Croatia’s capital tends to get ignored by households in comparison with the cities on the coast, like Dubrovnik and Break up, however with so many issues to do in Zagreb with children, it’s someplace that must be on your loved ones metropolis break checklist.
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We teamed our go to with just a few days in Dubrovnik, travelling (virtually) from one finish of the nation to the opposite – and in the event you suppose that seeing one Croatian metropolis is seeing all of them, Zagreb will change your thoughts.
With extra of a central European really feel right here and a complete host of very quirky museums, alongside historical past and streets made for strolling, right here’s why we beloved Zagreb plus my choose of one of the best issues to do in Zagreb with children.
Take a metropolis tour
I like a metropolis strolling tour as one of the best ways to get your bearings in a brand new metropolis, in addition to sharing a number of the uncommon tales that you just won’t in any other case uncover.
In contrast to another European capitals, Zagreb isn’t large, so you can even cowl numerous the highlights in just a few hours.
We beloved this metropolis tour with a go to to the Second World Conflict tunnels – in addition to taking us previous just a few landmarks, such because the statue in Ban Josip Jelačić Sq., Zagreb cathedral (presently principally below scaffolding), the Stone Gate and the Lotrščak Tower – in addition to studying concerning the mannequin photo voltaic system round Zagreb and visiting the Oktogon passageway.
Our tour information additionally crammed in a number of the historical past of Zagreb, in addition to life in Zagreb right this moment, plus gave us tips about all the things from the place to go for a stroll to the place to eat. At 2 1/2 hours lengthy, it’s higher with barely older children however undoubtedly family-friendly.
I additionally beloved the look of the Secret Zagreb excursions, which has some enjoyable family-friendly choices (however sadly timings didn’t work for us) or you may obtain some free quests that are excellent with youthful children, with puzzles and challenges to finish as you discover.
This two-hour strolling tour is a barely shorter possibility, or save your toes with a motorbike tour of Zagreb as an alternative. For one thing on more moderen historical past, a Communism and Croatian Homeland Conflict tour is an fascinating different for teenagers, or uncover Croatian delicacies as you go along with a meals strolling tour of Zagreb.
You may even get artistic and make your personal memento postcard, in addition to listening to a number of the tales and legends of town on this uncommon Zagreb tour.
Hear the cannon
Head to Lotrščak Tower in Zagreb’s Higher City (one of many oldest components of town) and daily at midday you may hear the cannon fireplace from the highest flooring.
The tower itself dates from the thirteenth century, and as soon as housed a bell used to sign the time when town gates closed every night. However within the nineteenth century, an additional flooring was added to the highest of the tower, and a cannon positioned there, first fired at noon on January 1, 1877.
Used as sign to town’s bellringers that midday had arrived, and for town’s inhabitants to set their clocks, today it’s solely a vacationer attraction however it’s nonetheless a enjoyable free factor to do in Zagreb with children, and it’s usually included in strolling excursions that are timed to succeed in the tower simply earlier than 12.
Just a few phrases of warning; the bang is REALLY loud. It may appear apparent, however having seen comparable spectacles elsewhere, the truth that this sounds proper above your head makes it appear even louder – my ears had been ringing. With large crowds centered on the tower, you can even get pickpockets right here, so control your belongings in addition to the upstairs window.
Discover town mannequin
I’m a little bit of a sucker for metropolis fashions, which appear to pop up fairly a bit on this a part of the world – I’ve seen ones in Break up and Ljubljana thus far. And Zagreb has its personal, simply across the nook from Ban Josip Jelačić sq., one other widespread cease on metropolis excursions.
The dimensions mannequin is 13 sq. metres in dimension, with bronze castings of town structure, in addition to greater than 400 separate buildings seen on the block of stone, so you may spot your lodging, a number of the metropolis landmarks and usually tower over Zagreb like a large.
it’s additionally a fast method to see the place Zagreb’s oldest areas are: Gradec, the place you may nonetheless discover the Stone Gate, and Kaptol, dwelling to the cathedral. Should you look on the edges, you can even see the unique coat of arms, in addition to some details about town’s historical past (in English and Croatian).
See the meteorological put up
Head all the way down to Zrinjevac park and you may spot Zagreb’s uncommon meteorological column (also called the meteorological put up, meteorological pole or Meteorološki stup in Croatian) on the north finish of the sq..
A brief stroll from Ban Josip Jelačić sq., the devices within the column have been recording temperature, humidity, and air stress since 1884 when Dr Adolf Holzer, an beginner meteorologist, constructed the column as a present to town.
However it wasn’t only a want to provide one thing again (or to make himself look rich and benevolent, although it in all probability helped) as Holzer was additionally making an attempt to find how local weather affected human well being.
As we speak, the column now not gives official information however nonetheless gives impressively correct measurements – so in the event you fancy a substitute for an app in your cellphone, or simply seeing one thing slightly uncommon, it’s nicely price stopping by.
See the Stone Gate
As soon as there have been 4 primary gates by means of town partitions into Zagreb – the Stone Gate, Mesnička Gate, Opatička Gate, and the gate close to the Friar’s Tower.
Between earthquake, fireplace and metropolis growth, all of the gates (and a lot of the partitions) had been destroyed over the centuries except for the Stone Gate.
In truth, it is a rebuilt model after the picket gate burned down in 1731, when in accordance with legend, solely a portray of the Virgin and Little one miraculously escaped the flames.
As we speak, it’s a shrine with the portray inside, and area for folks to mild candles and provide up prayers – you’re requested to be silent as you stroll by means of. You may nonetheless see some small fragments of the previous metropolis wall close by on Ulica Ivana Tkalchiceva, in addition to by the cathedral, however visiting the Stone Gate is an efficient method to visualise how the medieval metropolis may need regarded.
Enterprise into the Second World Conflict tunnels
Tucked away below a hill, the Second World Conflict tunnels get their title as a result of they had been constructed in the course of the battle as an air raid shelter, though they weren’t used as a lot because the title suggests.
After that, they principally fell into disrepair till they hosted one of many nation’s first raves within the 90s, earlier than getting used as a civilian refuge in the course of the Croatian Conflict of Independence – and now sometimes to host occasions and exhibitions.
Nowadays, they’re principally utilized by locals as a short-cut moderately than going the entire manner across the hill, as they’re free and open to the general public between 9am and 10pm (usually), and makes a really atmospheric place to stroll.
There’s an entrance simply across the nook from the bottom of the funicular, simply off Mesnička Avenue, resulting in Radićeva road (with another passageways main south from the central corridor). Round 350m lengthy, it solely takes about 5 minutes to stroll by means of.
Stroll the inexperienced horseshoe
The inexperienced horseshoe – Lenuci’s Inexperienced Horseshoe to be exact – is the catchy title for the string of parks, gardens and inexperienced areas in Zagreb which type a U form by means of town.
A fantastic possibility with children, you may stroll from one inexperienced area to a different, a beautiful method to discover a part of the capital. You can begin anyplace you need however a simple possibility is to start at Zrinjevac park after testing the meteorological put up, and head south.
The route takes you in direction of King Tomislav Sq. then alongside to the Zagreb botanical gardens (free to enter) and thru one other collection of parks and squares to the Croatian Nationwide Theatre.
Relying how briskly you stroll, you could possibly do the entire horseshoe in round half an hour with none stops, though it will be a disgrace to race by means of moderately than strolling it, particularly within the fairly botanical gardens, that are dwelling to greater than 10,000 species of vegetation.
For one more inexperienced area in Zagreb with a distinction, head to Maksimir Park, the place you’ll discover the 17-acre Zagreb Zoo – it’s round quarter-hour from central Zagreb by taxi or public transport and is dwelling to over 7,000 animals from internationally
Stroll up Ulica Ivana Tkalcica
As soon as, there was a creek dividing the 2 authentic components of Zagreb – Kaptol and Gradec. As we speak, the water nonetheless runs underground, however the route it took is hidden below Ulica Ivana Tkalcica within the Higher City.
Lined with bars and eating places, in addition to memento outlets and a string of fairly vibrant buildings, it’s touristy for certain, however horseshoe nonetheless a beautiful place to wander, to take just a few photographs and cease for a drink or two.
We really ended up staying in an important AirBNB on the road, which additionally made an important base to discover the Higher City.
There’s even a playground on the road in the event you’ve bought youthful children, though it’s price figuring out that there’s a statue of a unadorned girl very shut by as this space was as soon as the pink mild district in centuries passed by. The statue, by the way, was there earlier than the playground!
Trip the funicular
Courting again to the Eighteen Nineties, the Zagreb Funicular is the oldest and first technique of public transport within the metropolis – and at solely 66m lengthy, it’s additionally the shortest funicular on this planet.
The Funicular is presently closed for renovations and is because of reopen in 2026 so that you’ll have to attend till then for an opportunity to expertise ‘the previous woman’ of Zagreb
Connecting the Higher and Decrease Cities, it cuts out the hill main as much as the Lotrscak Tower in the event you’re coming from Tomićeva road – not an unimaginable stroll even with youthful children, however using a funicular is all the time enjoyable!
Take in the views
Standing within the Higher City, you get some incredible views down onto the rooftops and out in direction of the Decrease City – you needn’t pay for a pricy viewpoint both, simply standing by the Lotrscak Tower is an efficient possibility, or climbing the highest for a fair higher view.
You can even stroll from the tower to the Strossmayer Promenade, simply alongside the hillside, which has extra pretty views. Or within the different path, stroll in direction of St Catherine’s Church and there’s a viewpoint at Gradec Plato, not removed from the love locks on the prime of the Zakmardi stairs.
In case you are contemplating Zagreb 360, the point of view tower not removed from Ban Josip Jelacic Sq. on the rooftop of the Ilica Skyscraper, it’s presently closed.
Browse the meals market
Save time for a wander round Dolac Market, the principle market of Zagreb for round 80 years, which takes place daily (it’s greatest to get there earlier than 1pm, the sooner the higher).
The part underground contains the fish market, in addition to meat and a few cheese – simply head down the steps from the principle sq. to get there.
Or in the event you’re on the lookout for fruit and greens, they’re within the open-air part together with souvenirs, honey and different objects on the market. Hold a watch out for the contemporary cornbread as nicely.
Main down the road in direction of Ban Josip Jelacic Sq., there’s additionally a flower market. Whether or not you’re shopping or shopping for, it’s a beautiful place to wander round. And in the event you head there on Friday evenings from round mid April to mid July, you can even discover meals being served as a part of the particular Place Market occasions.
Nikola Tesla Technical Museum
Regardless of its title, the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum isn’t solely centered on Tesla’s concepts and innovations – though you may see these inside too.
As a substitute, it’s a a lot wider science and know-how museum, with a complete part on transport and planes, one other on geology, a planetarium, shows on agriculture and firefighting and even an opportunity to be taught extra about radioactive waste.
Should you go to at particular instances (3pm Tuesday to Friday) or at 11am on weekends, there’s additionally a guided tour by means of the museum’s mine included in entry, in addition to an indication of Tesla’s experiments on the Nikola Tesla Cupboard for some extra interactive displays.
It’s price figuring out that whereas a lot of Zagreb is walkable, the museum is slightly manner out of the centre – it’s not too laborious to get to, round 10 minutes by taxi from Ban Josip Jelacic Sq. or round a 25-30 minute stroll.
Should you’re strolling the inexperienced horseshoe, it’s about 10 minutes from the botanical gardens so it’s simple to mix with that as nicely.
Museum of Up to date Artwork
In case you have children who love artwork – or who you’re hoping to get a bit extra engaged with artwork – it’s laborious to beat someplace which has a large slide in it.
As a result of Zagreb’s Museum of Up to date Artwork has its personal custom-made double slide created by Belgian artist Carsten Holler, which takes you all the way down to the automobile park earlier than you permit – there are stairs instead in the event you don’t fancy racing one another down.
The main target inside, with everlasting and non permanent exhibitions is on all types of up to date artwork, so you could possibly see performing artwork and movie artwork in addition to visible arts, together with worldwide artists akin to Marina Abramović in addition to Croatian artists since 1950.
It’s additionally a manner out of town centre, throughout the Sava river from Zagreb’s Higher and Decrease Cities – it’s solely round quarter-hour by taxi from Ban Josip Jelačić Sq. or half-hour by public transport, however not inside simple strolling distance.
There’s a reduction on household tickets you probably have youngsters below 15, presently 12 Euros (In comparison with 11 Euros for a single grownup ticket)
Zagreb Metropolis Museum
Zagreb’s Metropolis Museum dates again to 1907, sharing the historical past of Croatia’s capital from its earliest days – together with some traces of prehistoric life found below the museum’s foundations.
As you stroll by means of, beginning with these underground sections on the Iron Age settlements, you’ll transfer by means of Zagreb’s historical past, significantly wanting on the founding of Kaptol, centered across the cathedral, and Gradec on the hill reverse.
There’s an enormous quantity to find as you go, however the museum’s age does inform – it is a very conventional, old style sort of museum the place most issues are in glass circumstances so there’s not lots that’s interactive for teenagers. It’s additionally price having Google Translate in your cellphone, as not all the knowledge is in English.
The medieval historical past is unfold out over fairly just a few rooms, together with some fascinating shows on the guilds, and a shocking quantity on every of the necessary non secular orders based mostly within the metropolis, earlier than taking you thru the Ottoman assaults and Zagreb’s previous as a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
The final hundred years or so are lined at a gallop, with one room on Communist Yugoslavia and one other small one on Croatian independence, though in the event you’re seeking to be taught extra concerning the Balkans battle of the 90s, you received’t discover it.
There are some surprising quirky areas although, together with a room on the Oscar-winning Zagreb faculty of animation.
By the way, in the event you occur – like us – to go to on Could 31, which is Metropolis of Zagreb day, it’s utterly free. In any other case, household tickets price 8 Euros in the event you’re visiting with youngsters below 15 (or 5 Euros for adults). Not one for toddlers or youthful children, though a fast go to works for older children who’re concerned about historical past (and it’s not too pricy for that).
Haha Home
Zagreb appears to specialize in quirky museums – and Haha Home is without doubt one of the most family-friendly of the lot. The world’s first Museum of Laugher, the principle goal is to make you snort at the very least as soon as, in addition to introducing you to various kinds of humour.
To get you within the temper, there’s a slide from the doorway down into the museum, the place you progress by means of a collection of rooms and interactive shows.
Some appear designed with children in thoughts – urgent a button to play fart noises? Why not. However there’s loads to make adults giggle as nicely – one spot had a hen choir rendering varied tunes, which was surprisingly hilarious, whereas one other performed completely different giggles, guffaws, chuckles and laughs if you pressed completely different buttons.
There’s additionally an opportunity to decorate up and take foolish photographs, or pull on big inflatable Sumo fits for a little bit of Sumo wrestling.
However there was additionally one other room wanting on the various kinds of comedy, with illustrations together with cartoons and references to TV exhibits, all whereas Charlie Chaplin performed on a display within the background for a little bit of silent slapstick enjoyable.
You may spend so long as you want, and at busy instances you’ll must queue – there was one room which completely appeared to have an extended line, though the remainder was fairly quiet on the afternoon once we visited.
In the long run, we spent lower than an hour, so it wasn’t the most affordable attraction in Zagreb for households, however it actually is unimaginable to not snort!
Cravaticum
You would possibly suppose {that a} museum on the historical past of the tie could be the very last thing to enchantment to children, however Cravaticum – one other of the string of quirky museums in Zagreb – is surprisingly good for households.
Strolling you thru the origins of the tie, which started its life in Croatia throughout wartime, the distinctive museum follows its historical past and appears at the way it turned trendy after which a bit of on a regular basis put on.
The museum go to begins with a video which whisks you thru this historical past and packs in some uncommon info – do you know the longest tie each made measured 8,915ft, longer than 28 soccer fields lined up finish to finish?
There are additionally a number of interactive sections, together with one space the place you may practise tying ties, with diagrams and directions across the partitions. There’s additionally a stopwatch to see how shut you may get to the Guinness World Document for tying a Windsor knot, which stands at simply over 10 seconds. The closest we bought was round 20!
There’s additionally a enjoyable optical phantasm with a curtain of ties round two mirrors, the place you may get some nice results utilizing your cellphone and stored us entertained for a surprisingly very long time. Or there’s a tie jigsaw and an opportunity to design your personal on a display for some extra hands-on enjoyable.
In the long run, we really spent over an hour exploring this little museum, longer than we did at HaHa Home…! It’s near the doorway to the Second World Conflict tunnels so you may mix the 2. Children aged 7 and below are free.
For extra optical illusions, there’s additionally Zagreb’s Museum of Illusions, which is round a 10-minute stroll from Cravaticum alongside Ilica Avenue, with loads of enjoyable photograph alternatives, possibilities to trick your eyes and mind, and one of many largest hologram exhibitions in Europe
Museum of Damaged Relationships
Maybe the best-known of Zagreb’s uncommon museums, the Museum of Damaged Relationships is healthier for older tweens/teenagers however it’s a surprisingly good possibility for households with older youngsters.
There’s little or no that’s inappropriate, and whereas all of the shows concentrate on relationships which have ended, the displays are sometimes surprisingly artistic, humorous and even uplifting, though inevitably lots may be very unhappy.
The rooms are principally themed, so one focuses on objects with hyperlinks to meals, for instance, whereas one other hinges round music, with vinyl and cassette tapes among the many objects.
However you could find all the things from a Mario Kart steering wheel and buttons to an EU flag, all with their tales listed alongside. With a number of rooms, you would possibly spend longer right here than you count on, though it’s one other one which is more likely to take an hour or much less.
Should you’re on the lookout for one other distinctive exercise in Zagreb with teenagers, take a look at Smash It, an attraction designed to allow you to safely break and smash objects up – someplace between stress reduction and enjoyable, it’s one other of Zagreb’s quirky issues to do with older children
Chocolate Museum Zagreb
Head inside Zagreb’s Chocolate Museum and you may be taught all concerning the historical past of chocolate and the way it’s produced.
Plus, after all, there’s the prospect to do some tastings, with an opportunity to strive 9 various kinds of chocolate samples, and purchase some extra from native artisan producers earlier than you permit – in addition to just a few chocolate-themed selfie spots. You may even grind your personal cacao beans.
Should you’ve been to a chocolate museum earlier than, you’ll have already got an concept of what you’ll discover inside Zagreb’s Chocolate Museum too – however what number of children say no to extra choc?
Christmas Market
Should you’re visiting Zagreb at Christmas, town’s Christmas market was voted greatest in Europe for 3 years in a row.
Creation Zagreb is definitely a group of 25 Christmas markets unfold by means of town’s squares and primary streets, usually with particular person themes however making it really feel like the entire capital as been remodeled right into a winter wonderland.
There are all the same old artisand merchandise and crafts you would possibly count on, plus mulled wine and conventional Croatian meals, in addition to varied performances and different leisure to get everybody in a festive temper.
The markets often open on the Saturday earlier than the primary Sunday of Creation in late November and run to the primary week of January.
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Photos: Cathedral/meteorological pole/botanical backyard/funicular/Tesla Museum/Up to date artwork museum/Christmas bauble courtesy of Depositphotos, all different pictures copyright MummyTravels
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