Zagreb has become a full-fledged hot spot in tourism in recent years, thanks to its year-round festivals, world-class cuisine, and historic architecture.

Travelers who still make a beeline to the coast will miss out on the fact that much of the country's natural beauty and cultural heritage is rooted in places well inland from the sea. Unless you arrive overland from Slovenia, by boat from Italy, or by one of the air routes that deliver you straight to the coast, chances are that your first encounter with Croatia will be Zagreb, an eminently strollable capital city of attractive parks, squares, and museums.

Whether you're planning on hightailing it to the coast or staying inland, stay a few days here to explore the urban capital's historic center and pastoral environs. Even if you've already been lucky enough to explore the region, there are always more secret surprises waiting to be discovered. With its historic center on the northern bank of the Sava River, Zagreb has a fully walkable Old Town, inviting public spaces, grand architecture in a variety of historic styles, and a rich array of eateries, churches and museums that will lure you down small side streets.