Getting around Zagreb

Public transport

Zagreb is served by an extensive network of buses and trams which are operated by Zagreb Municipal Transit System (ZET) (tel: 385 72 500 400; www.zet.hr). The city centre is compact and manageable on foot, but to reach the outlying suburbs, public transport is necessary.

Regular bus and tram services operate through the day; at night, services are few and far between. Tickets, which are valid for 90 minutes in any direction, should be stamped upon boarding using the validation boxes. You can buy them either from a kiosk or, at a slightly higher price, from the driver. One-day tickets are also available.

The Zagreb Card (zagrebcard.com) offers 24 or 72 hours of unlimited travel on city public transport (including its famous funicular), free entry to four museums as well as discounts at numerous museums, galleries, attractions, restaurants, shops, nightclubs and car hire.

Zagreb’s short funicular trundles up and down between Gornji grad and Donji grad every 10 minutes from 0630 to 2200.

Taxis

Taxis in Zagreb are relatively cheap for a European capital city. There are taxi ranks outside the train and bus stations, near the main square and in front of the larger hotels.

Recommended firms include Radio Taxi (tel: 1717 in Croatia only; radiotaxizagreb.com), Ekotaxi (tel: +385 60 77 77; www.ekotaxi.hr) and Taxi Cammeo (tel: +385 1 1212; www.cammeo.hr). All three companies have mobile apps for iOS and Android. Tipping is not expected beyond rounding up the fare. Alternatively, you can book a taxi via Uber.

Driving

Zagreb is quite easy to drive around – the roads are wide and parking is ample and cheap. Street parking is relatively easy to find, though spaces can be harder to find in the post-work rush hour (1700-1900). Watch out for trams, and don’t be tempted to park illegally as fines are heavy and your car can be towed away.

Car hire

Car hire companies in Zagreb include Budget (tel: +385 1 4673 638 outside Croatia; www.budget.hr), Dollar and Thrifty (tel: +385 21 399 000; www.subrosa.hr), Hertz (tel: +385 7272 7277; www.hertz.hr) and Sixt (tel: +385 1 6651 599; www.sixt.hr).

Bicycle hire

The centre of Zagreb is flat and makes cycling easy, but the steep and cobbled streets of Gornji grad can be hard work. Bicycle hire is available from Bicikli Zoric (tel: +385 98 774 574; www.bike.com.hr). Blue Bike (tel: +385 98 188 3344; www.zagrebbybike.com) rents bikes and runs group bike tours of the city. Nextbike (tel: +385 1 777 6534; www.nextbike.hr/en/zagreb) runs the city's small bikeshare scheme. Nextbike does not operate during the winter season.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

Palace Hotel

The old dame of hotels in Zagreb, Palace Hotel still oozes the old-fashioned charm that once made it the city’s best. Opened in 1891, it’s Zagreb’s first luxury hotel, and the decadent elegance of the Habsburg Empire still reigns in the plush rooms. Front rooms have fabulous views of the park, so try to get one of those for beauty in and outside.

Esplanade Zagreb

This grand 1920s hotel in Zagreb was originally built for travellers on the Orient Express and has hosted royalty, artists and politicians in its many years. It remains the epitome of old-fashioned luxury and Art Deco elegance, with 209 plush rooms, fine-dining restaurant (one of the city’s best), health club and business centre.

Hotel Ilica

With a good, central location and rooms decorated in a rich (sometimes kitsch) style, complete with red drapes, gilded details and large paintings, Hotel Ilica is great if you like to have peace and quiet, but still be in the middle of things. It’s a small hotel in Zagreb, which means the service is friendly and personal.

Hotel Jagerhorn

Founded in 1827, Jagerhorn is the city’s oldest standing hotel. After the full refurbishment in 2015 it has become one of the most luxurious places to stay in Zagreb. Whether you like to enjoy a drink by the fountain or relax in spacious rooms, Jagerhorn is an oasis of style and comfort.

Panorama Zagreb

This gleaming business hotel in Zagreb has 279 comfortable, modern and well-equipped rooms, as well as a restaurant and meeting and conference facilities. It’s great value for an uncomplicated sense of comfort.

Hotel Antunović

Hotel Antunović is 8km (5 miles) from Zagreb’s city centre and has 210 rooms and suites, with rates to suit a variety of budgets. Dining options are equally diverse with a self-service restaurant, Mediterranean eatery and pastry shop all on site. The eighth-floor spa and pool command panoramic views over Zagreb.

Introducing Zagreb

While you’re there

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