ZagrebCapital
Croatia · Country profile
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, a compact, cultured and increasingly loved city of the continental interior, where the upper town of the hill, the medieval heart with its cathedral and its painted lanes, looks down over the lower town of the grand squares and the parks of the 19th century. The city’s famous too-short funicular, the markets of the Dolac, and the cafe life of the pavements give it a relaxed, deeply European atmosphere, while the museums, from the naive art to the broken relationships, add the offbeat delight. It is often a stopover on the way to the coast, but the city rewards a proper stay with its parks, its food and its genuinely pleasant rhythm. Green, friendly and quietly confident, Zagreb is the elegant gatekeeper of Croatia.
About Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia. The city's documented population is around 770,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Euro (EUR) and Croatian is spoken; the dialling code is +385.
The Upper Town, the Cathedral and the Shortest Funicular
Zagreb is a small, elegant, walkable capital whose hilltop old town and grand lower city give it a pleasantly two-level rhythm. The cathedral, the painted lanes of the old town, the great square and the markets of the city centre are the classic circuit, and the cafes and the pedestrian streets make the days pass easily. The city is often the starting point of the Croatian trip, and the flights and the trains to the coast run through it, but it deserves its own time of the museums, the park life and the famous local food. It is safe, friendly, green and genuinely underrated, a capital that feels like a big town with the full Croatian warmth.
The Markets, the Parks and the Winters of the City
The summer is warm and lively, the winter is cold with a delightful Christmas market, and the spring and the autumn are the mild, peaceful sweet spots of the city. The old town and the lower city are walkable in a full day, and the funicular, the shortest in the world, is the charming free ride between the levels. The museums, especially the quirky ones, warrant the advance check of the hours, and the Dolac market closes its outdoor stalls by the afternoon. The currency is the euro now, cards are universal and the city is safe and easy. The cafe life is a serious local tradition, and the famous cakes of the city, the kremšnita, belong on the tasting list.
The Green Horseshoe, the Cafes and the Pedestrian Spine
The upper town, with the cathedral, the old gates and the lanes of the painters, is the essential walk, and the viewpoint of the Lotrščak tower gives the whole city at a glance. The lower town’s green horseshoe, the chain of the squares and the parks, holds the markets, the museums and the grandest of the 19th-century architecture. The Dolac market is the daily centre of the city’s food, and the pedestrian street of the Tkalcićeva, with its cafes and its bars, is the social spine. The day trips of the region, the castle hill of the Samobor and the countryside of the Zagorje, run easily from the city. Zagreb is small, charming and ripe for a leisurely, unscheduled stay.
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- Country
- Croatia
- Population
- 770,000
- Capital
- Zagreb
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- Croatian
- Calling code
- +385
- Country code
- HR
Entry requirements for Croatia
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Croatia for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zagreb the capital of Croatia?
Yes — Zagreb is the capital of Croatia.
What currency do I need in Zagreb?
The local currency is the Euro (EUR). Languages spoken in Croatia include Croatian.
What is the dialling code for Croatia?
The international dialling code for Croatia is +385.
Do I need a visa to visit Croatia?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and Argentina currently enter Croatia visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Zagreb? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.