Essentials
- City
- Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
- Population
- 767,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber available widely via HT or A1)
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD. Croatia joined the Eurozone in 2023.
- Tap Water
- Safe and high quality throughout the city.
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C and F sockets.
- SIM Card
- Hrvatski Telekom, A1, Telemach. Approx. €10 for 20GB (Unlimited weekly options available).
- Banking for Expats
- Zagrebačka banka (ZABA), PBZ, Erste Bank, Revolut widely accepted.
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Njuskalo.hr (local site), and specialized nomad rentals via DNA Croatia.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards accepted in 90% of shops; small cafes/bakeries may still require cash.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and Zagreb Soul Apartments (€1,100 - €1,500/month center).
- Budget Accommodation
- Swanky Mint Hostel (Ilica 50) - approx. €25-€40/night for dorms.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Donji Grad (Lower Town) and Gornji Grad (Upper Town) for proximity to landmarks.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Maksimir (greenery), Trešnjevka (local vibe), or Donji Grad (near coworking).
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WESPA Spaces (Zavrtnica 17) - €20 Day Pass / €180 Monthly.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Quahwa (Nikole Tesle 9/1) or Cogito Coffee (Varšavska 11).
- Networking Events
- Digital Nomads Croatia meetups and 'Zagreb Tech Meetup' on Meetup.com.
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Zagreb Facebook Group and InterNations Zagreb monthly events.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt, Uber, and Cammeo (local provider).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Nextbike (city bike sharing) - approx. €10/month; Bolt electric scooters.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Crikvenica or Opatija (Adriatic Coast) - approx. 2 hours by car/bus.
- Top Regional Airline
- Croatia Airlines
- Top International Airline
- Croatia Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Ryanair.
- Highway Access
- A1 (South - Coast), A2 (North - Slovenia), A3 (East - Slavonia).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor (Main Railway Station).
- Public Transport Passes
- ZET tickets: €0.53 (30 min), €0.93 (60 min), €1.33 (90 min).
- Regional Travel
- Arriva or FlixBus for intercity travel (e.g., Zagreb-Split €20-€30).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- KBC Zagreb (Rebro) or Specialty Hospital Sv. Katarina (Private).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Gaia Yoga Center (Ilica 42) and Medical Yoga Center.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Gyms4you (Multiple locations, 24/7 access) - approx. €35/month.
- Laundry Services
- Q-Laundry (Self-service chain) - approx. €4 per wash.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt and Glovo.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Štrukli (Cheese-filled dough). Try it at La Štruk in Skalinska St.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Zrno Bio Bistro (Vegan) or Falafel, etc. (Vegetarian).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Vincek (Ilica 18) or Orijent (Maksimirska 34).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Dolac Market (Farmers market) and Konzum/Lidl supermarkets.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- eKupi.hr and Mall.hr.
- Grocery Delivery
- Konzum Online or Wolt Market.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Tkalčićeva Street for bars; Tvornica Kulture for clubs/gigs.
- Local Brewery
- The Garden Brewery (Slavonska avenija 26) or Zmajska pivovara.
- Wine Bars
- Bornstein (Kaptol 19) or Basement Wine Bar (Tomassijeva).
- Street Food Stalls
- Heritage (Petrinjska 14) for Croatian street food snacks.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Umami (Asian fusion) or El Toro (Latin American).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Zagreb Cathedral and Ban Jelačić Square.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum of Broken Relationships (Ćirilometodska 2).
- Historical Sites
- St. Mark's Church (with the tiled roof) and Lotrščak Tower.
- Religious Sites
- Stone Gate (Kamenita Vrata) and Zagreb Cathedral.
- Annual Events
- Advent in Zagreb (Award-winning Christmas Market) and INmusic Festival in June.
- Cultural Districts
- Design District (around Martićeva street).
- Theater Venues
- Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in Zagreb.
- Local Markets
- Dolac (Open-air fruit/veg) and Britanski Trg (Antiques on Sundays).
- Music Scene
- Vintage Industrial Bar (Live Rock) and Sax! (Jazz/Blues).
- Street Art
- The walls of the Student Center (Savska) and Branimirova graffiti wall.
- Cooking Classes
- Kuhaona (Gornji Grad) - traditional Croatian recipes.
- Art Galleries
- Klovićevi Dvori Gallery and Art Pavilion.
- Historic Buildings
- The Esplanade Hotel (Orient Express stop history).
- Local Heritage
- Licitar Hearts (Gingerbread) and the Cravat (Necktie) origins.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Medvednica (Sljeme) - accessible by cable car/gondola.
- National Parks Nearby
- Plitvice Lakes National Park (2 hours south).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Jarun Lake (Cycle loop) and Sava River embankment.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Gradec plateau (Upper Town) overlooking the city.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Jarun Lake and Bundek Park.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated picnic areas at Lake Bundek (permits usually required).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Hrvatska Pošta or GLS Croatia.
- Tech Repair Services
- iStyle (Apple Authorized) or various small shops on Ilica street.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Stolni Tenis Zagreb (Zagrebački velesajam).
- Language Classes
- Croaticum (Center for Croatian as a Foreign Language).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National and University Library (NSK) - massive modern facility.
- Community Centers
- Pogon - Zagreb Center for Independent Culture and Youth.
- Gaming Lounges
- Hall of Game (Halle) - high-end PC gaming center.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Luckia Casino (Hotel Antunović).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €180,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €124,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €252,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €174,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €320,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,750 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €220,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 10% for revenues up to €1M; 18% for revenues above €1M.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35.4% (depending on city surtax, though surtax was recently abolished in some regions).
- VAT
- Standard rate 25%; reduced rates of 13% and 5% for specific items.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable under EU ATAD directives.
- Property Tax
- No general annual property tax, but communal fees and tax on holiday homes exist.
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3% of the market value of the real estate.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 0% income tax for official Digital Nomad Permit holders for up to 12 months.