Zagreb is a big Croatian tourist centre, not only in terms of transit from West and Central Europe to the Adriatic Sea but also as a tourist destination.

Zagreb is not only rich in cultural and historical monuments, museums and galleries, it also has a variety of modern shops, and offers good quality of  diversified restaurants as well as sports and recreation facilities.

It is a big centre of congress tourism, economic and business events and trade
fairs not only in Croatia but also in this part of Europe. Being an important junction point, it has road, air, railway and bus connections with major European cities and all bigger cities and tourist resorts in Croatia.

A city with a unique urban core

Zagreb has rich civil and cultural heritage, dating from the pre-historic period (Veternica Cave, Palaeolithic) and archaeological finds of the Roman culture (scitarjevo) up to the present.

The historical part of the town, the Upper Town and Kaptol are a unique urban
core even in European terms, and thus represent the target of sightseeing tours. The old town, its streets and squares can be reached on foot, starting from Ban Josip Jelacic Square, the central part and the heart of Zagreb, or by a funicular in the nearby Tomiceva Street.

The old core of the town includes many famous buildings, churches, museums and institutions as well as pleasant restaurants and coffee bars.

Archaeological objects and works of art

The history, art and culture not only of Zagreb and Croatia but also of Europe and the world, can be seen by walking through the large number of Zagreb museums.

Around thirty collections in museums and galleries comprise more than 3.6 million various exhibition items, excluding church and private collections.

Just the Archaeological Museum itself (Nikola Subic Zrinski Square 19) owns 400,000 objects, not all of them being exhibited. The most famous are the Egyptian collection, the mummy and bandages with the oldest Etruscan inscription in the world as well as the numismatic collection.

The Croatian Museum of Natural Sciences (Demetrova Street 1) holds the world's most extensive collection of the remains of Neanderthal man found on one site - the remains of the pre-historic man of Krapina and stone weapon and tools.

The Technical Museum (Savska Street 18) keeps the oldest preserved machine in this area, dating from 1830 which still operates.

The HAZU Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters (Zrinski Square 11) offers permanent holdings presenting European paintings from the 14th to the 19th centuries, and the Mestrovic Studio, (Mletacka Street 8) with sculptures, drawings, lithography portfolios and other items, is a donation of this great artist to his homeland.

Entertainment all week long

The city offers rich cultural and artistic enjoyment. There are about 20 permanent or seasonal theatres and stages.

The Croatian National Theatre is the most impressive building among them; the most famous of concert halls is the Concert Hall "Vatroslav Lisinski", named after the composer of the first Croatian opera.

Zagreb hosts many domestic and international events. The World Festival of Animated Films takes place each even year, and the Music Biennial, the international festival of avantgarde music, every odd year.

The Festival of the Zagreb Philharmonic and the famous flowers exhibition Floraart (end of May or beginning of June), the Oldtimer Rally, the Week of the Contemporary Dance, as well as Eurokaz, the international festival of contemporary theatre (in June) represent annual events.

Zagreb is also the host of Zagrebfest, the oldest Croatian pop-music festival, as well as of several traditional international sports events and tournaments.

Numerous shops, boutiques, store houses and shopping centres offer a variety of good quality clothes. World famous Zagreb souvenirs include: the ball-point pen, invented by Slavoljub Penkala from Zagreb more than 80 years ago, or the tie, an accessory named after Croatian horsemen who fought on the European fronts from the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century up to the French Revolution, wearing  characteristic scarves around their necks.

Don't miss out on Zagreb's surroundings

Picturesque villages in the close vicinity, Sestine, Gracani and Remete, arranged around the city like beads of a necklace, maintain their rich tradition even today: folk costumes, Sestine umbrellas, gingerbread products, etc.

Medvednica Mountain - Zagrebacka Gora, with its highest peak Sljeme (1,033 m), occupies a special place in the lives of the Zagreb population and visitors. A wonderful view spreads on Zagreb, the Sava and the Kupa valleys, the region of Hrvatsko Zagorje from the top of the mountain, and during fair weather, the vista reaches as far as Velebit Mountain and snow-capped peaks of the  Slovenian Alps.

The old Medvedgrad, a mediaeval burg built in the 13th century and recently restored, represents Medvednica's special attraction. Now there is the Shrine of the Homeland, a memorial place with eternal flame, where Croatia pays reverence to all its heroes fallen for homeland in its history.