There are many factors that make the Croatian capital city a great place to live and visit. It is largely walkable, it boasts endless cafés and bars, an abundant and thriving international cuisine scene, quirky museums, history that spans centuries and regimes and … I could go on.
In short, it packs a real punch for anyone seeking a city break outside of the usual trope of London, Paris, Rome (rinse and repeat).
Once overshadowed by the Dalmatian coast and bypassed almost entirely even in spite of Croatia’s long standing popularity, this city has now firmly found its own place under the sun on the tourism map.
The other thing that makes Zagreb so great is how easy it is to get out of it.
Now, don’t take that wrong as this city certainly offers plenty to those who want to spend a weekend here. But, if you’re staying longer, it’s a fantastic place to position yourself to visit multiple countries for weekend trips with ease.
Slovenia ‘takes the cake’
Trieste in Italy, Nagykanizsa in Hungary, Graz in Austria and of course, Ljubljana in Slovenia are all firm favourites for Zagreb’s residents and have been for generations. Graz was always a popular shopping destination, as was Nahykanizsa. Trieste was occupied by Yugoslavia in 1945, seeing it occupy a complex place in Croatia’s already burdensome historical psyche. You’ll still see plenty of graffiti that reads “Trst je nas” (Trieste is ours) regardless of Italian ownership.
Enchanting Slovenia is the one that, if you were to ask me, truly takes the cake.
The Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, through which the green Ljubljanica flows, is nothing short of fairy tale-like. It is surrounded by rolling hills, old castles, and the majestic, snow capped Karawanks Mountains in the distance. A mere hour and a half from Zagreb, this tiny capital is a must visit if you’re basing yourself in the Croatian capital for any period of time.
Slovenia is as compact as it is idyllic, and it’s possible to visit most of its top destinations in a short time. Popular areas like Ljubljana (1.5 hours from Zagreb) and the breathtaking Lake Bled (just over 2 hours from Zagreb) are naturally at the top of most lists.
Other, slightly less spotlighted places are also easy to visit depending on how deep into Slovenia you want to go, or how much time you have. The picturesque Olimje (1 hour and 15 minutes from Zagreb), for example, lies close to the border with Croatia. There’s also Predjama Castle (2 hours and 15 minutes from Zagreb), carved into the rockface, and the unmissable Postojna Cave (2 hours from Zagreb).
Postojna is a cave so deep that you travel through it on a small train. It is home to the illusive and utterly bizarre Human fish (Čovječja ribica), as the Croats call it, but it’s officially known as the olm. If you want to head deeper into Slovenia, you can also visit the breathtaking Kranjska Gora (2.5 hours from Zagreb), or pay your respects at the site of the Ljubelj/Loibl concentration camp (a satellite camp of the infamous Mauthausen) in the small, alpine town of Trži (about 2 hours from Zagreb). Ljubelj was the only Nazi concentration camp on Slovenian territory, and the tragic site sits in stark contrast to the stunning, mountainous Ljubelj Pass leading to the Austrian border and the province of Carinthia.
At the cultural crossroads
The bonus is that both Croatia and Slovenia are part of the borderless Schengen Zone. While you do still need to carry your passport with you in case of temporary spot checks, you are free to pass without controls or needing to stop and queue to enter.
Slovenia sits at a strange crossroads between the Slavic world and the Germanic one, but it shares a very similar culture to that of continental Croatia. Both countries were once part of Yugoslavia, But while Croatia ended up being embroiled in a bloody war and became a victim of atrocious war crimes, Slovenia avoided most of the bloodshed during Yugoslavia’s collapse, withdrawing relatively peacefully after a 10-day war for its independence from 27 June to 7 July 1991.
For those familiar with the Croatian language, you’ll notice that Slovenian is extremely similar, almost like Croatian with a twist. We understand each other perfectly, and you’ll find Slovenes and Croats holding coherent conversations with no problem in two different languages that neither has learned in any formal manner.
From the magical streets of Ljubljana and the rugged landscapes of the Julian Alps, to the poetic beauty of Lake Bled and the everlasting anguish of the Ljubelj concentration camp, Slovenia is worth making the trip from Zagreb for every single time.
Lauren Simmonds
Lauren Simmonds is the editor of Total Croatia News, the largest English language portal in Croatia. She lives in Zagreb, Croatia, and is a translator, content writer, interpreter and the co-author of "Croatia - A Survival Kit for Foreigners," which was published in 2022.
