Zagreb Croatia (pronounced: [za:greb]) is the
largest and capital city of Croatia. Zagreb is the cultural,
scientific, economic, political and administrative center of the
Republic of Croatia with the houses of Parliament, President and
Government of the country. The city's population in 2001 was 779,145
[1]. (1 088 841 in the metro area).[2]. It is situated between the
southern slopes of the Medvednica mountains and the northern bank of
the Sava river at an elevation of 120m above sea level, located at
45°48′N 15°58′E.
Its favourable geographic position in the southwestern part of the
Pannonian Basin, which extends to the Alpine, Dinaric, Adriatic and
Pannonic regions, provides an excellent connection for traffic
between Central Europe and the Adriatic Sea.
The transport connections, concentration of industry, scientific and
research institutions and industrial tradition underlie its leading
economic position in Croatia. Zagreb Croatia is the seat of the central
government, administrative bodies and almost all government
ministries.
By Bus: Croatia Airlines runs
frequent shuttle buses between the airport and Zagreb's main bus
station (Autobusni Kolodvor) for
25kn ($4.50).
The bus station is a bright, efficient hub with restaurants, shops,
a post office, and local connections to the city center. A 24-hour
garderoba (luggage storage area) charges 1.20kn (20¢) per hour or $4
per day. ATMs are located near the ticket office as well as an
exchange that is open from 6am to 10pm daily. Frequent bus
connections link Zagreb Croatia and all of Croatia's main cities, which in
turn hook up with local lines that run to virtually every village in
the country. There are also international connections from Zagreb to
an increasing number of European nations.
Interactive map of the cityInteractive map
of city of Zagreb Croatia represents most complex Flash project on croation
web. It contains list of all streetsand institutes in Zagreb with
capability of locating them. Public transportation network. Ideal
for tourists who arefor the first time in Zagreb. It offers
possibilities for using map according to different needs to
companies, associations or individuals.
Getting There
By Plane: There are no direct flights to Croatia from the U.S.,
Canada, or Australia, but Croatia Air, the national airline company,
connects Zagreb with several major European hubs as well as with
cities in Croatia. Pleso International Airport (tel. +385
01/626-5222) is located about 10 miles (16km) south of the city
center, and Zagreb is the entry point for most visitors to Croatia.
Cheap flights to Zagreb, Croatia
Zagreb Croatia Air's shuttle bus runs every
30 minutes from 5:30am to 7:30pm from the airport to and from
Zagreb's main bus station for
25kn ($4);
and the ride takes half an hour (tel. +385 (0) 1 615 79 92). Taxi
fares to the city center run between 150kn and 250kn ($26-$45).
Note: Croatia Air's luggage weight limits may differ from those of
international carriers, so if you are not checking your luggage
directly through to Zagreb from the U.S., you should check with
Croatia Air for information on this policy, which is subject to
seasonal changes.
When returning to the U.S., be
aware that Croatia Air does not allow any battery-operated devices
in checked luggage, so be sure to remove your alarm clock before
checking in.
By
Train: The Zagreb Croatia train station (Glavni Kolodvor) facing Trg
Kralja Tomislava on the city's green horseshoe was renovated in 2004
and is now a gorgeous pink 19th-century structure with angels and
other statuary. It is close to bus and tram connections into the
city center, which is a 10-minute walk with several hotels along the
way. A 24-hour garderoba is available for 10kn
per day ($1.75). A nice restaurant with a lovely terrace overlooks
the park. There are ATMs, exchange facilities, and an information
center (6-10am, 10:30am-6pm, and 6:30-10pm).
Catch the no. 5, 6, or 13 tram across the street in front of the
Kralja Tomislav monument to get to Trg
Bana Josip Jelicica. Bus
routes may change for construction projects, so usually a
handwritten sign with changes is taped up at the bus stop if that
happens.
By Car: Driving in Zagreb
Croatia can be nerve-racking. Most streets
are marked (if they are marked) by small ornamental signs on plaques
affixed to building walls at intersections so you can't anticipate
turns and often you can't see the sign until you're past the
intersection. Many buildings in Zagreb Croatia do not display street numbers
at all, or if they do, they can't be read unless you are on top of
them. To complicate matters, there is a tangled network of one-way
and pedestrian streets. Add to that perpetual street construction
and a parking dearth, and you have a driving nightmare inside the
city limits.
Back to top
Visitor Information:
The Zagreb Tourist Information Center at Trg
Bana Jelacica 11
is open 8:30am to 8pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 5pm Saturday; and
10am to 2pm Sunday and holidays. The information center provides
maps, directions, and brochures, and has a selection of books about
Zagreb and Croatia as well as some souvenirs. It sells the Zagreb
Card for 60kn ($10), which covers 72 hours of unlimited city
transportation (including the Sjleme cable car), a 50% discount at
most museums and galleries, and assorted discounts at participating
businesses, including theaters and concert halls. There is a second
Tourist Information Center at Trg Nikole Subica Zrinskog 14 .
There is also a Zagreb Croatia County Tourist Association at Preradoviceva
42 www.tzzz.hr . It is
invaluable for information about excursions from Zagreb to such
places as Samobor and the Zumberak region. Hours are 8am to 4pm
Monday to Friday.
Numerous travel agencies in town can book flights, packages, and
hotels, but anyone flying out of Zagreb Croatia will eventually talk to
Croatia Airlines, whose main office is at Trg Nikole Subica Zrinskog
17 (tel. 01/481-96-33). It is open 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday and
8am to 3pm Saturday.
Tours to sites and cities in Zagreb Croatia and all over Croatia can be
arranged through various travel agencies. Atlas Travel (tel.
01/481-39-33) at Zrinjevac 17 is Croatia's largest agency and has a
huge menu of tours and travel packages. It is also the country's
American Express agent. Generalturist at Praska 5 (tel.
01/480-55-55; www.generalturist.com) books flights, excursions,
cruises, and other trips.
City
Layout:
The city of Zagreb Croatia is nestled between Mount Medvednica and the Sava
River. It is a sprawling city, but almost every attraction of note
is within a mile and a half of
Trg Bana Jelacica, the city's main
square commonly known as Trg Jelacica. The area north of the Trg
Jelacica includes Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and its Gradec and Kaptol
neighborhoods, which are perhaps Zagreb's most picturesque areas.
Donji Grad (Lower Town) south of Trg Jelacica includes Zagreb's
famous Green Horseshoe and runs south to the main train station. You
can walk to most points of interest from Trg Jelacica, or hop on the
public tram system for 6.50kn ($1.15) per ride. After that, only a
smattering of sights is worth seeking out. Mount Medvednica Nature
Park and its Sjleme Peak in the hills north of town can be accessed
from the square by taking tram no. 14 to the end of the line and
then tram no. 15 to its terminus. From there you can get a cable car
to Sjleme's top. Mirogoj Cemetery is also north of the center and
can be reached via the no. 106 bus from the cathedral. Novi Grad
(New City) is an area of bland apartment towers and industry south
of the Sava; except for Jarun Lake just north of the river and the
airport, there isn't much to see here. Maksimir Park is an elegant
wooded zone east of the center. It can be reached via tram no. 4, 7,
11, and 12.
The
Neighborhoods in Brief:
Zagreb Croatia is easy to navigate via public
transportation if you have a good map and know a few key Croatian
terms so you can decipher directional signs on the trams and buses,
but you can walk to almost everything of note, too. Most of Zagreb
Croatia
interesting attractions are in the city center, which has three "neighborhoods,"
each with a distinct character and all connected by the city's main
square, Trg Jelicica. Gornji Grad (Upper City), the area north of
the square, is Zagreb's heart. It is divided along historical lines
into Kaptol and Gradec, territory that was halved by a stream that
is now Tkalciceva Street, home to the core of Zagreb Croatia cafe society
and increasingly to chic designer shops and artists' ateliers.
Kaptol is both a neighborhood
and a street in modern Zagreb Croatia. In medieval times, Kaptol the town
was dominated by the clergy while neighboring Gradec was a lay
settlement. Today, Zagreb Croatia neo-Gothic cathedral and many church
buildings are still situated in Kaptol. North of the cathedral,
Kaptol is quickly becoming a trendy enclave where well-heeled young
professionals shop, drink, dine, and mingle. Parts of Kaptol have
been converted to a pedestrian mall, though motor scooters rarely
pay attention to that traffic law. Opatovina Street runs parallel to
Kaptol north from the left of the Dolac market; its most interesting
feature is the statue of Croatian comedian and social commentator
Petrica Kerempuh at the bottom of the street.
Gradec, on the other hand, is a hilly residential area dotted
with stately mansions and leafy squares as well as some of the
city's most interesting galleries and museums. There is a tennis
center in the northern section of the neighborhood plus several
embassies and consulates and a few upscale restaurants. Gradec is a
good place to see ornate homes built by Zagreb's 19th-century
aristocrats as well as the city's only surviving city gate.
Trg Bana Jelacica is Zagreb Croatia fulcrum: It seems that
everything begins and ends in this plaza dominated by a statue of
Ban Josip Jelacic seated on a proud horse with its tail in the air.
Ban Jelacic was a 19th-century governor of Croatia who was much
beloved by the people for his bravery. His statue is a focal point
of the square and the space "under the tail" of the monument is a
popular rendezvous spot for the Zagrebacka. The square is a
wonderful place to start exploring the city because many tram routes
crisscross here, and it is easy to walk to any of the sites in
Kaptol or Gradec, to the Dolac market, or up Tkalciceva Street.
Donji Grad (Lower Town) is south of Gradec; to the casual
observer, it seems like a solid block of buildings broken up by a
few green spaces. Donji Grad begins at Trg Jelacic and includes
Ilica Street, where designer shops are increasing in number every
day; it ends at the main train station to the south. Draskoviceva is
Donji Grad's eastern border, and Republika Austria the western
border. In the middle of this section of the city, a U-shaped series
of adjacent parks runs roughly from Trg Bana Jelacica south to the
main train station, from there to the western end of the Botanical
Gardens, then north to the end of Trg Marsala Tita. Known as the
"Green Horseshoe" or Lenuci's Horseshoe, the public green spaces are
edged with galleries, museums, and schools.
Where to Stay:
Zagreb Croatia lack of
tourism savoir-faire is a boon for those hoping to unearth the
undiscovered. But when it comes to hotels, this doesn't necessarily
translate into bargains. An adequate option starting at $72 a night,
at 5.75 kuna to the dollar, is the tidy, comfortable 22-room
Hotel Ilica, conveniently situated
at Ilica 102, (385-1) 377-7622.
But most hotels in
Zagreb Croatia center were built for a bourgeois set that started visiting
at the end of the 19th century. The
Grand Regent Esplanade was recently
reopened after a restoration of its Carrara marble and Art Deco
interior. Situated next to the train station - itself a renovated
neo-classical gem - at Mihanoviceva 1, the Esplanade was built in
1925 as a posh stop along the Orient Express. The 209 lavish and "wireless"
rooms range from $285 to $1,980. Information: (385-1) 456-6666.
Built in 1891 in
the Secessionist style, the
Palace Hotel, Strossmayerov trg 10,
is the city's oldest hotel. About half of the 123 rooms, which cost
from $160 to $415, have been renovated, while the others retain the
ornate Art Nouveau look. The Palace's plush cafe provides a vantage
point from which to watch fashionable Croats gathering in
Strossmayer Square. Information: (385-1) 481-4611.
The
Hotel Dubrovnik, Gajeva 1, with its
glass facade, was opened in 1929. Many of the 266 rooms - all
sleekly furnished and equipped with satellite TV - overlook Jelacic
(pronounced YEH-lah-chich) Square. Rates range from $140 to $280.
No deposit is required and you will
receive an instant confirmation directly from the hotel. Here is the
list of Croatia hostels.
Where to Eat
Most of Zagreb Croatia
restaurants offer a combination of the Eastern European,
grilled-meat leitmotif and Mediterranean fare. For instance,
Baltazar, Nova Ves 4, (385-1) 466-6999, has an upscale-casual
ambience. Baltazar's veal medallions or Gaspar's pick-your-own fish
pair nicely with dingac (red) or grasevina (white) wines. Try the
medovaca, a honey brandy, and enjoy the fireplace in the winter or
terrace in summer. A meal for two, with wine, runs about $80.
Kerempuh, at Kaptol
3, (385-1) 481-9000, provides a front-row view of the frenetic Dolac
farmer's market and a traditional menu that changes with each day's
purchases. The sarma (cooked cabbage stuffed with mincemeat) is
wonderful. A meal for two, with drinks, is around $30.
It's a good sign
when local residents stare at you as if happily surprised that an
outsider discovered their spot. Vallis Aurea, Tomiceva 4, (385-1)
483-1305 - under the funicular connecting Upper and Lower Town - is
that kind of place. The smoked pork ribs on Monday or trout on
Wednesday are can't-misses. Lunch or dinner with a liter of house
wine is $25.
How to Get There
Compare air fare from
New York to Zagreb (round trip)
using Lowfares.com
to find the best air fare deal and to save money.
Prices start around
$900 from New York, but there are no direct flights. An option is to
fly to major cities in Europe and connect with
Croatia Airlines, or
Lufthansa. Another is to take a
train
from a more popular airport. Zagreb is on the Venice (seven hours)
and Vienna (6.5 hours) lines.
Watch
this short video presentation about Zagreb Croatia:
Zagreb Croatia (pronounced: [za:greb]) is the
largest and capital city of Croatia. Zagreb is the cultural,
scientific, economic, political and administrative center of the
Republic of Croatia with the houses of Parliament, President and
Government of the country. The city's population in 2001 was 779,145
[1]. (1 088 841 in the metro area).[2]. It is situated between the
southern slopes of the Medvednica mountains and the northern bank of
the Sava river at an elevation of 120m above sea level, located at
45°48′N 15°58′E.
Its favourable geographic position in the southwestern part of the
Pannonian Basin, which extends to the Alpine, Dinaric, Adriatic and
Pannonic regions, provides an excellent connection for traffic
between Central Europe and the Adriatic Sea.
The transport connections, concentration of industry, scientific and
research institutions and industrial tradition underlie its leading
economic position in Croatia. Zagreb Croatia is the seat of the central
government, administrative bodies and almost all government
ministries.
By Bus: Croatia Airlines runs
frequent shuttle buses between the airport and Zagreb's main bus
station (Autobusni Kolodvor) for
25kn ($4.50).
The bus station is a bright, efficient hub with restaurants, shops,
a post office, and local connections to the city center. A 24-hour
garderoba (luggage storage area) charges 1.20kn (20¢) per hour or $4
per day. ATMs are located near the ticket office as well as an
exchange that is open from 6am to 10pm daily. Frequent bus
connections link Zagreb Croatia and all of Croatia's main cities, which in
turn hook up with local lines that run to virtually every village in
the country. There are also international connections from Zagreb to
an increasing number of European nations.
Interactive map of the cityInteractive map
of city of Zagreb Croatia represents most complex Flash project on croation
web. It contains list of all streetsand institutes in Zagreb with
capability of locating them. Public transportation network. Ideal
for tourists who arefor the first time in Zagreb. It offers
possibilities for using map according to different needs to
companies, associations or individuals.
Getting There
By Plane: There are no direct flights to Croatia from the U.S.,
Canada, or Australia, but Croatia Air, the national airline company,
connects Zagreb with several major European hubs as well as with
cities in Croatia. Pleso International Airport (tel. +385
01/626-5222) is located about 10 miles (16km) south of the city
center, and Zagreb is the entry point for most visitors to Croatia.
Cheap flights to Zagreb, Croatia
Zagreb Croatia Air's shuttle bus runs every
30 minutes from 5:30am to 7:30pm from the airport to and from
Zagreb's main bus station for
25kn ($4);
and the ride takes half an hour (tel. +385 (0) 1 615 79 92). Taxi
fares to the city center run between 150kn and 250kn ($26-$45).
Note: Croatia Air's luggage weight limits may differ from those of
international carriers, so if you are not checking your luggage
directly through to Zagreb from the U.S., you should check with
Croatia Air for information on this policy, which is subject to
seasonal changes.
When returning to the U.S., be
aware that Croatia Air does not allow any battery-operated devices
in checked luggage, so be sure to remove your alarm clock before
checking in.
By
Train: The Zagreb Croatia train station (Glavni Kolodvor) facing Trg
Kralja Tomislava on the city's green horseshoe was renovated in 2004
and is now a gorgeous pink 19th-century structure with angels and
other statuary. It is close to bus and tram connections into the
city center, which is a 10-minute walk with several hotels along the
way. A 24-hour garderoba is available for 10kn
per day ($1.75). A nice restaurant with a lovely terrace overlooks
the park. There are ATMs, exchange facilities, and an information
center (6-10am, 10:30am-6pm, and 6:30-10pm).
Catch the no. 5, 6, or 13 tram across the street in front of the
Kralja Tomislav monument to get to Trg
Bana Josip Jelicica. Bus
routes may change for construction projects, so usually a
handwritten sign with changes is taped up at the bus stop if that
happens.
By Car: Driving in Zagreb
Croatia can be nerve-racking. Most streets
are marked (if they are marked) by small ornamental signs on plaques
affixed to building walls at intersections so you can't anticipate
turns and often you can't see the sign until you're past the
intersection. Many buildings in Zagreb Croatia do not display street numbers
at all, or if they do, they can't be read unless you are on top of
them. To complicate matters, there is a tangled network of one-way
and pedestrian streets. Add to that perpetual street construction
and a parking dearth, and you have a driving nightmare inside the
city limits.
Back to top
Visitor Information:
The Zagreb Tourist Information Center at Trg
Bana Jelacica 11
is open 8:30am to 8pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 5pm Saturday; and
10am to 2pm Sunday and holidays. The information center provides
maps, directions, and brochures, and has a selection of books about
Zagreb and Croatia as well as some souvenirs. It sells the Zagreb
Card for 60kn ($10), which covers 72 hours of unlimited city
transportation (including the Sjleme cable car), a 50% discount at
most museums and galleries, and assorted discounts at participating
businesses, including theaters and concert halls. There is a second
Tourist Information Center at Trg Nikole Subica Zrinskog 14 .
There is also a Zagreb Croatia County Tourist Association at Preradoviceva
42 www.tzzz.hr . It is
invaluable for information about excursions from Zagreb to such
places as Samobor and the Zumberak region. Hours are 8am to 4pm
Monday to Friday.
Numerous travel agencies in town can book flights, packages, and
hotels, but anyone flying out of Zagreb Croatia will eventually talk to
Croatia Airlines, whose main office is at Trg Nikole Subica Zrinskog
17 (tel. 01/481-96-33). It is open 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday and
8am to 3pm Saturday.
Tours to sites and cities in Zagreb Croatia and all over Croatia can be
arranged through various travel agencies. Atlas Travel (tel.
01/481-39-33) at Zrinjevac 17 is Croatia's largest agency and has a
huge menu of tours and travel packages. It is also the country's
American Express agent. Generalturist at Praska 5 (tel.
01/480-55-55; www.generalturist.com) books flights, excursions,
cruises, and other trips.
City
Layout:
The city of Zagreb Croatia is nestled between Mount Medvednica and the Sava
River. It is a sprawling city, but almost every attraction of note
is within a mile and a half of
Trg Bana Jelacica, the city's main
square commonly known as Trg Jelacica. The area north of the Trg
Jelacica includes Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and its Gradec and Kaptol
neighborhoods, which are perhaps Zagreb's most picturesque areas.
Donji Grad (Lower Town) south of Trg Jelacica includes Zagreb's
famous Green Horseshoe and runs south to the main train station. You
can walk to most points of interest from Trg Jelacica, or hop on the
public tram system for 6.50kn ($1.15) per ride. After that, only a
smattering of sights is worth seeking out. Mount Medvednica Nature
Park and its Sjleme Peak in the hills north of town can be accessed
from the square by taking tram no. 14 to the end of the line and
then tram no. 15 to its terminus. From there you can get a cable car
to Sjleme's top. Mirogoj Cemetery is also north of the center and
can be reached via the no. 106 bus from the cathedral. Novi Grad
(New City) is an area of bland apartment towers and industry south
of the Sava; except for Jarun Lake just north of the river and the
airport, there isn't much to see here. Maksimir Park is an elegant
wooded zone east of the center. It can be reached via tram no. 4, 7,
11, and 12.
The
Neighborhoods in Brief:
Zagreb Croatia is easy to navigate via public
transportation if you have a good map and know a few key Croatian
terms so you can decipher directional signs on the trams and buses,
but you can walk to almost everything of note, too. Most of Zagreb
Croatia
interesting attractions are in the city center, which has three "neighborhoods,"
each with a distinct character and all connected by the city's main
square, Trg Jelicica. Gornji Grad (Upper City), the area north of
the square, is Zagreb's heart. It is divided along historical lines
into Kaptol and Gradec, territory that was halved by a stream that
is now Tkalciceva Street, home to the core of Zagreb Croatia cafe society
and increasingly to chic designer shops and artists' ateliers.
Kaptol is both a neighborhood
and a street in modern Zagreb Croatia. In medieval times, Kaptol the town
was dominated by the clergy while neighboring Gradec was a lay
settlement. Today, Zagreb Croatia neo-Gothic cathedral and many church
buildings are still situated in Kaptol. North of the cathedral,
Kaptol is quickly becoming a trendy enclave where well-heeled young
professionals shop, drink, dine, and mingle. Parts of Kaptol have
been converted to a pedestrian mall, though motor scooters rarely
pay attention to that traffic law. Opatovina Street runs parallel to
Kaptol north from the left of the Dolac market; its most interesting
feature is the statue of Croatian comedian and social commentator
Petrica Kerempuh at the bottom of the street.
Gradec, on the other hand, is a hilly residential area dotted
with stately mansions and leafy squares as well as some of the
city's most interesting galleries and museums. There is a tennis
center in the northern section of the neighborhood plus several
embassies and consulates and a few upscale restaurants. Gradec is a
good place to see ornate homes built by Zagreb's 19th-century
aristocrats as well as the city's only surviving city gate.
Trg Bana Jelacica is Zagreb Croatia fulcrum: It seems that
everything begins and ends in this plaza dominated by a statue of
Ban Josip Jelacic seated on a proud horse with its tail in the air.
Ban Jelacic was a 19th-century governor of Croatia who was much
beloved by the people for his bravery. His statue is a focal point
of the square and the space "under the tail" of the monument is a
popular rendezvous spot for the Zagrebacka. The square is a
wonderful place to start exploring the city because many tram routes
crisscross here, and it is easy to walk to any of the sites in
Kaptol or Gradec, to the Dolac market, or up Tkalciceva Street.
Donji Grad (Lower Town) is south of Gradec; to the casual
observer, it seems like a solid block of buildings broken up by a
few green spaces. Donji Grad begins at Trg Jelacic and includes
Ilica Street, where designer shops are increasing in number every
day; it ends at the main train station to the south. Draskoviceva is
Donji Grad's eastern border, and Republika Austria the western
border. In the middle of this section of the city, a U-shaped series
of adjacent parks runs roughly from Trg Bana Jelacica south to the
main train station, from there to the western end of the Botanical
Gardens, then north to the end of Trg Marsala Tita. Known as the
"Green Horseshoe" or Lenuci's Horseshoe, the public green spaces are
edged with galleries, museums, and schools.
Where to Stay:
Zagreb Croatia lack of
tourism savoir-faire is a boon for those hoping to unearth the
undiscovered. But when it comes to hotels, this doesn't necessarily
translate into bargains. An adequate option starting at $72 a night,
at 5.75 kuna to the dollar, is the tidy, comfortable 22-room
Hotel Ilica, conveniently situated
at Ilica 102, (385-1) 377-7622.
But most hotels in
Zagreb Croatia center were built for a bourgeois set that started visiting
at the end of the 19th century. The
Grand Regent Esplanade was recently
reopened after a restoration of its Carrara marble and Art Deco
interior. Situated next to the train station - itself a renovated
neo-classical gem - at Mihanoviceva 1, the Esplanade was built in
1925 as a posh stop along the Orient Express. The 209 lavish and "wireless"
rooms range from $285 to $1,980. Information: (385-1) 456-6666.
Built in 1891 in
the Secessionist style, the
Palace Hotel, Strossmayerov trg 10,
is the city's oldest hotel. About half of the 123 rooms, which cost
from $160 to $415, have been renovated, while the others retain the
ornate Art Nouveau look. The Palace's plush cafe provides a vantage
point from which to watch fashionable Croats gathering in
Strossmayer Square. Information: (385-1) 481-4611.
The
Hotel Dubrovnik, Gajeva 1, with its
glass facade, was opened in 1929. Many of the 266 rooms - all
sleekly furnished and equipped with satellite TV - overlook Jelacic
(pronounced YEH-lah-chich) Square. Rates range from $140 to $280.
No deposit is required and you will
receive an instant confirmation directly from the hotel. Here is the
list of Croatia hostels.
Where to Eat
Most of Zagreb Croatia
restaurants offer a combination of the Eastern European,
grilled-meat leitmotif and Mediterranean fare. For instance,
Baltazar, Nova Ves 4, (385-1) 466-6999, has an upscale-casual
ambience. Baltazar's veal medallions or Gaspar's pick-your-own fish
pair nicely with dingac (red) or grasevina (white) wines. Try the
medovaca, a honey brandy, and enjoy the fireplace in the winter or
terrace in summer. A meal for two, with wine, runs about $80.
Kerempuh, at Kaptol
3, (385-1) 481-9000, provides a front-row view of the frenetic Dolac
farmer's market and a traditional menu that changes with each day's
purchases. The sarma (cooked cabbage stuffed with mincemeat) is
wonderful. A meal for two, with drinks, is around $30.
It's a good sign
when local residents stare at you as if happily surprised that an
outsider discovered their spot. Vallis Aurea, Tomiceva 4, (385-1)
483-1305 - under the funicular connecting Upper and Lower Town - is
that kind of place. The smoked pork ribs on Monday or trout on
Wednesday are can't-misses. Lunch or dinner with a liter of house
wine is $25.
How to Get There
Compare air fare from
New York to Zagreb (round trip)
using Lowfares.com
to find the best air fare deal and to save money.
Prices start around
$900 from New York, but there are no direct flights. An option is to
fly to major cities in Europe and connect with
Croatia Airlines, or
Lufthansa. Another is to take a
train
from a more popular airport. Zagreb is on the Venice (seven hours)
and Vienna (6.5 hours) lines.
The
Neighborhoods in Brief: