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Where to Stay in Zagreb, Croatia

By Santorini Dave

Quick Picks: Best Hotels in Zagreb

A large fountain bubbles in front of a yellow historic building.

The Art Pavilion and King Tomislav Square in Lower Town. The landscaped squares stretching north toward the city center make this one of Zagreb’s nicest areas for walking.

The Best Areas to Stay in Zagreb

Lower Town (Donji Grad) is my favorite area to stay in Zagreb, especially the streets between Ban Jelačić Square and Zrinjevac Park. It’s the most convenient base for sightseeing, restaurants, shopping, museums, and public transport. Upper Town’s historic streets are a short walk away, and the main train station is at the southern end of Lower Town.

For restaurants, bars, and nightlife, stay around Tkalčićeva Street, just north of Ban Jelačić Square. This is one of Zagreb’s liveliest areas, with pedestrian streets, outdoor cafés, and restaurants. The historic hilltop of Upper Town, around St. Mark’s Church, is quieter and more atmospheric but has fewer hotels and involves steep streets, stairs, and cobblestones.

The area around the main train station is another excellent choice, particularly for families and travelers who prefer larger hotels. The bus station is useful for airport transfers and short overnight stays, while Novi Zagreb is better for drivers, Arena Zagreb events, and travelers who don’t need to stay in the historic center.

Zagreb Neighborhoods at a Glance

  • Lower Town: Best overall for first-time visitors, sightseeing, shopping, museums, restaurants, and getting around without a car. Stay near Ban Jelačić Square or Zrinjevac Park for the most convenient location.
  • Upper Town: Best for historic atmosphere, couples, restaurants, and nightlife. The lower streets around Tkalčićeva and Radićeva are livelier and more convenient than the hilltop around St. Mark’s Church.
  • Around the Train Station: Best for rail passengers, families, and larger hotels. A pleasant 15 to 20-minute walk through Lower Town’s parks to Ban Jelačić Square.
  • Around the Bus Station: Best for airport shuttles, intercity buses, and short overnight stays. Less attractive for sightseeing, but well connected by tram.
  • Novi Zagreb: Best for Arena Zagreb events, parking, larger rooms, and lower hotel rates. Too far from the center for my preferred sightseeing base.

The Best Hotels in Zagreb

A tall historic building has an outdoor cafe with tables under umbrellas.

Esplanade, beside the train station, is my favorite 5-star hotel and one of Zagreb’s most historic places to stay.

People stand looking out a blue funicular at the terracotta roofs of Zagreb.

Zagreb’s blue funicular connects Lower Town with the historic hilltop of Upper Town.

Getting Around Zagreb

Central Zagreb is easy to explore without a car. Most major sights, restaurants, and markets are within walking distance if you stay in Lower Town or near Ban Jelačić Square.

A blue tram rides the tracks over brick walkways.

Zagreb’s blue trams make it easy to explore the city without a car.

  • Walking: Lower Town is mostly flat, while Upper Town has steep streets, steps, and cobblestones. This is worth considering when booking a hotel, especially with luggage or a stroller.
  • Trams: Zagreb’s blue trams connect the center with the train station, bus station, and surrounding neighborhoods. Ban Jelačić Square is a major tram stop. Routes and tickets are available through ZET.
  • Airport: The airport shuttle takes about 35 to 40 minutes to reach Zagreb’s main bus station, where you can transfer to a tram or taxi. A taxi directly to a central hotel usually takes 25 to 40 minutes.

The 5 Best Areas to Stay in Zagreb

1. Lower Town (Donji Grad): Best Overall

People sit at tables under large umbrellas to protect themselves from the bright sun while eating.

Outdoor dining in Lower Town.

Lower Town is the best place to stay in Zagreb for most first-time visitors. It has the city’s best combination of central hotels, museums, shopping, restaurants, parks, and tram connections. Ban Jelačić Square marks its northern edge, with Upper Town and Tkalčićeva Street just beyond.

My favorite part of Lower Town is between Ban Jelačić Square and Zrinjevac Park. Hotels here are generally within a 5 to 10-minute walk of the main square, Dolac Market, and the restaurants around Tkalčićeva. The streets are mostly flat, making this the easiest area for walking, luggage, strollers, and travelers who don’t want to deal with hills.

The southern part of Lower Town, around King Tomislav Square and the main train station, is also excellent. It’s a little farther from Upper Town but has some of Zagreb’s best hotels, including Esplanade. The walk north follows the attractive parks and squares of the Lenuci Horseshoe.

People walk through a tall tree-lined path in a city park.

Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square (Zrinjevac), one of the beautiful parks in Lower Town.

Lower Town is particularly good for museums and cultural attractions. The Croatian National Theatre, Botanical Garden, Archaeological Museum, and several galleries are in or near the district. Some historic cultural buildings remain affected by earthquake restoration, so check individual museum opening arrangements before visiting.

A tall yellow building with ornate windows, pillars, and a green roof.

The Croatian National Theatre hosts opera, ballet, and theater performances.

For shopping, Ilica runs west from Ban Jelačić Square, with fashion stores, pharmacies, supermarkets, and everyday shops. Zagreb doesn’t have a large luxury-shopping district, but Lower Town is easily the most convenient area for general shopping.

The main drawback is traffic and tram noise on busy streets. If you’re a light sleeper, request a courtyard-facing room or choose a hotel away from the major tram routes.

Lower Town is my first choice for sightseeing, shopping, museums, families, and travelers without a car. Upper Town is more atmospheric in the evening, but it’s close enough to visit whenever you like.

A massive dark green sculpture of a man on a horse with a sword sits in a square.

Ban Josip Jelačić Square is Zagreb’s central meeting point and the main link between Lower Town and Upper Town.

A red plush sofa and chairs sit in a lobby.

The lobby at Le Premier, one of my favorite boutique hotels in Lower Town.

2. Upper Town (Gornji Grad): Best for Atmosphere and Nightlife

A parked blue bus sits in front of an orange brick building.

A local bus at the Kaptol terminal near Zagreb Cathedral.

Upper Town is Zagreb’s most atmospheric area, with historic buildings, narrow streets, small museums, cafés, restaurants, and some excellent views over the city. It’s my favorite part of Zagreb for wandering, especially in the evening.

There are two distinct areas to consider when booking accommodation.

The lower streets around Tkalčićeva, Radićeva, Dolac Market, and Kaptol are best for restaurants, bars, and convenience. This is one of the liveliest parts of Zagreb, with outdoor terraces, wine bars, pubs, and restaurants. Ban Jelačić Square and Lower Town are only a few minutes away on foot.

Tkalčićeva is particularly good for nightlife, though it’s more about bars and restaurants than large nightclubs. The street is also tourist-oriented, and some restaurants are better for atmosphere than food. For a quieter stay, choose a side street rather than a room directly above the busiest bars.

A woman waits under a red umbrella for her flowers from a vendor at an outdoor market.

Dolac Market, just north of Ban Jelačić Square, is best visited in the morning for produce, flowers, cheese, meat, and baked goods.

The historic hilltop around St. Mark’s Church and Strossmayer Promenade is quieter, prettier, and more romantic. This is where you’ll find the Museum of Broken Relationships, historic government buildings, cobblestone lanes, and viewpoints overlooking Lower Town.

The Zagreb City Museum is a good introduction to the city’s history. Zagreb Cathedral, in neighboring Kaptol, is another major landmark, although earthquake restoration has affected access. The historic Upper Town premises of the Croatian History Museum have also been affected by restoration work.

The drawback of staying on the hilltop is access. There are steep streets, cobblestones, stairs, and pedestrian areas where taxis cannot reach the entrance. The funicular helps with the climb from Lower Town, but it doesn’t reach every hotel.

A man walks up steep steps in a park.

Some Upper Town hotels and apartments require climbing steep streets or stairs.

For traditional Croatian food, I like the atmosphere around the historic center, though some of Zagreb’s better-value restaurants are in Lower Town and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Outdoor tables sit covered in orange and white linens on a sunny day.

Traditional Croatian cuisine at Tavern Didov San.

The smaller streets around Radićeva and Tkalčićeva also have independent shops, jewelry, Croatian design, and souvenirs. For general shopping, Lower Town and Ilica are better.

Upper Town is my favorite area for couples and travelers who want to spend evenings walking between restaurants and bars. For most other visitors, I’d stay in Lower Town and explore Upper Town on foot.

A view looking down on a city and puffy white clouds in blue sky.

Our gorgeous view from Boutique Hotel HOH.

3. Around the Train Station: Best for Families and Rail Connections

A fountain glistens in the sun.

The fountain at Esplanade, overlooking the landscaped squares between Zagreb’s train station and Lower Town.

The area immediately north of Zagreb’s main train station is one of the best places to stay for families, rail passengers, and travelers who prefer larger hotels with restaurants, gyms, pools, and other facilities.

King Tomislav Square is directly outside the station, and the parks of the Lenuci Horseshoe stretch north toward the city center. Ban Jelačić Square is about 15 to 20 minutes away on foot, with an attractive, mostly flat walk through Lower Town.

Esplanade is my favorite hotel in this area and one of the best hotels in Zagreb. It’s a grand historic property with excellent dining and a convenient location for both the train station and sightseeing. Canopy by Hilton is a good alternative for a more modern hotel.

Red, blue, and yellow chairs sit in a hotel lobby.

The bright lobby and bar at Canopy by Hilton.

The station area is also good for families because of its parks, wider sidewalks, and generally easier access with luggage and strollers. The hotels tend to have more facilities than the smaller properties in Upper Town.

Stay north or northwest of the railway tracks. Hotels south of the tracks are less convenient for sightseeing because the railway creates a barrier between them and the historic center.

The main disadvantage is that some streets feel quiet in the evening, with fewer restaurants and bars immediately outside the hotels. For a livelier location, choose northern Lower Town or the area around Tkalčićeva Street.

4. Around the Bus Station: Best for Airport Transfers and Short Stays

Jungle gyms sit in a sunny park.

A neighborhood playground near Zagreb’s main bus station.

The area around Zagreb’s main bus station is a practical choice for airport transfers, intercity buses, and inexpensive hotels. It’s not one of the city’s most attractive neighborhoods, and I wouldn’t stay here for a first sightseeing visit unless transport connections were particularly important.

The airport shuttle runs between Zagreb Airport and the bus station, generally taking about 35 to 40 minutes. Departure times vary, so check the schedule rather than assuming buses leave at fixed intervals throughout the day.

Hotels around the bus station range from small budget properties to larger modern hotels. DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn are good choices if you want more facilities, while Hotel 9, Livris, and Hotel Sliško are convenient smaller options.

A tall building with lots of windows.

DoubleTree by Hilton, a modern hotel east of the main bus station.

A wall of bookshelves holds knick-knacks and books behind a red booth in a Zagreb restaurant.

The restaurant at Hotel Sliško, near Zagreb’s main bus station.

Trams connect the bus station with central Zagreb, and the journey to the main sightseeing areas is straightforward. Walking to Ban Jelačić Square takes roughly 25 to 30 minutes, depending on your hotel.

This is a good area for a late arrival, early departure, or one-night stop. For two or more nights focused on sightseeing, Lower Town is worth the extra cost.

5. Novi Zagreb: Best for Parking, Events, and Longer Stays

A person walks through a shopping mall.

Arena Centar shopping mall, near Arena Zagreb in the southern part of the city.

Novi Zagreb is the large area south of the Sava River. It’s mostly residential, with modern apartment buildings, shopping centers, parks, business hotels, and easier parking than the historic center.

It’s a good choice for travelers with cars, families looking for larger accommodation, longer stays, and visitors attending events at Arena Zagreb. I wouldn’t recommend it for a first visit focused on sightseeing.

The three most useful parts of Novi Zagreb are quite different.

Around Bundek Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art is best for travelers who want green space and access to the city’s modern cultural attractions. Bundek is one of Zagreb’s nicest parks for walking, running, and spending time outdoors.

Around Arena Zagreb and Arena Centar is best for concerts, sporting events, shopping, and visitors with cars. Staying nearby is convenient after a late event, but there’s little reason to choose this area for sightseeing.

Buzin and the southeastern districts are more useful for business travel and airport access. Hotels here generally offer easier parking and road connections than those in the city center.

Public transport connects Novi Zagreb with the center, but travel times depend heavily on the exact location. Allow roughly 20 to 40 minutes each way for many journeys. Some hotels are close to tram routes, while others require a bus, taxi, or car.

The lower hotel rates can be attractive, but I wouldn’t save a small amount of money by staying here if I planned to spend most of my time sightseeing in central Zagreb.

A server walks by a lighted bar at a restaurant.

Nikola’s Bar and Restaurant at Mövenpick, where we enjoyed the afternoon chocolate hour.

Hotel windows reflect the blue sky.

Hotel Aristos in Buzin is one of my favorite hotels for Zagreb Airport access. It’s more convenient for the airport than staying in the city center, particularly if you’re driving.

About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave in Athens, Greece Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Crete, Athens, and all of Greece.

Questions? Email me at dave@santorinidave.com.