Croatia · Castles & Palaces

8-Hour Varaždin and North Croatia Castles Tour from Zagreb

8 Hours Round trip from Trakošćan 4 Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Trakošćan Castle, the most representative castle in Croatia
02 Visit the enchanting Arboretum Opeka in Vinica
03 Discover the baroque town of Varaždin and its 17th- and 18th-century architecture
04 See Old Town Castle Erdody in the heart of Varaždin

This tour visits the baroque town of Varaždin, founded in medieval times, along with some of the most interesting castles and castle grounds in this part of Europe. These include Trakošćan Castle, the most representative castle in Croatia; Old Town Castle in Varaždin, seen from the outside; and the castle grounds of Arboretum Opeka in Vinica. All of these places hold special significance and are rich in stories and legends, and all are within comfortable reach on a day tour from Zagreb. The Zagorje region is a beautiful, lush green area of trees and hills, known not only for its landscapes but also for its rich culture and hospitable people.

We first go to Trakošćan Castle, the most representative castle in Croatia, set by a lake in the beautiful and hilly Zagorje region.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Zagreb, Varazdin

Languages Croatian, English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Trakošćan Castle, Vinica and Varaždin Old Town

The tour starts from where you stay in Zagreb, or anywhere else in Northern or Central Croatia.
We first go to Trakošćan Castle, the most representative castle in Croatia, set by a lake in the beautiful and hilly Zagorje region. It belonged to the noble Drašković family. The castle itself dates from the 14th century, and it was renovated in the 19th century in one of the first renovation projects of such calibre in these regions.
After that, we go to Vinica Castle, built in the 19th century by the Bombelles family. Surrounding the castle is Arboretum Opeka. The castle is now a half-ruin, but the entire place is enchanting.
We then visit the town of Varaždin, where we will see its gorgeous historic center, with buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. We will pass by the iconic Castle Erdody in the city center. The town is a truly special place that evokes wonder about the olden days and soon relaxes you with its pace.

We end this tour where we started in Zagreb.