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Having a million-strong population and being located at the historical and political boundary between the East and the West, the capital city of Croatia faithfully represents and describes both the continental and the Mediterranean spirits of the very diverse and vibrant Croatian people.

The main seat of Croatia

Zagreb is the main cultural, scientific, economic, political and administrative center of the Republic of Croatia, including the seats of the Croatian Parliament, Government and President of the Republic. It is also the main administrative and economic center of Zagreb County and the largest transport hub in Croatia.

In addition to being our biggest city, it is also the most economically developed one thanks to its highly developed industry with a longstanding tradition and many renowned research and scientific institutions. The main pillars of its economy are the chemical, textile and pharmaceutical industries, manufacturers of electrical appliances and the food industry – the most important economic operators in Croatia are headquartered in Zagreb. They include INA, Franck, Croatia Airlines, Kraš, Croatia osiguranje d.d., Pliva, Croatia Records, HT, Ledo, Tisak, etc.

As many as 22 research & science institutions operate in the city, notably the Ruđer Bošković Institute in the field of natural science, as well as the Ivo Pilar Institute in the field of humanities. Zagreb is also the seat of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU) and the University of Zagreb, the second oldest university in Croatia established by Josip Juraj Strossmayer in 1866.

Position

Zagreb is situated on the continental north side of the country, underneath the south slopes of Medvednica. This position protects the city against cold north winds. Its favorable position on the southwest side of the Pannonian Basin, on the boundary between the Alps and the Dinarides, specifically between the Adriatic, Pannonian, Alpine and Dinaric regions, makes the city open to the entire world and one of the main transport hubs connecting the Southeast Europe, Central Europe and the Adriatic Sea.

Population

The metropolitan area has a population of more than one million, which means that the City of Zagreb and its surrounding suburbs and towns account for almost a quarter of Croatia’s overall population. According to the official census completed in 2011, the City of Zagreb had a population of 790 017, whereas its population in 2018 was estimated to be just over 800 000.

Neighborhoods

The City of Zagreb comprises a total of 17 city districts established in 1999, which are governed by local committees on a local self-government basis. These 17 districts include some of the areas and neighborhoods that are considered to be desirable places to live in. For example, the center of the city, including the Upper Town and the Lower Town, is very popular and generally considered desirable for its high level of urbanization, equipment and a variety of amenities.

The Sub-Sljeme zone includes several neighborhoods such as Šalata, Pantovčak, Horvatovac, Tuškanac, Vrhovec, Zelengaj, etc., a zone occupied mostly by single-family dwellings and including the former so-called villa zones.

Thanks to its location near a recreational zone, Jarun has become a very popular location among the more recently developed urban settlements. Novi Zagreb has also become a desirable neighborhood and place to live due to its high level of urbanization and the close proximity of the popular Bundek Park, Zagreb Fair, and Avenue Mall.

A favorite location for many tourists

Zagreb has been a favorite destination for many tourists, which is no surprise because this historic city contains numerous landmarks and special points of interest. People from all over the world visit this city, which still has a young spirit despite being almost one thousand years old, always offering something new to discover and experience.