Car Hire Zagreb - Mini guide to Zagreb

The capital of Croatia, and the former cultural capital of Yugoslavia is a cosmopolitan metropolis that embodies history, art and modern culture. The city is perpetually alive with busy cafes, raucous clubs and its many festivals.

In the heart of the city lies Jalacic Square, which is always hectic and bustling with crowds. From here you can stroll across to the cathedral and take a look at the central market. Head north to the upper town and you'll find the Stone Gate, which has a shrine to the Virgin Mary.

Just around the corner from the cathedral is St Mark’s Church, which has a charismatic interior designed by Croatia's most prominent sculptor, Ivan Mestrovic. The church is also the home of many other works of the beloved artist. If you don't feel like sightseeing, the upper town has some quiet, leafy parks to stroll around with the occasional soothing view.

The charm of the city is its cosiness, and a walking tour is the best way to discover the legacy of the town’s heydey under Habsburg rule. Many of the streets favour pedestrians, but watch out for trams. Although the city doesn’t boast too many grand sites, it has an interesting Balkan character with a few large open parade grounds, such as the one near the station, befitting its communist legacy.

There are also a few sobering reminders of the early nineties civil war of succession, such as the footwall built around the American barracks, with each brick commemorating a dead citizen.

Zagreb has a plethora of cafes and bars in the pedestrian area around Gajeva and Bogoviceva – particularly along Tkalciceva, just north of Trg bana Jelacica. The National Theatre, Trg marsala Tita 15, offers drama, ballet, opera and orchestral music. For the partygoers, there is an abundance of noisy dance clubs scattered around Zagreb.

Take a day trip out of town and enjoy the picturesque countryside at Hrvatsko Zagorje, which lies at the north end of Zagreb. This hilly area is a haven of historic villages, farms, vineyards and pleasant spas. The castles of Veliki, Trakoscan and Beranac are a must see and afford fantastic views.

Zagreb Airport is situated 10kms southeast of the city; Croatia Airlines runs a shuttle service into the city. The central train station is on Tomislavov Trg, at the southern end of the city, and the bus station has trams running to the main square. There are also regualar bus departures to Slovenia and onwards to Northern Italy and Austria.