Zagreb and Environs Getting Oriented

With the exception of the vast plains of Slavonia that stretch to the east , the rest of the inland region, with Zagreb as its approximate center, can be divided into two parts: north and south. To the north is the hilly, castle-rich Zagorje region; the smaller, often-overlooked and yet likewise appealing Međimurje region; and, just a tram and bus ride from the city center, the hiking trails and ski slopes of Sljeme. To the south is the relatively busy route to the coast that includes Karlovac, an important regional center, as well as Croatia's most visited national park, Plitvice Lakes; and a second route along the less traveled banks of the Sava River to Lonjsko Polje, known for its natural beauty, a 16th-century fortress, and historical reminders of Croatia's role in World War II.