7 Best Hotels in Zagreb and Environs, Croatia

Diagonally across from the train station, this beautiful hotel built in 1925 for travelers on the original Orient Express has retained and enhanced its elegance and luxury thanks to regular renovations. Louis Armstrong, Elizabeth Taylor, Charles Lindbergh, Orson Welles, Queen Elizabeth II, and Richard Nixon all stayed here, among other famous names, many of whom left photos for the celebrity wall downstairs. Spaces such as its immaculate Habsburg-era lobby, dining room with resplendent chandeliers, domed ballroom, and expansive outdoor terrace with sweeping views have made the hotel adored by business travelers and tourists alike. The spacious high-ceilinged guest rooms and marble bathrooms won't disappoint, and special touches include a glass of champagne on check-in and classical music playing in the hallways.

Less than five minutes by foot from the train station and 10 minutes from downtown, this hotel offers bright modern rooms with partly marble bathrooms that meet the chain's requirements of its Premier category. The standard rooms are on the small side; the executive rooms, which have king-size beds, are more spacious but also quite a bit more expensive.

Claiming the most central location in the city, just off Trg Bana Jelačića, this hotel has been popular with business travelers and tourists since opening back in 1929. The garish mirrored-glass facade conceals bright and mostly spacious rooms. Amenities include an on-site fitness center, and the hotel is also home to the Dubrovnik Café and American Steak and Grill House, which offer great people-watching opportunities on the main square.

Located at the far end of a shop-filled courtyard off Zagreb's busiest shopping street and just a minute's walk from Trg Bana Jelačića, this quaint hotel is the oldest in Zagreb and a perfect base for exploring the city. Rooms are cozy, and guests can enjoy breakfast in the peaceful garden at the back and have a quiet drink by the fountain. There's a good view of the Upper Town from the beautiful summer terrace. The historic café is visually stunning and known for its tranquil location and locally roasted coffee.

Yards away from other, similarly touristy and basic hotels (the Plitvice and the Bellevue, the Bellevue being the least expensive of the three), this long, three-story, wood-paneled building looks almost like a U.S.-style motel. The rooms are simply furnished and a bit worn but clean, and they offer cheap plastic chairs on the unappealing terraces (not all rooms have terraces). It's not a great value, but quite all right for a one-night stay. Some rooms only have showers; many have a somewhat smoky scent.

Deep within a tree-shaded park a few minutes' walk from the Old Town, this boutique hotel overlooks a peaceful stretch of its namesake, the Korana River. The hotel was built in 2003 as a re-creation of the 19th-century Park Hotel, which had long fallen into disrepair. Catering mostly to a business clientele, it has bright spacious rooms with maroon bedspreads and dark wooden furniture. Its main restaurant, the Dobra, has a terrace with a soothing river view.

Located on the doorstep of the Meštrović Pavilion, this boutique hotel in a former 20th-century palace features elegantly decorated modern rooms, a lobby with a crystal chandelier, and a spa. The on-site restaurant serves Mediterranean and Continental European fare, as well as a range of house-made desserts.