About Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Croatia. Located at the top of the Balkans, and with a coastline that borders the Adriatic, Croatia has historically been influenced by a mix of Western and Eastern cultures, including the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Venetian and Austro-Hungarian. Croatia became independent from the larger federal state of Yugoslavia in 1991, when it fought a four year war of independence. Croatia became a member of the European Union in 2013 but has yet to adopt the Euro, using the kuna instead.

Zagreb is located in the north-east of the country, with the Sava river to its south and the Medvednica mountain to its north. Enjoying a mostly Mediterranean climate, during July, average temperatures are around 28°C (82°F).The oldest part of the city, the Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and Kaptol, can be found on the hill to the north of Ban Jelačić Square. Easily reached via a short 5-10 minute walk from the Hotel Dubrovnik, the venue for the symposium, or by a funicular on nearby Tomićeva Street, this historic area is comprised of a medieval urban complex of churches, palaces, museums, galleries and government buildings. The Roman Catholic Cathedral can be found here, as can the largest open-air market in the city, Dolac.

Zagreb has a good range of public transport with an extensive tram system servicing the centre of the city and the main railway and central bus stations. Pleso Airport, Zagreb’s international airport, is located 17km to the southeast of the city, and is well connected to the city centre. Further information on travelling to the symposium can be found here.

For further information on things to do in Zagreb, restaurants and places to visit, see the Zagreb tourist information website.