Zagreb and Dubrovnik are two of Croatia’s most well-known cities. Zagreb is the capital and largest city in the country and Dubrovnik is a smaller city with a beautiful setting on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. These two cities are very different from each other so if you are trying to decide which city to visit, this is the ultimate guide to help you decide.
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Zagreb or Dubrovnik Overview
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and largest city in Croatia with over 800,000 people living there. Zagreb was originally two separate villages, Gradec and Kaptol, until the 1800s when the growth of the two villages merged the two together.
The city has a long history of fighting for its independence because it sits in between Turkey and German, who were trying to expand their empire throughout the ages. Zagreb is the main transportation and industrial hub of Croatia. Today, the city is known for its beautiful public squares and cathedrals.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a coastal city with just under 45,000 people living there. It is one of the most visited cities in Croatia and is also one of the most iconic cities on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Dubrovnik is known for its old town and its well-preserved fortifications and city walls. The Old City of Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been the filming location for many major productions like Game of Thrones and parts of Stars Wars: The Last Jedi.
Things to See
Zagreb
Cathedral of Zagreb is a Roman Catholic cathedral that is also the tallest building in Croatia.
Ban Jelačić Square is the main square in the heart of Zagreb.
Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb officially open in 1895 and was the first theatre in the city.
Mimara Museum is a large museum featuring art from some of Europe’s most famous artists.
The Zagreb Art Pavilion is a 19th century building in King Tomislav Square which is one of the most famous squares in the city.
Dubrovnik
The City Walls are some of the best-preserved in Europe. You can walk on these old walls for a fee.
Stradun is the main street in Dubrovnik.
Fort Lovrijenac is a fortress perched on a cliff that is responsible for helping to protect the city for centuries.
Dubrovnik Cathedral is a large Baroque cathedral in the old town.
Banje Beach is a pebble beach with an incredible view of the old city.
Food
Zagreb
Though Zagreb is not known for having an incredible culinary scene, it could surprise you with impressive local markets and delectable Croatian dishes. One of the best aspects of Zagreb is its affordability, meaning the getting a good meal here won’t break the bank. Zagorski štrukli is a traditional pastry dish in the Zagreb area. It was added to the list of Croatia’s intangible cultural heritage. Zagrebački odrezak is a mixture of the wiener schnitzel and cordon bleu and is named after Zagreb. The restaurant scene here is on the rise and is well on its way to becoming a destination for foodies.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is known for its fresh seafood, which is no surprise considering its location of the Dalmatia Coast. You really can’t go wrong ordering fresh seafood when you go out to eat here. Oysters here are especially tasty. A classic dish that isn’t seafood is pašticada which is a dish of stewed beef. One of the traditional desserts in Dubrovnik is Rožata which is a caramel flan dish.
Getting Around
Zagreb
Trams and buses are the main ways to get around Zagreb using public transportation. The trams are typically used to move from place to place within the city center and the bus system is used to move around the outskirts of the city. Single-use tickets for public transportation are among the cheapest in Europe are only 0.52 Euros. You may want to invest in a Zagreb Card for just under 18 Euros. The card gives you unlimited access to public transport, admission to the four main museums, access to Zagreb 360 (viewpoint over the city, and discounts throughout the city.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is not a large city and most of the attractions are within the walls of the old town so getting around the city is not difficult. Public transportation here only consists of a system of buses which makes getting around pretty simple. A single bus ride will cost you 1.59 Euros but you may want to buy the 24-hr pass for 3.97 Euros. Unlike most cities in Europe, biking around Dubrovnik is not recommended because of how pedestrian friendly it is.
Nightlife
Zagreb
Zagreb has the highest amount of bars and clubs in the country, even more than the coastal cities known for partying. There are quite a few bars to explore in the center of Zagreb. One of the most popular things to do for a good night in the city is to join one of the pub crawls. There are few different pub crawl tours that go around the city so just Google “Zagreb pub crawl” and that should lead you down the right path. If you don’t want to do the pub crawls, the best clubs in the city are The Gallery and Katran.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik has a pretty lively nightlife for a city of just over 40,000 people. With an abundance of tourists, the city has delivered with the options for anyone to have a great night out. The largest concentration of bars is in the old town. Outside of the old town, you can find quite a few bars and cafes with incredible views of the city and the sea. If you are interested in going to nightclubs, the best clubs in the city are Culture Club Revelin and Skybar Dubrovnik Nightclub.
Day Trips
Zagreb
Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the Balkans. It is known for its waterfalls, beautiful water, and lush greenery.
Krapina is a small town in the hilly Zagorje region of Croatia. The area is known for finding Neanderthal fossils.
Trakošćan Castle is located near Krapina. It is a beautiful castle on a hill, built in the 13th century.
Dubrovnik
The Island of Lokrum is located just off of the shores of Dubrovnik and makes for an excellent day of hiking and exploring.
Cavtat is a small town just outside of Dubrovnik.
Kotor is just a 2-hour drive from Dubrovnik. It is a city known for its beautiful setting and its impressive fortifications.
Dubrovnik and Zagreb are not very close to each other but the city of Split is close to Dubrovnik and the capital city of Ljubljana is close to Zagreb. Both Split and Ljubljana are beautiful cities to explore.
Overall
Zagreb and Dubrovnik are two of Croatia’s most famed cities. The two cities offer very different experiences. Zagreb is a large capital city with grand buildings and the feel of a big city. Dubrovnik is a picturesque city on the coast known for its old town and its fortifications. One thing to keep in mind is that Zagreb is much closer to the rest of Europe than Dubrovnik. Zagreb will also be much cheaper than Dubrovnik. If you are looking for a city that offers a lot of “eye candy” views, you definitely need to go to Dubrovnik. If you want to experience true Croatian culture at a lower cost, go to Zagreb.