Zagreb, Capital city on Sava River slopes, Croatia
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia on the slopes of the Sava River and spreads across flat terrain between the river and the gentle slopes of the Medvednica mountain range. The city divides into an upper section with narrow cobblestone streets and a lower section with wide boulevards, squares and green spaces along the riverside.
The city emerged from two medieval settlements, Kaptol and Gradec, which merged into a single city in 1851 under Mayor Janko Kamauf. During the 20th century it became the political and economic center first of Yugoslavia and later of independent Croatia after 1991.
In the historic core, residents gather on open squares where street cafés shape social life throughout the year. Every morning the Dolac market fills with vendors selling local produce, while in the evenings the bars and galleries of the old town become lively meeting points.
The public transport network with trams and buses connects all seventeen administrative districts and makes orientation much easier. Most of the historic center can be explored on foot, while public transport is most practical for districts further away.
The Zagrebačka uspinjača is one of the shortest public funiculars in Europe and connects the Lower Town with the Upper Town. Visitors can enjoy a wide view from the upper terminus over the red rooftops of the old town to the flat landscape beyond the river.
Location: Croatia
Inception: 1094
Elevation above the sea: 127 m
Shares border with: Zagreb County, Krapina-Zagorje County
Website: https://zagreb.hr
GPS coordinates: 45.81318,15.97718
Latest update: December 2, 2025 22:33
This ranking includes the most populous cities in Europe in 2025, from Moscow with 11.62 million inhabitants to Budapest with 1.7 million. It features major European capitals like London, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, and Paris, as well as Saint Petersburg, Vienna, and Hamburg. These metropolitan areas are the continent's main demographic centers, each with its own history, architecture, and legacy. The selection is based on the municipal population of each city. Some cities surprise with their size, such as London, which covers an area fourteen times larger than Paris, or Rome, which extends over a territory twelve times greater than the French capital. Others are distinguished by their major economic roles, such as Hamburg, which hosts Germany's largest port, or by their internationally recognized quality of life, like Vienna. These destinations invite exploration of European urban diversity from east to west.
Zagreb features an architectural heritage spanning from the Middle Ages to modern times. The Zagreb Cathedral dominates the city with its two neo-Gothic towers measuring 108 meters, while St. Mark's Church displays the city's historic coats of arms on its roof. The Stone Gate, a remnant of 13th-century fortifications, houses a chapel dedicated to the Virgin and Child. The Lotrščak Tower, an old medieval watchtower, still fires a daily cannon at noon. The city organizes its cultural offerings around several institutions: the Broken Relationships Museum exhibits an international collection of objects related to breakups, the Art Pavilion is housed in a building from 1898 dedicated to contemporary art, and the Grič Tunnel, a 350-meter-long shelter built during World War II, now serves as an exhibition space. Maksimir Park extends over 316 hectares with five lakes and a zoo, while the Botanical Garden has collected over 5,000 plant species over 4.7 hectares since 1889. Mirogoj Cemetery, designed by Hermann Bollé in 1876, combines neo-Renaissance arcades with funerary architecture.
Stadion Maksimir
3.2 km
Zagreb Cathedral
242 m
Museum of Broken Relationships
346 m
National and University Library in Zagreb
1.8 km
St. Mark's Church in Zagreb
414 m
Mamutica
4.9 km
Ban Jelačić Square
15 m
Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
692 m
Mirogoj Cemetery
2.6 km
Croatian National Bank
592 m
1 Ilica Street
107 m
Stone Gate
326 m
Stadion Kranjčevićeva
1.6 km
Medvedgrad
6.9 km
Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall
1.6 km
Dom Sportova
2 km
Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall
1.4 km
Lenuzzi's Horseshoe
606 m
Maksimir Park
3.8 km
Mimara Museum
960 m
Sljeme
9.9 km
Zagreb Zoo
3.6 km
Zagreb Funicular
332 m
Presidential Palace, Zagreb
3.1 km
Lotrščak Tower
351 m
Meštrović Pavilion
856 m
Dolac Market
149 m
Nine Views
155 mReviews
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