Zagreb travel guide

Best time to visit

Being the capital, Zagreb is fairly animated the year through. Two major cultural events, the Summer Festival, with open-air classical music concerts and theatre in Gornji Grad, and the Folk Festival, with displays of regional costume, singing and dancing on the main square, both take place in July.

The city is notoriously cold and foggy through winter (there are even songs about it) and can be extremely hot in summer (when most Zagrebians pack up and head for the coast). It’s probably best visited in spring or autumn, when the parks and gardens are at their prettiest and temperatures are ideal for exploring on foot and enjoying the open-air bars and cafés.

Getting around

The city centre is compact and reasonably manageable on foot. An amusing (though rather unnecessary) funicular links Donji Grad to Gornji Grad, operating 0630-2100, tickets 4Kn. To reach more outlying sights you may need to rely on public transport. Regular tram and bus services operate through the day 0400-2345, with slightly less frequent services at night 2335-0345. Tickets cost 8Kn when bought from a kiosk, or 10Kn when bought from the driver. You can find taxis in front of the bus and train stations, near the main square and in front of the larger hotels.

Ins and outs

Getting there

Throughout the summer, Croatia Airlines operate regular international flights to and from Amsterdam, Bari, Berlin, Bologna, Brussels, Catania, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Genoa, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Helsinki, Istanbul, Lisbon, London (Gatwick and Heathrow), Lyon, Munich, Oslo, Palermo, Paris, Prague, Rome, Sarajevo, Skopje, Stockholm, Turin, Vienna and Zurich. Internal flights link the capital with Brač (island of Bol), Dubrovnik, Pula, Split and Zadar. The number of destinations and the frequency of flights are reduced in winter. The airport is at Pleso, 17 km from the city centre; shuttle buses run to the city centre.

There are frequent bus connections with all the main Croatian cities and also daily international connections with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The bus station (Avenija M Držića 4) is a 15-minute walk from the main square.

There are train connections to the major cities and some international connections. The train station (Trg Kralja Tomislava 12) is a 10-minute walk from the main square.

Zagreb

Air

Through summer, there are regular flights to and from Amsterdam, Bari, Berlin, Bologna, Brussels, Catania, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Genoa, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Helsinki, Istanbul, Lisbon, London (Gatwick and Heathrow), Lyon, Munich, Oslo, Palermo, Paris, Prague, Rome, Sarajevo, Skopje, Stockholm, Turin, Vienna and Zurich. Internal flights link the capital with Brač (island of Bol), Dubrovnik, Pula, Split and Zadar. The number of destinations and the frequency of flights are reduced in winter. Sample prices for Zagreb: London Heathrow with Croatia Airlines, departing daily through Aug varies from £197 return to special (off-season) economy return at £68.

Zagreb Airport, Pleso bb, T01-626 5222 (information), T01-456 2229 (lost and found), http://www.zagreb-airport.hr. It is 17 km from the city centre. A shuttle bus, T01-633 1999, runs from the airport to Zagreb bus station every 30 mins 0700-2000, and from Zagreb bus station to the airport 0430-2000. The journey takes about 25 mins and a one-way ticket costs 30Kn. Expect to pay 150-200Kn by taxi.

Airlines offices

Adria Airways, Praška 9, T01-481 0011. Aeroflot, Varšavska 13, T01-487 2055. Air Canada, Krsnjavoga 1 (Hotel Opera), T01-482 2033. Air France, Kršnjavoga 1, Hotel Opera, T01-483 7100. Austrian Airlines, Zagreb Airport, T01-626 5900. Avioimpex, Savska 1, T01-482 9439. Bosna Air, Zagreb Airport, T01- 456 2672. British Airways, Kneza Borne 2, Hotel Sheraton, T01-455 3336. CSA, Trg Nikole Šubića Zrinskog 17, T01-487 3301. Croatia Airlines, Zrinjevac 7, T01-481 9633. Delta, Trg N Šubića Zrinjskog 14, T01-487 8760. KLM-Northwest, Langov Trg 2, T01-487 8600. LOT, Trg Bana Jelačića 2, T01-483 7500. Lufthansa, Zagreb Airport, T01-456 2187. Malaysia Airlines, Strossmajerov Trg 7/1, T01-481 0777. Malev (Hungarian Airlines), Kršnjavoga 1, Hotel Opera, T01-483 6935. Turkish Airlines, Zagreb Airport, T01-456 2008.

Bus and tram

For all information about buses to and from Zagreb, T060-313333, http://www.akz.hr. The bus station is at Avenija M Držića 4, a 15-min walk from the main square. 24-hr left luggage costs 10Kn per item per hr.

Internal services include about 26 buses daily to Rijeka in Kvarner (3 hrs); 18 buses to Pula in Istria (4-5 hrs); 12 to Osijek in Slavonia (4 hrs); 22 to Zadar in North Dalmatia (3½-5 hrs); 30 to Split in Central Dalmatia (4½-7 hrs); and 6 to Dubrovnik in South Dalmatia (10½ hrs). There are also daily international bus lines to Ljubljana (Slovenia); Barcs and Nagykanisza (Hungary); Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro); Graz (Austria); Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Dortmund, Cologne, and Dusseldorf (Germany) and Zurich (Switzerland).

Car

Expect to pay €43 per day for a small car such as a Fiat Uno, €73 per day for a large car such as an Opal Vectra.

Budget, T01-626 5854, http://www.budget.hr, at the airport and city centre at Kneza Borne 2, T01-455 4943; Hertz, http://www.hertz.hr, T01- 456 2635, at the airport and in the city centre at Vukatinovićeva 4, T01-484 6777; Sixt, T01-621 9900, http://www.sixt.hr, at the airport.

Taxi

Radio Taxi, T01-668 2505/668 2558. 24-hr service, usually arrive within 5-10 mins.

Train

National train information T060-333444, http://www.hznet.hr. Left luggage costs 10Kn per item per hr, open 24 hrs.

Long distance

Internal services include 5 trains daily to and from Rijeka in Kvarner (about 3½ hrs), 4 trains daily to Split in Dalmatia (5½ hrs by day, 8½ hrs by night) and 4 trains daily to Osijek in Slavonia (4 hrs). Daily international trains run direct to and from Budapest (Hungary), Belgrade (Serbia), Munich (Germany), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)Vienna (Austria) and Venice (Italy).

Orientation

Finding your way around the city is not difficult. The basic urban layout is clear, with Gornji Grad and Donji Grad meeting at Trg Bana Jelačića, the main square.

Cultural centres

British Council, Ilica 12, T01-489 9500, http://www.britishcouncil.hr. Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (Library Mon and Fri 1100-1700; Tue-Thu 1330-1930). French Cultural Institute, Preradovićeva 35, T01-485 5222. Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Goethe Institute (German), Ulica Grada Vukovara 64, T01-619 5000. Mon-Thu 0830-1700, Fri 0830-1530. Italian Cultural Institute, Preobraženska 4, T01-483 0208. Mon-Thu 1000-1600, Fri 0900-1400.

Embassies

Australia, Centar Kaptol, Nova Ves 11 III Kat, T01-489 1200; Austria, Jabukovac 39, T01-488 1050; Belgium, Pantovčak 125b, T01-457 8901; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Torbarova 9, T01-468 3761; Canada, Prilaz Djure Deželića 4, T01-488 1200; Czech Republic, Savska cesta 41, T01-617 7246; Denmark, Trg N Šubića Žrinskog 10, T01- 492 4540; France, A Hebranga 2, T01- 489 3600; Germany, Ulica grada Vukovara 64, T01-630 0100; Hungary, Pantovčak 255-257, T01-489 0900; Italy, Medulićeva 22, T01- 484 6386; Japan, Boskovićeva 2, T01-487 0650; Macedonia, Kralja Zvonimira 6/1, T01-462 0261; Montenegro, Trg N Šubića Žrinskog 1/IV, T01-457 3362, Netherlands, Medveščak 56, T01-464 2200; Norway, Petrinjska 9, T01-492 2829; Poland, Krležin Gvozd 3, T01-489 9444; Slovakia, Prilaz Djure Deželića 10, T01-487 7070; Slovenia, Alagovićeva 30, T01-631 1000; Spain, Tuškanac 21a, T01-484 8950; Sweden, Frankopanska 22, T01-492 5100; Switzerland, Bogovićeva 3, T01-487 8800; UK, Ivana Lučića 4, T01-600 9100; US, Thomas Jeffersona 2, T01-661 2200; Serbia, Pantovčak 245, T01-457 9067.

Emergencies

Ambulance: T94; Fire: T93; Police: T92.

Internet

Ergonet, Centar Kaptol, Badalićeva 26c, T01-368 9400, http://www.ergonet.hr. Mon-Fri 0800-2200, Sat 0900-2200. The following are in Donji Grad; Charlie Net, Gajeva 4, T01-488 0233, Mon-Sat 0800-2200, Sun 1100-2100; Cyber Café Sublink, Teslina 12, T01-481 1329, www.su blink.hr, Mon-Sat 0900-2200, Sun 1500-2200; Iskoninternet, Preradovićeva 5, T01-481 1758, Mon-Sat 0900- 2300, Sun 1200-2300; and Net Kulturni Klub Mama, Preradovićeva 18, T01-485 6400, Mon-Sat 1000-2200, Sun 1600-2200 .

Language schools

Berlitz, Amruševa 10, T01-481 2116, http://www.berlitz.hr. Škola za strane jezike, Varsavska 14, 10000 Zagreb, T01-483 0570, http://www.sova.hr.

Laundry

Petecin, Kaptol 11, T01-481 4802; Predom, Draškovićeva 31, T01-461 2900.

Libraries

City Library, Trg Ante Starčevića 6, T01-457 2344, http://www.kgz.hr, Mon-Fri 0800-2000, Sat 0800-1400; National Public Library, Hrvatske bratske zajednice bb, T01-616 4111, http://www.nsk.hr, Mon-Fri 0800-2100, Sat 0800-1500.

Medical services

Hospitals

Ignjata Djordjica 26, T01-460 0911, for emergencies. Draškovićeva 19, T01-461 0011, for casualty.

Pharmacies

Marked by a glowing green cross, 24-hr pharmacies are at Trg Bana Jelačića 2, T01-481 6159, and Ilica 301, T01-375 0321.

Post office

Main post office, Branimirova 4, next to the train station, open 24 hrs; Central post office, Jurišićeva 4, close to the main square, Mon-Fri 0700-2100, Sat 0800-1800, Sun 0800-1400.

Telephone

If you prefer to telephone from a peaceful phone booth, go to the main post office . Otherwise, if you don’t mind the traffic noise, you’ll find countless blue phone kiosks dotted around the city.