Relaxing & parks – All our local tips

All jazz lovers coming by train won’t see much of Zagreb if they enter Bacchus. Situated less than 100m from the central train station, this bar offers food and drink for both body and soul, serving as a perfect welcome, farewell or just a quick resting place for an inquisitive wanderer.

A bar with history, a former legendary notorious hot spot and gay meeting point, reopened its doors in 2008. with a new concept, slowly regaining it’s undeservedly lost cult status.  The first thing that one notices upon entering is the details.

Everything here is about details. Every time you look around you will notice something new, from numerous antique writing machines, gramophones, radios, television sets, car models and wardrobes to a trapped baby doll, yellow rubber duck and a shark gnawing on a disco ball, to name just a few. The counter itself is made of an old bookshelf filled with books, and you get the check in one of them.

Jazz is played Wed-Sat, and the programme can be checked on their web page. If the weather is nice, you can sit in the garden up front, which reminds of a grandma’s back garden, extremely pleasant and relaxing.

The bar is rather small, with just 8 or so tables, which adds to the appeal, but should be taken into account when coming in the evening.

The wine list is rather short but carefully selected, featuring wines from Argentina, Chile, California, Republic of South Africa as well as Croatian pride and glory.  Besides wines, they offer a great list of cocktails and rakija made with herbs, berries, sour cherries, honey, pear, myrtle, and even nettle.

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Bacchus Jazz Bar | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Relaxing | Wine bottle from Kn 110
Trg Kralja Tomislava 16 | Lower town | +38514922218
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Džamija is a great place to go to if you simply want to stop and take a five minute break, read a book, enjoy the sun or talk to a friend. If art is something that interests you, you can always check some exhibition, because the building itself is a museum.

Džamija is a Croatian word for mosque. Even though this building really was a mosque from 1944 for a short period of time (before that it was a Association of Artists Ivan Meštrović, and now is a Croatian Association of Artists) local people still call it džamija. But the word has hardly any religious connotations.

The round shape of the building, its exterior and the fact that the place is surrounded by the roads, streets and traffic jam has always made me think of džamija as a getaway island from the city noise, situated in the city center. Even though you can still hear the noise while sitting there, it is only a background noise that you don’t pay much attention to.

When I was in high school this was my number one spot to go to when skipping classes. Nowadays is my number one spot when I just want to sit and relax.

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Džamija | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Trg žrtava fašizma | Lower town
24 hours daily

King Tomislav square is the first thing you’ll see in Zagreb if you come here by the train, because this square and king Tomislav’s statue are directly opposite of the main railway station.

This place is really nice, especially the park behind the statue. It has become sort of the first station to tourists that visit Zagreb. It is pretty big, full of flowers, benches and green grass. You’ll get an impression that the statue of Tomislav is calling you to take off your bags and have a little break after a long travel.

But tourists are not the only ones that love this place. During the day, local people also like to have mini breaks, so the benches are always full. The park is not empty even when the night falls because young people like to hang around there.

If sitting on the bench is not your style, at the northern side of a park, in Art Pavilion, there’s a coffee bar so you can sit there. That can also be a great way to start your “Zagreb experience”.

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King Tomislav square | Relaxing | Free
Trg kralja Tomislava | Lower town
24 hours daily

Kolding is one of the coffee bars that I always return to. It is in the very city centre, in the Berislavićeva street, but still, it is not a coffee bar that you go to just to be seen. You go there to enjoy yourself.

And the first thing you’ll enjoy when you come to Kolding is the interior decoration. A big photo of  the street of some town (unfortunately, I’m not sure what town it is) covers the entire wall and a couple of palm trees will make you feel really cosy and comfortable.

Then you’ll sit down and order your drink. Very soon you will start  to feel like you could just sit here, doing nothing, for hours. And that’s what is so great about Kolding: its easy going atmosphere is infectious and something you always want to repeat. Whether you come here just to get a coffee in the morning or a drink in the evening, you’ll return pretty soon; you simply can’t help it. I know I never can!

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Kolding | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Beer Kn 15.00
Berislaviceva 8 | Lower town | +38514872488
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 01:00, Sun 12:00 – 01:00

Peaceful and tranquil, this body of water has a magic appeal to human beings trapped in the city. Located in Novi Zagreb (New Zagreb), on the southern bank of Sava, this place used to be one of favourite bathing places in Zagreb in the 60-s and 70-s. During the 80-s and 90-s people kinda forgot about it and it turned into a swamp and a thicket, a small jungle in the city centre. Luckily, the whole place was rediscovered and refurbished in 2005 and has ever since become favourite location for pleasant festivals and relaxing events, or just spending an afternoon chilling and BBQ-ing.

For the sportsmen types, there’s a running/cycling track, a fishing pond and a beach volley court. When you get tired, you can sit in one of the two cafés and enjoy the view. If it’s hot, take a swim in the lake. And when the sun sets, its BBQ-time. In the grove around the lake, you can find wooden gazebos and nearby BBQs the use of which is free of charge, you just need to get there in time and claim your spot. You can even rent a grill (however only on Saturdays and Sundays, and they have to be returned by 19:00) for free, bring your own or ask someone to use theirs.

In the middle of the lake, there is a floating platform for bands and performers. Each year there is a FloraArt flower festival in May and a four-day Summer fireworks festival in June – when you get to listen to Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra in open air and later lie on the grass, watch fireworks and nibble on delicatessen from the nearby fair.

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Lake Bundek | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Beer Kn 15.00
Lake Bundek | Novi Zagreb
24 hours daily

Only a 15 minutes away from the city centre you will find the biggest park in Zagreb, a green oasis. Maksimir park is one of the favorite spots in Zagreb, not just to me, but to most of the local people. No matter what your age is, Maksimir will provide you an enjoyment, relaxation and peace that you’re looking for.

It is a perfect place for jogging and taking long walks and great for families who can take their kids to the Zagrebian zoo in the park. Students can study in peace at some bench. You can have a morning coffee in the coffee bar Vidikovac or get something to eat at two restaurants that are in the park, or listen to squirrels that run around the trees and can just stare at ducks and swans that swim in the Maksimir’s lakes. If you perhaps wish to join them, well swimming is forbidden, but you can rent a boat on one of the lakes instead.

Even though many people visit Maksimir every day, the most lively atmosphere is during the weekend when it can get pretty crowded, even for a park of this size. But if you’re looking for more peaceful moments, then go to Maksimir in the morning during workdays. You’ll discover a new level of peacefulness, guaranteed!

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Maksimir | Relaxing | Free
Maksimirska cesta | Maksimir
24 hours daily

Marko Marulić’s square is a part of so called Lenuzzi’s green horseshoe, a series of eight green squares which also include Zrinjevac, Strossmayer’s square, King Tomislav’s square, Ante Starčević’s square, Botanic garden, Brothers Mažuranić’s square and Marshal Tito’s square. Lenuzzi’s green horseshoe is the most valuable and indigenous urbanist project in Zagreb at the end of 19th century.

The square got its name by a Croatian Renaissance poet, one of the most important figures in Croatian literature. Marko Marulić is even called the father of Croatian literature.

The square itself and its surroundings are really enjoyable. The statue of Marko Marulić dominates the entire place and his impressive figure tells a lot about his importance. On the square you will also find the beautiful building of the former National and University Library. Today this is the building of Croatian State Archives.

Even if you don’t like to visit buildings during your travel, you should at least visit this square because it will give you a chance to get a more complete picture of Zagreb.

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Marko Marulić’s square | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Trg Marka Marulić’s | Lower town
24 hours daily

If you’re taking a walk around Upper town in Zagreb, there’s no chance you will miss this place. From outside, it looks like a simple passage, but you might want to stick around a while longer.

I’m talking about the Stone gate (Kamenita vrata in Croatian), the only remaining gate out of four that once connected Lower town to a part of Upper town known as Gradec. In 1242, the Croatian king Bela IV gave Gradec a status of a free royal city, which automatically made the Stone gate one of the most important passages in Zagreb. Yet, the historical aspect of this place isn’t as important as the spiritual one: today, the Stone gate serves as a chapel where people take a moment to light a candle and say their prayers. The feeling is quite special: in an instant you’re no longer in the urban rush; instead, you find yourself in a calm place lighted only by dozens of candles. The main point of the chapel is the painting of Mary with baby Jesus, which miraculously survived a fire in 1731, and is now placed behind a beautiful large iron grille.

Even if you’re not religious, I suggest you buy a candle from the old lady standing at the entrance. You might want to think of your loved ones while lighting it, you can make a wish, say a silent prayer, or just enjoy the atmosphere of the place and the simple act of placing your candle next to all those that are already burning.

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Stone gate | Art & culture, Relaxing | Candles from Kn 2.50
Kamenita, 10000 | Upper town
24 hours daily

When I first visited Zagreb with my mom years ago, she took me to a place whose mentioning would probably make most locals laugh. Yet to me it was fascinating- we didn’t have anything like that in my hometown. Not that there was a need for one, but still…

I’m talking about the funicular that’s a link between the Lower town and the Upper town. To be exact, it connects the Ilica street to the Strossmayer promenade. No matter how insignificant or useless it may seem- come on, people, walking is healthy!- its 66 metres of length make it the shortest funicular in the world. Now there’s a record to be proud of

The funicular was built in 1890, after the idea of a contractor who noticed that quite a few people use exactly that little street as their way from Ilica to the Upper town. It’s in operation even today, being something that both locals and tourists list among the things this city is known for.

Now, taking a (really) short funicular trip probably won’t be your most exciting experience in Zagreb, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to give it a try. It will cost you next to nothing and take 64 seconds of your time, and afterwards you can think of it as taking part in a little piece of Zagreb’s history.

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The funicular | Art & culture, Relaxing | Fee Kn 4.00
Tomićeva bb | Upper town
06:30 – 21:00 daily

Zrinjevac is one of the most beautiful parks in Zagreb, situated in the very center of town. It is a perfect spot for a short break after dealing with the city crowd on the near by main square or for a romantic early night walk.

On the south side of the park you’ll see statues of some very important people in Croatia’s history, science and culture. In the middle of the park there’s a music pavilion, and on the north side you’ll find a meteorological column.

Zrinjevac will make you feel nice and kind of poetic and romantic at any time of the year. In spring and summer you’ll enjoy the sun and lie down next to the flowers while in colder days of fall and winter you’ll sit on some bench with hot chestnuts warming you up.

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Zrinjevac park | Relaxing
Trg Nikole Zrinskog | Lower town
24 hours daily