How long in Zagreb?
 

I'm thinking of a weekend trip from London to Zagreb and/or Ljubjana. How long should on spend in Zagreb? Could I do 1 day in Ljubjana and 2 in Zagreb, or should I do it in the reverse way? What about 2 days in each place?

I spent one full night and one full day in Zagreb and while I loved the city, I thought it was long enough to get the gist of it.

Can't comment on Ljubjana but sure others will.

Must be great to zip off to Croatia for the weekend!

Thanks for your comments. I'm in the very, very early stages ... just merely thinking about it. Besides, it's not a big luxury or anything, flights in Europe are generally quite cheap.

ttt

Since you say "and/or", I'd do Ljubljana and Bled for the entire weekend. Do Zagreb sometime when you can add in Istria.

Hi JoeTro,

I would spend a whole weekend in Zagreb, and go to Ljubljana at a separate time.
It really depends what you want to do in Zagreb. It is a very lovely and manageable city. The historic centre is fairly compact and everything more or less within a walking distance. Extensive network of trams and buses run through the city. I would advise you to buy a daily pass (can purchase from tram driver, costs 18 kn), which allows you to go on all the trams and buses.
I was in Zagreb last week, the weather was sunny and warm, verging on hot, the city was vibrant with lots of people going about their daily business, sitting with their coffees in one of the zillion cafes that line the streets, trams whizzing by, sounds of music and street performers filling the air. Just lovely!
There are plenty of museums to keep you occupied, with Upper Town always a good place for a lovely stroll in an old historic part of the city.
Some good antique shops and interesting boutiques provide fun shopping opportunities.
Please let us know what your budget and interests are, so I could point out some sights/shops/hotels/restaurants to you.

Thank you for your reply. Interests includes castles, palaces, gardens and museums, especially Impressionism. I also like wine. I am, however, in grad school, so my budget is a bit limited. About 50 Euros (or the equivalent) per night as a single, hopefully a little less. I'm definitely hostel phobic and would prefer a 2 star hotel. As for meals, maybe about 12 Euros dinner with a glass of wine and maybe 6 for lunch without.

What about opera, theatre or classical music?

JoeTro, I'm truly pressed for time right now, so will attempt to post some thoughts in the following weeks.
To start jotting some ideas, here's a suggestion for a day trip from Zagreb - Trakoscan Castle:

http://www.mdc.hr/trakoscan/


It is about an hour's drive from Zagreb and set in a very scenic area. It might interest you as a castle enthusiast.

Talk to you later :)

Forgot to mention you can click on various floors - levels of the castle to look at some pics with relevant info. Have fun.

Thanks; is there public transportation to that castle?

3 days in Zagreb. It's a great city, with great things to see. Wander through Old Town, see the Stone Gate, visit the farmer's market - - both the green market outside, and everybody inside the adjacent buildings. Visit the art gallery, sit in Tito Square and people watch, have GREAT coffee (I love the coffee in Croatia), and go to the Croatian National Theatre for a tour, and say hello to my great grandfather's bronze bust, in the ballroom! I love Zagreb.
Nancy in Tacoma, WA