Loving Zagreb for its lively downtown and beautiful parks

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Our journey to Zagreb was easy and relaxing and not too long and we arrived just in time for lunch and to check into our hotel, Hilton Canopy, which is in a great location, close to downtown.

Funky lobby of our hotel, Hilton Canopy, in Zagreb

After lunch, we met our Croatian town guide and started off our tour of the city by visiting the Maksimir Park, close to the city’s main soccer stadium.

Lake view in Maksimir Park, Zagreb

This large garden-park has a distinctly English feel to it with its long framed avenues and beautiful lake views, sweeping lawns with strategically placed copses of oak, hornbeam and chestnut, and well placed buildings, designed to create a striking image within the landscape.

View inside Maksimir Park

From Maksimir Park, we headed into the old town area and up to the cathedral, St Mary’s, and then on to the St Mark’s church with its distinctive colourful roof incorporating the Croatia flag.

Enjoying the long allee view in Maksimir Park

The city centre is a lively, bustling, engaging place with many attractive cafes and restaurants. We also saw market stalls selling various Croatian products, such as honey and cheese. 

Colourful roof of St Mark’s Church in Zagreb

The downtown reminded us a little bit of Vienna and Milan

There are various popular attractions in the town centre include a quirky Museum of Broken Relationships that is said to contain the remnants of various “broken relationships.”

Saint George and dead dragon in the heart of Zagreb

The museum is said to offer a “unique emotional journey around the world through hundreds of breaks-ups”.

It is interesting that it is located very close to a torture museum. Totally unrelated. 

St Mary’s Cathedral in Zagreb

We did not go in either museum but it was a topic of conversation as we toured the town taking in its special tourist sites.

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View from inside the music gazebo in Maksimir Park
Loraine enjoying a quiet moment in Maksimir Park
Zhen happy to have a live green beetle as a hat decoration
Joyce Stumpo climbs the heights at Zagreb monument
Zagreb’s lively downtown has the look of Vienna