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Discover Zagreb and Croatia
Zagreb, the capital of the Republic of Croatia, is the city with a rich collection of cultural heritage, deeply rooted in the European, particularly Central European, culture. Proof of that lies in the historic core of the city, the Upper Town and Kaptol, a unique ancient town core by European standards, coinciding with the more recently built parts of Zagreb, and the modern buildings. Zagreb has a thousand faces and each one is - professional yet relaxed, modern, with a dash of a thousand years of longevity, cultural and economic, urban and adventurous . in short, the city you just have to get to know better.
One of the biggest Zagreb advantages is that the most cultural and historical attractions, theatres, museums and galleries are centrally located, all within 15 minutes walking distance from each other.
In addition, Zagreb and its surroundings with its exceptionally preserved nature lure numerous visitors to explore the mysteries of the region: the castles, romantic legends, vineyards, spas, local gastronomic delicacies and traditionally hospitable hosts.
 The Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with its two neo-gothic towers dominate the city. Its present form dates from 19th century, although the cathedral dates from the 12th century. The cathedral treasury houses invaluable works of art.
 Funicular
Attractive cable car links the Upper and Lower Town. It has only one stop and gives to the visitor a very special view of the city.
Lotrščak Tower
The best preserved object of the earlier Old Town fortifications built in 13th ct. A shot from a cannon from the Tower marks noontime every day.
St. Mark's Square
Central square of the Upper Town, named after St. Mark's Church with its colorful roof
representing the historical coats of arms of Zagreb and Croatia. Croatian Parliament and the Government of the Republic of Croatia are located on the square.
 The Stone Gate
The only completely preserved mediaeval gate of the Upper Town fortifications. Nowadays a chappel where you can light a candle under the baroque altar in thanks to the Mother of God of the Stone Gate.
St. Catherine Church
The most beautiful baroque church in Croatia, situated on the Catherine Square, built by the Jesuits in 17th ct.
On the Slopes of Medvednica Mountain
Zagreb leans along the Medvednica Mountain which is covered with forest. You can climb to its highest mountain peak called Sljeme (1035 m) starting at the pedestrian walkway that begins in the city's central square. The western mountainside of Medvednica that covers 228 km was declared a Nature Park in 1981. Within Medvednica you can find hotel accommodation, mountain huts, hiking trails and an alpine center which offers refreshments and board. Amongst its natural highlights is one of the largest caves in Croatia called the Veternica cave.
During winter, the Medvednica Mountain is a popular ski and sleigh resort where ski events are organized, whereas during the summer season it becomes an area of refreshment as temperatures fall to six degrees less than in the city. A walking stick, sleigh or skies are a must, and dreams and stories stay the same: it was here in Sljeme, that the most famous Croatian skier of all time and the Olympic winner Janica Kostelić along with her brother Ivica, winner of the World Championship in slalom in 2003, made their first ski steps to becoming world champions!
Did you know?
- That only in Zagreb the noon is announced to everybody by the cannon from the Lotršćak Tower.
- That every day at dusk the lamplighter in the streets of the Upper Town is lighting the streetlights one by one. He is not a historical character, but a guardian of tradition and the magician of light.
- That in Zagreb you can buy the original "Croata" tie. A neck tie was first worn by Croatian horsemen who fought on the European fronts in the 17th century up to the French Revolution, when the French adopted this fashion and gave it a name "Cravat" (meaning "Croat").
- That Zagreb is the home of a ball-point pen, used by almost everyone, almost everyday, almost everywhere. It was invented by Slavoljub Penkala over 80 years ago. "Penkala", as we like to call it, is a famous Zagreb souvenir.
www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr
Discover Croatia
 Varaždin
The most beautiful baroque town in the whole of Croatia - the town of Varaždin is situated only 40 minutes drive from Zagreb.The town is well known for its glorious baroque architecture, and is traditionally regarded as a town of music and flowers. Apart from the lively atmosphere in its cozy streets, the main attraction is the old city.
Opatija
This elegant tourist destination, lies at the centre of the Riviera with the longest tradition of tourism in Croatia. The very attractive geographic position, enabling its warm seas to be quickly reached from many cities in Central Europe, lush green scenery and a pleasant climate were some of the main reasons for its beginning at the end of the 19th century.
 Plitvice lakes
National Park under the protection of UNESCO for its natural beauty. A magical
world of lakes, waterfalls, moss, forests and sunlight, a string of 16 lakes that spill
into each other in foraming cascades and thundering waterfalls.
Over the millenniums, the waters of these lakes have dissolved the limestone rock
and carved out the valley in which they now lie. Through the sedimentation of calcium and magnesium carbonates and the work of special kinds of algae and moss, tufa or travertine has been deposited, and is still deposited to form the natural dams that separate the lakes.
 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a city with a unique political and cultural history (Dubrovnik Republic with Dubrovnik Statute from 1272), and world famous monumental heritage and beauty (inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List). Dubrovnik is one of the most attractive and most popular cities on the Mediterranean.
Money, Croatia
The official currency of the Republic of Croatia is the Kuna, which has 100 Lipa. Foreign currency may be exchanged in banks, exchange offices and post offices in accordance with the valid exchange rate.
All major credit cards (American Express, Diners, Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard) and Eurocheques (after being changed in banks) are accepted. Accessing money on ATMs is possible in all larger cities and the more important tourist areas; the ATMs of Zagrebacka banka accept Eurocard/Mastercard, and ATM of Euronet accept Diners, American Express and Visa.
1 Croatian kuna = 0.13658101 Euros
1 euro = 7.32 kuna
1 USD = 5.35 kuna
1 kuna = 0.19 USD
Souvenirs
 There is a wide range of products that can be taken as a souvenir or gift: there are clothes, pillows (vanjkuš), calendars, books, monographs and pictures, top quality wines and cakes. Souvenirs with "Zagreb touch" are: casting of Dora Krupićev, character from the popular novel by August Šenoa, The Goldsmith's Treasure; licitar, pleter, ceramics, castings of works by great Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović, plaster houses with Zagreb motives, dove, objects made of crystal glass, knitted articles, casting of the famous Baška Tablet, fruit brandies, ball-point pens, Samobor appetizer bermet and Samobor mustard, ties, books and monographs of Zagreb, wine ... all that and much more could be bought in numerous specialized or ordinary sho
Gastronomy
Croatian cuisine is the unique representative of the harmony of interesting and tasty, often seemingly incompatible contradictions. The richness and generosity at Zagreb tables, full of tasty dishes and supporting drinks are recorded in many cookbooks. The first cookbook dates from the 19th century, written by Marija Kumičić. She based her cookbook on the middle class models of the time, Katarina Prato and Sint-Hylaire but did not forget domestic, national dishes.
Zagreb cuisine is the combination of rich heritage reflecting the troubled history. Citizens of Zagreb were always attentive to what they ate. In the medieval Gradec there were already 90 craftsmen related to food. It is worth mentioning that Zagreb citizens like home-cooked dishes, generating numerous traditional gastronomy events with presentations and ratings in the town and its vicinity. Surveys show that citizens of Zagreb are great admirers of Mediterranean cuisine, probably due to undoubtedly better food selection, than Dalmatians. Modern Zagreb cuisine and diet habits of its citizens are at the Croatian top from the nutritionists point of view.
Paprenjaci
TRADITIONAL CAKES
The tradition of Zagreb coffee houses and cakeshops is long and rich, thus it is worth trying Zagreb strudels stuffed with cottage cheese, apples or cherries, then kremšnite and various cakes.
Paprenjak (spiced biscuits), depicted in August Šenoa's novels who was the descendent of one of the first Zagreb pattiseurs, has become a popular Zagreb souvenir. This goes for licitar as well, most frequently heart-shaped, that many find tasty especially accompanied with medica and gvirc, beverages sold at church feasts made of brewed honey. A nice tasty souvenir from Zagreb could be also bermet from Samobor and Samobor muštrada (mustard), Zagreb cake or yeast cakes stuffed with nuts, poppy, carrot, cottage cheese or jam.
Stuffed veal breast
MEAT DISHES
Zagreb has its own steak - Zagreb steak: its veal stuffed with cheese and ham and then put in breadcrumbs and fried as the Viennese steak. If an opportunity arise do not miss traditional Zagreb gablec (midmorning meal) - wine goulash or tripes, stewed season vegetables made of leek, sweet or sauerkraut with beans accompanied by minced meat or sausages, sarma or stuffed paprika - then beef soup or chicken soup with noodles, krpice sa zeljem (square pasta with roasted cabbage), blood sausages and bratwurst sausages with potatoes and sauerkraut, cooked smoked pork shank with sour cabbage, cooked hen or beef with horseradish sauce, and cooked ham with freshly grated horseradish...
Purica s mlincima
PURICA S MLINCIMA (TURKEY WITH KIND OF PASTA)
Purica s mlincima is an excellent combination of the wilderness of the New World, that gave us that poultry and Old World where various breads without yeast are baked for centuries. Zagreb is very fond of roasted poultry, especially turkey for special holidays. Though mlinci go well with roasted suckling pig as well, as they were once served, and turkey was served with potatoes as other poultry, stuffed with mixture of rolls and giblets, minced veal, mushrooms or cut vegetables, the combination of turkey and mlinci with various salads is irreplacable.
Stewed meat
KOTLOVINA (STEWED MEAT)
Kotlovina is indigenous specialty of Zagreb and northwest Croatia. Pork chops and sausages are fried in a very big metal dish and then are stewed in their own juice, wine and spices. Sometimes they are given to some smoked meat and more frequently some vegetables to give to special taste - onions, potatoes, tomatoes, paprika ... The most important thing in preparing kotlovina is that it should be done outdoors. It was only recently that it moved to the restaurant kitchens from the fairgrounds and roads in front of the inns where it was made and invited the guests.
PISANICE (BEEF FILLET STEAK)
At the times, there was no celebration without roasted beef fillet steak. Since it has been awarded, the Stubica fillet steak has become more popular. While beef is usually stuffed with root vegetables and bacon, that pork fillet, and more and more frequently according to nutritionist trends turkey breast, is stuffed with dried plums and soaked in plum brandy. That favourite modern specialty dates from the mobility tables in Zagorje castles.
Strukli
STRUKLI
Štrukli have become the most famous Croatian specialty in the last twenty years, due to presentation of Croatian cuisine and cooks in the leading world hotel chains. They are also called zagorski strukli, but they are popular throughout Croatia. Although thin pulled dough, undoubtedly taken from Turks during invasions towards Vienna, is stuffed with various stuffings (pumpkin, poppy seeds, apples ...), the favourites are stuffed with cottage cheese. They can be boiled or baked, added to soup or served as dessert, salty or sweet and they are mostly accepted as small dish, or warm starter, boiled and baked in cream.
Night Life
 During winter everything is indoor but in summer Zagreb shows its Mediterranean spirit and atmosphere. At night particular streets or parts of the town, full of cafes overcrowded with guests looking for fun and amusement. Those who like to challenge their luck could run some risk in the casinos within the notable Zagreb hotels or some other casino. Zagreb coffee houses and their more modern versions, cafes, undoubtedly give to town some additional charm. Socializing and lingering over a cup of coffee in a coffee house has really a long tradition in Zagreb. Many like to go to several newly arranged coffee houses at the Ban Jelačić Square, while younger generations prefer cafes. Guests preferring music could relax in some of the numerous Zagreb discos or clubs, of which some are extremely popular. There are also jazz or swing clubs with rich programme or some candle lit restaurant with rhythm of waltz, tango, rumba or samba.
Visa requirements
Citizens of some countries need an entry visa for the Republic of Croatia. Current visa regulations are given at the Web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. You can find out whether you need a visa to visit Croatia http://www.mfa.hr/MVP.asp?pcpid=1615&dmid=98#pocdrz (under Visa Requirement Overview, please select your country).
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