Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of Croatia, with about 800,000 people (1.2 million including the wider urban area). It is the political, economic, cultural and scientific centre of the country. There are many interesting sights in Zagreb, the witnesses of its rich history and culture. The city centre, full of beautiful Austro-Hungarian architecture and always hustling and bustling, is a place with its own charming soul, where your Zagreb tour will probably start. The Ban Jelačić Square (Trg bana Jelačića) is the central Zagreb square, with the access to the Upper Town (Gornji grad, the historical and political centre of the city), to the Kaptol, where the Cathedral is located, as well as to the Ilica (the longest street in Zagreb and Croatia). The centre of social life is a series of streets between the main square and the Ilica, packed with cafes, called Špica (The Peak). There are many things to see in the Upper Town. To go there, you can take the cheap and interesting Funicular (Uspinjača) from the Ilica street and enjoy the vista instead of climbing the long staircase. The Lotrščak Tower (Kula Lotrščak) nearby is a place where the cannon is fired at noon sharp each day, a tradition preserved for a long time. The colorful St. Mark’s Church and the adjacent building of Sabor (the Croatian Parliament) are also the city`s landmarks, as well as the nearby shrine of the Virgin Mary of the Stone Gate. The beautiful Zrinjevac Park is found between the Ban Jelačić Square and the Main Railway Station (Glavni kolodvor), a great place for a walk or seeing some of the cultural events often taking place there. Nature lovers should visit the Botanical Garden, near the Main Railway Station, and the Maksimir Zoo, in the eastern part of the city, as well as the Mountain Medvednica to the north and the Lake Jarun in the south of Zagreb, in the case of a longer stay. There are also countless museums and theatres for those into culture. Zagreb has become a popular destination for foreigners recently (including those from Japan and South Korea), especially for passionate travelers who like to experience new and unknown places.