Compact with a rich cultural and historical heritage, and the main sights manageable in two or three days, Croatia’s capital is the perfect short break destination, says Jeannine Williamson


Zagreb 48 hours T


FACTFILE


Where To Book it Essentially Prestige 01425 480400


www.prestigeholidays. co.uk/croatia


Three nights B&B at the four-star Palace Zagreb starts from £389pp for September departures, including easyJet flights from Gatwick and the services of the operator’s local representative. Built in 1907 in Art Nouveau style, the central hotel was a favourite with actor Orson Welles.


General Information Time Zone: GMT+1hr. Getting there: On Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, the A1 motorway connects Split with Zagreb, a journey time of approximately four hours. A train from Split takes five hours and 30 minutes. Climate: Zagreb is a year- round destination averaging 20C in summer, reaching a high of 30C in July and August and averaging 1C in winter.


Who Flies There Croatia Airlines (020 8563 0022, www.croatiaairlines.com) flies direct from Heathrow and Gatwick to Zagreb and easyJet (0871 244 2366, www.easyjet. com) flies from Gatwick. Contact: Zagreb Tourist Board www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr Croatian National Tourist Office 020 8563 7979 www.croatia.hr


he best place to begin any visit to Zagreb is its historic upper town where a highlight in every sense of the word is the 334ft cathedral, a city landmark and the tallest building in Croatia. Each day the cathedral square is lined


with the colourful stalls of the Dorac open-air market, which is a great place to enjoy a tasty snack from one of the food stands and pick up some souvenirs. As an aside, an interesting fact is that Croatia is where the tie and cravat were ‘invented’, which is why there is no shortage of places selling neckwear. Another striking building, and one of


the most photographed in the upper town, is St Mark’s Church with its colourful tiled roof decorated with a coat of arms. From here it’s easy to walk through pretty cobbled streets to the lower town, but a novel way of getting there is on the funicular railway that links the two districts. Zagreb’s top cultural sights include the


Archaeological Museum, with its collection of Egyptian mummies and striking Roman


tourist attractions across the city. At night Zagreb comes alive with


everything from cool jazz to clubbing through to the early hours, along with restaurants and bars that appeal to all tastes. A newcomer on the dining scene is the vegetarian Green Point in Varsavska Street. Created under the guidance of top Croatian chef Branko Ognjenovi it is billed


“Zagreb is a green city and visitors can stroll


through parks or the tranquil Botanical Gardens, a pretty oasis of 10,000 plants and lakes”


sculpture, the Girl from Solin, and the modern Museum of Contemporary Art, which is packed with modern treasures. As well as taking in a ballet, concert or


opera at the Croatian National Theatre it is worth visiting the 19th century baroque building to admire its ornate interior. Active visitors can take to the streets


on the new Blue Bike tour (www. zagrebbybike.com), a half-day guided cycle tour that includes a museum and gallery visit, shopping and lunch. A recent initiative launched by the Zagreb Tourist Board enables visitors to access English language information, maps and videos via their smartphones using Quick Response (QR) codes at 28


as the city’s first healthy fast food restaurant. At any time of day locals can be seen socialising and lingering over a coffee – there are some great coffee houses in Ban Jelacic Square. The city also hosts a year-round


programme of festivals and events and during the summer months these spill out onto the streets. Set between the slopes of the


Medvednica Mountain and Sava River, Zagreb is a surprisingly green city and sightseeing visitors can stroll through parks or visit the tranquil Botanical Gardens, a pretty oasis of 10,000 plants and lakes conveniently close to the city’s main railway station.


Zagreb’s Croatian National Theatre, a nineteenth century Baroque building which hosts theatre, opera and ballet


Somewhere different… “For seasoned city breakers Zagreb is a


fun, cosmopolitan city that is an exciting alternative to well-known destinations like Paris and Rome” ANDREA GODFREY, GENERAL MANAGER, REGENT HOLIDAYS


Something old,


something new… “Ideal for a two-night stay, Zagreb’s main selling points are nice restaurants, trendy bars and an old town centre complete with flower markets” RUPERT DIGGINS, SALES & MARKETING MANAGER, BALKAN HOLIDAYS


Smart card… “Starting at £7 for 24 hours and


available online, from tourist information and hotels, the Zagreb Card provides unlimited free travel and discounts at museums, attractions, shops and restaurants” JEANNINE WILLIAMSON, TRAVEL WRITER


www.shortbreaksholidays.com • May/June 2012 13


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SerGiO GOBBO – CNTB


thedeal seal


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