Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital and largest city of Croatia. It is in the north of the country near the Sava River and the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb is close to the border with Slovenia.

The history of Zagreb goes back to Roman times. The name "Zagreb" was first used in 1134. In 1242, Zagreb became a free royal city. Today, Zagreb is divided into 17 city districts.

Zagreb is important for Croatia. It is the center of government, economy, and culture. The city has many museums and sporting events. It is a major transport hub connecting Central Europe, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Europe. The economy includes high-tech industries and services. The city is known for its high quality of living.

Name

The name Zagreb is not fully known but has been used since the 12th century. It might come from an old Slavic word for "hill" because of the nearby Medvednica mountain. Another idea is that it means "riverbank," pointing to the nearby Sava River. The name became the official name for the city in 1852.

History

Main article: History of Zagreb

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Zagreb.

The oldest known settlement near present-day Zagreb is the Roman town of Andautonia, now Ščitarjevo. It existed between the 1st and the 5th centuries AD.

The name "Zagreb" was first recorded in 1094. At that time, the city had two parts: the smaller, eastern Kaptol, for clergy and the Zagreb Cathedral, and the larger, western Gradec, for craftsmen and merchants. In 1851, Josip Jelačić, the Ban of Croatia, joined these two areas. The main square, Ban Jelačić Square, is named after him.

During the time when Croatia was part of Yugoslavia from 1918 to 1991, Zagreb grew as an important city. After Croatia declared independence in 1991, Parliament of the Republic of Croatia made Zagreb the capital.

Geography

Climate

Zagreb has an oceanic climate, meaning its weather is influenced by both land and sea. The city has four seasons. Summers are warm and sometimes hot, with occasional thunderstorms. Winters are cold, and snow can fall, though this happens less often now. Spring and autumn have changing weather, with spring usually bringing more sunshine.

Cityscape

Zagreb's skyline has several tall high-rise buildings. Important old buildings include Neboder, built in 1958, and Cibona Tower from 1987. Newer tall buildings like Eurotower and Zagrepčanka have been built, changing how the city looks. Most of Zagreb’s tall buildings were built in the 1970s and 1980s, but new ones are still being built, especially outside the city center.

Surroundings

The area around Zagreb is full of history and natural beauty. Medvednica mountain, with its highest point Sljeme, has hiking trails and great views that reach to the Julian Alps in Slovenia. The region is also known for its villages where people still make traditional crafts and foods, such as gingerbread.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Zagreb

Zagreb is the biggest city in Croatia. In 2021, about 767,131 people lived there. The Zagreb metropolitan area, which includes Zagreb County, has a bit more than one million people. This area makes up about a quarter of all the people in Croatia. Most people in Zagreb are Croats, which is more than 93% of the population. Other groups include Serbs, Bosniaks, Albanians, Romani, and smaller numbers of Slovenes, Macedonians, Montenegrins, and others.

Since 1999, the city of Zagreb has been divided into 17 districts. Besides the main city, there are many other smaller areas inside the city, such as Sesvete and Lučko, along with some tiny villages. Altogether, there are 70 of these smaller areas, each with its own number of people.

Politics and government

See also: Politics of Croatia

Zagreb is the capital of the Republic of Croatia and its main political center. Key government buildings like the Croatian Parliament and Banski dvori, where the government works, are in Zagreb, especially around St. Mark's Square.

Zagreb has special status, so it handles both city and county matters. The Zagreb City Assembly and the Mayor of Zagreb guide the city. The current mayor is Tomislav Tomašević, from the We Can! party. The city is split into districts and local groups to help with community needs and projects.

Culture

Zagreb is a lively city that attracts visitors from all over Europe and the world. The city has many interesting sights, such as two statues of Saint George and an art piece called Nine Views. Zagreb is well-known for its beautiful Christmas market. You can find many restaurants with traditional Croatian food and food from other countries, as well as several big hotel chains.

Zagreb’s museums let you explore the city’s history and culture. The Archaeological Museum has very old objects. The Modern Gallery shows art by Croatian artists. The Croatian Natural History Museum has Neanderthal bones, and the Technical Museum has old machines and vehicles. The Museum of the City of Zagreb tells you about the city’s past, and the Mimara Museum has artworks from many places in the world. The Ethnographic Museum shows Croatian traditions, and the Museum of Contemporary Art has modern and international art.

Zagreb has many events all year round, like concerts and festivals such as the INmusic festival and the Zagreb Jazz Festival. The city has many theatres and concert halls, like the Croatian National Theater and the Vatroslav Lisinski concert hall. Every year, Zagreb holds the World Theatre Festival, the International Puppet Festival, and Animafest, a big festival for animated films.

The city has many parks and places to play sports. At Jarun Lake, you can swim, relax in the sun, and enjoy water sports. Maksimir Park is a favorite spot for walking and cycling. Sports centers like Dom sportova and Sports Park Mladost offer many activities, such as basketball, handball, and swimming. Arena Zagreb is the main place for big events, and Maksimir Stadium is the city’s biggest football stadium.

Economy

Zagreb is a big city for business and trade. Important jobs in Zagreb include making electrical machines, chemicals, medicines, textiles, and food. Large companies from Croatia and Central Europe, such as Agrokor, INA, and Hrvatski Telekom, have their main offices in Zagreb.

The city has Croatia's only stock exchange, the Zagreb Stock Exchange, in the Eurotower, one of the tallest Croatian skyscrapers. Many people in Zagreb work in banks, utilities, and public transport.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Zagreb

Highways

Main article: Highways in Croatia

Zagreb is an important place for highways in Croatia. Five big highways start here, connecting it to cities like Rijeka, Split, and Budapest. These highways help connect Zagreb to other parts of Croatia and nearby countries. Drivers pay to use these highways.

Roads

The city has many wide roads to help traffic move. Some roads get very busy during rush hour, making it hard to drive fast. European routes E59, E65, and E70 pass through Zagreb, bringing more traffic to the city.

Bridges

Zagreb has several bridges over the Sava River. The first bridge was built in 1892, and now there are six main bridges that help cars cross the river.

Cycling

Cycling is possible in Zagreb because the city has flat areas and warm weather. But the bike paths are not always connected well, making it hard to ride a bike everywhere. The city had a bike-sharing system that changed in 2025.

Public transportation

Zagreb has many ways to get around without a car. Trams are a common way to travel in the city center, and buses help connect the outer areas. There is also a funicular, a small train that goes up a hill, and a cable car that takes people to the top of Medvednica mountain. The main train station and bus station are important places for travelers.

Tram network

Main article: Trams in Zagreb

Zagreb has many tram lines that have been running since 1891. The trams are an important part of the city's public transport. They have different types of trams, some newer and some older, and they carry many passengers every year.

Rail

Zagreb has train tracks that go around the city and connect to other places in Croatia and Europe. Trains are a good way to travel to cities like Ljubljana, Budapest, and Munich.

Commuter rail

Since 1992, Zagreb has had commuter rail services that help people travel to and from the city quickly. These trains go to places like Zaprešić and Velika Gorica and run often during the day.

Air traffic

Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport is the main airport in Croatia. It is about 17 kilometers from the city and handles many passengers each year. The airport has flights to many places in Europe and also to Canada and North America. There is also a smaller airport called Lučko Airfield, which is used for special purposes and sports.

Education

Zagreb has many schools. There are 136 primary schools and 100 secondary schools. It also has special schools called gymnasia.

There are 5 public higher education schools and 9 private professional schools. You can also find 4 international schools, like the American International School of Zagreb.

The University of Zagreb is the oldest university in Croatia. It was started in 1669. The university has 29 faculties, three art academies, and the Croatian Studies Centre. Many students have earned degrees there. The city also has two private universities and many other colleges.

Main article: University of Zagreb

Further information: List of universities in Croatia

Notable people

Zagreb has been home to many talented people in different areas. In the arts, notable figures include Lea Deutsch, a child actress, and Sanja Iveković, a photographer and sculptor. The city has also produced famous football players such as Marcelo Brozović and Luka Modrić, as well as athletes in other sports like tennis player Borna Ćorić and alpine ski racer Janica Kostelić.

In music, Zagreb has artists like Josipa Lisac, a popular singer, and Zinka Milanov, an operatic soprano. The city’s scientific community includes Marin Soljačić, a physicist, and Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, a geologist and archaeologist. Literature in Zagreb includes writers such as Miroslav Krleža, often regarded as Croatia's greatest 20th-century writer, and August Šenoa, a well-known novelist.