Europe

Zagreb, Croatia

A Comprehensive Guide to the Best Places to Run in Zagreb

Zagreb, the cosmopolitan and cultural epicentre of Croatia, is also the country’s northwestern capital city. It is located on the banks of the Sava River and is known for its Austro-Hungarian architecture, pedestrian friendly squares and streets full of cafes, boutiques, and restaurants. While it is often overlooked by travelers wanting to just experience the Adriatic coast, the city offers so much to do: from historical sights, festivals, events, and nightlife to parks, forests and lakes (Zagreb also has more museums per square foot than any other city in the world). Zagreb has two main areas: The Lower Town has more of an energetic and busy vibe with plenty of restaurants, banks, bakeries, and shopping options, while the Upper Town contains red roofed homes, winding cobblestone streets, charming cafes and wine bars, the Gothic Zagreb Cathedral, and 13th-century St. Mark’s Church. If you’d like to have a guided running experience in Zagreb, we highly recommend Go! Running Tours.  

There are some great options for running in Zagreb. Our ‘runseeing’ tour covers some of the most important sites in Upper and Lower Town. Enjoy a 5 km tour of Maksimir Park, the oldest park in southern Europe. There are ~5 km of paths along the Sava River, including the lovely City Park. Lake Jarun is another popular running spot, and for some scenic hill running, head to the Tuškanac & Pantovčak neighborhoods or the trails of Dotrscina woods. Our thanks to primary author Lana Bukvic, a runner who has been living in Zagreb.

Zagreb is very pedestrian-friendly, and there’s a good tram and bus system.

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Zagreb has continental climate which means crispy cold, sub-zero winters with a good prospect of snow, and warm, humid summers. In summer, average high temperatures are 27C (81F), with mild nights. In winter, average high temperatures are just above freezing, while low temps dip below freezing. Spring and autumn weather is usually a mix of rain and sunshine. It can snow plenty in winter, so make sure to bring appropriate clothing.

Over the years, Zagreb has become a very popular tourist and business destination. There is a fantastic selection of centrally located hotels:

Running Stores

42.2 Running Stores

Running Gate.

Running Groups

Run Croatia is an excellent resource. They have running groups and host numerous races throughout the year.

Zagreb Runners

Adidas Runners Zagreb Group

CroRun

Run Croatia is a great resource on all things about running in Croatia, and has upcoming events on their website.

The Run&Trek store website also has good listings of some signature Zagreb running events.

Zagreb Marathon. Taking place each year in October, this international race has been held for over 25 years and attracts thousands of runners from around the world for a 10k, half marathon, and full marathon.

Advent (Christmas) Run. December. A wonderful charity race through the heart of Zagreb.

Zagreb Winter Classic Run 5km
http://shop.run-trek.hr/winter-classic/
Zagreb Spring Half Marathon – March 17 2019
Zagreb City Run