15 of the best · Zagreb, Croatia

The Best Parks, Lakes & Outdoors in Zagreb

Zagreb is a green city: the Green Horseshoe of parks through the Lower Town, the romantic woods of Maksimir, lakes for swimming at Jarun and Bundek, and a forested mountain, Medvednica, right behind the city.

Our 15 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026

Insiders' picks

Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Zagreb.

Zagreb’s great park

Maksimir Park

Maksimir·Park

A huge landscaped park of oak woods, lakes and meadows, opened in 1794 as one of the first public parks in Europe, with the city zoo.

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Zagreb’s summer playground

Lake Jarun

Jarun·Lake & recreation area

A long lake beside the Sava, with pebble beaches, rowing, cycling paths and summer bars.

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Zagreb’s mountain

Medvednica Nature Park

Medvednica·Nature park

The forested mountain on Zagreb’s doorstep, with hiking trails, Medvedgrad castle, the Veternica cave and the Sljeme summit.

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The full list: Parks, A–Z

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The back story 3

Zagreb’s green side.

The back story

Jarun, Bundek and the Sava: Zagreb’s summer playground

Jarun·In depth: outdoors

Lakes to swim in, embankments to cycle along and summer nights by the water: Zagreb’s riverside escape.

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The back story

Maksimir: one of Europe’s oldest public parks

Maksimir·In depth: parks

Opened in 1794 by a bishop, Maksimir is a romantic landscape of lakes, oak woods and pavilions, with the city zoo.

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The back story

Medvednica: the mountain on the city’s doorstep

Medvednica·In depth: outdoors

Forests, a medieval castle, mountain huts and snow in winter, a cable car ride from the city.

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City parks 5

Parks and gardens.

A green oasis

Botanical Garden

Lower Town·Garden·Ticket

The university’s botanical garden, opened in 1889, on the Green Horseshoe near the railway station.

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Zagreb’s great park

Maksimir Park

Maksimir·Park

A huge landscaped park of oak woods, lakes and meadows, opened in 1794 as one of the first public parks in Europe, with the city zoo.

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A quiet park by the cathedral

Ribnjak Park

Kaptol·Park

A shady park behind the cathedral, once the bishop’s garden and fishponds.

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Woods by the Upper Town

Tuškanac Park

Tuškanac·Forest park

A wooded park running down from the Upper Town, with shady walks, a summer cinema and a MICHELIN-starred restaurant.

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The music pavilion

Zrinjevac Park

Lower Town·Park

The first link of the Green Horseshoe, a leafy square of plane trees with a 19th-century music pavilion, fountains and the Advent market in winter.

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Lakes 2

Swimming and summer days.

A lake in Novi Zagreb

Bundek Park

Novi Zagreb·Lake park

A landscaped lake park across the Sava in Novi Zagreb, with lawns, playgrounds and summer events.

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Zagreb’s summer playground

Lake Jarun

Jarun·Lake & recreation area

A long lake beside the Sava, with pebble beaches, rowing, cycling paths and summer bars.

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Medvednica 3

The mountain above the city.

A castle on the mountain

Medvedgrad

Medvednica·Fortress

A 13th-century fortress on the slopes of Medvednica, the mountain above Zagreb, with the Altar of the Homeland and views over the city.

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Zagreb’s mountain

Medvednica Nature Park

Medvednica·Nature park

The forested mountain on Zagreb’s doorstep, with hiking trails, Medvedgrad castle, the Veternica cave and the Sljeme summit.

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Up the mountain

Sljeme cable car

Medvednica·Cable car·Ticket

A modern cable car from the edge of the city to the top of Sljeme, on Medvednica mountain.

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Active Zagreb 2

Cycling, running and pools.

Outdoor pools above the city

Šalata Sports Centre

Šalata·Pools & sport·€

A sports centre on the hill of Šalata, with outdoor swimming pools in summer.

Stube Josipa Schlossera 2Explore View on map
Cycling by the Sava

Sava riverbank

Trnje·Riverside path

Long paths on the Sava embankments, popular for cycling, running and summer evening walks.

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