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Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, and it often doesn’t find its way onto the list of top places to visit in Croatia. So, that begs the question is Zagreb worth visiting?
And is Zagreb worth visiting alone as a solo traveller?
I personally don’t think Zagreb gets as much love as it should.
I loved Zagreb and 100% think Zagreb is worth visiting alone. It is so different than everywhere else you’re likely to visit in Croatia and is well worth a trip inland.
I don’t know why Zagreb doesn’t get the love it deserves, but hopefully that changes in the future!
This article will help you decide if visiting Zagreb is worth it for you and your travel style. I know Croatia is best known for it’s beautiful old towns, clear water, island hopping, and Game of Thrones.
But, there is more to the country than just the western coast. Zagreb is worth visiting as a solo traveller, and it isn’t even that far out of the way if your trip is centred around the coast.
I know this will be a controversial opinion, but Zagreb was my favourite city in Croatia that I visited.
A solo traveller’s guide to Croatia
Table of Contents
Is Zagreb Worth Visiting Alone? Here’s My Experience
The question here may be less to do with whether Zagreb is worth visiting alone or if it is worth visiting in general.
Zagreb is super solo travel friendly.
It’s easy to get around Zagreb either by foot or public transportation, it’s a bustling city where people are too busy to notice a solo traveller, the sights are better than you might think, and it is relatively affordable.
Especially when you compare it to some of the more expensive areas of Croatia.
Cough cough. The coastal part of Croatia and island hopping.
The Upside of Travelling to Zagreb Alone
Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia and is by far the most populated city in the country. It has almost 700,000 more people than the next most populated city.
That alone makes Zagreb super unique from everywhere else in the country, but there are more reasons to visit.
Firstly, the architecture is stunning.
St. Mark’s Church is to this day one of my favourite churches I’ve visited. You don’t even need to go inside to appreciate it. The outside architecture (especially the roof) is so beautiful.
One of my favourite museums in the world is also located in Zagreb: the Museum of Broken Relationships. It’s exactly like it sounds and should not be missed!
And, of course, the main attraction that drives the tourists to Zagreb is Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Although I would say if you can go to Krka National Park on your journey up the coast, do that instead of Plitvice or in addition to it. I personally think it’s the superior waterfall in Croatia.
Outside of all the things you can do in Zagreb, it’s a super easy city to travel in. It’s a great city for people new to travelling alone and people who are experienced solo travellers.
Everybody is super friendly, you can walk to all the major tourist attractions, it’s very hard to get lost in Zagreb, and it won’t break the bank.
You can also find more variety of food in Zagreb than you can in the coastal cities. Pretty much any food you’re craving, you can find. And for less than in coastal cities.
The reason I love Zagreb so much and think it’s worth visiting is because of the vibe. Some cities have an amazing vibe that’s hard to put into words, and Zagreb is one of those cities.
The Downside to Travelling to Zagreb Alone
There isn’t really a downside to visiting Zagreb alone.
It is a very easy city to travel in, and it is no different visiting Zagreb than it is visiting pretty much any other city in Europe.
What I’m saying is there isn’t anything particular about Zagreb that would make you not want to travel there alone.
If you’re comfortable with travelling alone or want to try travelling alone, Zagreb is a great choice if it’s a city you’re interested in visiting.
The only thing some people may feel uncomfortable with or hesitant about (especially new solo travellers) is visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park alone.
But the good news is is that it’s super easy to get to the national park via public transportation, or you can pay and take a guided tour.
If that’s the only thing that makes you question is Zagreb worth visiting alone, than you shouldn’t fret over that too much.
If you’re staying at a hostel, there is a pretty good chance you can find someone else in your room who is planning on going to Plitvice Lakes National Park the same day you are and go with them if you really don’t want to go alone.
Another reason you may not want to visit Zagreb alone is if you’re interested in going to the clubs and partying. I always find that it’s more fun to do that with another person.
So, either travel with a friend or make friends at your hostel if you’re staying at one.
What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone
The Bottom Line
The answer to the question is Zagreb worth visiting alone is yes.
At least in my opinion.
It’s a very easy city to travel in, has great sights for you to visit, and you likely won’t feel awkward being alone in the city.
If you’re thinking about visiting Zagreb alone, maybe this is the sign you need to book that trip!
Reasons to Visit Zagreb Alone
- It’s the biggest city in Croatia and has a much different vibe than anywhere else in the country you’re likely to visit
- Lots of fun things to see and do including museums, culture, and nature
- Affordable compared to the coastal cities
- It’s super easy to get around Zagreb by foot or public transportation
- Nobody will bat an eye that you’re travelling alone
Reasons to Not Visit Zagreb Alone
- If you’re not planning to see any other part of Croatia, it probably isn’t worth going to Croatia just to visit Zagreb
- If you’re interested in partying and going out a lot, you may want to visit Zagreb alone
- While Zagreb is cheaper than the costal cities, it isn’t the cheapest city in Europe. If you’re on an extreme budget, consider visiting Croatia’s neighbour Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s absolutely stunning and way cheaper than Croatia
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The Importance of Being Internet Safe
No matter where you travel, you’ll be relying on public wifi networks a lot. The problem with public wifi networks is that anybody can access them and steal your personal online information if they know how to and choose to.
And yes even hotel and restaurant wifi networks with a password are still public wifi networks because anybody who is staying there or eating there has access to the password!
Relying on public wifi networks is essential while travelling, but that doesn’t mean you have to put your personal online information (including your banking information) at risk.
The only way to make sure your online information is safe when using public wifi is by installing a VPN on your devices.
A VPN essentially puts up a forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for people to access your online information.
It makes using public wifi networks just as safe as using your home wifi where you’re the only person who knows the password.
Being internet safe while travelling is so important, and not enough people are talking about it!
My Favourite VPN
I’ve used a lot of different VPNs during my years of travel, and most of them frankly suck.
VPNs are notorious for slowing down your devices and making it super painful to use the internet.
I’ll be honest and say that there have been many times where I’ve put myself at risk and chose not to use a VPN because I was tired of how slow the internet was with the VPN turned on.
The frustration went away when I started using NordVPN.
It is the fastest VPN on the market, which is why I love it and recommend it to all my friends and family members. And to you as a fellow travel lover.
NordVPN is the only VPN service that I’ve enjoyed using and the only one that I’ve renewed my subscription with!
You can protect up to six devices with a single subscription, so you can keep all your devices safe and secure from prying eyes with one account.
Plus, NordVPN is super affordable.
The price of their two year plan is less per month than the price of a single latte at Starbucks.
My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect yourself with a VPN.
It’s a super small price to pay to know that all your personal online information is safe.
Top Zagreb Attractions
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you answer the question is Zagreb worth visiting alone?
I 100% think Zagreb is worth visiting alone or with a group. It’s a beautiful city, and it is actually quite underrated.
You won’t see nearly as many tourists as you do in the costal cities, and it’ll feel like you’re really getting to know the city.
If you’re already planning on visiting Croatia, tack a few extra days on to your trip to visit Zagreb.
You won’t regret it!
