Zagreb and Environs Travel Guide

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Zagreb has emerged as a tourist destination in recent years, and much of its success has to do with the country's spectacular Adriatic coast—beautiful medieval towns, crystal-clear azure waters, and, of course, well-developed tourist resorts. It's all too easy, however, to overlook the fact that much of the country's natural beauty and cultural heritage is rooted in places well inland from the sea. Unless you arrive overland from Slovenia, by boat from Italy, or by one of the few air routes that deliver you straight to the coast, chances are that your first encounter with Croatia will be Zagreb, an eminently strollable city of attractive parks, squares, and museums. Instead of high-tailing it to Dalmatia or Istria, stay a few days to explore the capital's historic center and pastoral environs. You'll be in for a pleasant surprise and will go home with a fuller, more satisfying appreciation of what this alluring country is all about.

Hotels

Zagreb and Environs Hotels

It's a fact of life that Zagreb doesn't get the same sort of tourist traffic as the coast, so the region's major hotels have gone to great lengths since...read more

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Restaurants

Zagreb and Environs Restaurants

Although there are seafood restaurants in Zagreb and large towns like Varazdin, this inland region is better known for roasted meats accompanied by heavy...read more

Fodor's Choice

Things To Do

Things To Do in Zagreb and Environs

Explore the best sights, entertainment, and shopping with our top choices and insider tips.

Travel Deals in Zagreb and Environs

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Zagreb and Environs Experiences

  • Zagreb & Environs Top 5

    With lovely parks, squares, museums, and churches, hoofing it in Croatia's compact capital is an unforgettable experience. If your feet fail... Read more

  • If You Like

    Zagreb—a pedestrian-friendly, and just plain friendly city—is a sheer pleasure, what with its rich array of attractive parks and... Read more

  • Varazdin's Guitar Great

    It's not by chance that Varazdin's distinguished string instrument maker Vladimir Simunov Proskurnjak, whose studio is in the heart of downtown... Read more

  • If You Have 3 Days

    Stick to Zagreb, with a side trip to its immediate environs. As compact as it is compared to other regional capitals such as Budapest, Croatia's... Read more

  • If You Have 5 Days

    Start as above, devoting at least two or, better yet, two-and-a-half days to Zagreb, with a half-day excursion to the Medvednice hills on the... Read more

  • If You Have 7 Days

    Do all of the above, but take in both a castle in the Zagorje and an afternoon and evening in Varazdin; throw in a one-night visit to Plitvice... Read more

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