Zagreb: Where to sleep. How to get. And other practical information
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Whether Zagreb is just a stopover on the way to the seaside or a destination for a city break, the capital of Croatia is always worth a visit.
In this post, I will describe useful practical tips for traveling to Zagreb:
where to stay in Zagreb, how to get to Zagreb, what about transportation from the airport and what about public transport. And many other practical information that will help you organize your trip to Zagreb.
Where to sleep in Zagreb
The centre of Zagreb is quite compact and most of the attractions in the centre can be reached on foot. That is why it is best to sleep in the very centre, because then you have a very easy time sightseeing. It depends on your preferences if you prefer to stay in the Upper or Lower Town. However, I recommend staying in the Lower Town, because it will be more practical when it comes to getting from the airport or train station and generally during the whole visit.
And you can easily get to the Upper Town on foot or by funicular.
In Zagreb, you have quite a large selection of accommodation at very reasonable prices. You will find hotels, but also small guesthouses or private apartments. Accommodation that is worth considering below:
Accommodation in the centre of Zagreb
This is where I slept during my last stay in Zagreb. It is not a hotel, but an apartment in a building in a nice alley, so it is peaceful and quiet. In a great location, on a street leading off Ilica, the main street of the city. The apartment was quite small, but very functional. It was two-story apartment, on the first floor there was a bedroom and a bathroom. Downstairs there was a living room with a kitchenette and an additional toilet. Everything was very modern, clean and warm (the visit was in winter). Really one of the best accommodations during my last trips and I sincerely recommend it.
This is probably the most famous and iconic hotel, elegant, right next to Ban Jelačić Square. Along with a famous cafe.
Something for people who prefer very elegant hotels. Hotel Capital is a very stylish and elegant hotel, in a beautiful tenement house. It has interesting design of the rooms, big breakfast and very good location.
Pretty typical, ‘nothing special’ but the room was clean and it has a good location if you are catching an early or late train as it is very close to the train station.
Accommodation close to Zagreb airport
Zagreb Airport does not have a hotel located right next to the airport terminal. The nearest accommodation can be found about 1.5 kilometres from the airport. When searching, it is best to enter Velika Gorica as location, because this is where the airport is located.
Therefore, before booking, it is worth checking the possibility of a transfer from the hotel to the airport.
The bus from the city to the airport runs from about 4 a.m. until the last flights, which is even around midnight-1 a.m., so you can get to the city centre even at these less comfortable hours.
However, if you want to sleep near the airport, check out Hotel Cool Zagreb Airport or Royal Airport Hotel.
How to get to Zagreb
I have to admit that I regret that we don’t have many connections to Zagreb from Poland. In the summer season, it is much easier to fly directly to the seaside, to Split, Zadar or Dubrovnik, than to the Croatian capital. But the situation is different when it comes to arrival from other European (and not only) countries.
Many people, especially from this part of Europe go to Croatia by car. You can also get there by bus, especially in season, when more buses operate. Outside of the summer season, you can check bus connections via Vienna.
There are also direct trains from Vienna, Budapest, and Ljubljana.
Flights
There are many standard airlines flying to Zagreb, British Airways, Lufthansa or KLM, just to name a few.
Also, there are cheap airlines like Eurowings and Ryanair. Ryanair flies to Zagreb from many European cities like London, Manchester, Rome, Paris and many more.
Croatian Airlines are national airlines also flying to many destinations.
You can also fly to and from Zagreb (with Croatia Airlines or Trade Air) from other Croatian airports.
How to get from Zagreb Airport to the city centre
Zagreb Airport (airport code ZAG) named after Franjo Tudjman is located about 15 kilometres from the city centre, in Velika Gorica.
You have several options for getting from the airport to the city centre.
You can rent a car, a private transfer, which you can order here, or a taxi. Here you can check the fixed prices for taxis to various points in the city.
As for public transport, there are two options.
The first is public transport bus number 290, which will take you about 45-50 minutes to Kvaternikov Trg. The square is not in the city centre, so you will also have to take a tram to the city centre.
Direct bus from the airport
The second option is a direct bus from the airport to the bus station. These buses run every half hour and are operated by Pleso Prijevoz. You may know this company from Split airport, for example.
A one-way ticket costs 8 Euros, it is a quick and comfortable journey, it takes about 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. Tickets can be purchased before the journey or on the website (on the website you buy a ticket for the day, not for an exact journey). Here you can check the exact timetable and buy a ticket.
The bus takes you to the bus station (in Croatian: Autobusni kolodvor).
The bus station is about a 5-minute tram ride (about a 20-minute walk) from the main train station (in Croatian: Glavni kolodvor) and Tomislav Square. And about a 10-minute tram ride (about a 40-minute walk) from Ban Jelačić Square, the main square in the city.
One more important thing, especially useful on the way to the airport:
The Zagreb airport bus platform is separated from the other platforms at the station. It is located “at the end” of the station building and outside the building (on the side that is further from the tram stop). It sounds a bit complicated, but it isn’t, and I wanted to mention it so you don’t worry if you don’t see this bus on the timetable boards in the station hall.
There, too, you buy your ticket at a separate ticket office, and not at the ticket offices in the main building.
Buses and trams in Zagreb
There is no metro in Zagreb, there are trams and buses. A single ride currently costs (November 2024) 0.53 Euro, and if you buy a ticket from the driver (cash is required for this), it is 80 cents.
Tickets can also be purchased at some kiosks and at public transport ticket offices, which are called ZET. Tickets for several days can also be purchased at ticket offices.
You can check the details and prices here.
It is worth remembering that the funicular connecting the Lower and Upper Town is also part of public transport. It is the shortest funicular in the world, being only 66 meters long. It runs every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the ride costs 0.66 Euro.
Zagreb Practical information: Zagreb Card
As in many cities, in Zagreb you can also buy a card that includes discounts, free entry to some museums and public transport. The card costs 20 Euro. Is it worth it? This is an individual matter, it depends on how many of the listed museums you are planning to visit.
You can read about the details of the card here.
Croatia: Currency, Language, Time Zon
Croatia is a member of the EU and Schengen.
Croatia has been using the Euro since January 1, 2023. Previously, the Croatian currency was the kuna, but now you can only pay in Euro.
In most places in Zagreb you can pay by card.
The time zone in Zagreb and all of Croatia is CET, so the same as in Paris, Berlin or Warsaw.
Croatian language
And when it comes to language. The language in Croatia is obviously Croatian. It is a Slavic language (specifically South Slavic).
It contains a few letters not available in English alphabet like ć or č.
I wrote the whole post regarding Croatian language, so for more details check out this blog post. By education, I’m actually Croatian philologist, so you can be sure information is correct.
In Zagreb, of course, there is no problem communicating in English.
When is the best time to visit Zagreb?
Zagreb is a typical European capital, where you can find everything you need. On the other hand, it is more peaceful and even cozy. The city is worth visiting at any time of the year. However, in the summer you can expect very hot weather. Especially in August it can be difficult to visit, the city is also quite empty then, precisely because of the heat and travels to the seaside.
Late spring and early autumn are, in my opinion, a very good time for a Zagreb city break. And December, because then Zagreb hosts the ‘Advent in Zagreb’, a beautiful Christmas market, or rather markets. You can read about its details in this post.
I think that is all for the most important practical information about Zagreb. I hope it will be helpful. Thinking about travelling to Croatia? Check out other blog posts about Croatia and your Croatian holidays.
