Zagreb is the capital and largest city of Croatia, a relaxed Central European city of about 770,000 people where Habsburg-era streets, a medieval hilltop Upper Town, and a lively cafe culture sit side by side. It is known for the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Dolac market, the Tkalčićeva street terraces, Mirogoj cemetery, and one of Europe's best-loved Advent festivals.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Samobor
A cake and cafe town with a central square, the ruined Stari Grad and the Samoborsko gorje hills.
Highlights: Kremšnita at a central cafe · Stari Grad castle ruins · Samoborska muštarda · Samoborsko gorje trails
Varaždin
Baroque old town with the Old Town fortress, cemetery gardens and the Špancirfest festival.
Highlights: Baroque centre · Stari Grad fortress and museum · Varaždin cemetery gardens · Špancirfest in late summer
Plitvice Lakes National Park
UNESCO-listed chain of 16 terraced lakes linked by waterfalls and boardwalks.
Highlights: Waterfalls and travertine barriers · Boardwalk routes of 2-8 hours · Boat and panoramic train · UNESCO World Heritage
Trakošćan Castle
A restored hilltop castle above a small lake with walking paths.
Highlights: Castle museum · Lake loop walk · Park and swan lake · Cafe and restaurants
Kumrovec Ethno Village
An open-air museum village and the birthplace of Josip Broz Tito.
Highlights: Traditional Zagorje houses · Craft workshops · Tito birthplace · Riverside walks
Karlovac and the Four Rivers
A star-shaped old town on four rivers with cafes, the local beer and riverside walks.
Highlights: Zvijezda fort-town · Riverside promenade · Beer heritage · Mrežnica canoeing nearby
Lonjsko Polje Nature Park
A vast floodplain wetland with storks, wooden villages and traditional rural architecture.
Highlights: Stork nesting at Čigoć · Wooden villages · Boat and horseback trips · Birdwatching
Krapina Neanderthal Museum
A modern museum about the Krapina Neanderthal site and a nearby hilltop.
Highlights: Neanderthal museum · Hušnjakovo site · Zagorje hills · Small town cafes
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organised day tours from Zagreb to Plitvice from about EUR 70-95 (USD 80-110)
- Private
- Private driver from about EUR 150-250 (USD 173-288) per day
- Public
- Buses from Autobusni kolodvor (Avenija Marina Držića 4) and HŽ trains from Glavni kolodvor; timetables at hzpp.hr and arriva.com.hr
- Rental
- Car rental from about EUR 35-60 (USD 40-69) per day
Multi-day tours from Zagreb
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from ZagrebWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Buy Plitvice tickets online before travelling
Book buses early in summer
Check HŽ and bus timetables on the day of travel
Allow a full day for Plitvice and Trakošćan
Carry cash for small museums