Zagreb
Croatia's capital, with a medieval Upper Town, a ring of parks, about thirty museum collections and Medvednica mountain for a day hike.
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Zagreb is Croatia's capital and largest city, home to 767,131 people at the 2021 census. It sits on the Sava River in the north of the country, at the southern foot of Medvednica mountain. The historic core grew from two hilltop settlements, Gradec and Kaptol, which merged into one city in 1850. The Upper Town still has medieval streets, churches and government buildings, and the Zagreb Funicular links it to Lower Town, the modern center laid out in a grid in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Plan two or three days: one for the Upper Town, the Green Horseshoe parks and a museum or two, and one for Maksimir Park or a trip up Medvednica. Museums hold more than 3.6 million items across about thirty collections, so pick two or three by interest. The Advent Christmas market is one of the city's major events each winter. Late spring and summer bring frequent afternoon and evening thunderstorms, and morning fog is common from mid-October to January. Winters are cold, averaging around 1 degree Celsius.
Zagreb in five
- Ride the funicular to the Upper TownThe short funicular from Tomićeva Street climbs to the Upper Town in under a minute. The stairs beside it take about five.
- Take the airport shuttle busBuses from the airport run to the main bus station in about 30 minutes. City trams link the bus station and the center.
- Shop Dolac market in the morningThe open-air market above the main square runs every morning, and it winds down by early afternoon.
- Come for Advent in DecemberThe Christmas market spreads across the center's squares and parks from late November into January.
- Walk the Lower Town and tram the restThe squares, cafés and Dolac market sit within a short walk of Ban Jelačić Square. Trams cover the longer hops to Maksimir park and Jarun lake.
Things to do in Zagreb
See all attractions in Zagreb
Need to know
- Airport
- Zagreb (ZAG), about 30 min to the bus station by shuttle
- Getting there
- Train from Ljubljana about 2.5 hours; bus from Split about 5 hours
- Getting around
- Trams and on foot; the funicular to the Upper Town
- Best base
- Lower Town between the main square and the station
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°Cold, grayJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, gray
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low1°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low4°Cool, showersMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, showers
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Mild, blossomAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, blossom
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Warm, stormsJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, storms
- JulyClear10 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Hot, quiet cityJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, quiet city
- AugustClear10 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Hot, locals awayAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, locals away
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Mild, clearSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Gray, fogNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Gray, fog
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Advent marketDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Advent market
Average daily high and low in Zagreb, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jan Advent in Zagreb · Dec Advent in Zagreb
Right now in Zagreb
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 72%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 30%
Zagreb
12:23 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today8°7°30%Tuesday: Rain. High 8°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 30%.
- Wed10°7°25%Wednesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Thu10°3°1%Thursday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Fri9°1°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat10°3°9%Saturday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun10°3°12%Sunday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 09:36 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Dec–JanAdvent in ZagrebZagreb
Day trips by train
- Plitvice Lakesabout 2–2.5 hours by busTerraced lakes and boardwalks; buy the ticket online for your entrance.Read the guide
- Ljubljanaabout 2.5 hours by trainSlovenia's small riverside capital, easy for a long day or a night.
- Samoborabout 40 minutes by busA small town west of Zagreb known for its custard cake.
Before you go to Zagreb
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Rules for Zagreb, checked
- Croatia is in the Schengen Area. Check your entry requirements on the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs site (mvep.gov.hr) before you fly.
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- Trams, buses and the funicular are run by ZET; check zet.hr for current tickets and how to validate them before you board.
- Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire, the same emergency number used across the EU.
Plan around Zagreb
Coast, islands, rail and entry rules
Read the guidePlitvice LakesWaterfalls and boardwalks, 2–2.5 hours by bus
Read the guideBudapestThe next big capital east, by train or bus
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleHow long you can stay across Croatia and beyond
Read the guideGetting aroundTrains, buses and rental cars between capitals
Read the guideZagreb FAQ
Is Zagreb worth visiting?
Yes, for a day or two. It has a lived-in old center, good cafés and a strong Advent market, and is the best start for Plitvice.
How do I get from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes?
Buses from the main bus station take about 2–2.5 hours and stop at both main entrances. Buy your park ticket online first in summer.
How do I get from Zagreb Airport to the city?
Shuttle buses run to the main bus station in about 30 minutes, then trams go to the main square.
How do I get from Zagreb to Ljubljana?
By train in about 2.5 hours, or by bus as an alternative. Book ahead on weekends and holidays, and check the timetable on the day, since services vary by season.
Is Zagreb worth visiting in December?
Yes, if you want Advent: markets, mulled wine and lights in the squares and parks from late November into January. It is cold and rooms cost more, so book early for weekends.