Zagreb

Zagreb is Croatia's dynamic and bustling capital, often referred to as a "pocket-sized Vienna", and is an ideal short break destination or as the starting location for many of our fabulous fly drive holidays. The city of Zagreb is located between the lower slopes of the Medvendica Mountain and the banks of the Sava river; the city centre is small enough to be covered on foot and is packed full of places of historical interest as well as many museums, parks and bustling street life. Zagreb is one of Europe's best examples of a mediaeval city which retains its sense of history together with the buzz of a modern city (now boasting superb street entertainment, dance festivals, contemporary theatre and music) including a wide range of shops, stylish restaurants and cafes located throughout the pleasant squares and alleyways.

Zagreb is divided into two distinct areas; the mediaeval upper town which houses the Cathedral, St. Mark's Square, the Presidential Palace and Croatian parliament; the lower town, dating from the late 19th century, is a planned area of wide boulevards, open squares and parks with an impressive array of public buildings and museums. Visitors may have a sense of deja-vu while strolling down the cobblestone streets of Zagreb’s medieval Upper Town or sipping an espresso on the patio of a turn-of-the-century hotel. For years, movie-makers have been using the city’s classic Austro-Hungarian architecture as a stand-in for capitals like Vienna or Budapest; for example, it is Zagreb you will have seen in the TV epic series “The Winds of War”.

The Upper Town’s picturesque Stone gate, the site of a popular religious shrine, and its towers and fortifications are major tourist attractions. Its churches, particularly its twin-spired neo-Gothic cathedral, the lovely Church of St. Mark and the lavishly baroque Church of St. Catherine are also popular with visitors. In addition to the National Theatre (which features opera, drama and ballet), Zagreb boasts numerous museums and art galleries, including the Klovicevi Dvori in the Upper Town, a major arts and crafts museum, the Mimamra Museum, which houses an extensive and eclectic private collection, and Zagreb University, one of the region’s oldest. Visitors can experience avant-garde theatre and dance at the Zagreb Youth Theatre or attend classical and jazz concerts at the Lisinski Hall.

Croats love their food and Zagreb has many fine restaurants; try, for example, "strukle", which is a puff pastry with cottage cheese and "purica with mlinci" which is turkey with specially prepared pastry, washed down with a cool, crisp Croatian wine. After a fine lunch you can stroll through Zrinjevac park, with its old trees, fountain and busts of Croatian cultural figures. The area around Zagreb is worth exploring too, nearby are a number of baroque towns, Croatia's most revered mediaeval fortress and Mount Medvednica.

ALL SELF-DRIVE HOLIDAYS THAT START & FINISH IN ZAGREB CAN BE DONE WITH AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

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