This month we meet Freya, a 25-year-old from Tasmania, a small island to the south of Australia.

Traveling through Europe

I originally came to Europe in September 2017 to study for an exchange university semester in the Italian Alps. I lived there until the end of January and traveled most weekends around Europe. In February I started traveling full time and started solo backpacking. My parents came to visit and we traveled together for a while and now I’m back to exploring places on my own.

Freya came to Zagreb at the start of May, and now she is volunteering at a hostel in exchange for accommodation and breakfast for a month.

This is my first time in Croatia, and I just wanted to stay for a while and get immersed in Zagreb city life. Croatia has always been on my travel list so I am, so happy to have the opportunity to spend a while here. My next destination is Bosnia, where I'll also spend a month.

Image credit: freyaisabel

First impressions

Zagreb really surprised me! I was unsure how much there was to do in the city when I first decided to visit. I’m glad I chose to stay here for a month because there is so much to do and lots of places to explore!

I've done so much already, but still have a few things I want to do before I leave. I did the free walking tour when I first arrived. I recommend the free spirit walking tours to anyone visiting Zagreb. I have explored lots of beautiful parks and gardens in Zagreb. The Botanical Garden is my favorite. Dolac Market is my favorite place to shop for food, all the produce is so fresh and tasty! I have also spent a few days wandering around looking for street art, which is something I love to do while exploring cities. I also went to the Plitvice National Park as well, which was absolutely stunning. I still need to climb the Mount Medvednica, go to the Museum of Broken Relationships and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

My first impression of Zagreb was that it is a city that is full of life and diverse culture. It has so many classic and beautiful buildings, with lots of beautiful gardens to escape to when you need a break from city life. There is lots to do and see, and it seems to have something for everyone here. It is a historic city that is proud of its past while also embracing the modern urban culture.

Image credit: freyaisabel 

Cultural differences

It is very different from Australia. My home is called Hobart, it is a smaller city on the water and also has a mountain overlooking it. It was established a little over 200 years ago. Australia was colonized only 200 years ago. So a lot of the infrastructure is more modern and built quite recently compared to many European cities. Zagreb has a lot more historic buildings, and I find the culture is more vibrant here. Zagreb seems laid back and reminds me of Ljubljana a little bit.

I have met quite a few locals so far. I work with some and also met a few in bars or out and about. Everyone is friendly and generous. They treat tourists very nicely and always seem to be interested in what I’m doing here and where I am from.

I wouldn’t say there is anything I don’t like. I wish I could see the cathedral with no scaffolding… but I’ve heard that has been there for a long time haha! Also, I really wanted to see the whale street art mural in the old town, but that also had scaffolding which was a bit sad for me.

Image credit: freyaisabel 

And lastly…

Zagreb is the first place I’ve stayed in for longer than 5 days for the last 4 months. So it has been relaxing and chilled out city that I needed. I love wandering around the city and getting lost, then discovering cute parks, great cafes or some cool street art. I know that the Croatian coast is the more popular area for tourists. However, I think Zagreb should also be classified as a place that shouldn’t be missed while in the country.

If you want to follow Freya's further adventures on her travels, follow her Instagram here: freyaisabel.

Header image credit: S. Kaštelan, TZGZ

Author: Darija Ilić