Are you planning a trip to the Balkans but don’t know if it would be better to visit Zagreb or Ljubljana? The capitals of Croatia and Ljubljana offer plenty for travellers, with beautiful architecture, intriguing museums, and lively nightlife. But which one is better – Zagreb or Ljubljana?

If you’ve already visited both cities, you may prefer one over the other. If not, don’t worry. In this article, we’ll analyse some of the most important aspects you look for in a city break to give a definitive answer to this question. Which is the best city: Ljubljana or Zagreb?

Overview of Zagreb

Zagreb is in the northwest of Croatia, the capital and biggest city in the country. It is the country’s main transport hub and has connections to the coast and islands.

That’s not all – you can also get to Mount Medvednica easily – where there’s great winter sports! Zagreb boasts an exciting arts and culture scene too. It’s home to the Croatian National Theatre, a number of galleries, and the quirky Museum of Broken Relationships.

Overview of Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the capital and the biggest city of Slovenia. It’s a picturesque city, centered around the banks of the Ljubljanica River, with the medieval castle visible from pretty much anywhere.

Slovenia’s cultural hub is home to a number of museums and art galleries. It’s also a university town with a large student population and surprisingly laid back for a capital city.

Zagreb vs Ljubljana: Nightlife

Zagreb’s best nightlife isn’t that easy to find. Unlikely locations and hard to find warehouses are closely guarded secrets among locals. However, make friends with a local and find a thriving party scene that rivals neighbouring capital Belgrade and is said to imitate Berlin. Clubs largely focus on electronic music.

Ljubljana has a great mix of mainstream, genre-specific, and underground clubs. Partying is reserved for the weekend in Ljubljana and a great place to go is Metelkova. Not just a club, it’s an independent art space and a music venue with gigs and DJ sets until the early hours of the morning. Thanks to more options and a wilder scene, Zagreb wins!

Verdict: Zagreb

Zagreb vs Ljubljana: Sightseeing

Ljubljana’s attractions are centred around the Ljubljanica River and are located quite close together. The Dragon Bridge and Tromostovje (Triple Bridge) span the river, while Ljubljana Castle looms over the historic centre. Tivoli City Park is a lovely place for a wander when you went to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Zagreb Cathedral is unquestionably the most famous landmark of the city, towering above the buildings that surround it. The top museum is the bizarre Museum of Broken Relationships, but it doesn’t offer quite as much as Ljubljana.

Verdict: Ljubljana

Zagreb vs Ljubljana: Old Town

The Upper Town is historic Zagreb at its finest. You can reach it either by funicular or a walk up some steep stairs – it’s up to you. The charming Upper Town has cobblestone streets lined with bars, and it’s home to the beautiful St Mark’s Church.

Ljubljana’s historic centre is where you’ll find lots of cafes, bars, and restaurants along the Ljubljanica River. Don’t miss Prešeren Square either, where you can see one of the medieval gates of Ljubljana. Ljubljana wins – just!

Verdict: Ljubljana

Zagreb vs Ljubljana: Cost of Travel

There’s a noticeable difference between capital cities in Western and Eastern Europe. Both Zagreb and Ljubljana are loads cheaper to travel in than London, Paris, and Berlin. Zagreb has an average price of $69 per day, whereas Ljubljana is $77. Both can be done for less if you’re on a budget, but Zagreb is the winner.

Verdict: Zagreb

Zagreb vs Ljubljana: Food and Restaurants

Croatian food is a diverse mix, blending Greek and Roman staples with spices and herbs. Slovenian food is a mix of Austrian, Hungarian, Croatian and Italian cuisine. Both cities have a wide range of restaurants where you can try local dishes and international food, so it’s a draw!

Verdict: Draw

Zagreb vs Ljubljana: Transportation

Ljubljana only offers a city bus system. There’s no subway, but that’s because it’s quite small. The best way of seeing Ljubljana is by bicycle or on foot. As Zagreb is much bigger, there’s a tram there and the service even runs at night. It’s the best way to get around the city. As the system in Zagreb is more extensive, it takes the point here.

Verdict: Zagreb

Zagreb vs Ljubljana: Weather

Ljubljana is one of Europe’s wettest capitals, and it’s known for being foggy and humid. Zagreb also gets a lot of rainfall, but the weather isn’t as unpredictable as it is in Ljubljana. Therefore, Zagreb takes the point here!

Verdict: Zagreb

Zagreb vs Ljubljana: Verdict

With a 4-2 victory and 1 draw, Zagreb is the winner!

Verdict: Zagreb

Hotels  in Zagreb

Hotel Jadran – a reasonably priced hotel in one of the best areas to stay in Zagreb, at a relatively short walk to the Ban Jelacic Square.

Hotel Jagerhorn – The Ilicia street is one of the most prestigious in Zagreb, and the location of the Hotel Jagerhorn. It is one of he most traditional hotels in Zagreb.

Hotels in Ljubljana

Hotel Emonec – One of the best reasonably priced hotels in Ljubljana, steps away to the Triple Bridge, one of the most beautiful locations of the city.

Hostel Vrba – A good budget option with shared kitchen in Ljubljana.

Other Resources for travelling in Zagreb and Ljubljana

If you traveling in Central Europe you might want to check some of our other guides to this romantic European destination. Check the best places to stay in Zagreb and our guide to where to stay in Ljubljana.

For those considering a longer stay in the country you might want to check our post on the best time to visit Zagreb, and the average and minimum salary in Ljubljana.

Already in Zagreb or Ljubljana? Leave your thoughts and questions in the comment box below.

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Being a member of the European Union’s Schengen Area has many benefits. Citizens from member countries can travel without a visa and the flow of goods and services are easier. The network is quite vast and a new member will be joining it soon: Croatia.

EU’s Recommendation

On Tuesday, the European Commission finalized their assessment regarding Croatia’s application. They agreed that the country has passed all the requirements necessary to be a part of the Schengen area after it applied for the right four years ago.

Croatia has been a member of the EU since 2013, but it was unable to join the Schengen area. The EU wanted the country to find ways to protect its borders, especially after the 2015 migrant crisis.

With the recommendation, the Croatian economy will greatly benefit and tourism will also increase. One benefit of the Schengen area is removing the checks required for people to travel to a country.

In his statement during the news conference in Strasbourg, EU’s migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said “Croatia has taken the measures to ensure that the necessary conditions are met.”

Two weeks ago, Avramopoulos said that the country is ready to be included in the network. However, he said, back then, that Croatia needs to sort out a few more requirements before the EU considers their application. All EU member countries must also approve Croatia’s application. Last week, France had blocked the application of North Macedonia and Albania despite the commission recommending that the two countries be a part of the EU. 

The EU has been assessing Croatia’s inclusion to the special zone since 2015. Several countries support their inclusion, which include Italy and Poland.

As a final note about their recommendation, the commission said, ” Croatia will need to continue working on the implementation of all ongoing actions. In particular, its management of external borders.”

Croatia Travel Tips

Visitors traveling to Croatia can get a lot of tips from this site and other official sites.

For this site, the best places to stay guide for Dubrovnik, the international airports guide in Croatia and the best time to visit the country is available. If you wish to work or retire in the country, you may check the how to retire in Croatia guide and the salary comparison in Zagreb guide.

For other details, check out Croatia Tourism.

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Croatia is a favorite for many tourists who wish to see the sea. Out of all its cities, Dubrovnik is a favorite for its connection to the hit series Game of Thrones. It is also an architecture haven thanks to the Renaissance buildings that remains in the city. Because of its popularity, the city recorded its highest visitor count this year.

On Tuesday, August 27, the Croatian government reveals that more than 1 million tourists have visited Dubrovnik. It is higher than last year’s tally for the same period.

Why is Dubrovnik Popular with Tourists

The eVisitor tourist check-in and check-out system of the city reported that from January 1 to August 24, 1,004,840 tourists entered the city. The Dubrovnik Times said that the number is 14% higher than the number of tourists that came to the city last year.

Dubrovnik also recorded 1 million tourists 21 days earlier than last year.

Most of the tourists stayed in the city, bringing up overnight stays up to 3,080,807. It is 6% more in the same period last year. Last year, Dubrovnik reached 3 million overnight stay milestone by August 21.

The largest number of tourists in the record come from the UK, followed by USA, France, Germany, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Australia, Ireland and Finland.

Many have flown to Dubrovnik this year, especially after the opening of a direct flight from the US to Dubrovnik. American Airlines have three weekly flights from Philadelphia and Dubrovnik and back. By 2020, American said they will change the flights to daily routes.

The previous record for the city was in 2018 with 1,271,657 tourists and 4,138,023 overnight stays.

Visiting Dubrovnik and Croatia

Want to visit this beautiful city? Check out our guide on where you can stay in the city. You can also check out the city’s official travel website.

If you want to tour the country, we also have a list of international airports in Croatia and when to visit the city. The Croatia Tourism website also has articles that can help out. For visa details, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has the details you need.

For those who wish to retire in the country, we have a full guide you can use to start with.

For those who wish to work in the country, you may visit the official website of Internations and the Croatian Ministry of the Interior.

We also have a guide on the average salary in Zagreb right here.

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