Zagreb Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Zagreb tours, Upper Town and Old Town walks, food tours, communism and Homeland War history, and the spectacular day trip to the Plitvice Lakes — plus Ljubljana and Lake Bled. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Zagreb itinerary.
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Explore Zagreb by interest
Whatever brings you to Zagreb — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Plitvice Lakes
The turquoise lakes and waterfalls.
ExploreOld Town
The Upper Town and funicular.
ExploreFood tours
Štrukli, markets and rakija.
ExploreCommunism & history
The tunnels and Homeland War.
ExploreLjubljana & Bled
The Slovenian gems across the border.
ExploreTrakošćan & Varaždin
Fairy-tale castle and baroque town.
ExploreSt Mark’s & cathedral
The colourful Upper Town landmarks.
ExploreDay trips
Plitvice, Slovenia and castles.
ExploreTop attractions in Zagreb
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Plitvice Lakes
The turquoise lakes and waterfalls.
Old Town
The Upper Town and funicular.
Funicular & Upper Town
St Mark’s and the Stone Gate.
Food & Dolac market
Štrukli, markets and rakija.
Communism & tunnels
The tunnels and Homeland War.
Lake Bled
The fairy-tale alpine lake.
Trakošćan Castle
The romantic lakeside castle.
Rastoke
The pretty watermill village.
Zagreb in 1 day
- 1Upper Town & St Mark’s
- 2Funicular & cathedral
- 3Dolac market food
- 4Ban Jelačić Square
Zagreb in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old Town & food
- 2Day 2: Plitvice Lakes
- 3Rastoke village
- 4Café evenings
Zagreb in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old Town & food
- 2Day 2: Plitvice Lakes
- 3Day 3: Ljubljana & Bled
- 4Croatian evenings
Zagreb with kids
- 1Funicular ride
- 2Plitvice walkways
- 3Maksimir Park & zoo
- 4Štrukli & ice cream
2–2.5 hrs awayPlitvice Lakes
The turquoise lakes and waterfalls.
2.5 hrs awayLake Bled
The fairy-tale alpine lake (Slovenia).
1.5 hrs awayLjubljana
The charming Slovenian capital.
1.5 hrs awayTrakošćan Castle
The romantic lakeside castle.
1.5 hrs awayRastoke
The pretty watermill village.
40 min awaySamobor
A charming nearby small town.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Zagreb visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) bring mild, pleasant weather and lush green at Plitvice — the best times to visit.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Fresh, blooming days ideal for the city and the lakes, with Plitvice full and green.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and lively with outdoor cafés and festivals; Plitvice and day trips are busy, so book ahead.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Golden light and autumn colours at the lakes with thinner crowds — a beautiful time to visit.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cold and often snowy, but magical with the award-winning Advent Christmas market and frozen-edged falls.
Zagreb Advent
Zagreb’s Advent Christmas market is repeatedly voted Europe’s best, filling the city with lights, food and music in December.
One day
Enough for the Upper Town, markets and a food tour.
Two days
Add the spectacular Plitvice Lakes.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Plitvice, and Ljubljana and Lake Bled.
Four to five days
Add the castles, Varaždin and more of the region.
A week or more
Use Zagreb as a base to explore Croatia and Slovenia.
Travelling with kids
Mix the funicular, Plitvice walkways and parks at a gentle pace.
On foot
The Upper and Lower Towns are compact and best explored on foot, linked by the little funicular.
Trams
Zagreb’s extensive tram network covers the city cheaply and runs day and night.
The funicular
The historic funicular links the Lower and Upper Towns in under a minute — a fun, quick ride.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for Plitvice, Slovenia and the castles, saving the long drives and park logistics.
Buses & trains
Intercity buses and trains link Zagreb to the coast and beyond, useful for onward travel.
From the airport
Franjo Tuđman Airport links to the centre by shuttle bus in about 30 minutes, or by taxi.
Book Plitvice ahead
Plitvice Lakes and Slovenia day trips sell out in summer — book ahead, and pre-book park tickets if going independently.
Currency
Croatia uses the euro; cards are widely accepted, though carry some cash for markets and small cafés.
Try štrukli & markets
Sample štrukli and fresh produce at the colourful Dolac market, the city’s “belly”, just above the main square.
Plitvice in the morning
Visit the Plitvice Lakes early to beat the crowds and get the best light on the turquoise water.
Café culture
Join the locals for the weekend špica coffee ritual on Zagreb’s café terraces — a beloved tradition.
Great value
Zagreb is affordable by European standards, with cheap, hearty food, good transport and good-value tours.
Plitvice Lakes trips
These sell out in summer — book well ahead.
Ljubljana & Bled trips
Popular Slovenia day trips fill up — reserve early.
Food tours
Small-group food tours have limited places — book ahead.
History & tunnel tours
Communism and Homeland War tours fill up — reserve early.
Castle tours
Trakošćan and Varaždin tours have limited dates — book ahead.
Summer & Advent
Peak summer and the December Advent market are busy — plan ahead.
Old Town walks
Around €12–30 for a guided Zagreb walking tour.
Plitvice Lakes trips
About €55–90 for a full-day Plitvice Lakes tour with park entry.
Ljubljana & Bled
Roughly €70–110 for a full-day Slovenia day trip.
Food tours
Around €40–70 for a guided Zagreb food tour.
History tours
About €20–40 for a communism and Homeland War tour.
How to save
Walk the compact centre, eat at markets, and visit Plitvice independently by bus for less.
Zagreb through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh, blooming days and full waterfalls.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Plitvice is lush and green; lovely for day trips.
- Best for
- Warm, lively days with festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Plitvice and day trips are busy; book ahead.
- Best for
- Golden light and autumn colours.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A beautiful time at the lakes with fewer crowds.
- Best for
- Snowy magic and the Advent market.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold; the December Advent market is a highlight.