The number of people that like traveling is much bigger than the number of people who are actually traveling. There might be several different reasons for this, but one of the more significant ones are usually connected to monetary problems. Because let's face it, you have to save up some money to travel. Traveling to some countries might be abnormally expensive while traveling to some other might be ridiculously cheap. Although Zagreb is definitely among the more affordable destinations, sometimes, while traveling, you might want to take a break from taking out your wallet and spending your hard-earned cash. Just as Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross said in their single from 1992, "Best things in life are free." This article brings you several things to see, visit and experience in Zagreb and time is the only currency they require.

The Sights

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The only thing you will tire out by exploiting this segment of Zagreb are your legs and maybe the soles of your shoes. Zagreb is filled with absolutely stunning sites you will undoubtedly experience differently depending on the time of day, year and the weather. One of the oldest and highest buildings in Zagreb center is the Zagreb Cathedral. An iconic milestone of our city. What's the Eifell tower or Arc de Triomphe for Paris, that's the statue of Ban Jelačić or Zagreb's Cathedral for Zagreb. If you're not easily spooked, and you don't mind the fact that it's a cemetery, be sure to take a gander at Mirogoj. Its beautiful walls are the demonstration of the fusion between human architecture and building, and nature's way of saying: "This is beautiful, I will accept it." The walls of Mirogoj are already beautiful on their own, but the leaves climbing its sides in the array of colors are providing them with a unique makeover, making them look like nothing else I've seen before. Just recently, I wrote about Medvednica, a mountain above Zagreb, and mountain homes on it and mountain + climbing it = good view of everything below. If you prefer valleys and waters over mountains and heights, you can feast your eyes on the Rakitje lake by the Camp Zagreb, or you can take a walk along the Savski most and look over the Sava river towards the illuminated Željeznički most, popularly called the Hendrix bridge. 

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Parks & Recreation

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Just because there are hundreds of magical smells coming out of Zagreb's restaurants, calling you, and motivating you to go in, it doesn't mean you should always answer that call. Just kidding, the restaurants here are fantastic, but if you need a place to use up some extra energy, there's so much to choose from in Zagreb. One of the Zagrebians favorite places for jogging, park Maksimir offers you the luxury of running through the woods, browsing all kinds of different floral species along with lakes and paths leading to really cool spots where you can spread a towel, and either soak up the sun or gaze at the stars. As long as we're talking about the lakes, there are also two more famous ones in Zagreb. I'm talking about Jarun and Bundek, of course. While Jarun has a ton of different sports you can try there, Bundek was renewed recently, and I think every Zagrebian should be proud of it. Besides those, more famous recreational places, Zagreb offers many different running tracks and training grounds which are free for all. If slow walking is the type of recreation you prefer, you shouldn't miss the serenity of Botanical Garden. Besides the fact that the entrance is free, you will enjoy different plant species you can see there. 

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Exhibit in the Open

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In the last couple of years, Zagreb really stepped up its game, when it comes to Museums and exhibits. I have already written about some of them. But if you look a bit more carefully while you stroll around, you'll notice that Zagreb is filled with artworks, right there, on the streets. I've already mentioned the statue of Ban Jelačić on Zagreb main square, but if you live in Zagreb, you've undoubtedly seen it so many times that you probably don't recognize it as a work of art anymore. As far as statues are concerned, my most favorite ones are the ones with dragons, the one in the Upper town near "Kamenita Vrata," and the second one beside The National Theather. Of course, besides those, Zagreb has a bundle of really cool statues you can see in its streets. From different famous Croats to all sorts of modern ones. But not everything is in the sculptures. Something's also in the street art. Besides graffiti on the walls, Zagreb went through a cool project by a street artist who painted the old water pumps inspired by pop culture and beloved characters from everyday life. Banksy, are you sleeping soundly? 

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Customize Your Time With Customs

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Customs are the guardians of culture. Here at the city whose official color is blue, and the most popular meeting place is beneath the clock at the main square, we have all kinds of exciting traditions known to almost every Zagrebian. One of the most famous ones is most certainly the cannon that signifies noon by shooting from the Lotrščak tower, where if you look into the lights just before sunset, you might spot a lamp-lighter. This entire historical area of Upper town is full of 150-year-old gas lanterns that are still lit by hand every single evening and turned off in the morning. If you're a bit more superstitious, you can indulge your ways in Zagreb as well. You can say a little prayer at Kamenita vrata which can be found in the Upper town as well or throw a coin into Manduševac which is, again placed on the Zagreb's main square. 

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While enjoying all these free things in Zagreb, be sure not to drink the tap water if you're not planning to come back, because the old legend says that if you do, you surely will. 

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Author: Tibor Trupec