Zagreb

From MaxTravelz

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and a charming medieval city with architecture and cobbled streets reminiscent of Vienna, Budapest, Prague and other Central-European capitals. In 2005 it was visited by over half a million tourists, mainly from Austria, Germany and Italy.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By car 1.2 By bus 1.3 By train 1.4 By air 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 4.1 Cinemas 4.2 Snow Queen Trophy: Ladies Night Slalom 5 Buy 5.1 Tax-free shopping 6 Eat 6.1 Restaurants 6.2 Pizzas 7 Drink 8 Sleep 8.1 Budget 8.2 Mid-range 8.3 Splurge 9 Zagreb Card 10 Get out

Get in

By car

Almost all motorways (autocesta) in Croatia start or end in Zagreb. Travellers from Vienna can take the A2 which is completed up to Krapina. The Croatian part of this motorway is expected to be completed by 2008.

Travellers from Budapest can use the A4. The Croatian part of the motorway is finished. Hungarian portion is expected to be completed in 2007.

Travellers heading from Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey can use the A3 to reach Zagreb. The last remaining unfinished section of this motorway is expected to be open in September 2006.

Travellers heading from Ljubljana can use the A3. However, the Slovenian portion of the motorway is still under construction.

Travellers heading from the Dalmatian coast can use the A1 motorway which was completed in 2004. Those heading from Dubrovnik should note that the section between Split and Ploče is under construction. It will be finished in 2008.

Those travelling to or from Rijeka and Istria can use the A6 - which will be completed in 2008 - and A1.

To use motorways in Croatia you must pay toll either in Croatian national currency - the kuna or in foreign currencies. There is also an option to pay using American Express, Diners, Master Card, Maestro or Visa cards. As of recently there is the so-called Hac Smart Card which can reduce the cost of travelling on the Croatian motorways. It is issued by Hrvatske Autoceste (http://www.hac.hr/).

By bus

The central bus station (Autobusni kolodvor) is located to the south-east of the railway station - approximately 5 minutes by tram (lines 2 and 6).

There is a number of Croatian coach operators which maintain scheduled international coach lines covering all major European cities, as far as London, Paris, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, numerous cities in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and Macedonia.

By train

Zagreb is a railway hub which has direct links with other major European cities such as Vienna, Budapest, Zürich, Munich, Berlin, Salzburg, Venice, Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Belgrade etc. Also, as of 2004 you can ride on the new 160kph “tilting trains” that connect Zagreb with Split and other major cities in Croatia such as Rijeka and Osijek. If you make a reservation early enough you can get a substantial discount.

Tourists coming from or going to neighbouring capitals should note the following EuroCity and InterCity railway lines:

• EC "Mimara": Berlin - Leipzig - Munich - Salzburg - Ljubljana - Zagreb
• IC "Croatia": Vienna - Maribor - Zagreb
• IC "Kvarner": Budapest - Zagreb - Rijeka

Detailed train schedules are also available on the internet in English: http://www.hznet.hr/ENG/

By air

Zagreb International Airport is located 17km from the city center.

Croatia Airlines, the national carrier and member of Star Alliance, flies to Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Prague, Tel Aviv, Rome, Sarajevo, Skopje, Vienna, Zurich and - during the tourist season - Manchester.

Zagreb airport is also served by the low-cost carrier German Wings that flies to and from Cologne, Stuttgart, Hamburg and Berlin (Schönefeld). More information is available in English on http://www34.germanwings.com/index.en.shtml

On March 27 2006 low-cost carrier Wizz Air established a link between Zagreb and London (Luton Airport)

Neighboring airports in Ljubljana, Graz, Klagenfurt and Trieste are serviced by low-cost carriers and are often a viable alternative to travelling directly to Zagreb. EasyJet flies to Ljubljana and Ryan Air flies to Graz and Klagenfurt.

EasyJet has announced the introduction of the following flights from and to the destinations in Croatia:

• London Gatwick - Split (as of May 2 2006)

• London Luton - Rijeka (as of June 30 2006)

• Bristol - Rijeka (as of July 22 2006)

There is a bus link between the airport (Zračna luka) and the bus station (Autobusni kolodvor) in Zagreb. A single (one-way) ticket costs 25 kuna. The bus leaves the airport at 7AM and every thirty minutes between 8AM and 8PM. Between the last regular bus at 8PM and the first one at 7AM the next morning, there is a bus leaving for the bus station every time a Croatia Airlines airplane lands.

The bus line between the bus station and the airport is slightly more complicated. Full details are available in English from http://www.plesoprijevoz.hr/schedulezg.htm

Get around

Zagreb has a well-developed public transport system that consists of trams, buses and trains. Trams operate 24 hours a day. However, from 4AM to 12PM there are 15 "day-time lines" (tram lines 1-9, 11-15 and 17). From 12PM to 4AM there are 4 "night" lines (tram lines 31-34). Tram lines 3 and 8 do not operate Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays.

As for the buses there are 113 day-time and 4 night lines. Buses cover the area outside the city center including neighboring towns that belong administratively to Zagreb county.

Trains which are operated by Croatian Railway (Hrvatske Željeznice) run every 15 minutes from east to west. They connect the suburbs of Zagreb with the central railway station. They are usually the quickest form of transport for those coming from the portions of Zagreb far from the railway station (Glavni kolodvor).

See

Mimara Museum (5 Roosevelt Square) houses the donation by Ante Topić Mimara. Of the total of 3,700 varied works of art, more than 1,500 exhibits constitute permanent holdings, dating from the prehistoric period up to the 20th century. Some of the most famous exhibits include works by Lorenzetti, Raffaello, Giorgione, Veronese, Caravaggio, Canaletto, 60 paintings by the Dutch masters Rembrandt, Van Goyen, Ruisdael, 50 works by the Flemish masters Van der Weyden, Bosch, Rubens, Van Dyck, more than 30 by the Spanish masters Velasquez, Murillo, Goya, some 20 paintings by the German masters Holbein, Liebermann, Leibl, some 30 paintings by the English painters Gainsborough, Turner, Bonington and more than 120 paintings by the French masters Georges de la Tour, Boucher, Chardin, Delacroix, Corot, Manet, Renoir, Degas.

The Archaeological Museum (19 Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square) possesses over 400,000 objects, not all of them being exhibited. The holdings include evidence of Croatian presence in this area as well as rare samples which have made the museum known to the whole world. The most famous are the Egyptian collection, the Zagreb mummy and bandages with the oldest Etruscan inscription in the world (Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis), as well as the numismatic collection. A part of the museum is set aside for the collection of stone monuments dating back predominantly to the Roman period.

Mirogoj is the central cemetery of Zagreb. It was opened in 1876 north of the city center. The mortuary, the impressive and picturesque arcades with the church of Christ the King (architect H. Bollé, 1883-1914) make it one of the most impressive cemeteries in the world. You can find there the tombs of notable personalities who are relevant to Croatian history. To get there from the central square go to the near-by Cathedral and take the bus number 106 (Kaptol - Mirogoj - Krematorij). The ride takes around 10 minutes.

Do

Cinemas

• CineStar Zagreb (Branimirova 29; ticket reservation ++ 385 1 46 86 600) - a multiplex cinema in the vicinity of the Sheraton Hotel. More information is available in Croatian at http://www.blitz-cinestar.hr/

• Broadway Tkalča (Nova Ves 11; ++ 385 1 46 67 686) - a multiplex cinema within the Kaptol Shopping Center situated to the north of the Cathedral. More information is available in Croatian at http://www.broadway-kina.com/

• Kino Europa (Varšavska 3) - this cinema is located in the city center.

• Kino Zagreb (Trg Petra Preradovića 4; 062-100-100 (within Croatia))

• Kino Croatia (Katančićeva 3; ++ 385 1 48 13 711)

• Kino Jadran (Ilica 42; 062-100-100 (within Croatia))

• A1 (Iblerov trg bb - Importanne galerija; ++ 385 1 46 19 133)

• Kino Central (Petrinjska 4; 062-100-100 (within Croatia))

Snow Queen Trophy: Ladies Night Slalom

Zagreb is the only capital in the world that hosts a Ski World Cup race. The slalom event - known as the "Snow Queen Trophy" (Snjezna kraljica) - takes place in January. It is the most expensive race on the women's world cup tour and an exceptionally popular sporting event in Croatia that attracts a crowd of around 25 thousand people. As of 2007 best skiers in men's competition are also expected to compete on Mount Sljeme that overlooks the city. If you fail to secure your ticket, you can watch the whole event on a giant screen in the Ban Jelacic Square.

Buy

If you are looking for a souvenir from your trip to Zagreb, perhaps the best place to visit is the Turistički informativni centar which is located in the central square in Zagreb (Trg bana Josipa Jelačića 11). There you can find everything ranging from picture postcards and books to artefacts made of ceramic, crystal and other materials. Also, be sure to check the two shops on your right as you are walking from the central square to the Cathedral.

Tax-free shopping

If you buy goods worth more than 500 Kuna you are entitled to a PDV (VAT) tax return when leaving the country. Note that this applies to all goods except petroleum products. At point of purchase ask the sales person for a PDV-P form. Fill it out and have it stamped on the spot. On leaving Croatia the receipt will be verified by the Croatian Customs service. A PDV refund in Kunas can be obtained within six months, either at the same shop where you bought the goods (in that case the tax will be refunded to you immediately), or by posting the verified receipt back to the shop, together with the account number into which the refund should be paid. In this case the refund is dealt with within 15 days of receipt of the claim. There is another, much easier way to receive the refund. Buy your goods in shops with a "CROATIA TAX-FREE SHOPPING" label. This label is displayed on the shop's entrance, usually next to the labels of credit and debit cards this particular shop accepts. Using an international coupon, refund is possible in all countries-members of the TAX-FREE international chain. In this case the service charge is deducted from the tax refund amount.

Eat

Restaurants

• Le Bistro (Mihanovićeva 1; ++ 385 1 45 66 666) - a French restaurant within the Regent Esplanade Hotel

• Srčeko (Vinogradska 135; open Mon - Sat 12AM - 11PM, Sun 12AM - 6PM; ++ 385 1 373 10 07) - a French restaurant.

• Klet obitelji Bunčić - although technically not in Zagreb, but in Dugo Selo - a town which is part of the metropolitan area - this is a very popular place that offers Croatian cuisine, live music on weekends, a stable, fish pond and basketball courtyard.

• Takenoko (Nova Ves 11 (Centar Kaptol); ++ 385 1 48 60 530) - Zagreb may not be synonymous with sushi restaurants, but this is one is superb. It is located in the Kaptol Centar Shopping Center. It is not cheap, but sushi they make is incredible.

• Asia (A. Šenoe 1; ++ 385 1 48 41 218) - Chinese restaurant open between 12AM and 12PM

• Restaurant Suhina (Dr. F. Tuđmana 1, Orešje (near the Podsused bridge); ++ 385 44 1 33 71 562) - an old family-run restaurant on the old Samobor road that offers a variaty of rosted food.

For a comprehensive list of Zagreb restaurants visit http://www.asker.com/restaurants/

Pizzas

Pizza is a famous Italian dish, but many people say that in Zagreb you can eat pizzas which are better than in Italy. Here is only a small list of some pizza restaurant.

• Dvojka on Kaptol near to Centar Kaptol
• Stara Sava near to "rotor" and Mladost sports center
• Colonia in New Zagreb, in "Mamutica"
• Nocturno on Kaptol, between Tkalčićeva street and Cathedrale
• Baschiera 2 on the end of Savska street and beginning of "Horvaćanski zavoj".

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• Hotel Central 3-star hotel situated 150 meters from the railway station (Glavni kolodvor) (Branimirova 3). The hotel was refurbished in 1996. More information is available in English on http://www.hotel-central.hr/gb.htm or by phoning +385 1 48-41-122
• Astoria Best Western Premier Hotel 3-star hotel in Petrinjska 71 not far from the central square of Ban Jelačić. More information is available by phoning +385 1 48-08-900
• Hotel Dora 3 star hotel behind the Lisinski Music Hall (south of the main railway station - Glavni kolodvor). More information is available in Croatian on http://www.zug.hr/dora/index.asp or by phoning +385 1 63-11-900
• Hotel Golden Tulip Holiday 3-star hotel situated at the western entrance to Zagreb not far from the Zagreb Fair. Information is available on http://www.hotel-holiday.hr/ or by phoning +385 1 34-96-621
• Hotel I 3-star hotel situated near the southern entrance to Zagreb (Remetinečka cesta 106). This hotel is located south of the Sava and in the vicinity of Zagreb Fair. More information is available on http://www.hotel-i.hr/en_index.php or by phoning +385 1 65-42-238
• Hotel International 3-star hotel located several hundred meters south of the central railway station (Miramarska 24). Reservations are available on http://www.hup-zagreb.hr/ or by phoning +385 1 61-08-800
• Hotel Jadran 3-star hotel (Vlaška 50) is situated in the city center some 500 meters east of the Cathedral. There is a big shopping center near-by - the Importanne Gallery. More information is available on http://www.hup-zagreb.hr/ or by phoning +385 1 45-53-777
• Hotel Laguna 3-star hotel (Kranjčevićeva 29) located near the Cibona Business Tower. More information is available in Croatian on http://www.hotel-laguna.hr/ or by phoning +385 1 30-47-000
• Hotel Phoenix 3-star hotel (Sesvetska cesta 29, 10 360 Sesvete) situated in an eastern suburb of Zagreb - Sesvete. It is located some 500 meters from the motorway on the main road that leads from Zagreb to Dugo Selo. More information is available in Croatian on http://www.hotelphoenix.com.hr or by phoning +385 1 20-06-333
• Ravnice Youth Hostel (I. Ravnice 38d) - Information on the internet http://www.ravnice-youth-hostel.hr/

Mid-range

• Hotel Palace 4-star hotel located in the very heart of Zagreb on J.J. Strossmayer Square. It was built in the Secession style in 1891 and converted into a hotel in 1905. The Arts Pavillion is 50 metres away. More information is available on http://www.palace.hr/eng/index.html or by phoning +385 1 48-14-611
• Hotel Dubrovnik 4-star hotel (Gajeva 1) overlooking Zagreb's main square - Ban Jelačić Square. More information is available on http://www.hotel-dubrovnik.hr/ or by phoning +385 1 48-63-500
• Arcotel Allegra 4-star hotel (Branimirova 29) which is Zagreb's first "lifestyle" hotel. It is situated within five minute walking distance (300 meters) from the central railway station (Glavni kolodvor). All rooms are spacious and air-conditioned and feature mini bar, safe, internet connection, bigscreen TV and DVD player. More info is available by phoning +385 1 46-96-000
• Four Points by Sheraton Panorama Hotel Zagreb 4-star hotel (Trg Kresimira Ćosića 9) is located in the business district of Zagreb some 2.5 kilometers away from the central railway station (Glavni kolodvor). More information in English is available on http://www.fourpoints.com/zagreb or by phoning +385 1 36-58-333
• Hotel Aristos 4-star hotel located in the vicinity of the Zagreb airport at the southern gates of Zagreb, in the Buzin commercial center (Cebini 33, Buzin, 10010 Zagreb). More information is available from http://www.hotel-aristos.hr/eng/onama.php or by phoning +385 1 66-95-900
• Hotel As 4-star hotel located in Zelengaj (Zelengaj 2A), some 2,5 kilometers to the north-east of the railway station (Glavni kolodvor). Detailed information (including a map on how to get to the hotel) is available on the Internet in English on http://www.hotel-as.hr/eng/index.php or by phoning +385 1 46-09-111

Splurge

• The Regent Esplanade. Luxury hotel in the heart of Zagreb (Mihanovićeva 1, just across the central railway station) that offers everything that you would expect from one of the world's finest hotels. It was built in 1925 for passengers of the famous Orient Express train, which connected Paris and Istanbul. If you can, check the Emerald Ballroom with its soaring dome shaped roof. The hotel also includes the Zinfandel's Restaurant, Le Bistro and the Esplanade 1925, the hotel's lounge and cocktail bar. You can find more information by phoning + 385 1 45-66-666
• The Westin Zagreb. Luxury hotel (Kršnjavoga 1) next to the Mimara Museum and the Croatian National Theatre. The hotel was renovated in 2004. It features the legendary Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Shower and probably offers the best view in the city. More information in English can be found on http://www.westin.com/zagreb or by phoning ++ 385 1 48-92-000
• Sheraton Zagreb Hotel. Luxury hotel situated in Kneza Borne 2 that features air-conditioned rooms and suites with classic furniture and marbled bathrooms. It also includes King Tomislav Restaurant, Fontana Restaurant, Piano Bar, Café Imperial, 17 meeting rooms and an 800-square-meter Grand Ballroom. More information can be found on http://www.sheraton.com/zagreb or by phoning ++ 385 1 45-53-535

Zagreb Card

Travelers who are staying for several days should consider buying the so-called Zagreb Card. It gives them unlimited travel on public transport in Zagreb, discounts at virtually all of the city’s museums, reduced prices at many restaurants, shops, and service providers and many other concessions. It costs 90 kuna (approx. 12 euros) and it is valid for 72 hours from the date and time entered on the card. Holders of the card also receive a special booklet with the list of all the establishments and the discounts available to them. The card can be bought at any of the Zagreb's Tourist Information Centers and at the reception desks of the majority of Zagreb’s hotels.

More information on Zagreb Card is available in English on http://www.zagrebcard.fivestars.hr/page_en.htm

Get out

There is a number of interesting places in Zagreb's vicinity. Travelers should certainly check Samobor which is a picturesque medieval town with well preserved old core and long tourist tradition. The prevailing architecture is that of the Baroque period. The town is also reputed to be the place where best "kremšnite" - one of Croatia's best known cakes - are made. Samobor is only 20 minute drive from the Zagreb city center. You can get there by bus or take the A3 towards the Slovenian border.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!