I was reluctant to leave Plitvice Lakes when it’s time to make my way to Zagreb but I am very sure I will be back here in the near future. Anyway, I met a fellow solo traveller from Thailand while we are both waiting at the bus stop – the bus was at least 20 min off the scheduled time. While we exchanged travel information, he mentioned that there is nothing interesting in Zagreb and I will surely be disappointed after seeing Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes. Hmm…is that, right?

I only have half a day here at the capital city of Croatia so I wasted little time after checking in. While I admit Zagreb did not wow me the way Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes did, I do like the nice-looking buildings, very walkable streets, Ban Jelacic Square, Zagreb Cathedral, St Mark’s Church and the lively atmosphere at night.

It’s also easy to move around the buzzing city of Zagreb with clear signs pointing to various points of interest.

It seems that most of the important buildings in Zagreb are painted in yellow.

The streets leading to Ban Jelacic Square were not overly crowded which is nice.

There was a crowd gathering around the square along with the presence of media and police. I suppose there must be some VIPs here but since I won’t recognize any of them, I just continue to Zagreb Cathedral.

Zagreb Cathedral

Zagreb Cathedral or Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is indeed one splendid architectural sight, famous for its two tall spires reaching for the sky. It is also surrounded by some medieval-looking walls and forts which makes it different from other Cathedrals.

The nice looking St Mary’s Column is just right in front of the Cathedral.

St Mark’s Church

Next up is St Mark’s Church at the cobblestone streets of Upper Town. The brightly coloured tile roof bearing the coats of arms is hard to miss and it’s also one of the oldest buildings in Zagreb. Surrounding the Church are important Government buildings, Parliament and courts.

Agava Restaurant

My tummy was already protesting while I was exploring the Upper Town. Dinner was at the highly acclaimed Agava Restaurant and I cannot praise the place enough. The tasty good food is one thing but the exceptional service provided by the staffs here is another, very attentive and efficient. I only wish that the food had come in a bigger serving portion.

At night time, the city literally burst into life, with local crowds filling the streets, restaurants and bars. It’s really nice to experience its city vibes.

As to the comment of Zagreb being a boring place, it’s each of their own since everybody will have different travel styles and preferences. I enjoyed my short stay here and feels that a city can never be boring if you take the time and effort to explore what it can offer.

STAY: Arcotel Allegra Zagreb Hotel review

I have chosen to stay a night at Arcotel Allegra Zagreb Hotel because it’s near to both Train Station and Bus Station. Most attractions are within 15-20 min walk so that’s another plus for me. It was a pleasant stay with friendly staffs and comfortable decent-sized room. But I suppose it’s best to ask for rooms which are not facing the main roads and train tracks. Other than that, I will not hesitate to stay here again.

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What are your thoughts about Zagreb? Leave a comment and share it with me.

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