Driving & Parking

The inner areas of the city centre are pedestrian-only, and one-way streets can complicate navigation. Trams share the road on main streets and always have the right of way. Traffic is heaviest on weekday mornings (7–9 am) and evenings (4–7 pm). That said, driving in Zagreb is generally straightforward. Roads are well-maintained, and the city is compact.

ℹ️ Travellers often find a car most useful for day trips outside the city. Travelling around the city is best by tram, and walking is faster.

Paid parking zones in Zagreb are colour-coded. Zone 1 is the closest to the city centre and the most expensive, at around €2/hour, with a two-hour maximum. The rates are lower for parking in outer zones. Common payment options are coins in the nearest meter with a ticket on the dashboard. You can also use the m-parking SMS service or the ZgPark application to make cashless payments.

⚠️ Underground car parks such as Importanne Centar, Kaptol Centar, and Petrinjska are practical options for stays over two hours and offer daily rate caps.

Gornji Grad (Upper Town) has been largely closed to non-resident car traffic, making it primarily a pedestrian zone. Several streets in the lower city centre have also been permanently closed to cars as the pedestrian network expands.

✅ You can park at Importanne Centar or Kaptol Centar and walk up, take the funicular, or use the tram to visit the Upper Town.

All drivers in Croatia must use winter equipment on their vehicles when travelling on designated winter road sections from 15 November to 15 April, even if there is no snow. Suppliers automatically fit winter tyres to Zagreb fleet vehicles in this period, but not all do so without an extra charge.

⚠️ When booking between November and April, check whether winter tyres are included or flagged as a paid extra (typically €5–10/day). For winter trips to Plitvice or Sljeme, they are a practical necessity as well as a legal one.