Zagreb, Croatia’s Hidden Gem

By Priya Konings 

Everyone has heard of the Croatia’s famed Dalmatian Coast, but there is another area of Croatia which is just as great to visit: Zagreb, Croatia’s capital.  My husband and I had a wonderful long weekend there, complete with the best food, wine, nature, and culture. So the next time you are planning a vacation and thinking of Croatia’s coast, consider travelling up north as well, for a completely different but equally as incredible experience on a Zagreb weekend trip!

Zagreb Weekend Trip: Eat, See & Do

Where to Stay: Hotel President Pantovcak. This contemporary hotel has everything you are looking for in order to enjoy a Zagreb weekend trip: warm and friendly staff, clean and modern rooms, and a restaurant and bar where you can enjoy breakfast, dinner, happy hour or a nightcap. Plus, it’s just short distance to the British Square, a great place for a beer, and it’s also in an excellent location to explore the rest of the city.

What to do:

•  Take a city tour! We enlisted the assistance of Zagreb Tours to take us around on a wonderful walking tour of the city. We found the city to be really easy to navigate by foot. Our tour guide was friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about Croatian history, so I would definitely recommend using Zagreb Tours for both city tours and trips outside the city. Our city tour was very comprehensive and included:
  • Visiting the Zagreb Cathedral: A gorgeous cathedral with a history that dates back to the 12th Century.
  • Riding the funicular: This is shortest funicular in the world! The ride is super fun, and it connects the lower and upper parts of town.
  • Strolling down Tkalciceva Street: This street in city center is full of cafes, stores, galleries, and more.
  • Exploring the historic core: Also known as Gradec, or the Upper Town, the oldest part of the city houses the famous Stone Gate, the lovely Baroque St Catherine’s Cathedral, and the Gric Cannon which still fires a cannon into the city everyday. St.Mark’s Church was my favorite in the old town: it has a tiled roof, which is something I had never seen before.

• Take a Day Trip! We also used Zagreb Tours for some of these day tours, but you could rent a car if you prefer to go on your own.

• Trakoscan Castle: Located outside of the city, this stunning 13th century castle is surrounded by lush gardens and full of impressive Baroque furniture.

• Plitvice Lakes: The most beautiful place we visited during our tour. You can take a bus from the local station in Zagreb, which will drop you off at the lakes. From there you can walk and hike through the gorgeous lakes.

• Varazdin: This Baroque city used to be the capital of Croatia in the 8th Century. It has a series of incredibly impressive palaces, monasteries, and fortresses.

Where to Eat:

Always the most important part!

• Agava: The gorgeous terrace of this charming restaurant is the best place to have a candelight dinner for two. It’s located in the center of the historic town, but tucked away from the main street. The food is quintessential Mediterranean, for which Croatia is well-known for. We sampled olives, burrata drizzled with oregano olive oil, housemade focaccia, bruschetta with juicy vine-ripened tomatoes, an eggplant tart, and pasta tossed with zucchini and cheese. Go for a stroll after dinner in the historic town!
• Restaurant Balon: It’s not in the historic part of town, but well worth it the short cab ride. This uber modern restaurant has great service, and even better food. The chef is known for his innovative touch. We treated ourselves to broccoli and truffle soup, a cheese plate with pineapple mustard, cacio e pepe pasta, eggplant cannelloni, and seriously awesome crème brulee.
• Appetit Bistro: Cheese fondue, tomato tarts, fresh salads, and mushroom ravioli. It doesn’t get much better than this. This modern restaurant focuses on European flavors, with an emphasis on Italian and French cuisines.
• Royal India: Ok so it seems weird but sometimes an Indian girl just has to have Indian food! More than that, I sometimes like to see how other countries present ethnic cuisines. It can offer a different perspective than we are used to. The Indian food at Royal India was actually excellent. We tried crispy samosas, daal (lentils), paneer (cheese marinated with peppers in spices), saffron rice, and potatoes baked with herbs. I would highly recommend this spot!

• Street Snacks: In the historic district you will find vendors selling, fritule, which are puffy little donut holes, doused in sugar. They are the perfect snack to enjoy while you are exploring the city.

The verdict:  Make sure to add a Zagreb weekend trip to your Croatia itinerary!