Explore Zagreb and its various museums, squares and beautiful buildings. This tour will guide you through the laid-back capital of Croatia!

Walking Tour Zagreb  | Cultural Places

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While strolling through the upper town, you will definitely come upon the famous Lotrščak Tower. It was built in the 13th century with the purpose of protecting the southern city gate. Don’t hesitate to climb up and enjoy a perfect 360-degree view of Zagreb. If you happen to come by the tower at noon, don’t be alarmed if you’re surprised by the sound of a cannon. The Lotrščak Tower cannon is also known as the Grič cannon and is fired every day to mark midday. This tradition is 100 years old. Close to the tower there is a funicular railway. Constructed in 1888, it connects the lower and upper towns. Except for being fun this funicular is the oldest organized public transportation system in Zagreb.

Lotrščak Tower

Naive art was a very fashionable art form during the 1960s and 1970s, both in Croatia and all over the world. It was particularly popular in Croatia, where working and middle-class people from villages and the countryside started creating artworks. Naive art was focused on the work of self-taught painters and sculptors. As they developed their craft through an untutored practice, they all developed their own unique style. If this sounds interesting to you, you should definitely visit the Croatian Museum of Naive Art. You will find it situated on the first floor in 18th-century Raffay Palace in upper town.

The Croatian Museum of Naive Art

When walking by St. Mark's Square in Zagreb, you will easily recognize the picturesque church of St. Mark by its colorful roof. As one of the most important symbols of the city, the church is protected as a cultural heritage by the Republic of Croatia. You might wonder what is depicted on the roof of this 13th-century church. On the left side, you will see the medieval coat of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia and the emblem of Zagreb on the right. If you enter the church during mass, you will see sculptures made by revered Croatian sculptor and architect Ivan Meštrović. It is important to say that St. Mark’s church has a notable tradition of playing organs that dates back to 1359. Scripts from that time talk about an organist named Nikola. That was the first time that organs and organists were mentioned in Croatia.

St. Mark's Church

An ideal place to start a sightseeing of old Zagreb is the Stone Gate situated in the upper town. It is actually part of the old city walls that once surrounded Gradec, the medieval town that laid the foundation for modern Zagreb. It is assumed that they were built in the 13th century. The Stone Gate is also one of the most significant site of worship in Zagreb, a place to light a candle and pray for health and happiness of your beloved ones. Here you can find out more about the famous legend of a great fire that destroyed every part of the wooden gate in the 16th century, except for a painting of the Virgin and Child. That’s why people believe that the painting possesses magical powers and they visit this place to pray, light candles and leave flowers. Words praising the Virgin are engraved on the square stone slabs.

Stone Gate

Klovićevi dvori Gallery is the largest gallery institution in Croatia. It was opened in 1982 and named after 16th century artist Juraj Julije Klović, who was born in Croatia. He is considered to be one of the greatest manuscript illuminators of the Italian Renaissance. Situated in the historic area of Gradec in Zagreb's upper town, Klovićevi dvori Gallery is visited by no less than several hundred thousand visitors a year. Its variety of programs is always intriguing to a broader public and the gallery is hosting up to 30 exhibitions every year. In its wide-ranging work, the gallery organizes art and cultural exhibitions ranging from prehistoric times to the present.

Klovićevi Dvori Gallery

When you are walking inbetween King Tomislav square and Zrinjevac Park, you might stumble upon a monument hidden among the trees at the center of the park. This is another nice and quiet place to visit during Advent. This square bears the name of a famous Roman Catholic bishop, Croatian politician and leading cultural figure of the time, Josip Juraj Strossmayer. Look at the stunning historical palace surrounding Strossmayer Square to be transported back to the 19th century. This square was very important to the citizens of Zagreb because anyone who wanted to be considered an important person needed to own a house in this part of city. We could call it the VIP residential area of those times.

Strossmayer Square

Just beside Zrinjevac Park, you will find the Modern Gallery, situated in the Revival style Vranyczany Palace. If you wish to get a glimpse into their most comprehensive collection of 19th and 20th century Croatian artists, do come in. With more than 9,800 works, the Modern Gallery shows the richest collection of modern Croatian fine art, allowing you to understand its origins, development and contemporary achievements. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, graphics and medals, as well as photographs and new media. Besides the permanent display, occasionally you will stumble upon exhibitions of local or foreign artists that are being held from time to time.

Modern Gallery

Less than 200 meters away from Mimara Museum, you will find the Museum of Arts and Crafts. Established in 1880, the museum was conceived with the aim of putting together a collection of samples of different styles and materials by master craftsmen and artists to revive the production of items for daily use. The building, constructed in 1888 by Hermann Bollé, is one of the first edifices built specifically to accommodate both a museum and a school. Stylistically, the building is a grand Historicist palace in the spirit of the German Renaissance. In the museum's diverse collection, you will find ceramics, clocks and watches, glassworks, graphic design pieces, furniture, musical instruments, paintings, photography works, sculptures and fashion accessories.

Museum of Arts and Crafts

Mimara Museum is located at Roosevelt Square in Zagreb. The museum was founded in 1980 and opened to the public in 1987. The museum’s fundus is comprised of works from the private collection of Ante Topić Mimara. He was a collector, painter, art expert and a great donor and cultural benefactor to the Croatian people. He spent most of his life outside of his homeland but was always driven by a great passion for collecting art works. Ante Mimara’s life project was to found a museum, in his later years he moved to Zagreb with his collection and worked on realizing his dream. He wanted his artworks to permanently become the property of the Croatian people, provided that a space is given at all times for a permanent exhibition. This is how the museum was established and today it is a must-visit for every art lover who visits the Croatian capital.

Mimara Museum

The Museum of Contemporary Art is situated in the area of Novi Zagreb, at the intersection of Većeslava Holjevca and Dubrovnik Avenues and right across the Sava River. The Museum of Contemporary Art is actually the present-day name of the Zagreb Municipal Galleries. The newly constructed five-story building the museum is in today was officially opened in 2010.  As you will see, the ground floor of the museum is completely geared towards visitors. There, you will find the museum shop, the children’s workshop, the library, a restaurant, one minor exhibition space as well as the multimedia hall. The exhibition rooms are located on the upper floors of the museum. The museum attains a very special look during the night. It becomes lit up with attractive light shows that catch the attention of everybody passing by.

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