Street again and from there to Massarykova St, which will lead you to Croatia's Natioanl Theatre. An imposing neo-baroque, yellow coloured building with an impressive roof. The popular Mimara Museum is very close, so you can pay it a visit if you have time. Keep walking all the way down, till you reach Zagreb's train station. There are beautiful buildings and refreshing parks on the route.

Have something to eat at the cafes near the station or have the lunch you bought earlier from Dolac Market, in one of the nearby parks.

Croatia's National Theatre

After your quick stop, walk back to Jelacica Square for some more people watching and get aimlessly lost in the windy alleys which lay behind the square. They are all picturesque and offer lots of choices when it comes to dinner, beer and coffee. Opatovina and Ivana Tkalcica Streets are quite popular and busy with visitors and locals.

Take a look at the map below, to get a better perspective of the city and the walking tour we're suggesting you!

You can find mre pictures from Zagreb, in the Slideshow below.

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