Located in the north of the country, Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia and is the cultural and economic centre of this wonderful nation.  With a population of around 1million people, Zagreb is a fairly small European capital city and I found this to be ideal when I travelled there last summer.

Arriving there in the heart of the summer, I was pleasantly surprised at the beauty of Zagreb.  Not so long ago, Zagreb and its people were involved in the Croatian War of Independence and the city was witness to a long and bloody battle.  There was little or no sign of this history of disorder and conflict.  Instead, Zagreb came across as a thriving, vibrant city in which people never seemed stressed and the pace of life was at a canter.  It was very refreshing go there and get away from the hustle and bustle of Britain’s one hundred mile per hour lifestyle.

The city itself is home to some very inviting cultural sites.  Zagreb Cathedral was impressive despite the exterior scaffolding that encased the building, and the inside was equally catching.  St. Marks Church is worth a visit as well, if only for its Gothic build.  The Museum Of The History Of Zagreb provides a great insight into the beginnings of the city and how it became the city it is now.

My dining experience in Zagreb was great, with my personal favourite being Ćevapćići, a herby beef burger served with onions and pitta bread.  Pizza is very popular in Zagreb and I was often seen buying a slice or two at lunchtime.

I loved the Croatian food almost as much as I loved their beer.  Beer is extremely popular in Croatia and my personal favourite was Ožujsko beer.  It seems that it is commonplace in Zagreb to have a mid morning beer as we often noticed!

The culture, history, places of interest, food and drink of Zagreb are great, but the true strong point is its people.  Everyone was very accommodating and eager to help out.  I was lucky to visit the city on the day of the Croatia Vs Brazil game in the 2006 World Cup finals.  The atmosphere was electric and the patriotism, passion and pride was equal to that of us Scots!

So, all in all, I found Zagreb a thoroughly enjoyable city to visit and easy to navigate, with great people and I just hope I can get back there one day.