Zagrebculture & arts

Zagreb is a city deeply rooted in the European cultural space to which it contributes immeasurable cultural value. Take a walk through the streets and squares whose excellent monuments have become symbols of the city and among them the work of a famous sculptor, Ivan Meštrović. Make an appointment in the city centre, next to the monument of Nikola Tesla, the inventor who determined the development of civilisation with his inventions or visit galleries and museums to take in all the creations of these two greats with a Croatian and an American address.

Theatres: Universal Language of Art

The Zagreb theatre scene is exceptionally rich and varied so schedules of around thirty theatres offer plays which cater to everyone’s tastes.

Museums: in Zagreb and around the World

The museums of Zagreb tell their own story about the city, Croatia but also about the important heritage of the modern civilization.

University: A City of Knowledge, Ideas and New Projects

Did you know that the University of Zagreb was listed among the top 500 universities in the world on this year’s Academic Ranking of World Universities also known as the Shanghai Ranking?

Can't get enough of culture? Here's more

The gala concert in Brussels marked the beginning of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2020.

Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall: Japanese Drumming Ensemble Kodo in Zagreb

The 15th Museum Night will take place on the last day of January. It will be dedicated to the important anniversaries of Croatian museums, most of which are located in the capital, Zagreb.

Two Zagreb cultural institutions - Zagreb Soloists and Zagreb City Museum have through joint engagement set up a retrospective exhibition on the most famous Croatian and world-renowned classical music ensemble.

The Zagreb 80s Museum, in cooperation with the Zagreb Tourist Board, officially opened its doors on the Chinese market as the Shanghai 80s - Zagreb 80s museum.

Museum of Chocolate, theme park dedicated to chocolate, its historical, geographical and cultural significance opens to the public in Zagreb.

The Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra feature on Something’s Happening! A Christmas Album by CeCe Winans which has been nominated for Best Gospel Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards which will be held in January.

Wiener Sängerknaben (The Vienna Boys' Choir), one of the most famous children's choirs in the world, will perform at the Vatroslav Lisinski Hall in February!

Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum will be hosting Zagreb Museum of Arts and Crafts "My best wishes" exhibition till February 2020 as part of the Croatian-Chinese year of culture and tourism.

Winners of numerous ballet awards and recognitions, The Ukrainian Classical Ballet troupe is returning to Lisinski with impressive stories about two extraordinary women - Carmen and Scheherazade!

Hermann Bollé: Architect Who Designed the City

Zagreb is a city remembered for its architecture and above everything else, unique atmosphere. This is what visitors say, and citizens agree with and for this to a great extent give Hermann Bollé the credit.

LADO: Excellent Performances of Croatian Traditional Music

Top professional singers, musicians and dancers from the National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia have thrilled audiences worldwide with their impressive repertoire of traditional songs.

Zagreb Soloists: Admired in Zagreb and in the World

They took the world’s best music stages by storm, but they gladly share the equal joy of music with their fellow citizens in completely unexpected places.

Nikola Tesla: A Monument and a Museum to Honor the Great

Nikola Tesla, 10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943 was inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.

WE LOVE ZAGREB

Zagreb Facts

Known as the “Špica”, the pedestrianized stretch between Ban Jelačić Square and Petar Preradović Square (also known as Flower Square) is Zagreb's celebrated cofee strip.

Hotel Esplanade was built in 1925. It provided luxury lodging to Orient Express passengers on their route from Paris to Istanbul.

The Zagreb funicular is the world's shortest cable railway used for public transport. The 64-second ride covers a distance of 66 meters.

On one night every year museums stay open late and entry is free. The event is known as the Night Of Museums, and is held in Zagreb and other cities across Croatia.

The aluminium statue of this great Croatian writer was made in 1972 by sculptor Ivan Kožarić. It is a fiting tribute to a true aficionado of Zagreb.

Animated series Professor Balthazar is the bestknown product of the Zagreb School of Animated Films. The broadcasting rights to this children’s classic have been sold in 30 countries worldwide.

The Botanical Garden prides itself on a collection of more than 5,000 plant species and subspecies, 300 of which are protected.

Surrounded by landscaped greenery, Zagreb's largest cemetery Mirogoj is also a wonderful openair sculpture park.

Opened in 1794, Maksimir is the oldest and, according to many locals, the most beautiful of Zagreb’s parks. Maksimir stretches across 316 hectares, an area almost equal in size to that of New York's Central Park.

Gas lamps were first introduced in Zagreb in 1863. Today, more than 200 of them are still in use.

Street Art: New Face of the City

Did you know that Zagreb hosts one of the top 10 murals in the world? In 2016 at the Festival d’art public in Montreal this flattering title was awarded to the Zagreb mural the Blue Whale of the French street artist Étien.

Slavoljub Penkala: from Zagreb to the World

In 1906 Slavoljub Penkala patented a mechanical pencil called Penkala, and in the same year he opened his first shop in what is today Praška Street. This was where the mechanical pencil and the fountain pen started their world trip…

Ivan Meštrović: the City as a Gallery

Did you know that two great sculptors, a Croat Ivan Meštrović and a Frenchman Auguste Rodin were friends? Even more, the French great said that Meštrović was “a miracle among sculptors” describing Meštrović as an even greater sculptor than himself.

Marija Jurić Zagorka: Chronicler of Zagreb Who Challenged Stereotypes

Many were impressed with her talent which allowed her to write using her analytical and sharp mind, but according to social norms of the late nineteenth century it was simply unacceptable for a journalist to be a woman.

Lifestyle: The Joy of Life

Many tourists speak enthusiastically about the atmosphere and lifestyle in Zagreb, this wonderful combination of business and leisure, the fact that is both vibrant and safe, which is very important.

Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra: Beauty and Joy of Music

In the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York the performance of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra was met and accompanied by a long applause. The orchestra was admired in concert halls of numerous other cities on all continents. Nevertheless, stages of the City of Zagreb are its most frequent and dearest destination.

Open-Air Events: When the City Becomes a Stage

For many musicians, Zagreb is a famous, renowned and indispensable destination.

Music: Are There Any Tickets Left?

Famous music festivals of various genres, attractive concerts; all of this is a part of the Zagreb scene which is pushing boundaries, making Zagreb an attractive open-air stage.

Stories created by locals

#ZagrebTrivia - Dolac Market

Cities can have heart and soul, but nothing works without a stomach. Dolac farmers market is "The Stomach of Zagreb".

A Cup of Coffee and Special Experience, Please

We all have our own criteria for choosing our favourite café or a bar and, naturally, they are usually highly subjective. Location, music, that handsome waiter, your favourite brand of beer, comfortable chairs, homey atmosphere... It can be anything.

September Food Festival Blockbusters

Oh, yes, we love outdoor food festivals, especially in quite possibly the best time of the year – late summer. At the moment, two very popular festivals are overlapping on locations right next to each other, which is a perfect opportunity to tell something more about them.

Blackberry Wine – Bloody Good!

The last month of summer is here, but the blackberries still linger on. In most parts of Croatia they grow in abundance, either wild or cultivated.

Heritage Hotels - a Perfect Glimpse into the past of a City

Choose a heritage hotel for your stay and discover the rich history of Zagreb through its oldest and most beautiful buildings.

Tea Time in Zagreb

Coffee is without the slightest doubt the most widely consumed hot beverage in Zagreb. So hugely important, it's not just a drink, it's one of the pillars of our urban culture. Tea stands no chance next to coffee, although it's also a common, familiar and popular drink found everywhere.

Places That Serve History

Zagreb has been around for a while; officially it's more than 900 years old. There were settlements here even before it was named Zagreb, but let's stick to this latest stretch of its history.

Jelačić Cake – Sweet Slice of History

While Christmas is about dozens of different little cookies, New Year's is more about something big and spectacular like a rich cream cake.

Tradition with a Twist

When you are looking for well-prepared local and traditional food in Zagreb's restaurants, your options are far from limited.

Winter Wine Patrol

Vino.com, the largest Croatian wine expo, has just ended, and this is a good opportunity to reflect on how lucky Zagreb is to have a richness of wine regions around it.

I Love This Game – Wild Game Cooking

It is a well-known fact that a large part of Croatian cuisine, especially in the continent, is meat-based.

New Generation of Zagreb Bistros

When we're talking about going out for a nice meal in Zagreb – not counting a quick bite on the go, a workman's lunch or an exclusive fine dining experience – bistro as a genre is still number one on our restaurant scene.

Hidden Terraces in Zagreb: A Quiet Places to Hide from a Turbulent City

Terraces, patios, and gardens of Zagreb bars offer much more than just a shadow. They provide a cool sanctuary where you can hide from all the rush that's normal for a capital.

Let It Pour

The Croatian booming and vibrant craft beer scene is no big news for anyone anymore.

The Zagreb 80's Museum: Travel Back in Time to the Most Romantic and Memorable Period of Zagreb's History

This article offers a story about a museum that is very unusual, about something that happened over 30 years ago. - That is the Zagreb 80's Museum.

Jazz Scene in the Capital: From 19th Century, New Orleans to Zagreb Today

If you happen to be a fanatic of music genre characterized by horns, keyboards, bass and other you're in for a treat.

Winter Weekend at Sljeme: Here's How to Spend Two Amazing Snow Days

Why you need to go to Sljeme and how to enjoy your time there.

Dessert Version 2.0

Going out for a dessert, whether to eat it in or take away, has always been a big deal in Zagreb, part of our rituals.

Perfect Winter Pairs

Winter is the season when we are mostly indoors and naturally spend a lot of time gathering around the table, not only because of the holidays.

Evergreen Christmas Cookies

Sometimes I think it's easier to count the stars in our galaxy than all the Christmas cakes and cookies prepared and proudly displayed in Croatian homes during the holiday season.

Eating around the World in Zagreb

Although huge for Croatian terms, Zagreb is a relatively small and cosy capital, certainly not fit to be compared with cities like London, Paris or Berlin in some aspects.

Reading in Zagreb: Discover Magical Places Filled with Knowledge, Education and Fun That We Like to Call - Libraries!

Find out why you should always read something and go to the library, and where to do it in Zagreb

#ZagrebVlog

Zagreb Shortcuts #24 - Cracking Zagreb Advent

Zagreb Shortcuts #22 – Lado

#ZagrebTrivia - Street Art

Zagreb Shortcuts #22 – Zagreb Soloists

Zagreb Shortcuts #21 - Meštrović´s Zagreb

Zagreb Shortcuts #20 - The Great Zagreb Interiors

#ZagrebTrivia - Skyscrapers

Zagreb Shortcuts #19 - Comings and goings

#ZagrebTrivia - Streets of Zagreb

Zagreb Shortcuts #18 - The Classy Advent

Zagreb Shortcuts #17 - The Inner Glow

Zagreb Shortcuts #16 - Tied to Zagreb

Zagreb Shortcuts #15 - The Spice of Zagreb

Zagreb Shortcuts #14 - Lights, Camera, Spring

Zagreb Shortcuts #13 - Zagreb Reads

Zagreb Shortcuts #12 - From Zagreb With Love

Zagreb Shortcuts #10 - In Good Company

Zagreb Shortcuts #9 - Craft Beer Revolution

Zagreb Shortcuts #8 - The Hike

Zagreb Shortcuts #4 - Zagreb Lingo

Zagreb Shortcuts #2 - Museum Hopping

Zagreb Shortcuts #1 – A Zagreb Cup of Coffee

Sound-based app triggered by BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacons, mounted at most streetcar and bus stops in Zagreb, as well as throughout Zagreb’s historical attractions and city parks. The app features primarily the unpublished short stories by Croatian writers and a selection of outstanding short stories written by high school students.

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