Holiday rentals in Zagreb

Zagreb, located on the River Sava in the foothills of the majestic Medvednica mountain, is the capital city of Croatia, where the cultures of Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe converge.

The twin spires of the 13th-century Zagreb Cathedral rise high above the city’s historic Upper Town, filled with narrow alleyways and cobbled streets that feed into St Mark’s Square, where you can watch the Changing of the Guard every weekend in the summer. You can head to the 13th-century Lotrščak Tower at midday to hear the mighty cannon blast, or climb the tower any time for sweeping city views.

One of the world’s steepest and shortest funicular railways takes you from the Upper Town to the Lower Town, centred on the Ban Jelačić Square. From there, it’s just a short walk from the aromatic food stalls of Dolac Market. In the late 19th century, city planners constructed a network of parks called the Lenuci (Green) Horseshoe, where you can amble through the Botanical Gardens or admire the imposing Croatian State Archives building. In Bundek Park, which runs along River Sara, you’ll find walking trails, bars, cafes, and a lifeguard-patrolled lake to swim in during the summer.

Central Croatia experiences long, hot summers and snowy, overcast winters, with four distinct seasons that each paint Zagreb in charming colors. From June through August, when the city is at its warmest, the streets and pavement cafes of Zagreb pulse with life, particularly around the pedestrian Tkalčićeva Street. One of the season’s more unusual events is the Cest is d’Best festival, which brings a variety of performers into the city streets. September and October see the rainiest days and cooler temperatures, but snow doesn’t fall until December and January. In the winter, it’s just a 30-minute trip from your apartments in Zagreb to the ski fields on Medvenica. More than two dozen holiday markets set up across the city in December, filling it with seasonal cheer. As winter winds down, the Fašnik Carnival sends a colourful parade from the cathedral through the streets.

Museum of Broken Relationships

Housed in the former Kulmer Palace in the historic Upper Town, the Museum of Broken Relationships is a fascinating contemporary space that focuses on the lovelorn and bereft. The museum displays intensely personal items donated by ordinary people along with descriptions of their failed romances, and you are invited to share your own objects and stories of love and loss.

Medvedgrad Castle

A 10-mile drive from the centre of Zagreb, high up on Medvednica, you’ll find the moody, scenic ruins of Medvedgrad Castle. The castle was built in 1254 but abandoned following an earthquake in 1590. As you wander around the ruins, you can read placards about the site’s history, and you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the expanse of rooftops below.

Maksimir Forest Park

Around five miles from the city centre, the 300-acre Maksimir Forest Park was designed in the early 19th century and modeled after formal English gardens. You can wander along trails through the park’s meadows and arbors and observe swans and ducks on its five lakes. Scattered throughout the park are intriguing buildings such as the Swiss House, the Vidikovac (sightseeing tower), and the Echo Pavilion, where whispers and songs reverberate.