Zagreb is a city that perfectly blends historic architecture with green spaces, a fantastic cafe culture, and a lively atmosphere. The centre of the city is split into two main areas: the Upper Town and the Lower Town, also called Gornji Grad and Donji Grad. Zagreb Lower Town is where you’ll find some of the best museums in Zagreb, as well as Austro-Hungarian buildings and nice shopping streets. The Upper Town is the oldest part of the city and where many of the best-known landmarks can be found. If you’re spending a day in the Croatian capital, Zagreb Old Town should definitely be your starting point.
Zagreb Old Town grew from two medieval settlements that were once separated by the Medveščak stream. Before being united in 1850, these neighbourhoods regularly came into conflict with one another. Today, the Upper Town is the most popular part of the city to visit, with cobblestone streets, hidden courtyards, and impressive viewpoints drawing people in. We found that half a day was enough time to see the main attractions in Zagreb Upper Town, but you can easily spend a full day here if you take a more leisurely approach to your itinerary.
Things to do in Zagreb Old Town
Tkalčićeva Street
A great place to start exploring Zagreb Old Town is Tkalčićeva Street. This is one of the busiest streets in the Old Town, and it’s lined with colourful buildings, restaurants, bars, and small shops. As you can imagine, it gets even busier in the evening when the bars start to fill with people. We decided not to dine along Tkalčićeva Street as some of the restaurants looked quite tourist-oriented.
It’s an interesting street to explore if you’re a fan of history, since it follows the former course of the Medveščak stream, which was eventually covered. If you take a guided tour of Zagreb Old Town, you can learn all about the settlements that once stood here and some interesting facts about the city. While exploring Tkalčićeva Street, be on the lookout for traditional houses and quieter corners that can still be found between newer businesses.
Bishop Duh Steps
Zagreb Upper Town is quite small compared to other old towns in European capitals, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t hidden gems to discover. The Bishop Duh Steps are easy to miss, but they offer a beautiful photo spot in Zagreb Old Town. They’re named after Bishop Duh, who is regarded as the first bishop of Zagreb when it became a diocese in the 11th century.
The steps connect Tkalčićeva Street with Opatovina Park and are a useful shortcut as you walk around the neighbourhood. At the top of the steps is where you’ll find one of the best views of the Old Town, and visiting them will only take a few minutes out of your Zagreb itinerary.
St Mark’s Church
The most recognizable landmark in Zagreb is St Mark’s Church, and it’s the focal point of St Mark’s Square. The first written reference to the church dates back to 1334, and its most distinctive feature is the beautiful tiled roof that displays the coat of arms of Dalmatia, Croatia, and Slavonia on one side and the emblem of Zagreb next to them. If you want to get the perfect photo without the crowds, I’d recommend arriving early in the morning. As of June 2026, there’s still restoration work taking place at St Mark’s Church, so you can only view it from behind a barrier on the street.
For the most part, the church is only open during mass, so even when there’s no restoration work going on, you’ll probably only be able to photograph it from the outside. St Mark’s Church is surrounded by some important political buildings that a lot of people overlook, too, including the Croatian Parliament.
Museum of Broken Relationships
The Museum of Broken Relationships is one of the most unusual things to do in Zagreb Old Town. Its displays are built around objects that have been donated by people from around the world. Each item comes with an anonymous story explaining how it’s connected to a relationship that ended. Some of the stories are emotional, whereas others are very humorous, so you never know what to expect when you approach the objects.
Entry to the Museum of Broken Relationships costs €9.00, and the captions are displayed in English and Croatian. For other languages, there are translation booklets available. It’s recommended to spend at least an hour inside the museum, but we spent less time as it was very crowded and we struggled to get close to some of the displays. While this wasn’t my favourite thing to do in Zagreb, it’s a highlight for many people.
Take in the view from Lotrščak Tower
Did you know the best view in Zagreb only costs €3.00 to access? Lotrščak Tower was built as part of the city’s defensive system in the 13th century, and its name comes from the Latin term for “thieves’ bell”. The bell was used to warn residents when the town gates were going to close, and today visitors can climb to the top of the bell tower for an incredible view of Zagreb Old Town, the Lower Town, and beyond.
The famous Grič cannon also fires from here every day at noon, which is one of the best things to see in Zagreb. The cannon has been fired since 1877 and is tied to a legend about the Turks being driven away from the city. After you’ve visited the tower, take some time to stroll along Strossmayer Promenade, which offers nice viewpoints and plenty of shaded benches to sit on.
Walk through the Grič Tunnels
If you’re visiting Zagreb Old Town in the summer, you’ll be very thankful for the Grič Tunnels. The tunnels were constructed during WWII as an air-raid shelter and were even used in the 1990s during the Croatian War of Independence. Today, the Grič Tunnels are open to the public for free, and there are sometimes exhibitions and installations taking place inside at different times of the year.
What’s interesting about walking through the Grič Tunnels is how much the temperature changes. In the summer months, you can expect a lot of people walking through here to cool down, and why not? The main passage is around 350 metres long, and it feels very quiet compared to the busy nature of the Old Town above. Passing through the Grič Tunnels is a must-do when in Zagreb.
Ride the Zagreb Funicular
Taking a ride on the Zagreb Funicular is another unique thing to do in Zagreb Old Town. The funicular opened in the 19th century, and much of its historic appearance has been maintained. It usually runs every 10 minutes and costs only €0.66 per person for a one-way journey. This is the city’s most famous form of transportation, connecting people with the Upper and Lower Town in just over 60 seconds. The track itself is only 66 metres long, making it one of the shortest public-transport funicular rides in the world.
It’s a fun experience and a useful option if you don’t want to walk up the nearby steps to the Old Town. I’d recommend taking the funicular to the Upper Town and walking down the steps or the nearby streets to the Lower Town later in the day.
Stone Gate
One of the most important historic landmarks in Zagreb Old Town is the Stone Gate. It’s the only surviving entrance from the Old Town’s medieval fortifications that would have controlled access to this part of the settlement. Today, the gate forms part of a covered passageway between buildings, so it’s easy to walk right through it without realizing how important it’s been in the past.
Inside the Stone Gate passage is where you’ll find a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In 1731, a painting of the Virgin and Child was said to have survived a fire, despite its frame being damaged. The image then became a symbol of Zagreb, and it’s very common to see locals stopping inside the passage to pray. It’s an active religious space, as well as a key historic landmark in Zagreb, so you should walk through it quietly and with respect.
Cathedral of Zagreb
You can’t visit Zagreb Old Town without stopping at Zagreb Cathedral. The history of the site that the modern cathedral now sits on dates back to 1094, when Zagreb was established as a diocese. During the Mongol invasion of 1242, the cathedral was destroyed, and since then it’s been rebuilt and expanded upon many times. Much of what we see today is a reconstruction following an earthquake in 1880.
When we visited Zagreb Cathedral in June 2026, the two main towers were covered with scaffolding, and much of the inside also wasn’t accessible. This is because of an earthquake that took place in 2020, but its doors are now open to the public, even though some areas are restricted. Entry is free, but visitors need to cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short shorts or skirts, as it’s still an active Catholic place of worship.
Grab a souvenir from Estilo
There are a lot of souvenir shops in Zagreb Old Town, but most of them sell very similar, mass-produced products which I try to avoid if possible. After visiting Zagreb Cathedral, I’d recommend walking one street downhill to a shop called Estilo where there’s a great selection of souvenirs, many of which are handmade or come from local suppliers. Even if you’re short on time, it’s worth taking a quick look inside so you can browse their shelves and see if anything attracts your attention. If you don’t find anything, you can walk to one of the other shops in the area, but I’m sure you’ll come away with at least one souvenir!
Find the old city walls
Before leaving the cathedral area, don’t forget to look for the remains of the old defensive walls. The Kaptol area of Zagreb Old Town was surrounded by defensive walls and towers following Ottoman attacks in the 15th century. This transformed the religious settlement into a fortified city, and additional towers and ramparts were later built around the cathedral itself.
Large sections of these fortifications were removed when the city started to expand, but several pieces remain, including around the cathedral. The medieval history of the city is fascinating, so if you’re a history enthusiast, it’s a good idea to take a guided tour of Zagreb Old Town to learn more about it in a short amount of time.
Places to eat in Zagreb Old Town
Koykan
If you’re looking for somewhere healthy to eat in Zagreb, I’ve found the perfect spot in Zagreb Old Town. Koykan has a menu that focuses on quick, healthy street food inspired by global flavours, making it a great stop for lunch or in between attractions. You’ll find everything from burritos and wraps to burgers, rice bowls, and chilli cheese bites.
There are lots of vegetarian choices available, and all of the dishes are prepared using fresh ingredients. You can even order right from the kiosk in a language of your choice to make things easier. This was one of our favourite places to eat in Zagreb. In fact, we ordered some food to take away so we could eat it for dinner on the plane.
La Struk
Just a short walk from Zagreb Cathedral is La Štruk, where you can find a fantastic selection of štrukli, a hand-stretched dough traditionally stuffed with cottage cheese. It can either be baked or boiled, depending on your preference. This traditional Croatian dish is popular in Zagreb and the surrounding area, making it a must-try if it’s your first time here.
The classic salty version is the best place to start, and although they recommend one dish per person, I’d say there’s more than enough to share one between two people. On top of the classic štrukli, La Štruk also has more unusual savoury choices as well as sweet ones, such as apple and cinnamon. Each portion is freshly prepared, so you should expect a slightly longer waiting time than you’d have at a quick food stop.
Divino Gelato
Along Tkalčićeva Street is the best place for gelato in Zagreb. Divino Gelato specializes in creamy Italian-style gelato, and they have a nice mixture of classic flavours and more unique ones. The pistachio gelato is a very popular option, but the dark chocolate was a personal favourite of mine. Its location makes it a great place to stop in the summertime to cool down while walking through the heart of Zagreb Old Town. Just make sure you don’t take your gelato outside with you, or it will instantly melt! There are a couple of tables inside where you can sit and enjoy your sweet treat before continuing with your tour of the Old Town.
Where to stay in Zagreb
If you want to explore all of the city’s main attractions on foot, staying close to Zagreb Old Town is the best option. Hotel Dubrovnik is located next to Ban Jelačić Square, just below the Old Town, or Hotel Jägerhorn is situated just off of Ilica Street, so it’s another great option. For a more luxurious stay just a short walk from Zagreb Old Town, Amadria Park Hotel Capital offers elegant rooms inside a restored heritage building.
Other than hotels, there are many self-serviced apartments available throughout the city. We spent three nights in Zagreb and stayed at Bumblebee Luxury Apartments in Zagreb Lower Town. There are a few self-catering apartments available in this building, and all of them are very modern and easy to access. When we visited in the summer, this was the best value accommodation in terms of location and amenities. We loved our stay here and would definitely choose it again.
Is Zagreb Old Town worth visiting?
Zagreb Old Town is the most visited part of the Croatian capital. If you enjoy historic monuments, impressive viewpoints, and unique attractions, you’ll find that there are more than enough things to do in Zagreb Old Town to keep you busy for half a day. All of the main attractions are within easy walking distance from one another, and there are some great hidden gems to discover as well as traditional food to try. It may not be the biggest old town among European capitals, but its relaxed atmosphere and variety of things to see make it a highlight of any trip to Zagreb.
If you have any questions about things to do in Zagreb Old Town, places to eat in Zagreb, or where to base yourself in the city, please get in touch. You can reach out via email or through the contact form on my website. Don’t forget to follow along with my travels on social media, too. I’m always sharing my latest adventures on Instagram and TikTok, so hopefully you’ll find some more helpful travel tips there.
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