Croatia’s capital tends to get overlooked by families compared to the cities on the coast, like Dubrovnik and Split, but with so many things to do in Zagreb with kids, it’s somewhere that needs to be on your family city break list.
contains affiliate links*
We teamed our visit with a few days in Dubrovnik, travelling (practically) from one end of the country to the other – and if you think that seeing one Croatian city is seeing them all, Zagreb will change your mind.
With more of a central European feel here and a whole host of very quirky museums, alongside history and streets made for strolling, here’s why we loved Zagreb plus my pick of the best things to do in Zagreb with kids.
Take a city tour
I love a city walking tour as the best way to get your bearings in a new city, as well as sharing some of the unusual stories that you might not otherwise discover.
Unlike some other European capitals, Zagreb isn’t huge, so you can also cover quite a lot of the highlights in a few hours.
We loved this city tour with a visit to the Second World War tunnels – as well as taking us past a few landmarks, such as the statue in Ban Josip Jelačić Square, Zagreb cathedral (currently mostly under scaffolding), the Stone Gate and the Lotrščak Tower – as well as learning about the model solar system around Zagreb and visiting the Oktogon passageway.
Our tour guide also filled in some of the history of Zagreb, as well as life in Zagreb today, plus gave us tips on everything from where to go for a walk to where to eat. At 2 1/2 hours long, it’s better with slightly older kids but definitely family-friendly.
I also loved the look of the Secret Zagreb tours, which has some fun family-friendly options (but sadly timings didn’t work for us) or you can download some free quests which are perfect with younger kids, with puzzles and challenges to complete as you explore.
This two-hour walking tour is a slightly shorter option, or save your feet with a bike tour of Zagreb instead. For something on more recent history, a Communism and Croatian Homeland War tour is an interesting alternative for teens, or discover Croatian cuisine as you go with a food walking tour of Zagreb.
You can even get creative and make your own souvenir postcard, as well as hearing some of the stories and legends of the city on this unusual Zagreb tour.
Hear the cannon
Head to Lotrščak Tower in Zagreb’s Upper Town (one of the oldest parts of the city) and every day at noon you can hear the cannon fire from the top floor.
The tower itself dates from the 13th century, and once housed a bell used to signal the time when the city gates closed each evening. But in the 19th century, an extra floor was added to the top of the tower, and a cannon placed there, first fired at midday on January 1, 1877.
Used as signal to the city’s bellringers that noon had arrived, and for the city’s inhabitants to set their clocks, these days it’s only a tourist attraction but it’s still a fun free thing to do in Zagreb with kids, and it’s often included in walking tours which are timed to reach the tower just before 12.
A few words of warning; the bang is REALLY loud. It might seem obvious, but having seen similar spectacles elsewhere, the fact that this sounds right above your head makes it seem even louder – my ears were ringing. With big crowds focused on the tower, you can also get pickpockets here, so keep an eye on your belongings as well as the upstairs window.
Find the city model
I’m a bit of a sucker for city models, which seem to pop up quite a bit in this part of the world – I’ve seen ones in Split and Ljubljana so far. And Zagreb has its own, just around the corner from Ban Josip Jelačić square, another common stop on city tours.
The scale model is 13 square metres in size, with bronze castings of the city layout, as well as more than 400 separate structures visible on the block of stone, so you can spot your accommodation, some of the city landmarks and generally tower over Zagreb like a giant.
it’s also a quick way to see where Zagreb’s oldest areas are: Gradec, where you can still find the Stone Gate, and Kaptol, home to the cathedral. If you look on the sides, you can also see the original coat of arms, as well as some information about the city’s history (in English and Croatian).
See the meteorological post
Head down to Zrinjevac park and you can spot Zagreb’s unusual meteorological column (also known as the meteorological post, meteorological pole or Meteorološki stup in Croatian) at the north end of the square.
A short walk from Ban Josip Jelačić square, the instruments in the column have been recording temperature, humidity, and air pressure since 1884 when Dr Adolf Holzer, an amateur meteorologist, built the column as a gift to the city.
But it wasn’t just a desire to give something back (or to make himself look wealthy and benevolent, though it probably helped) as Holzer was also attempting to discover how climate affected human health.
Today, the column no longer provides official data but still provides impressively accurate measurements – so if you fancy an alternative to an app on your phone, or just seeing something a little unusual, it’s well worth stopping by.
See the Stone Gate
Once there were four main gates through the city walls into Zagreb – the Stone Gate, Mesnička Gate, Opatička Gate, and the gate near the Friar’s Tower.
Between earthquake, fire and city expansion, all the gates (and most of the walls) were destroyed over the centuries with the exception of the Stone Gate.
In fact, this is a rebuilt version after the wooden gate burned down in 1731, when according to legend, only a painting of the Virgin and Child miraculously escaped the flames.
Today, it’s a shrine with the painting inside, and space for people to light candles and offer up prayers – you’re asked to be silent as you walk through. You can still see some small fragments of the old city wall nearby on Ulica Ivana Tkalchiceva, as well as by the cathedral, but visiting the Stone Gate is a good way to visualise how the medieval city might have looked.
Venture into the Second World War tunnels
Tucked away under a hill, the Second World War tunnels get their name because they were built during the war as an air raid shelter, although they weren’t used as much as the name suggests.
After that, they mostly fell into disrepair until they hosted one of the country’s first raves in the 90s, before being used as a civilian refuge during the Croatian War of Independence – and now occasionally to host events and exhibitions.
These days, they’re mostly used by locals as a short-cut rather than going the whole way around the hill, as they’re free and open to the public between 9am and 10pm (normally), and makes a very atmospheric place to walk.
There’s an entrance just around the corner from the base of the funicular, just off Mesnička Street, leading to Radićeva street (with some other passageways leading south from the central hall). Around 350m long, it only takes about five minutes to walk through.
Walk the green horseshoe
The green horseshoe – Lenuci’s Green Horseshoe to be precise – is the catchy name for the string of parks, gardens and green areas in Zagreb which form a U shape through the city.
A great option with kids, you can stroll from one green space to another, a lovely way to explore part of the capital. You can start anywhere you want but an easy option is to begin at Zrinjevac park after checking out the meteorological post, and head south.
The route takes you towards King Tomislav Square then along to the Zagreb botanical gardens (free to enter) and through another series of parks and squares to the Croatian National Theatre.
Depending how fast you walk, you could do the whole horseshoe in around half an hour without any stops, although it would be a shame to race through rather than strolling it, especially in the pretty botanical gardens, which are home to more than 10,000 species of plants.
For another green space in Zagreb with a difference, head to Maksimir Park, where you’ll find the 17-acre Zagreb Zoo – it’s around 15 minutes from central Zagreb by taxi or public transport and is home to over 7,000 animals from across the world
Stroll up Ulica Ivana Tkalcica
Once, there was a creek dividing the two original parts of Zagreb – Kaptol and Gradec. Today, the water still runs underground, but the route it took is hidden under Ulica Ivana Tkalcica in the Upper Town.
Lined with bars and restaurants, as well as souvenir shops and a string of pretty colourful buildings, it’s touristy for sure, but horseshoe still a lovely place to wander, to take a few photos and stop for a drink or two.
We actually ended up staying in a great AirBNB on the street, which also made a great base to explore the Upper Town.
There’s even a playground on the street if you’ve got younger kids, although it’s worth knowing that there’s a statue of a naked woman very close by as this area was once the red light district in centuries gone by. The statue, incidentally, was there before the playground!
Ride the funicular
Dating back to the 1890s, the Zagreb Funicular is the oldest and first means of public transport in the city – and at only 66m long, it’s also the shortest funicular in the world.
The Funicular is currently closed for renovations and is due to reopen in 2026 so you’ll have to wait until then for a chance to experience ‘the old lady’ of Zagreb
Connecting the Upper and Lower Towns, it cuts out the hill leading up to the Lotrscak Tower if you’re coming from Tomićeva street – not an impossible walk even with younger kids, but riding a funicular is always fun!
Soak up the views
Standing in the Upper Town, you get some fantastic views down onto the rooftops and out towards the Lower Town – you needn’t pay for a pricy viewpoint either, just standing by the Lotrscak Tower is a good option, or climbing the top for an even better view.
You can also walk from the tower to the Strossmayer Promenade, just along the hillside, which has more lovely views. Or in the other direction, walk towards St Catherine’s Church and there is a viewpoint at Gradec Plato, not far from the love locks at the top of the Zakmardi stairs.
If you are considering Zagreb 360, the viewpoint tower not far from Ban Josip Jelacic Square on the rooftop of the Ilica Skyscraper, it’s currently closed.
Browse the food market
Save time for a wander around Dolac Market, the main market of Zagreb for around 80 years, which takes place every day (it’s best to get there before 1pm, the earlier the better).
The section underground includes the fish market, as well as meat and some cheese – just head down the stairs from the main square to get there.
Or if you’re looking for fruit and vegetables, they’re in the open-air section along with souvenirs, honey and other items for sale. Keep an eye out for the fresh cornbread as well.
Leading down the street towards Ban Josip Jelacic Square, there’s also a flower market. Whether you’re browsing or buying, it’s a lovely place to wander around. And if you head there on Friday evenings from around mid April to mid July, you can also find food being served as part of the special Place Market events.
Nikola Tesla Technical Museum
Despite its name, the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum isn’t only focused on Tesla’s ideas and inventions – although you can see those inside too.
Instead, it’s a much wider science and technology museum, with a whole section on transport and planes, another on geology, a planetarium, displays on agriculture and firefighting and even a chance to learn more about radioactive waste.
If you visit at specific times (3pm Tuesday to Friday) or at 11am on weekends, there’s also a guided tour through the museum’s mine included in entry, as well as a demonstration of Tesla’s experiments at the Nikola Tesla Cabinet for some more interactive exhibits.
It’s worth knowing that while much of Zagreb is walkable, the museum is a little way out of the centre – it’s not too hard to get to, around 10 minutes by taxi from Ban Josip Jelacic Square or around a 25-30 minute walk.
If you’re walking the green horseshoe, it’s about 10 minutes from the botanical gardens so it’s easy to combine with that as well.
Museum of Contemporary Art
If you have kids who love art – or who you’re hoping to get a bit more engaged with art – it’s hard to beat somewhere which has a giant slide in it.
Because Zagreb’s Museum of Contemporary Art has its own custom-made double slide created by Belgian artist Carsten Holler, which takes you down to the car park before you leave – there are stairs as an alternative if you don’t fancy racing each other down.
The focus inside, with permanent and temporary exhibitions is on all forms of contemporary art, so you could see performing art and film art as well as visual arts, including international artists such as Marina Abramović as well as Croatian artists since 1950.
It’s also a way out of the city centre, across the Sava river from Zagreb’s Upper and Lower Towns – it’s only around 15 minutes by taxi from Ban Josip Jelačić Square or 30 minutes by public transport, but not within easy walking distance.
There’s a discount on family tickets if you have children under 15, currently 12 Euros (Compared to 11 Euros for a single adult ticket)
Zagreb City Museum
Zagreb’s City Museum dates back to 1907, sharing the history of Croatia’s capital from its earliest days – including some traces of prehistoric life discovered under the museum’s foundations.
As you walk through, starting with these underground sections on the Iron Age settlements, you’ll move through Zagreb’s history, particularly looking at the founding of Kaptol, centered around the cathedral, and Gradec on the hill opposite.
There’s a huge amount to discover as you go, but the museum’s age does tell – this is a very traditional, old-fashioned type of museum where most things are in glass cases so there’s not a lot that’s interactive for kids. It’s also worth having Google Translate on your phone, as not all the information is in English.
The medieval history is spread out over quite a few rooms, including some interesting displays on the guilds, and a surprising amount on each of the important religious orders based in the city, before taking you through the Ottoman attacks and Zagreb’s past as part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
The last hundred years or so are covered at a gallop, with one room on Communist Yugoslavia and another small one on Croatian independence, although if you’re looking to learn more about the Balkans conflict of the 90s, you won’t find it.
There are some unexpected quirky areas though, including a room on the Oscar-winning Zagreb school of animation.
Incidentally, if you happen – like us – to visit on May 31, which is City of Zagreb day, it’s completely free. Otherwise, family tickets cost 8 Euros if you’re visiting with children under 15 (or 5 Euros for adults). Not one for toddlers or younger kids, although a quick visit works for older kids who are interested in history (and it’s not too pricy for that).
Haha House
Zagreb seems to specialise in quirky museums – and Haha House is one of the most family-friendly of the lot. The world’s first Museum of Laugher, the main aim is to make you laugh at least once, as well as introducing you to different types of humour.
To get you in the mood, there’s a slide from the entrance down into the museum, where you move through a series of rooms and interactive displays.
Some seem designed with kids in mind – pressing a button to play fart noises? Why not. But there’s plenty to make adults giggle as well – one spot had a chicken choir rendering various tunes, which was surprisingly hilarious, while another played different giggles, guffaws, chuckles and laughs when you pressed different buttons.
There’s also a chance to dress up and take silly photos, or pull on giant inflatable Sumo suits for a bit of Sumo wrestling.
But there was also another room looking at the different types of comedy, with illustrations including cartoons and references to TV shows, all while Charlie Chaplin played on a screen in the background for a bit of silent slapstick fun.
You can spend as long as you like, and at busy times you’ll need to queue – there was one room which permanently seemed to have a long line, although the rest was pretty quiet on the afternoon when we visited.
In the end, we spent less than an hour, so it wasn’t the cheapest attraction in Zagreb for families, but it really is impossible not to laugh!
Cravaticum
You might think that a museum on the history of the tie would be the last thing to appeal to kids, but Cravaticum – another of the string of quirky museums in Zagreb – is surprisingly good for families.
Walking you through the origins of the tie, which began its life in Croatia during wartime, the unique museum follows its history and looks at how it became fashionable and then a piece of everyday wear.
The museum visit starts with a video which whisks you through this history and packs in some unusual facts – did you know the longest tie every made measured 8,915ft, longer than 28 football fields lined up end to end?
There are also several interactive sections, including one area where you can practise tying ties, with diagrams and instructions around the walls. There’s also a stopwatch to see how close you can get to the Guinness World Record for tying a Windsor knot, which stands at just over 10 seconds. The closest we got was around 20!
There’s also a fun optical illusion with a curtain of ties around two mirrors, where you can get some great effects using your phone and kept us entertained for a surprisingly long time. Or there’s a tie jigsaw and a chance to design your own on a screen for some more hands-on fun.
In the end, we actually spent over an hour exploring this little museum, longer than we did at HaHa House…! It’s close to the entrance to the Second World War tunnels so you can combine the two. Kids aged 7 and under are free.
For more optical illusions, there’s also Zagreb’s Museum of Illusions, which is around a 10-minute walk from Cravaticum along Ilica Street, with plenty of fun photo opportunities, chances to trick your eyes and brain, and one of the largest hologram exhibitions in Europe
Museum of Broken Relationships
Perhaps the best-known of Zagreb’s unusual museums, the Museum of Broken Relationships is better for older tweens/teens but it’s a surprisingly good option for families with older children.
There’s very little that’s inappropriate, and while all the displays focus on relationships which have ended, the exhibits are often surprisingly creative, funny and even uplifting, although inevitably a lot is very sad.
The rooms are mostly themed, so one focuses on items with links to food, for example, while another hinges around music, with vinyl and cassette tapes among the items.
But you can find everything from a Mario Kart steering wheel and buttons to an EU flag, all with their stories listed alongside. With several rooms, you might spend longer here than you expect, although it’s another one which is likely to take an hour or less.
If you’re looking for another unique activity in Zagreb with teens, check out Smash It, an attraction designed to let you safely break and smash items up – somewhere between stress relief and fun, it’s another of Zagreb’s quirky things to do with older kids
Chocolate Museum Zagreb
Head inside Zagreb’s Chocolate Museum and you can learn all about the history of chocolate and how it’s produced.
Plus, of course, there’s the chance to do some tastings, with a chance to try nine different types of chocolate samples, and buy some more from local artisan producers before you leave – as well as a few chocolate-themed selfie spots. You can even grind your own cacao beans.
If you’ve been to a chocolate museum before, you’ll already have an idea of what you’ll find inside Zagreb’s Chocolate Museum too – but how many kids say no to more choc?
Christmas Market
If you’re visiting Zagreb at Christmas, the city’s Christmas market was voted best in Europe for three years in a row.
Advent Zagreb is actually a collection of 25 Christmas markets spread through the city’s squares and main streets, often with individual themes but making it feel like the whole capital as been transformed into a winter wonderland.
There are all the usual artisand products and crafts you might expect, plus mulled wine and traditional Croatian food, as well as various performances and other entertainment to get everyone in a festive mood.
The markets usually open on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent in late November and run to the first week of January.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission
Images: Cathedral/meteorological pole/botanical garden/funicular/Tesla Museum/Contemporary art museum/Christmas bauble courtesy of Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels
