Nanda & Nathan The Travellers: A Day in Zagreb, Croatia

August 4, 2015 ---- Zagreb is really underrated! Some said that it was a boring city with little to do, but I totally disagreed because this charming city is well worth a visit even if just for a day. Nathan and I stayed in Zagreb for 3 nights while taking day-trips to Plitvice Lakes National Park and Rijeka. We kept Zagreb for exploring on the last day in Croatia before taking the bus back to Munich.

Because our bus didn't leave till 11 p.m., we had plenty of time to see the capital of Croatia. We stored our bags in a coin-operated locker at Zagreb Train Station because it was cheaper than leaving them at the Bus Station's left luggage service. The train station was right in the city center, so we could walk to anywhere from there, but because we had to transport the tram to and from the bus station, we bought a day-ticket for public transportation in Zagreb. It was pretty simple and easy to get around the city.

There are quite many museums worth seeing in Zagreb. Nathan and I went to the Croatian Museum of History, the Museum of Broken Relationships and Zagreb City Museum and really enjoyed our time there, especially at the Zagreb City Museum. There are also many churches worth visiting like the Cathedral of Zagreb and St. Mark's Church. If you have plenty of time, I would recommend you to go to the Tourist Information Center and pick up a city-walking-tour map and explore on your own leisure. Old buildings, cobblestone streets, bustling squares, local restaurants and pubs and some green spaces and gardens are all worth it to spend a day there.

Nathan and I happened to be in Zagreb during its long holiday (Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders), so there was a celebration of the 20th anniversary of liberation of Croatia. There were some road closures, and a ton of people gathering in the city watching the firework and some military airplanes flying in the sky. The Croatian History Museum also had a special exhibit to honor those who fought in the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995).

Overall, our trip to Croatia was memorable and well worth the long bus ride from Munich. I wish we had more time (and money and energy) to explore this beautiful country. Next trip to Croatia might not come around anytime soon, but I was glad we made it there while living in Europe.