Four Points Panorama by Sheraton — © Four Points Hotel / Makol d.o.o

The best Zagreb hotels

Zagreb hotels range from swish business hotels to chic hostels, complemented by the welcome arrival several mid-range venues. Our local experts sort out the best in Time Out's Zagreb hotel guide

Written by

Time Out contributors

Justin McDonnell

Sunday 24 May 2015

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As Zagreb continues to spread its wings as a destination in its own right – rather than a spot to lay over before the coast – hotel options continue to grow. Here are the best.

The best hotels in Zagreb

Amadria Park Hotel Capital

5 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Luxury hotels
Zagreb
price 3 of 4
Recommended

The 'Capital' in the name of this city-centre newbie refers to its location in Zagreb and its original purpose as the Croatian branch of Austrian bank Wiener Bankverein. A vault and safe still sit in the basement. Viennese architects Ernst Gotthilf and Alexander Neumann designed this art-deco masterpiece in the early 1920s, its classy exterior dominating the junction of Jurišićeva and Palmotićeva. Valet parking is a huge plus, and there's an on-site restaurant, café and gym. Rooms, from 20 square metres and up, continue the art-deco theme but this is very much a modern, urban lodging - and, for Šibenik-based, family-run Amadria Park, a first foothold in the Croatian capital.

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Esplanade

5 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Chain hotels
Zagreb
price 4 of 4
Recommended

Since it opened in 1925 to cater to travellers on the Orient Express, the beautiful and opulent Esplanade has accommodated Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth II, the King of Spain and Louis Armstrong. Fabulous luxury and top-notch service are the name of the game at this art-nouveau gem beside the train station. After a complete refurbishment, it reopened in 2004. The lobby is a veneered wonder and clocks display the time in six world cities. Stylish guestrooms range in size and configuration, but all come with perks such as heated floors, goose-down bedding, mist-free mirrors and fancy toiletries in the marble bathrooms. The chef at Zinfandel's restaurant conjures up modern Med cuisine and Croatian traditional dishes, while Le Bistro does the best štrukli in town. Relaxation packages are popular: hot-stone and chocolate massages in the treatment and sauna rooms. There are also deluxe room service options like a Bath Butler, who'll draw the perfect, bubbled tub. Combine it with the Great Gatsby treatment for men: a cognac and a cigar. Even the pooch gets in on the action here. Pets receive a bone, a welcome letter and a bed when they arrive.

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Sheraton Zagreb Hotel

5 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Zagreb
price 3 of 4
Recommended

A true five-star on any scale, the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel has 306 rooms, all with marble bathrooms, well lit and expansive living spaces, handsome wooden nightstands and desks, and high-speed internet connections. All in all, like a polished version of home – with turndown service. The lobby flows from the café bar across to the restaurant under cascading glass chandeliers and leather armchairs. There are 13 conferences rooms, a fitness facility, spa and indoor pool. When you factor in the location, service and level of pampering, it really is quite good value for money. Make sure you ask about weekend specials when prices can drop down. Newly fashionable, this attractive, Habsburg-era city is just the right size for a long weekend. It combines a Mediterranean lifestyle – think al fresco cafes and street markets – with a healthy dollop of Balkan attitude and hedonism at night. Cutting-edge modern art, wonderful boutique shopping and sightseeing opportunities aplenty complete the winning mix, while its gridded layout and concentrated city centre mean it's not overwhelming. This review is sponsored by The Sheraton Zagreb Hotel, Croatia Full of Life and Zagreb Tourist Board.

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Matteo Barro

The Westin Zagreb Hotel

5 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4
Recommended

Something of an urban landmark ever since it first opened in the 1970s under the Intercontinental banner, this cool five-star slab has frequently been the top choice for high-end Zagreb visitors: the Stones, Sophia Loren and Nick Cave have all graced its halls. In 2016, a huge renovation gave the hotel its contemporary feel and current 349-room, 13 conference-room look. The rooms come equipped with fog-proof mirrors and marble-effect bathrooms. The north-facing units have grand views of the Old Town and Sljeme Mountain. The hotel's 'Heavenly Bed' philosophy prioritises a good night's sleep with deluxe mattresses and pillows and high thread counts. The sparkling, jet-set-worthy fitness and beauty centre contains Turkish and Finnish saunas, cutting-edge Nautilus equipment, and massage treatments alongside pedicures, manicures and facials. The 17-metre pool is surrounded by tasteful wooden lounge chairs and black stones, bathed in an ethereal blue light. Newly fashionable, this attractive, Habsburg-era city is just the right size for a long weekend break. It combines a Mediterranean lifestyle – think al fresco cafes and street markets – with a healthy dollop of Balkan attitude and hedonism at night. Cutting-edge modern art, wonderful boutique shopping and sightseeing opportunities aplenty complete the winning mix, while its gridded layout and concentrated city centre mean it's not overwhelming. This review is sponsored by the Westin Hotel, Croatia Full of Life and Zagreb Tour

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Hostel Swanky Mint

5 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Hostels
Lower Town
price 1 of 4
Recommended

A courtyard on Zagreb’s main shopping street harbours this engaging former dry-cleaning and textile-dying factory, still featuring an atmospheric combination of exposed brickwork and industrial floors. There are some cute double rooms alongside the regular dorms, and the communal areas (complete with kitchen facilities, bar, and leafy backyard) come with exactly the right mix of laid-back vibe and social buzz.

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4City Windows

Hotels
B&Bs
Zagreb

A converted ground-floor flat mere minutes from the main square is the venue for this chic, welcoming and intimate B&B venture. Rooms are small but all are ensuite and come with a lot of character: one is themed around the local animated-film tradition; another (the ‘Art Room’) is crammed with pop-arty works by Nikolina Ivezić and Tatjana Politeo. There’s more artworks by Ivezić and Politeo in the exposed-brick breakfast room, where you get a decent buffet choice in the morning and the chance to help yourself to tea and coffee throughout the day. Parking is available if you reserve in advance.

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Apartment Design Studios SviMi

Hotels
Rental apartments
Lower Town
price 1 of 4

Five apartments, ranging in size from two-person studio to family-sized flats, on a quiet residential street that’s only ten minutes’ walk from the main square. Rooms come in calming whites, creams and pastels, and are furnished with beds and sofas from Kvadra, Croatia’s leading contemporary furniture maker. Each apartment comes with fully equipped kitchenette, air-conditioning and cable TV. The owner has a got a wine cellar in the basement, and everyone gets a welcome drink.

Best Western Hotel Astoria

Hotels
Zagreb
price 3 of 4

Built in 1932, this hotel is located between the station and the main square. After a floor-to-ceiling makeover, Best Western unveiled it in 2005 as one of its 45 premier properties. In 2008, it went to four stars. A lobby of wood panelling, plush red armchairs and marble floors leads to red-carpeted hallways lined by replicas of Croatian masterpieces. Rooms range from smallish twins and queens to more spacious executives and suites with window-paned sliding doors. Decor features a palette of beiges, yellows and creams and contemporary paintings. WiFi too.

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Best Western Hotel Stella

4 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4
Recommended

The contemporary Stella, which opened in 2007, is another option within easy reach of Zagreb's airport. A comfortable three-star with 43 rooms and one suite, it appears on many generic hotel-booking websites, thus attracting regular international traffic. The exterior looks quite functional and apart from the café on the hotel premises, there are no bars or restaurants within an easy walk. A taxi ride from the airport takes 10 minutes and costs about 100kn.

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Boutique Hotel No.9

Hotels
Zagreb
price 3 of 4

The black exterior of this new hotel at the bus-station end of town provides little inkling of what it’s like on the inside, which is a bit like the hollowed out interior of a giant wedding cake. The reception area and first floor are almost totally white, furniture included, save for the black-and-white photographs in the rooms. The second ‘silver’ floor has more white, although here the chairs and couches are upholstered in silver-coloured material. The third and final ‘gold’ floor, done out in black and gold, is the kitschest of the lot, but is undeniably sexy with it. It’s by no means an overpowering place to stay, however, and the excellent buffet provided in the third-floor breakfast room is eloquent proof of Hotel 9’s focus on quality comforts.

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Canopy by Hilton Zagreb Centre

Hotels
Zagreb

Opened close to Zagreb’s main train station in 2018, Canopy is Hilton’s urban lifestyle brand, initiated in Reykjavik in 2016. The Zagreb branch is one of 20 or so worldwide, putting the Croatian capital on a par with London, São Paulo and major US cities. Taking over a prominent spot once occupied by the Arcotel Allegra, the Canopy offers the signature features of the brand: free use of bikes, artisanal breakfasts, in-room dressing gowns and socks, and filtered spring water points on most floors. Beds all feature canopies, of course. The ReUnion Restaurant echoes the building’s heritage as the former Union chocolate factory, both in name and decor, its kitchen supplied with monkfish, meat and seasonable vegetables from the nearby Dolac market. At the Canopy Central Café & Bar, complimentary snacks and drinks samples are offered from 5pm to 6pm, and feature Croatian cheeses, hams, wines and craft beers from the Garden Brewery. Paid-for platters, ales and aperitifs are otherwise available until 11pm. Other amenities include a 24-hour gym and a rooftop garden terrace. All in all, Canopy is an exciting development in Zagreb’s hotel stock – Hilton launches another venture in its mid-priced Garden Inn range on Radnička later in 2019.

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Chillout Hostel

Hotels
Zagreb

Initially round the corner from Britanski trg, Chillout relocated to Tomićeva, nearer the main square, in early 2013. The recipe is largely the same: a totally renovated apartment building in an off-street courtyard, newly-installed facilities, and neat air-conditioned dorms, ranging in size from three-bed to 12-bed – the smaller ones can be rented as private doubles if space allows. The beds themselves come in the form of brightly-coloured pods. The hostel’s key attribute is the common room with Wifi and 24-hour bar – an ideal place to hang out and plot your next foray. There's a fully-equipped kitchen, and breakfast is available for an extra €4.

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DoubleTree by Hilton

5 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Chain hotels
Zagreb
price 4 of 4
Recommended

Rising serenely above Radnička cesta, Zagreb's developing commercial and financial district, the sleek bronze block of the DoubleTree was the major hotel opening of 2011 and brings a new dimension of contemporary design and comfort to Zagreb's upper-bracket accommodation. All rooms feature a svelte mixture of charcoal, chocolate and ochre surfaces and fabrics; big windows provide both plenty of light and a a sense of outside bustle. Desks and luggage space are well provided for, even in the smaller 'standard' doubles. Wifi, and media hubs that allow you to play your gadgets through the hotel TVs and speakers, are standard throughout. Importantly, every room has a bathtub. Another major plus is the top-floor gym and spa centre, with a small pool on one level and a large exercise area just above it, big wall-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking panoramas of the city as you pedal way or pump iron. Down on the ground floor, the the hotel bar and the Oxbo restaurant share a relaxing open-plan social space.

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Esplanade

5 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Chain hotels
Zagreb
price 4 of 4
Recommended

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Garden Hotel

Hotels
Lower Town
price 2 of 4

A medium-sized 33-room hotel in a good location midway between the train station and the pretty Trg maršala Tita, Garden gets its name from the Botanical Gardens a short stroll from the front door. Rooms are soothingly decorated in browns, greys and creams; all come equipped with free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV and a desk.

Hostel Bureau

Hotels
Hostels
Lower Town
price 1 of 4

This striking office-block conversion in a former newspaper HQ offers some of the swankiest hostel accommodation in the region. With a high proportion of doubles and triples, solid beds and contemporary decor, it’s more like a good, cheap hotel than a shoestring backpacker option. Computers on every floor and witty graphics (rooms are labelled ‘secretariat’, ‘import-export’ and other officious-sounding names) play ironic tribute to the building’s businesslike past. Rooms on the northern side have great views of Zagreb’s twin-pronged cathedral. The large basement includes a café with breakfast options and a snooker table. Triple and quad rooms also available.

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Hostel Chic

Hotels
Hostels
Lower Town
price 1 of 4

Hidden away in a courtyard just a hop and a skip from the train station, Chic goes for contemporary design in a big way with lots of white surfaces, pastel colours and clean lines. It’s ideal for anyone who wants the full hostelling experience but without the grunge. As usual there is a mixture of dorms and privates, a common-room with kitchenette and free Wi-Fi throughout.

Hostel Temza

Hotels
Hostels
Lower Town
price 1 of 4

A peaceful place that’s hardly likely to bring out the hellraiser in you, this small, ship-shape and friendly hostel is in a converted flat at the station end of the Lower Town. It has the feel of a cosy family apartment although the furniture is all new; there is a decent-sized common room, free use of the kitchen, and Wi-Fi throughout. The staff can organise bike rental and laundry for an extra charge.

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Hotel Academia

Hotels
Rental apartments
Zagreb

At the top of bustling Tkalčićeva, the Academica is ideal for a weekend city break. With everything in walking distance, not least the main square, market, and restaurants of Tkalčićeva itself, this four-star comprises 51 attractive doubles, with views of the street or the garden on the other side. Each of the two suites has a jacuzzi. The Bistro St Michael focuses on small-batch Croatian producers, both in terms of produce and wine, while the three conference and meeting rooms, and free parking space for 170 cars, cater to business visitors. Adjacent to the Centar Kaptol mall and cinema, all feels swish and modern, and very much part of Tkalčićeva’s transformation from tatty but revered thoroughfare to contemporary urban hub.

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Hotel Antunović

Hotels
Zagreb
price 3 of 4

The L-shaped business hotel has made a big splash since it opened in 2006 thanks in part to its business-district location and the top-floor panoramic Vertigo bar. Rooms come with warm colours and smart modern bathrooms. Mention must also be made of the facial and body treatments available at the three-sauna spa, with pool and whirlpool. There's also a restaurant (Argante) specialised in traditional and Med-style dishes; a self-service one (Lucija); a lobby bar (Bulle); and conference facilities.

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Hotel Aristos

Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4

Located in the Buzin Business Park ten minutes from the airport, this stylish four-star completed a new wing in 2010 that more than doubled its occupancy size from 70 to 146 rooms and four suites and added a wellness centre, a restaurant, a lounge bar and increasing conference capacity from two congress halls to seven plus additional meeting spaces dedicated to business events. As before, the comfortable bedrooms have high-speed Internet, separate sitting areas and 400 paintings by Croatian artists.

Hotel AS

Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4

It's a mystery why this hotel, which opened in 1999, gets so readily ignored within Zagreb hotel circles. A four-star set in Zelengaj Park, it has 22 spacious rooms – 19 rooms, two junior suites and a business suite – with overstuffed furniture, two-sink bathrooms, reproductions of Impressionist paintings and views of the leafy park. The sensation here is that you are at a fancy mountainside retreat. The architecture is a wave of green glass that's a cross between feng shui and tree-hugger retro. Also on the property is the longstanding and chi-chi Restaurant AS, renowned for its seafood specialities. To get to the centre of town from the AS, take the ten-minute footpath over the hills and trek through the woods – seriously.

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Hotel Central

Hotels
Zagreb
price 1 of 4

Just opposite the train station, Central is still the most convenient and cheapest of the decent places to stay if you're coming in by rail. The non-descript five-storey building features a pokey lobby and 76 smallish but clean rooms with en-suite bathrooms (some with showers, some with tubs) and an abundance of unnecessary furniture. For a quieter night, request one of the courtyard-facing rooms. Or, sacrifice silence for a room with a view of the station. Currently, though, there are fewer rooms available due to a refit.

Hotel Dubrovnik

Right on the main square, the four-star Dubrovnik is a Zagreb classic. The complex comprises two buildings. The older, a six-storey number from 1929, has a beautifully spruced-up façade; the younger is seven storeys and a 1980s glass extravaganza. Inside the pair, 258 rooms and eight suites come in different shapes and sizes, but all boast unfussy decor with old-world flair, dark wood and modern trimmings such as Wi-Fi and modem connections. Rooms in the new part look onto Gajeva and the café crowd. Rooms in the older section offer fantastic views of the main square.

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Hotel International

Hotels
Zagreb
price 3 of 4

The 205-room, four-star Hotel International is actually something like 4.5 stars. The minimalist lobby and café-bar is awash in gleaming polished marble and attractive abstract art. There are gold-leaf chandeliers. The bedrooms are big, wireless and immaculate with sleek, modern, wooden furniture, comfy beds and flat-screen TVs. Just a quick walk east takes you to Lisinski Concert Hall. A ten-minute tram ride on No.13 takes you to the main square. Dark glass cladding provides the hotel’s 1970s-era exterior with a contemporary sheen. A new gym and sauna are a latest addition.

Hotel Jarun

Hotels
Jarun
price 2 of 4

Jarun is, appropriately, next to Jarun Lake. For visitors looking to be close to the centre (about 4km away) but get a little nature in – rowing on the lake or cycling, rollerblading, and running around it – while also being in the hub of Zagreb's late-night action, you couldn't pick a better locale. Most importantly though, the 30 rooms and one junior suite in this three-star are beautifully designed with dark wood everywhere and more than a touch of modern, glassy minimalism. Opened in October of 2009, the complex has wireless, free parking, a lounge bar and a buffet-style breakfast.

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Hotel Laguna

Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4

For all its design modesty, this three-star is a handy little option three stops on the No.9 tram from the station. Rates for compare favourably with those in hostels at the nearby Student Centre or station – and the Laguna has a sauna and gym and free wireless. 155 rooms and five apartments.

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Hotel Le Premier

Hotels
Zagreb

Steps away from Trg žrtava fašizma and its Meštrović Pavilion and art gallery, Le Premier occupies a stately property built by noted architect Lav Kalda in 1923. The conversion has been respectful of its heritage, its exterior suitably regal, the extensive use of marble in the public areas exuding style. High ceilings and spacious windows characterise the 62 rooms, while guests can take advantage of the spa and massage treatments, and Stefano Cosattini’s seasonal creations in the restaurant.

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Hotel National

Hotels
B&Bs
Zagreb

For the price and location, a short walk from the bus station and therefore airport transport, the National is a great find. Bright, colourful and contemporary, it comprises 19 guestrooms and one suite, a terrace café out front and private parking (paid-for) alongside. Reception is 24 hours and breakfast features fresh juices, a nice touch.

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Hotel Maksimir

Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4

This is an inexpensive and convenient modest option five tram stops east of the city centre. Opened in 2008, it has a spotless, no-frills, ski-lodge feel. Everything is tidy – space demands it. There's a snug breakfast room. The 12 bedrooms are smallish with TVs and internet access. Even the exterior gives you the feeling things are in order: sturdy wooden shutters against Austro-Hungarian-esque pastel yellow. With the broad open spaces of Maksimir Park only five minutes' walk to the east, this is great value for the location.

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Hotel Meridijan 16

Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4

Marvellously placed for nearly any likely point of arrival, the Meridijan 16 is a one-minute walk from the bus station, four quick tram stops from the train station, and close to the main routes for getting in and out of the city by car. Opened in 2005, this four-storey, three-star has 25 small but well appointed rooms with elegant wood furnishings, Internet connections and LCD-screen TVs. There is parking (for a fee) and 24-hour room service. Ask about summer weekend discounts.

Hotel Palace

Hotels
Luxury hotels
Zagreb
price 3 of 4

This grand and recently renovated Secessionist mansion, the Schlessinger Palace, houses Zagreb‘s first professional hotel, opened in 1907. More than a century later, it’s still one of the city’s most elegant properties, located right in the heart of the city centre and overlooking Zagreb's most beautiful grand square and parks. More than 120 rooms –including three exclusive, high-end suites – are a mix of Art-Nouveau decor and contemporary amenities: sturdy dark-wood furniture, huge windows, original paintings and spacious, modern bathrooms with tubs and showers. For minimum noise and the best views of Sljeme, book a courtyard-facing room. The ground-floor café, bar and bistro is one of the most lavish places in the city to sit and drink coffee or cocktails and gaze outside the window. Decorated with fantastic Habsburg-era frescoes and chandeliers, it serves up excellent drinks and food, including a heritage menu containing one of the city's best cheese štruklis. Guests come from every possible demographic; young couples on a weekend city break to businessmen and regulars who return year after year, all in search of a lavish and authentic Zagreb experience.

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Hotel President Pantovčak

5 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Boutique hotels
Zagreb
price 3 of 4
Recommended

The President, which opened early 2009, is a beautiful boutique hotel built specifically for the community it inhabits – guests of ritzy businessmen and embassies in the vicinity of this posh street that’s a ten-minute walk uphill from Britanski trg with its outdoor market and weekend antique stands. Designed by the owner/architect, who’s the son of an art critic, the interior is a combination of old and new. The walls and floors are all teak. The furniture is designer-chic with Persian throw rugs and centuries-old trunks and tables scattered artfully about. The paintings and sculptures come from the owner’s collection and are sprinkled throughout the rooms, which are variously equipped with two-person jacuzzi baths, LCD TVs, Wi-Fi, silk-cotton linens and ceiling-to-floor windows looking from the hotel onto the terraces and into the wooded park. Looking from the lobby, across the café, and through wall-sized windows, it feels as if you were in a tree house with a drop-off, infinite view of the forest. The restaurant – with retractable and sliding windows so that the forest-side wall disappears for morning coffeeor evening summer breezes – stockscaviar, champagne and fine cheeses.A new Royal Suite with granite flooring, fireplace and terraces completes this fine picture.

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Hotel Sliško

Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4

Sited a short walk from the bus station, the recently renovated and expanded Sliško is a great number to keep on you for travel convenience. It has 49 rooms and three apartments – all of which are simple but quite tidy and tasteful with wooden bed frames and furniture. The reception staff is also quite helpful. For breakfast, there's a nice buffet spread. Prices rise during trade-fair periods.

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Irundo

4 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Rental apartments
Zagreb
price 3 of 4
Recommended

Calling itself Croatia’s first 'integrated' hotel, which means it has apartments with certain shared communal features, Irundo (previous Zig Zag) is the brainchild of the agency of the same name, one of the better sources of short-stay flat rental in the city. There are a couple of options at the main Petrinjska 9 address and several others spread around the neighbouring streets. Ranging in size from two-person studios to two-bedroom family flats, Irundo’s apartments are all kitted out with modern facilities and contemporary furnishings. Staff recommendations of what to see, where to eat and drink, are chalked upon blackboards in the living roomof each property. All units areself-catering.

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Lobagola B&B

Hotels
B&Bs
Zagreb

Nine guestrooms fill this funky household close to Britanski trg. Everywhere you turn, you can appreciate the thought that has gone into every detail, from the antique and ethnic artefacts around the spacious public areas to the collection of vinyl LPs and record player in the lounge. The owner has obviously put in the miles by motorbike because special attention is paid to those who arrive on two wheels, from storage to tips to tools to Yamahas and BMWs for sale. The tours offered to go beyond the range of those you’ll find at lodgings charging twice the price. Bedrooms feature parquet flooring, high ceilings and tasteful decorative touches, without overdoing the theme of historic Dalmatian cities – six lend their names to rooms lining one floor. The hearty buffet breakfast, included in the price, can be taken on the sun-catching terrace, the aroma of fresh bread, local hams and fine coffee filling the air.Recommended.

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Old Town Hostel

Hotels
Hostels
Lower Town
price 1 of 4

Located in the heart of the Lower Town, this newly renovated place contains pleasant pastel-coloured dorm rooms and a couple of high-ceilinged private rooms. With a small kitchen, free all-day coffee and obliging staff, it’s easy-going and sociable without cultivating a party vibe. The fact that the train and bus stations are within walking distance is a plus.

Hotel Orient Express

Hotels
Zagreb

Once a dowdy lodging dating back to 1939, the Orient Express was completely overhauled in 2015 and now sports a three-star status. Set almost next to the Lisinski concert hall and walking distance from the train station, it’s a tram ride rather than a stroll from the main square but pretty convenient for all that. The 38 rooms are functional rather than stately but with occasional direct online booking deals at €60 – the standard rate is €90 – and breakfast and parking included in the price, guests seem to be pretty satisfied. There’s a restaurant, too, and even room service.

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Panorama Zagreb Hotel

Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4

The phrase you hear thrown around with regard to this property is 'a good bang for the buck'. The re-named Panorama Hotel Zagreb is located next to the Dom Športova arena on the western edge of the city centre – five stops on the No.9 tram from the train station – and thus a favourite for those travelling to Zagreb for sporting events and various mid-sized-venue concerts. The 279 straightforward and ample-sized rooms are internet-ready and equipped with everything you would expect: tea- and coffee-maker, safe and satellite TV. The part you might not expect – how helpful and nice the staff are. Sweeping views from the upper storeys live up to the hotel's name.

Shappy Hostel

Hotels
Hostels
Zagreb
price 1 of 4

This new arrival on the hostel scene certainly enjoys an enviable location, situated in a courtyard opposite the Europa Cinema and just round the corner from cafe-clogged Cvijetni trg/Flower Square. Dorm rooms are neat and colorful, and there are a couple of small doubles too. The groovy downstairs café-bar (9am-11pm Mon-Thur, Sun, 9am-2am Fri 11am-2am Sat) is open to non-residents and has a genuine social buzz.

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Studio Kairos

Hotels
Zagreb

There's a chronic shortage of B&Bs in Croatia, and the small and welcoming Kairos comes as something of a reach of fresh air. Situated a 15-minute walk from the main square, it's an intimate and friendly place with four small rooms –one of which can serve as a triple, although most are intended for single or double occupancy. Each room is decorated according to some Zagreb theme: the Writers' Room evokes memories of local scribblers such as Matoš and Krleža; while Granny's Room teases guests with images of fresh vegetables and home-cooked food. There's a bright breakfast room, and extras such as laundry and bike-hire can be arranged. Despite being something of a new kid on the block (Kairos only opened in 2012), it is already the recipient of good word-of-mouth – so book well ahead to be sure of a room.

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Subspace Hostel

Hotels
Hostels
Zagreb

Housed in what used to be an internet cafe, Subspace Hostel simulates the inside of a space-craft. Guests sleep in their own private capsules, each of which comes with Wi-Fi, android screens and air conditioning. There's no natural lighting because of its subterranean setting, so the sci-fi atmosphere is completed with eerie blue lighting and ultraviolet solar systems.

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Taban Hostel

3 out of 5 stars
Hotels
Hostels
Zagreb
price 1 of 4
Recommended

Taban is a sprightly hostel opened in 2012, renovated in 2014, and firmly aimed at those who want comfort and cleanliness slap in the middle of Zagreb‘s principal bar-hopping zone. The hostel itself has a fully-stocked ground-floor bar which is open to all-comers during the day. Accommodation is on the slick side for a backpacking joint, with high-ceilinged six-bed dorms sharing space with spick-and-span singles and doubles, some with their own bathroom. Breakfast isn’t provided, but there are plenty of bakeries and restaurants down the street. Laundry services cost a few kuna extra, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.

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The Movie Hotel

Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4

Open since 2005, the Movie hotel is a rarity in Zagreb: a three-star that's a boutique, is affordable and has a little attitude. The complex's 37 rooms – also a handful of apartments – have Hollywood themes, naturally, with splashy images of stars in all. Sleeping is better when done beneath the stable gaze of Sharon Stone. As well, there are pics of the Governator, Clooney and Brad Pitt. The rooms are reasonably sized and spotless.

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Vila Tina

Hotels
Zagreb
price 2 of 4

This 25-unit hotel opened in 1998. Rooms come with free wireless, free parking and breakfast. There is also a fitness area with a sauna and solarium – unexpected among this class (three-star) of hotel in Zagreb. But the best aspect of this lodging is its location. Just above Maksimir Park, it’s within strolling distance of the city’s zoo and main park, an easy tram hop to the main square. Bedrooms are basic but big and there’s a solid restaurant on the premisesserving international dishes.