Zagreb

Zagreb
Time:: GMT+1
Currency:: kn

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Overview

Central European in appearance and spirit, Zagreb bears the hallmark of centuries spent under Vienna and Budapest. The capital of Croatia, with just over a million inhabitants (a quarter of the nation), Zagreb is the country’s economic, industrial and administrative powerhouse.

Founded in the Middle Ages,Zagreb began life as two separate entities, Kaptol and Gradec, which today comprise the historic Gornji Grad (Upper Town). Centred around the city’s landmark cathedral, Kaptol was a religious centre, while Gradec was home to craftsmen and merchants. Outsiders collectively referred to the settlements as Zagreb (meaning ’behind the hill’), although they were not officially united as the City of Zagreb until 1850.

Boom time followed with the late 19th century characterised by the arrival of the railways and the construction of Donji Grad (Lower Town). Next came industrialisation and the influx of migrant labour. Croatia’s war of independence (1991-1995) saw Zagreb flounder as its industry collapsed and refugees flooded the city.

Today the difficult days of the early 1990s seem a world away. A strong national economy, coupled with investment in business and tourism, has restored the city to its former glory. For the visitor this translates as an ever-increasing choice of plush accommodation and a plethora of chic bars and restaurants, as well as the chance to ride on shiny new trams and to see some of Croatia’s most important cultural sights.

It is perhaps no surprise, then, that Zagreb is confidently leading Croatia towards full integration into the European Union, with accession predicted as early as 2009.

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Guide

Public Transport

Zagreb is served by an extensive network of buses and trams which are operated by Zagreb Municipal Transit System (ZET) (tel: 0800 200 060, in Croatia only; website: 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 from 0400 to 2345; at night, services are few and far between. Tickets, which are valid for 90 minutes and should be validated upon boarding, can be bought either from a kiosk or, at a slightly higher price, from the driver. A one-day ticket is also available, while the Zagrebcard pass (see Sightseeing) offers 24 or 72 hours of unlimited travel on city public transport. There is no metro in Zagreb.

Taxis

It is possible to order a Radio Taxi (tel: 970). Alternatively, there are taxi ranks in front of the train and bus stations, near the main square and in front of the larger hotels.

Car Hire

Budget (tel: (01) 455 4936 (city centre) or 626 5854 (airport); website: www.budget.hr); Dollar and Thrifty (tel: (01) 483 6466 (city centre) or 626 5333 (airport); website: www.subrosa.hr); Hertz (tel: (01) 484 6777 (city centre) or 456 2635 (airport); website: www.hertz.hr) and Sixt (tel: (01) 639 6020 (city centre) or 621 9900 (airport); website: www.e-sixt.com) all have offices in Zagreb.

Bicycle Hire

Very few people choose to ride bikes in the centre of Zagreb, as the nicest part, Gornji Grad, is very steep and cobbled. Bicycle hire is available from the Eurobike Center, Martićeva 11 (tel: (01) 461 9778).

Introduction

Being the capital, Zagreb boasts a large share of Croatia’s cultural institutions, including the Koncertna Dvorana Vatroslav Lisinski (Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall ), Trg Stjepana Radic 4 (tel: (01) 612 1617; website: www.lisinski.hr), which is to the home to the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, and stages classical music performances as well as occasional jazz concerts; and the Hrvatski Glazbeni Zavod (Croatian Music Institute), Gundulićeva 6 (tel: (01) 483 0822), which hosts chamber music recitals. The Hrvatsko Narodno Kazaliste (HNK, Croatian National Theatre), Trg Maršala Tita 15 (tel: (01) 488 8415; website: www.hnk.hr), produces and stages drama, opera and ballet.

Zagreb has a number of cinemas and films are shown in their original version with subtitles. The best place for arts film is Kinoteka, Kordunska 1 (tel: (01) 377 1753). Other centrally located cinemas include Central, Petrinjska 4 (tel: (01) 481 0536) and Zagreb, Trg Petra Predradovića 4 (tel: (01) 483 0707). Zagreb’s biggest cinema is Broadway Tkalča in the Centar Kaptolcomplex, Nova Ves 11, in Gornji Grad (tel: (01) 466 7686; website: www.broadway-kina.com).