How to Spend an Amazing Day in Zagreb, Croatia
Looking for things to do in Zagreb?
In our Zagreb guide, you will get all the information to help you plan your 24-hour trip to Croatia's capital.
Check out our Zagreb travel guide for all of Zagrebโs best sights. We cover location, main attractions, where to eat Croatian food, and other tips to have the best time in Zagreb.
From cannons and underground tunnels to the shortest funicular, Zagreb has plenty of things to do.
In addition, check out our Zagreb Food Tour, where we show you the best places to eat in Zagreb.
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy something using the links, we will receive a commission. Using the link is at NO extra cost to you. We appreciate it when you buy through one of our affiliate links. It is a great way to show your support for us. It will allow us to continue to bring you valuable, free content.
Check out our Zagreb City Tour Vlog, where we visit the places mentioned in this post: How to Have an Amazing Day in Zagreb, Croatia.
How to Have an Amazing Day in Zagreb, Croatia
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Where is Zagreb, Croatia?
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia as well as its most populous city. It is in the northwestern part of Croatia.
What are the main attractions in Zagreb?
These are Zagrebโs best sights and restaurants. We recommend following our 1-Day Zagreb itinerary to have an incredible day visiting Croatiaโs capital.
-Otto & Frank (breakfast)
-Dolac Market
-Zagreb Cathedral and Holy Mary Monument
-Stone Gate
-Lotrลกฤak Tower and Griฤ cannon
-Plato Gradec
-Griฤ Tunnel
-Zagreb Funicular
-St. Mark's Church
-Konoba Didov San (lunch/dinner)
-Museum of Broken Relationships
1. Otto & Frank
For breakfast, a nice spot to visit is Otto & Frank. It is on the charming Tkalฤiฤeva Street. This street is known for its outdoor terraces, pubs, cafes, and restaurants.
Sitting on the terrace enjoying coffee and breakfast is a perfect way to start your day in Zagreb.
Frank & Ottoโs signature dish is the Zagreb breakfast. It is one of their breakfast dishes served all day. The Zagreb breakfast features two crispy poached eggs served with cottage cheese, sour cream, ham, spring onions, radishes, and lettuce on toast.
The French toast is available until noon. It comes with peanut butter and raspberry jam or Nutella and banana.
The Zagreb breakfast is 46 kunas ($6.63), and the French toast is 33 kunas ($4.75). The cafe lattes at Frank & Otto are 20 kunas each ($2.88).
2. Dolac Market
After breakfast, head to the Dolac Market. It is the central market where Zagreb locals buy their food.
The market closes at 3 pm on weekdays, so make sure to visit earlier in the day.
Be sure to take some time exploring Dolcac Market. The market is a must-see experience in Zagreb to get a feel for the city.
There are various sections of the market. If you want to try the Zagreb staple, Sir i vrhnje, head to the dairy section for this well-liked cheese.
You will know that you have reached the market when you see the red umbrellas.
While in Dolac Market, you could try Burek.
Burek serves the tasty Croatian pastry with the same name.
The Croatian breakfast food/snack consists of filo dough filled with cheese, meat, or apple.
We heard that burek with meat sometimes sells out, so be sure to get there earlier in the day if you have your heart set on a meat-filled burek.
There was only one table at Burek, but it looked like most people got their burek to go, or they ate it standing up on the adjacent deck.
Burek goes well with yogurt. At first, we did not know if we were supposed to mix the yogurt with the burek or drink the yogurt. The yogurt was thin, so we figured it was supposed to be a drink.
Burek is 15 kunas ($2.16) and the yogurt is 3 kunas ($.43).
Dolac Market is also the perfect place to buy Croatian souvenirs.
One of the most popular souvenirs from Croatia is the licitar heart. The licitar heart is a symbol of Zagreb.
3. Zagreb Cathedral
Not far from the Dolac Market is the Zagreb Cathedral.
The cathedral had scaffolding on it when we visited because of damage during an earthquake in 2020.
This Catholic church is the second tallest building in Croatia. Its spires tower over everything in the city.
If you go inside the church, look for the chandeliers. They are from a Las Vegas casino.
In front of the church is the Holy Mary Monument. This fountain has a gold statue of the Virgin Mary and four angel statues.
4. Stone Gate
After leaving the church, you can enter the Upper Town through Stone Gate.
Not only is Stone Gate the only remaining gate, but it is an important shrine.
People come to Stone Gate to light candles and pray.
Stone Gate has a painting of the Virgin Mary. Legend has it that this painting survived a devastating fire.
5. Lotrลกฤak Tower and Griฤ cannon
Now it is time to make your way to Lotrลกฤak Tower. The tower is in Gradec (Upper Town). Its purpose was to guard the southern town gate.
If you want to go up to the top of the tower, tickets cost 20 kunas.
Every day at noon, the Griฤ cannon fires from the tower.
The firing is quite an experience, so be sure to get there a few minutes before noon..
6. Plato Gradec
Very close to Lotrลกฤak Tower is an area called Plato Gradec. If you face the tower and head to the right, you will find a great viewing point.
You will know that you have made it to the lookout point when you see love locks on the railings.
Plato Gradec is one of the best places for excellent views of Zagreb. The Zagreb Cathedral dominates the skyline.
Before reaching the love locks, there is a passageway to the left. When you enter, you will find street art and another viewing platform.
This platform is the location for the famous whale painting. The whale is on the side of the building at the top of the stairs.
It was covered up when we visited, so we did not see it.
7. Griฤ Tunnel
On the other side of Lotrลกฤak Tower is Strossmayer Promenade. This road leads to Griฤ Park and Griฤ Tunnel.
This tree-lined promenade has benches and breathtaking views of Zagreb.
Right after Griฤ Park, you will see the entrance to the Griฤ Tunnel.
Griฤ Tunnel is free to enter.
The tunnel has had many uses over the years. It was a bomb shelter during World War II. It was a spot to host raves, and now it is a pedestrian tunnel.
The tunnel runs under the neighborhood of Griฤ.
8. Zagreb Funicular
After having some fun exploring Griฤ Tunnel, you can make your way to the Zagreb Funicular. The funicular connects Lower Town with Upper Town.
The Zagreb Funicular is one of the shortest funiculars in the world. Its track is only 66 meters long.
Funicular rides happen every 10 minutes and only cost 5 kunas ($.72).
You can buy tickets from inside the stations at the top and the bottom of the funicular.
The funicular has two cars, and the ride only takes 64 seconds.
Even though the ride is extremely short, taking the Zagreb funicular is an inexpensive way to experience the symbol of Zagreb.
9. St. Mark's Church
From the funicular, you will now be back in the Upper Town. Start making your way toward St. Mark's Church.
The Church of St. Mark is famous for its tiled roof.
The roof has the emblem of Zagreb on the right and the medieval coat of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia, and Slavonia on the left.
After a lot of walking, you will be ready for lunch.
10. Konoba Didov San
For lunch, we highly recommend Konoba Didov San. This traditional Croatian tavern serves delicious Croatian food in a cozy atmosphere.
The decorations in this restaurant alone make it worth the visit, but the food is also spectacular.
Grandmaโs Pan is a dish at Konoba Didov San that we recommend. The juicy chicken dish comes in a clay pot with peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
Another delicious dish is the squid with potatoes. The squid comes grilled and has a remarkable garlic flavor.
11. Museum of Broken Relationships
After lunch, you will be ready for the last stop on your Zagreb walking tour at the Museum of Broken Relationships.
It is a museum that showcases stories and artifacts from failed relationships.
The artifacts have stories to explain their significance.
Some of the items in the museum are sad, funny, amusing, and confusing. Be prepared to go on an emotional roller coaster ride.
Zagreb is known to have quirky museums, so be sure to check this one out.
Tickets for the Museum of Broken Relationships are 50 kunas ($7.16).
Those are our recommendations for how to spend the perfect day in Zagreb. We hope that this article has inspired you to want to visit Croatiaโs capital.
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Wondering what to eat in Zagreb, Croatia?
Included in our Zagreb food article, we give you our recommendations for eight must-visit restaurants in Zagreb. After staying in the capital city for a month, we can't say enough good things about the food in Zagreb.
Check out our article to find out where to find the best traditional Croatian dishes such as burek, ลกtrukli, and duck with mlinci.
What to Eat in Zagreb: 8 Must Visit Restaurants
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