Where to stay in Zagreb: Best hotels in the Upper and Lower Town
If you got here, it’s because you’re already planning a trip to Croatia so I’ll help you find the best place to stay in Zagreb.
While most travel guides will give you many options of areas to stay around town, there are only two neighborhoods in Zagreb I would truly recommend staying on your first visit: the Lower Town and Upper Town.
These are the best areas in Zagreb to stay in so you can explore everything on foot (which is key!). We visit Zagreb every year, so we’ve tried a lot of different accommodations and we’ve put together our best tips on this guide for you.
The eSim we recommend!
Don’t have time to read the entire guide? No problem, this is the international eSIM card we always recommend here at Mauka. It’s the one we always use when we travel and the only one that’s never let us down.
The best areas to stay in Zagreb
Zagreb is a capital city but the city center is quite compact. All the main attractions are within walking distance of each other, which is great.
So, to make the most of your trip, you’ll want to stay as close to the city center as possible. In practice, this means that the best areas to stay in Zagreb are the Upper Town and the Lower Town.
Pro tip: Zagreb’s main square is called Bana Josipa Jelačić and it’s a great point of reference for picking your accommodation in the city. Anywhere within walking distance of this square is well-located.
Is it better to stay in the Upper or Lower Town in Zagreb?
It’s better to stay in Zagreb’s Lower Town if you will be traveling via public transport and if this will be your first time visiting the city.
I say this because the central train station is located on the edge of Zagreb’s Lower Town, so by staying here, you can easily walk to your accommodation. Unlike what happens in many other destinations, the area around Zagreb’s train station is really nice and not sketchy at all. It’s a great place to stay.
Zagreb’s Lower Town is also a great area to stay if you will be traveling with kids. You can get really central accommodation, close to the main square, which means you’ll have only a short walk to any attraction in town.
And, since it’s the Lower Town, it’s less tiring because you don’t need to walk uphill to go back to your accommodation.
Personally, this is the area we normally stay in whenever we visit Zagreb because it’s very well located and super practical for coming and going.
Upper Town is another really popular area in Zagreb and, as the name suggests, it’s located a bit uphill from the Lower Town. It is still very well located and within a short walk from all the best attractions, so it’s a great place to stay as well.
Since Upper Town is a quieter area, I’d say it’s a great area to stay in Zagreb for couples or people looking for this quieter atmosphere. There are a lot of apartments available in the Upper Town, which is also great for people who prefer staying in apartments instead of hotels.
Where to stay in Zagreb’s Lower Town?
These are our favorite places to stay in Zagreb’s Lower Town:
- Hotel Jägerhorn: This is one of the best hotels in Zagreb in our opinion. It’s affordable for a higher-end hotel and it’s really well located.
- art’otel Zagreb, Powered by Radisson Hotels: Really modern and central hotel with all the facilities you can expect from the Radisson chain.
- Gallery Duplex Studio: Perfect apartment to stay in Zagreb’s Lower Town. This place is simple, cozy, and has the most beautiful little balcony for your morning breakfast.
Where to stay in Zagreb’s Upper Town?
These are our recommended places to stay in Zagreb’s Upper Town:
- FLOK Tkalciceva: They have quite a few apartment options in one of the best locations in the Upper Town.
- Endless Chanson: Great apartment suitable for up to 4 people. The apartment is wide and bright.
- Central Apartment Smiley: If you will be traveling with a car, this apartment is a great option because they offer free parking on site.
SafetyWing Travel Insurance
We know that insurance is one of those things that we think we don’t need… until we actually do! Dealing with hospital visits and health issues is stressful when you’re traveling, so getting a good travel insurance is the only thing that will give you peace of mind. We recommend SafetyWing, they have very flexible insurance plans covering almost every destination in the world! Take a look at their options and prices below.
Things to keep in mind when picking a place to stay in Zagreb
There are honestly so many options of apartments and hotels in Zagreb, that I am sure you will be able to find something you like even if the options I listed above don’t seem good enough.
To help you out, here are the things you need to bear in mind when you go looking for a place to stay in Zagreb:
- Parking: If you will be traveling with a car, I recommend getting a place that has parking included or at least public parking available nearby. This will save you a lot of headaches during your trip.
- Pedestrian Zone: Zagreb’s Old Town is a pedestrian-only zone so if you get a hotel that is within this area, you’ll have to carry your luggage on foot until the hotel. If you’ll be traveling with a lot of luggage, it might be a better idea to get a place outside of the pedestrian zone.
- Ratings: You will notice that a lot of the accommodation available in Zagreb consists of private apartments instead of hotels. This is really common in this region. The best way to make sure you’re getting a good place to stay in Zagreb is to read the ratings and comments from previous guests. I also tend to avoid new apartments that don’t yet have reviews.
- Stairs: Most places to stay in Zagreb’s city center are located in older buildings that don’t have elevators. This means you’ll need to carry your luggage up a few flights of stairs by yourself. The best way to discover if you’ll face this or not is by reading the comments from previous guests. If it is a 5th-floor apartment without an elevator, I guarantee someone will have mentioned it in their review.
What to do in Zagreb
FAQ – Best places to stay in Zagreb
Is it worth spending the night in Zagreb?
Yes, absolutely. Zagreb is a very young and lively city so you’ll have a lot of options of bars and restaurants to go to enjoy your evening.
The city also has a lot of options of things to do, so you should definitely consider spending at least 1-2 days to see it all.
How many days should I stay in Zagreb?
To visit the main attractions in the Old Town, we recommend staying at least 1 full day. But, if you want to visit the museums and more historical places, you could easily add another day here.
Is Zagreb safe at night?
Yes, it is very safe, especially in the city center which is an area that is always busy with tourists and residents.
We have been out in Zagreb many times and have always felt really safe.
That being said, we always recommend taking basic safety care with your surroundings and your personal belongings (just like you would anywhere in the world!).
Where to stay in Zagreb with kids?
Personally, I recommend staying in the Lower Town if you will be visiting Zagreb with kids. This part of town is the closest to most attractions, so you’ll have a shorter walk to visit everything you want.
Additionally, I recommend getting a place in a quieter street within Zagreb’s Lower Town. There are many suitable apartments for a family with kids, check our recommendations above for some ideas.
Is it worth staying near Zagreb’s Airport?
No. Zagreb’s Airport is located outside of the city center and you won’t have much to do around there.
The only reason to stay near the airport is if you have an early or late flight. Even so, I’d still prefer staying in Zagreb’s city center because you can order an Uber and the airport will be only a 30 min drive away.
Read also: Our tips for using Uber in Croatia
Read our other guides about Croatia
- Travel itinerary: 7-day road trip in Croatia
- What to do in Hvar
- Driving in Croatia as a foreigner
- Best SIM card for Croatia
- Guide for visiting Plitvice Lakes
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Croatia, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Croatia on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that we get a small commission from any purchase you make, at no additional cost to you!
