16 Best Hotels in Zagreb and Environs, Croatia

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.

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.

A 12-minute drive from the historic city center, this hotel featuring comfortable carpeted rooms with dark wooden furniture (some rooms also have amazing city views) is well-suited to business travelers looking to stay in Zagreb's main business district near Radnička Cesta. Great facilities including a well-equipped gym, spa, and pool make this an option for those who don't mind a bit of an extra trek to the Old Town.

A short walk from the bus station and the main square (both of which are less than a mile away), the best hotel in town features a rooftop bar with panoramic views and a wine cellar. The rooms of this modern four-star hotel feature bright details such as pieces of contemporary art.

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.

One of the only accommodations in the heart of the city center, the Istra has simply furnished but sleek rooms with small windows that don't offer much of a view. The silky peach bedspreads offer a nice contrast against the dark blue or gray carpeting.

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.

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.

If you want to spend more than a half-day in Samobor, you could do much worse than this pleasant old-fashioned hotel right on the main square. Although the rooms vary in size, they're all fairly spacious, and some of the pine floors are covered with antique rugs. The silky bedspreads and golden-frame mirrors lend an old-world ambience. Some rooms have showers only. Downstairs is a splendid and spacious, if smoky, café.

In business since 2007, this hotel in an early-20th-century building across from the train station has bright modern rooms. It opened just a month after its less-appealing competitor, the Istra (which is, however, in the town center). The rooms have gray carpeting and a beige armchair; some have a large single bed, others twin beds. Bathrooms are small, with showers only, but some of the showers play music and have massage showerhead attachments. The hotel's cellar restaurant is attractive, with arched-brick ceilings.

If you prefer a quiet environment and don't mind the somewhat tacky look of the lobby (pseudo-classical statuettes, anyone?), then this family-run hotel may be just for you. It's well outside the center of town on a peaceful side street near Maksimir Park and a short walk from forested hills. Each room is individually and simply furnished with better taste than the lobby. There's a good restaurant with a summer garden.

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.

A short walk from the town center, this small hotel has simply furnished rooms with ocher carpeting, sturdy if scratched desks, and small windows under a pitched roof. Some have two twin beds; others, a single large bed. There's also a spacious old-fashioned restaurant with menus that change seasonally.

A short walk from the town center, this small guesthouse has clean, no-frills, but comfortable rooms that are quite acceptable for a short stay. Rooms with double beds are the same price as those with twins, and many rooms include a couch, too. The café is rather smoky. Maltar also rents some rooms in separate buildings; eight rooms are available closer to the train station, and five apartments can be rented for longer stays. 

Located on a small side street in a somewhat nondescript part of the Lower Town, the six-story Sheraton has comfortable, classically decorated rooms favored by business travelers. Behind the hotel's glass facade are great fitness, business, and entertainment facilities. Two on-site restaurants feature à la carte Croatian cuisine, and there is a café with quick-bite options, as well as an elegant piano bar.