Lower Zagreb (Self Guided), Zagreb

King Tomislav Square was the first square in the city built in the 19th century. It bears the name of the first king of Croatia and has a mounted statue of him in the middle; nearby is a large park with a fountain. The park is beautifully laid out and represents a spacious green space with lots of flowers and benches to sit on, which makes it a popular outdoor place with the locals.

The Art Pavilion in Zagreb is an art gallery established in 1898, it is the oldest gallery in Southeast Europe and the only purpose-built gallery in Zagreb designed specifically to accommodate large-scale exhibitions.

The idea of creating the gallery was first put forward by Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac in the spring of 1895.

The gallery has a total display area of 600 m2 and does not have a permanent display as it specialises in one-off solo and group exhibitions representing notable oeuvres and art movements from all periods and styles, with works by both Croatian and foreign artists. Throughout its history, the gallery organised around 700 exhibitions with artists ranging from the Earth Group collective to George Grosz, Henry Moore, Auguste Rodin, Andy Warhol, Mimmo Rotella, and many others. Since 2005 every year around the time of the anniversary of the Pavilion's foundation it publishes a CD-ROM with a virtual tour of exhibitions held in the past year.

Why You Should Visit: It is a magnificent historical building with beautiful interiors and surrounded by lovely gardens, plus it always has some interesting exhibitions inside. Well worth the ticket price.

Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 11 am – 8 pm; Friday until 9 pm.

The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts dates back to 1867. It was built on the initiative of Bishop Strossmayer. The building features Italian Renaissance style, and has been brought up to date technologically. The first director of the Academy was historian Franjo Racki. On the second floor of the academy is the gallery of master Strossmayer.

The Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters is a fine art museum exhibiting the collection donated to the city by Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer in 1884.

The Strossmayer Gallery holding includes around 4,000 works, of which some 250 are on display, with the remainder in storage, or on display at other museums or gallery institutions in Croatia.

The Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters opened in November 1884, named after its founder, Josip Juraj Strossmayer, The Strossmayer Gallery exhibits the works of European painters from 14th-19th century. The holdings have been classified into three major groups: Italian, French and Northern European (German, Flemish, and Dutch) works, and also some works by Croatian artists.

Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square is a square and park in Donji Grad, the central part of Zagreb. It is located near the central Ban Jelačić Square, halfway towards the Main Railway Station. It is a part of the so-called Green horseshoe or Lenuci's horseshoe ("Zelena potkova" or "Lenucijeva potkova"), which consists of seven squares in Donji grad. It is spread over an area of 12,540 square meters (135,000 sq ft). The southern part of Zrinjevac sports busts of significant Croatian people: Julije Klović, Andrija Medulić, Fran Krsto Frankopan, Nikola Jurišić, Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski and Ivan Mažuranić. In the middle of the park is a music pavilion built in 1891.

The Archaeological Museum of Zagreb relates history from the Roman period and some anterior periods through artifacts and documents. The Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, Croatia is an archaeological museum with over 450,000 varied artifacts and monuments, gathered from various sources. Among the exhibits there are also skeletons of animal species from different eras. The museum has a large library that recounts the history of Croatia preserved in books and other related documents. Some of the famous artifacts include the Liber Linteus, mummy and bandages with the longest Etruscan inscription in the world and he Lumbarda Psephisma, a stone inscription telling about the founding of an ancient Greek colony on the island of Korčula. The most important collection of the museum, however, is that of Egypt.

Why You Should Visit: The museum has an excellent collection of Roman and Egyptian artifacts. Make sure to check out the world-famous 'Zagreb Mummy'.

Tips: Stop by the café in the garden so you can sip coffee while being surrounded by Roman monuments. :)

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10am - 6pm; Thursday: 10am - 8pm; Sunday: 10am - 1pm

The apartment museum of architect Viktor Kovačić showcases the life style of the 20th century artist. Kovačić is renowned for his design of the National Bank and St. Blaise Church. His apartment has been preserved as it was when he lived there, thanks to his wife, who donated it to the public after Kovačić's death. The museum features three rooms; the illusion of space is created there by mirrors that the architect deliberately placed around the apartment. Among the exhibits are also the 19th century furniture and pictures with religious motifs of the 18th century. Open on Tuesday-Saturday: 10 am- 7 pm; Sunday: 10 am- 2 pm.

The Hemingway Lounge Bar is the most popular cocktail joint in Zagreb. It is located opposite the Croatian National Theatre and is a place for young and not so young a crowd. It gets packed at night with the audience fueled by music and exotic cocktails.

The Croatian National Theater in Zagreb was established in 1840. The theater moved into its current location in 1895; the unveiling ceremony was attended by Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I. The building itself was the project of famed Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Herman Helmer, whose firm had built several theaters in Vienna. Celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the building were held on October 14, 1995. At the theater's entrance, you can see the famed wall fountain "The Source of Life", designed by Croatian artist and sculptor Ivan Meštrović in 1905

Why You Should Visit: It is a gorgeous building in a park-like setting, surrounded by other beautiful buildings. If you are lucky, you may catch a performance and get a chance to see its equally gorgeous interiors, too.

Marshal Tito Square is one of the biggest squares in Zagreb. The square is located in Lower Town, with the Croatian National Theatre building at its centre. It is sometimes billed as the "most beautiful square in Zagreb".

The present-day square was formed in the period between 1856 (when the former hospital was built on its northern side) and 1964 (when the Ferimport building was erected on the western side). However, the majority of buildings overlooking the square were built in the late 19th century in the historicist style of architecture.

Marshal Tito square was the first in line of three squares which form the west wing of the so-called Lenuci's horseshoe a U-shaped belt of squares and parks.

The east wing of the belt is formed by the King Tomislav, Strossmayer and Zrinski squares, and the west wing by the Marulić, Mažuranić and Marshal Tito squares, with the Botanical Garden connecting the two. The square is home to several cultural and educational institutions and several landmark sculptures.

The Mimara Museum is an art museum housing the collection by Wiltrud and Ante Topić Mimara. Its full official name is the "Art Collection of Ante and Wiltrud Topić Mimara".

Of the total of 3,700 varied works of art, more than 1,500 exhibits constitute permanent holdings, dating from the prehistoric period up to the 20th century. Some of the most famous exhibits include works by Lorenzetti, Raffaello, Giorgione and others. The museum was opened in 1987. The building itself originates from the 19th century, overseen by a Zagreb architect Kuno Waidmann, and it served as a gymnasium.

The Croatian State Archives building is an example of modern European style architecture with the 20th century elements. It is located in a park and holds a great number of important documents. Initially designed to host a university library and archives, it was later - between the two world wars - renamed and reestablished as an independent institution for state archives.

The Botanical Garden is one of the best areas in Zagreb to unwind in. Founded in 1889 by Antun Heinz, Professor of the University of Zagreb, it is part of the Faculty of Science. It is home to over 10,000 plant species from around the world, including 1,800 exotics. It has large ponds for aquatic plants. Visitors to the garden feel recharged with energy when breathing in the fresh air and walking in the beautiful natural surrounding. As well as the lush greenery, the place features quite a bit of fauna, like ducks, pigeons, and turtles. For those tired of walking, there are plenty of benches to sit on and relax.

Why You Should Visit: Admission is free and there are fun things designed for kids. So if you want to rewind or entertain your little ones, this is a good place to visit.