Zagreb was the antithesis of my Croatian daydreams. As I imagined traveling around this Adriatic country, I envisioned myself falling in love with sun soaked Dalmatian villages offset by the dazzling blue sea. The Croatian capital has none of this – no coastline, no vantages of the sea, and no role in beloved fantasy TV shows. This lack of quintessential charm was exactly why I was smitten.

After traversing Croatia for a week, I had grown disenchanted by destinations filled with tchotchke stands and pizza menus in English. I wanted to experience a real city, a place that thrived when tourists weren’t around. Zagreb checked that box. Even though you can’t soak up sun on the beach, Zagreb is the perfect place to soak up vibrant culture and beautiful architecture.

As fate would have it, Zagreb was the city I spent the least amount of time in. I’m not going to come up with a travel guide, because let’s be honest, I was there for less than 24 hours. However, the few things I managed to squeeze in left a lasting impression.

The Run Down:

Time Spent in Zagreb: 1 Day

For the Traveller Who Likes: Hip cities with a grungy side.

Architecture

Walking around Zagreb is my #1 recommendation. Seriously. The architecture is a feast for the eyes. With a unique mix of Art Nouveau, Austro-Hungarian, and socialist structures, I can’t compare it to any other place I’ve been to. Stroll by museums, cafes, churches and make sure to take the short funicular ride to the Upper Old Town.

Cogito Coffee

Checking out the local coffee scene is a must-do wherever we travel. Luckily, Cogito Coffee satiated my need for my favorite caffeinated beverage.

A cornerstone of Croatian third wave coffee, Cogito is dedicated to serving quality beans. Their charming cafe was the perfect spot to get a pick-me-up after our flight. The bottled cold brew was smooth and refreshing. I liked it so much that I bought extras for an early morning bus ride the next day.

Medvedgrad Brewery

My hipster senses were tingling as I walked by a brightly painted wall concealing a massive courtyard. Could it be a local brewery? Why yes – it happened to be Medvedgrad Brewery, a Zagreb staple since 1994!

Needing fuel and libations, we decided to stay for dinner and drinks. My beer of choice was the DVA Klasa Weizenbier, a basic Hefeweizen. Critics on Ratebeer.com don’t seem too impressed by it, but I thought it was good. If Hefes aren’t your thing, don’t worry – the beer menu was well-rounded and offered a variety of styles.

Let’s Talk About Food
What did I eat at Medvedgrad Brewery? Well, I’m not 100% sure. Based on a rough translation from Google, I ordered a variation of Trganci (“torn noodles”). This dish was composed of (what I imagine were) grandma’s homemade noodles topped with sausage and sour cream. It was not the most nutritious choice, but it tasted so, so good.

 

This just skims the surface of the number of things to experience in Zagreb. Two spots I would have loved to see are St. Marks Church, and Atelier Mestrovic, a sculpture museum. I 100% recommend traveling to Zagreb if you’re in Croatia. It may not have the beach life, but you’ll find a more authentic Croatian way of living.