Most visitors to Croatia tend to head to tourism hotspots of Split and Dubrovnik, overlooking the capital Zagreb, which is also the largest city in the Balkan country. Here’s what one can do to discover Zagreb in 24 hours.

When it comes to planning a trip to Croatia, most tourists would straightaway head to Split and Dubrovnik, not only because the two cities have been made famous around the world by the hit fantasy show Game of Thrones, but also because of the stunning landscapes and vast coastline that the country boasts of.

Located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, Croatia borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Italy to the west and southwest.

However, what often gets overlooked in Croatia is its largest city and the capital, Zagreb, that is home to majestic art and culture and has a rich history. Zagreb is considered to be a pit stop enroute to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other cities down south. Three days are ideal for exploring Zagreb, but if someone has only 24 hours then here’s what one should be doing.

Meander at the Ban Jelačić Square

Ban Jelačić is the central square of the city and is well connected by public transport. Taking the tram to the square will save you time as you will get dropped exactly in front of the statue of Ban Josip Jelačić, a 19th century Croatian General who crushed the nationalist revolt in Hungary against the Habsburg Empire. If you decide to walk around the street you will find plenty of designer boutiques, bakeries, departmental stores, florists and pawn shops.

Take a ride on one of the world’s shortest and steepest funicular. Zagreb has one of the shortest and steepest funiculars in the world, measuring 66 m long and has two cars for 28 passengers. It is also the oldest means of transport in Zagreb. The funicular takes only 64 seconds connecting the Ilica Street in lower town and Strossmayer Promenade in the upper town. Upon reaching the upper town, you will get a splendid view of the entire city.

Visit a museum or two at the upper town

The upper town is a hub for museums, churches and galleries. You can spend an entire day here hopping from one museum to another and the best part is that they are all located within 500 metres from each other. Here one can opt to visit the Croatian History Museum or the Zagreb City Museum. However, if you only have the time to visit one museum then let that be the Museum of Broken Relationships. It is a museum that grabs instant attention and is the first one located on the streets of upper town. It has stories of people who have lost love from around the world talking about how their relationships ended. It features objects that represent pain, love and loss. This museum is perfect for those seeking closures in their relationships as it inspires them to hold on to the hope of finding someone better and letting go of the past.

Order your favourite Gelato flavour at Vincek

Slastičarnica Vincek is a leading confectionary brand in Croatia and here you will be spoilt for choice considering the wide range of desserts they have. The most tempting and ordered are the gelatos so while you continue exploring Zagreb on foot, make sure you get one of your favourite ice cream flavour.

Spend the evening at Park Zrinjevac

Just a short walk away from the main square, you can pause to admire the vibrant flowers, sprawling buttonwood trees and the fountain at the centre of this park. Zrinjevac Park used to be an old livestock marketplace. It is now dedicated to the 16th-century Croatian military hero Nikola Šubic Zrinski. Pick some mouth-watering snacks from the bakeries at the Ban Jelačić Square to relish them here while you bask in the sun. If you are visiting Zagreb during winters you will find local artisans selling Christmas ornaments in the park. Zrinjevac Park is also famous for hosting special events such as music festivals, stand-up comedy shows et al.

Groove to peppy songs at Boogaloo club

Zagreb has one of the best nightlife experiences and that is reason enough for you to explore some of the hottest clubs that the city has. You can shake a leg at the Boogaloo Club or listen to live bands at Bacchus Jazz Bar.

How to reach Zagreb

Though there are no direct flights from any Indian city to Zagreb, the city is well-connected with most European capitals and is serviced by numerous airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, KLM, LOT and Swiss, as well as other airlines like Emirates, Turkish and Qatar.

Visa requirements

From January 2023, it has become very easy to visit Croatia as the country has been admitted to the Schengen Visa Area and hence travelling from any other Schengen area country is a seamless experience.