Zagreb Holidays 2012

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, and is located in Central Croatia. It is a bustling city filled with museums, pubs, restaurants, shops and much much more. Here you'll find that old world feeling in tandem with a modern city that has all the amenities one could hope to find! Nature lovers and those who are into water sport will find that Zagreb's two major leaks offer many recreational opportunities; with it's balance of nature, history and urban sprawl, Zagreb has so much to offer.

What to See

The heart of Zagreb is it's upper and lower towns (Gornji/Donji grad). Upper town is regarded as the more historical part of the city, where you'll find medieval architecture, traditional markets, and streets that have endured for centuries. You'll find the Cathedral and the Gradec, along with Jelacic Square and the breathtaking Sava River. Be sure to see the Old Town Gate, a massive and historic shrine to Mary; local legend says that if you light a candle and say a prayer to the Virgin your wish will be granted, but remember to be as quiet as possible as people pass through here at all hours.

If nature interests you more, go see the Zrinjevac Nature park, south east of the city centre, and the Botanical Gardens. The Jarun and Bundek lakes have much to offer! Jarun is the place to party and relax, and you can go windsurfing and rowing out in the lake for modest rental fees. Bundek has much in the way of gardening, fireworks and food in the summer, along with festivals and all kinds of shows and concerts worth attending.

What to Do

In January, go see the Ladies Night Slalom; or the world's only Ski World Cup Race. Here you'll see women fight it out on the snow and massive crowds of over twenty five thousand people who gather to see the competition.

Zagreb has an interesting barter system, where in designated areas you can trade for off market goods and even black market items like cigarettes, high end clothing and shoes, and normal things like souveniers. It can be a good and interesting way to dodge import taxes, but you might want to make sure you go with a friend or two before you enter a barter area.

When eating out, try something different! Try the 100% Juice Bar, where you can get an interesting smoothie in odd flavors you didn't know possible (butterscotch coconut orange?) The Booksa bar is a place where students gather to recite poetry and drink away their worries, Krivi Put, or  Wrong Way, has good prices and nice drinks. If you like clubbing, don't miss Aquarius with it's drum and bass or Sax! jazz club.