We have spent 10 years of our lives in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia and the largest city of our country. It’s quite a lot, and at this point it’s almost one-third of our lives. It has been almost a decade since we returned to the southern shores of Croatia, but we still consider Zagreb as our second home and love every opportunity to visit it. This article will be about the day trips from Zagreb, and we’ll present you our 5 favorites together with the links to the highest-rated online tours available.
Even though Zagreb is not the most visited place in Croatia, it still has a lot of potential when it comes to tourist offer, and its location makes it a great destination for a day trip to different parts of Croatia as well as some other neighboring countries such as Slovenia. Apart from the day trips, Zagreb is also a great place to explore, and we suggest visiting some of its attractions before venturing to any of the Zagreb day trips. We always loved to walk the upper town of Zagreb at nighttime. It really has that special kind of vibe.
Here’s our list of the best day trips from Zagreb, Croatia.
1. Plitvice Lakes National Park – Marvel of Croatian Nature We are starting this journey with one of the most popular and breathtaking day trips from Zagreb, the one to Plitvice Lakes National Park , a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most famous national park in Croatia. Plitvice Lakes is famous for its cascading waterfalls, clear lakes, and lush forests that surround this park.
What to Expect:
16 interconnected lakes with vibrant turquoise waters and wooden boardwalks, and walking trails
The famous Great Waterfall (Veliki slap), the highest waterfall in Croatia
Wooden paths that go through serene landscapes
Option to take an electric boat across the largest lake, Kozjak, or to rent a wooden one, or explore a bit on your own
Travel Info:
Distance from Zagreb: around 130 km
Travel time: 2 to 2.5 hours by car or bus
Recommended tour:
2. Ljubljana and Lake Bled – Slovenian Wonders in a Day From the most famous national park of Croatia, we’re crossing the border and visiting neighboring Slovenia to experience the fairytale atmosphere of Ljubljana and Lake Bled in a single day trip. Both Slovenia and Croatia are part of the European Union, which means that there are no border controls, but we still advise bringing a passport and other travel documents with you.
What to Expect:
Ljubljana: A bit smaller than Zagreb, Ljubljana is a green capital with characteristic baroque architecture, a castle, and a vibrant riverside
Lake Bled: A stunning glacial lake with a picturesque island and a medieval castle located on the cliff rising above the lake. Lake Bled is one of the most visited destinations in Slovenia.
Optional boat ride to Bled Island and a climb to the castle for panoramic views
Travel Info:
Distance from Zagreb to Ljubljana: ~140 km
Distance from Ljubljana to Lake Bled: ~55 km
Travel time: About 1.5 hours to Ljubljana, then 45 mins to Bled
Recommended tour:
3. Istria – A Taste of the Mediterranean Istria is yet another place we adore. It’s the largest peninsula in Croatia and a place famous for many things, gastronomy and wines being at the top of the list. Istria is a bit different from the other coastal parts of Croatia, and it has an evident Italian influence. It also has beautiful hilltop towns like Grožnjan and Motovun.
What to Expect:
Visit Rovinj , one of Croatia’s most romantic coastal towns
Explore Pula and its well-preserved Roman amphitheater and other Roman-era ruins
Try Istrian truffles, olive oil, and wine in local restaurants
Visit any of the Istria hilltop towns
Travel Info:
Distance from Zagreb to Rovinj: ~250 km
Travel time: Around 3 hours by car (best by a private tour or rental car)
Recommended tour:
4. Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle – Underground Worlds of Slovenia A bit more of Slovenia since Zagreb is a perfect base for exploring the wonders of this country. And when speaking about the wonders, we can’t but mention Postojna Cave, one of the most stunning places in Slovenia. Postojna Cave is one of the most impressive karst caves in whole Europe, and Predjama Castle is a unique fortress built into a cliff. We suggest combining the visit to both locations for the best experience.
What to Expect:
A stunning train ride through the vast underground caverns of Postojna Cave
Stalactites, stalagmites, and even tiny blind salamanders (“baby dragons”)
A tour of the dramatic Predjama Castle embedded into a 123-meter-high cliff
Travel Info:
Distance from Zagreb: ~180 km
Travel time: ~2 hours by car
Recommended tour:
5. Varaždin and Trakošćan Castle – Baroque Elegance and Fairytale Castles Finally, we end this list of the best day trips from Zagreb, Croatia, with the fairytale region of Croatia. It’s called Zagorje and it’s located just a bit north of Zagreb. This Zagreb day trip will take you north to Varaždin and nearby Trakošćan Castle . This tour offers a perfect mix of architecture, art, and beautiful countryside full of vineyards and rolling hills.
What to Expect:
Explore the picturesque Varaždin old town full of baroque buildings
Visit Trakošćan Castle, located on a hill above a serene lake
Tour the castle’s interior and enjoy the park and forest trails that surround it
Travel Info:
Distance from Zagreb: ~90 km
Travel time: Around 1.5 hours by car
Recommended tour:
Before You Venture To Any Of the Zagreb day trips Zagreb will always have a special place in our hearts. Even though it’s not as touristy as some other destinations in Croatia , Zagreb can still offer a lot, and many travelers choose to visit it on their journey through Croatia. Its airport is well-connected with many airports in Europe, so many travelers choose it as a starting or ending point for their vacation in Croatia.
We suggest you spend a day or two in Zagreb and explore this city as well as embark on any of the day trips available from it. Zagreb is a perfect base for exploring some of the most stunning places in Croatia and neighboring countries such as Slovenia.
Enjoy day trips from Zagreb!
