Zagreb & its Guitar Festival: a guitarist's travel guide
Zagreb Guitar Festival International Competition · Zagreb, Croatia
Zagreb, Croatia's genial capital, mixes Austro-Hungarian grandeur with a lively café culture, and its guitar festival has quickly become one of Central Europe's most respected. A leading member of the EuroStrings network, it pairs a wide-ranging international competition with concerts, masterclasses and a young stars series.
Getting there
Zagreb's airport (ZAG) sits a short ride from the centre, with connections across Europe, and direct trains link the city to Ljubljana in a little over two hours. The compact centre is easy on foot and by tram.
Compare trains, buses & flights to Zagreb on Omio →
Where to stay
Stay in the lower town, near the main square and the green horseshoe of parks, and the festival venues are within walking distance. Zagreb is affordable and unhurried, a pleasant base for a few days.
An interactive map of hotels, apartments and B&Bs across Booking, Expedia, Airbnb and more, centred on Zagreb.
See stays in Zagreb →What you'll hear
The competition spans many categories, from youth age groups to open sections, taking in both solo and chamber guitar, and its winners include leading names such as Marko Topchii. Around it run young stars and all stars concerts, a guitar orchestra, and a luthiers' exhibition. It is as much a celebration as a contest.
If you play as well as listen, explore Ivan Padovec, Croatia's historic guitarist-composer on Sheet Music Plus →
Where to eat
Zagreb and its Zagorje hinterland are known for štrukli, pastry filled with fresh cheese and cream, baked or boiled, and for hearty roast meats. The city's Dolac market is the place to graze and stock up.
While you're there
The waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park lie a couple of hours south for an unforgettable day, and the castles and villages of the Zagorje hills are closer still. Ljubljana and Lake Bled in Slovenia are within reach too. A rental car makes the day trips simple, and GetYourGuide lists guided tours and tickets across the region.
Enter the pieces you play, and GuitarComp shows how your programme maps to this competition's rounds and which other events you qualify for.
See full competition details →Competition dates, deadlines and the current compulsory work change each edition, so always confirm at the official site: zagrebguitarfest.com.