Hotel recs needed for one night in Zagreb - mid-Sept. 2025

I really, really wouldn't try to see Plitvice Lakes National Park in transit. The park gets totally blasted by daytrippers, which really degrades the experience. Is there any possibility you can spend a night in or very near the park somyou can see it later in the day or early the next morning? It's a wonderful place, but a midday trip will almost certainly be really disappointing because of the crowds.

There's a Best Western hotel out near the airport, but I've never stayed there. If no one comes up with a personal recommendation, I'd suggest checking ratings and reviews on booking.com.

Zagreb built a new airport terminal several years ago and there are now no airport hotels near the airport.

The hotel which says it is an airport hotel is a 12 minute drive from the airport without much around it, but there are other hotels in the city itself which are only a 15 minute drive from the new terminal, and the city centre is only a 20 minute drive. This assumes early morning traffic is light which it will be.

If you are just looking for a hotel to spend the night look at hotels in Radnička such as Hilton Garden Inn and Doubletree. That is a nice balance of being able to get into the city for dinner but also shorter taxi trip to the airport, though you will have to walk to the tram or just a longer walk into the city, though you could easily walk to Franko's pizza from there. If you are looking for something nicer and want to have a walk in the city before you head to Milan also look at hotels in the city itself such as Hotel Dubrovnik, Jägerhorn, Art'otel, Academia, Amadria Park.

To me a nice cheap apartment on Booking.com would work but I understand the appeal of a hotel for a one night stay. Just see which one of those gets you the best deal.

Thanks for the responses.

Ivan, I booked the art’otel. As you said, it’s not that much further than the airport hotels. It also gets high ratings on booking.com.

I do realize that what we’ve chosen to do regarding Plitvice lakes is not ideal. (I’m usually a more “slow-travel” type.). However, we will have been in Croatia for a week and a half, and we’d like to get to Italy. I am hoping that it will be less crowded in mid-September. I appreciate your point of view, and agree, but we can’t do more on this trip. Maybe it means that we’ll want to return to see it again!!

Excellent choice, particularly on the location. If you are interested in dinner recommendations, I can highly recommend Vinodol, Pod Zidom or Ficlek. If you want something more casual, then try La Štruk. Wherever you eat, be sure to go walk down Ul. Ivana Tkalčića.

Thanks Emily! Very helpful!!