Zagreb Tourist Traps

If you plan to travel on to Serbia you will not find any where to exchange your money in Croatia. Not in your hotel...not in a bank nor at an exchange office. None at Gatwick airport in UK either.

So have a little with you if you plan to cross the border into Sebia. And in Serbia you really need to have some of the local currency.

Unique Suggestions: You can change money at the Railway in Serbia but watch out they might pass you Macedonian money which is of lesser value.

Fun Alternatives: Order Serbian money well in advance just to have a little.

I will put this tip into Serbia as well but it was in Croatia we had the difficulty.

If you simply get into a taxi (outside the railway station, bus station,etc) and state your destination, be prepared to pay through your nose.

Fun Alternatives: Check with Information at the railway station before you take a taxi anywhere, find out what the minimum fare is and how much you might expect to pay for the distance you are travelling. Better yet, don't take a taxi unless you absolutely HAVE to.

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Once you arrive in Zagreb and you want/need to head into town, dont take the Taxi as the are renoun for overcharging "foreigners" (ie. anyone that doesnt come from Zagreb!) The "normal" charge for a Taxi from Airport to Zagreb Train Station (as a reference point) is around 160-180 Croatian Kuna: 21€ - 23€. This price is for the Taxi (1 person or 4!)
On numerous occasions I have witnessed people being charged over 200 Kuna per head! and 500 Kuna for a group of 3 people for a taxi fare to the City Centre! Beware!

The Airport Bus (run by Croatia Airlines) runs to the Central Bus Station and costs 35Kuna per head with extra charge for bags. The Central Bus Station is only a short Tram ride from the City Centre or a 15mins walk if you are up for it.

Unique Suggestions: If you do need to take a Taxi follow the following rules;
a) agree on the price for the trip BEFORE entering the taxi (see average prices below)
b) dont allow the Taxi driver to change the price once you have reached your destination, stick to the agreed price.
c) tipping is not necessary, however, nearly all Taxi Drivers expect it and most likely have factored in 10%-15% on the fare just for good measure.
d) befriend a fellow traveller whilst standing in the Passport Control and ask if they might arrange a taxi on your behalf. This is a little hit & miss but it might be me who you decide to befriend ;-)
e) ask one of the friendly guys at any of the rental counters to order a taxi on your behalf. This may also be a little hit & miss but you might be pleasantly surprised.
f) Pre-Book a taxi over the internet. There are a couple of websites where you can get details (and prices) of independant taxi drivers. I recommend this as a choice as these businesses are professional and courteous relying heavily on word-of-mouth for their livelihoods (www.taxi-zlatko.hr/Cjenik.htm , www.autotaxi-darijo.hr)

Fun Alternatives: Use the Bus.

Croatia Airlines runs a service that leaves every 30mins from the Airport to the Central Bus Station.
It costs approx. 35Kuna per head (bags are extra)
From the Central Bus Station there are regular Trams to the City Centre and a Tram ticket will cost you about 6-8 Kuna.

Average price from Zagreb Airport to;

International / Westin / Sheraton Four Points Panorama / Laguna / Regent Esplanade / Sheraton City / Antunovic Hotel / Dom Sportova - between 160 - 180 Kuna
Hotel Dubrovnik - between 180 - 220 Kuna

If you want to get to Belgrade in Serbia don't get get confused.

Say Belgrade Serbia.

Some Ticket sellers don't think that you want to go to Serbia and sell a ticket to Biograd in Croatia.

Unique Suggestions: Go back to the counter and try to get your money back.

Fun Alternatives: Say Belgrade - Serbia. There are no confusiosn possible!

Taxis are most probably the most expensive transportation method in Croatia, probably in Europe as well. The prices are hugely exaggarated, and add to that that the taxi drivers are going to try to rip you off if they see you're foreign. You better just avoid it...

Unique Suggestions: If you really really have to use a taxi, just use it to get to the nearest train, bus or tram line. Better put in more time than go by taxis, the experience is going to cost you bitterly.

Fun Alternatives: The alternative is always other means of public transportation :) It's cheaper for sure, not as quick, but definately a better choice...

This little guy allowed me to take the picture while he was performing his "music", but I had to pay 10 kuna (1,20 euros).
Some other Gipsy guys are not so cute and polite. If they are selling merchandise, do not buy it because it worth nothing.

Unique Suggestions: The best way to stay out of trouble is to ignore them completely.

THIS IS NOT A TOURIST TRAP!!!
A small and old souvenir shop in Radiceva street offers very cute miniature buldings from Zagreb made of ceramics.

Unique Suggestions: During the high season, mostly in front and around the Cathedral, some people offers "souveniers" of low quality and design. I suggest you to buy souveniers in the skops.

They're located at the bottom of Schlosserove Stube, leading up to that outdoor sports facility ground, you know. Well, they pretend to sell vanilla-flavoured ice cream to your children, but don't be fooled. That flavour's hiding a hideous, secretly developed sleeping drug that will knock out both you and your children for several hours. When you wake up, you'll find your children have gone missing. Those evil little dwarves intend to EAT THEM together with MASHED POTATOES in their SECRET CAVE with the neon lit entrance 30 metres left of the Stube.

Unique Suggestions: If you were stupid enough to bring your children to Schlosserove Stube for whatever reason, be sure to outwit those 3 little cuties. Bring out your best talking gear and sneak past their deceptive mumbo jumbo with your truly academic argumentation. They'll serve up one riddle each together with the vanilla ice cream, to see if your children have inherited your intelligence. You see, they eat BRAINS. The more intelligent, the tastier the brain. Those sick puppies.

Fun Alternatives: If you think you're smart enough, try taking them on. If not, mash them with your baseball bat. If they're still alive -remember, dwarves are'nt easy to hit - run for your LIVES.