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Z agreb is the perfect weekend destination: compact enough to avoid overwhelm yet
varied enough to prevent boredom. Beautifully set between mountains and river, the
metropolis offers a rich architectural spectrum – from Austro-Hungarian grandeur and
1930s modernism to socialist landmarks. Another highlight is the cuisine, where hearty
Balkan dishes meet Austrian and Italian influences.

Saturday: From the hill of early modernism to a bank vault

r 10:00 — The heart of Zagreb is Trg bana Josipa Jelacica (1), known simply as “Ban”.
From here, the centre is easily reached on foot or by tram; the long square sits between
the Upper Town on the slopes of Mount Medvednica and the Lower Town. Just steps away
is the Amadria Park Hotel Capital (2), set in a former early-20th-century bank designed
by Viennese architects Ernst Gotthilf and Alexander Neumann. Begin by visiting Dolac
Market (3) above the Ban, where fresh produce, local specialities and crafts are sold daily
until early afternoon. Afterwards, enjoy coffee and an authentic snack at Bistro Amfora
(4) beneath the market’s colonnades. Foto: Marija Gašparovic, Zagreb
r 12:00 — Continue uphill to Kaptol (5), the city’s spiritual centre. The cathedral, built in
stages since the 13th century and Croatia’s largest church, reopened at the end of 2025
after major earthquake repairs. Many façades still show visible damage caused by the Meštrovic-Pavillon (16): der erste Museumsrundbau Europas • Europe’s first circular museum building
devastating earthquake in March 2020. Leave the main tourist routes and follow early
modernism east of Kaptol along Ulica Vjenceslava Novaka (6), where 1930s villas and
apartment buildings line the hillside with flat roofs, ribbon windows and cantilevered
balconies – reminiscent of Stuttgart’s Weissenhof Estate.
r 16:00 — From early modernism, travel back in time to Gradec (7), the medieval Old
Town. Today, Gradec is the political centre: the parliament and government are based
around St. Mark‘s Square and St. Mark‘s Church. For Zagreb’s history, visit the Zagreb City
Museum Muzej grada Zagreba (8) in a former monastery, with models, drawings and
photographs of modernist buildings and a large model of socialist Novi Zagreb. Nearby is
the Atelier of Ivan Meštrovic (9), the sculptor’s former home and studio with an exhibi-
tion, courtyard and garden worth visiting.
r 18:00 — Stroll along Zagreb’s main street Ilica (10). Its southern side streets in particular
are lined with restaurants from casual to fine dining. Bistro Beštija (11) offers internatio-
nal classics with an Asian twist. Back at the hotel, end the evening at the Capital Private
Foto: Marko Vrdoljak, Zagreb
Club (12) in the former vault, enjoying drinks in club ambience overlooking the open safe.
Sunday: From Austro-Hungarian grandeur to socialist planned city

r 10:00 — Begin the day with a walk through the Lower Town between Ban and the rail-
way station. Laid out in the late 19th century, it is defined by a horseshoe-shaped green Museum für zeitgenössische Kunst (21) in der Trabantenstadt in the satellite town Novi Zagreb (20)
belt and prestigious Austro-Hungarian buildings. Right by the station lies the enchanting
Botanical Garden (13). Some key sights remain closed due to earthquake damage, inclu-
ding the Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters (14) and the Museum of Arts and Crafts Die Standseilbahn Uspinjaca (22) verbindet Unter- und Oberstadt. • Uspinjaca (22) connects lower and upper city.
(15) beside the National Theatre and Academy of Music. Instead, head to the Marticeva
Street area, where you encounter Ivan Meštrovic again: in the middle of a busy rounda-
bout stands the Meštrovic Pavilion (16), a monumental circular building erected in 1938
as an exhibition hall according to plans by the artist. Briefly converted into a mosque, it
now hosts contemporary art exhibitions. The surrounding streets feature further notable
pre-war architecture.
r 12:00 — Marticeva Street is also known for its shops and cafés – the area is considered
trendy. For lunch, try Cynic (17). Coffee enthusiasts will appreciate Luta Coffee Shop
(18) nearby. Afterwards, unwind in nature: further east lies Maksimir Park (19), Zagreb’s
largest and oldest park.
r 16:00 — In the afternoon, head south across the River Sava to Novi Zagreb (20). Develo-
ped from the late 1950s, this large-scale planned district with boulevards and residential
towers set in generous green spaces is now home to around 125,000 people. Its architec-
ture is often more varied and refined than comparable developments in the former GDR.
At a major intersection stands the Museum of Contemporary Art (21), founded in 1954
and relocated in 2009 to a striking cubic building designed by Igor Franic.
r 18:00 — Return by tram to the Old Town and transfer on Ilica to a historic piece of tech-
nology: the Uspinjaca funicular (22), built in 1889 and the city’s oldest means of public
transport. Ride up to the Upper Town, step out at Strossmayer Promenade and walk to Foto: Marko Vrdoljak, Zagreb
Park Bele IV (23). Enjoy the sweeping farewell view – in the distance, the towers of Novi
Zagreb rise on the horizon.

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