Travel Options to Zagreb for the Conference

🛪 Air Travel
Zagreb's Franjo Tuđman International Airport (ZAG) has connections to many European capitals and select international destinations. Direct flights are available from cities like Paris, Frankfurt, London, and Istanbul, with flight times typically ranging from 1 to 3 hours. Upon arrival, buses and taxis are available for a quick, 30-minute transfer to downtown Zagreb.

🚉 Train
European rail networks offer convenient connections to Zagreb from nearby countries such as Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, and Italy. For instance, trains from Budapest or Vienna take about 6–8 hours and often offer night train options. Zagreb’s main station, Glavni Kolodvor, is centrally located.

🚌 Bus Travel
International buses provide an economical option for reaching Zagreb, with routes operated by companies like FlixBus and Eurolines from countries like Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Buses typically arrive at Zagreb's central bus station (Autobusni Kolodvor), well-connected to the city’s public transit.

Visa Requirements for Entry into Croatia

EU, EEA, and Swiss Citizens: Nationals from EU, EEA, and Switzerland can enter Croatia without a visa and stay for an unlimited time as long as they hold a valid ID.

Non-EU Nationals: Citizens of countries with visa-free access to the Schengen Area may also visit Croatia for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without needing a Croatian visa. Travelers from other non-EU countries must apply for a short-stay visa for tourism or business.

Schengen Visa Holders: Individuals with a valid Schengen visa, or valid visas/residency permits from the U.S., U.K., or Ireland, can enter Croatia for up to 90 days without an additional Croatian visa.

Discover Zagreb: Sights and cultural attractions

We invite NANOMAT2025 participants to take advantage of their time in Zagreb by exploring some of the city's cultural and historical attractions. Here are some of the highlights you can visit during your stay:

🌍 UNESCO Sites & Nearby Attractions

🏰 Gornji Grad (Upper Town) – The historic heart of Zagreb with medieval streets and panoramic views
⛪ St. Mark’s Church – Iconic tiled roof and 13th-century architecture
🏞 Plitvice Lakes National Park – UNESCO World Heritage Site, a natural wonder with cascading lakes and waterfalls

Gornji Grad (Upper Town)

Gornji Grad, or the Upper Town, is the historic core of Zagreb — a charming district of cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, and panoramic views over the city.

Distance to The Westin Zagreb Hotel: 1,4 km 🚶🏻 walk 23 minute

Mimara Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art

Housed in a grand 19th-century palace, the Mimara Museum features a rich and diverse art collection donated by collector Ante Topić Mimara. The museum showcases works from ancient civilizations to European masters such as Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Goya. It's a must-visit for lovers of classical art and history.
Zagreb’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU) is the city’s leading space for modern creativity. With bold architecture and dynamic exhibitions, it features works by Croatian and international artists across various media – from painting and sculpture to video art and installations. A vibrant hub for exploring today’s most thought-provoking artistic expressions.
🌐Visit the website

Distance to The Westin Zagreb Hotel: 230 m 🚶🏻 walk 3 minute

Maksimir Park

Maksimir Park in Zagreb is one of the oldest and most beautiful urban parks in Southeast Europe. Created in the 18th century, it offers a green escape with lakes, pathways, forests, and picturesque pavilions. Located near the city center, the park is a favorite spot for walking, sports, and relaxation for both locals and tourists. It is also home to the Zagreb Zoo, making it a perfect destination for family visits.
🌐Visit the website

Distance to The Westin Zagreb: 4,8 km 🚏Public transport 38 minute

St. Mark’s Church

St. Mark’s Church is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Zagreb, located at the heart of the Upper Town. Dating back to the 13th century, it is famous for its distinctive multi-colored tiled roof, which features the coats of arms of Zagreb and the former Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia, and Dalmatia.

Distance to The Westin Zagreb Hotel: 1,4 km 🚶🏻 walk 23 minute

Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

The Technical Museum "Nikola Tesla" in Zagreb was founded in 1954 and opened to the public in 1963. It is located at 18 Savska Street, on the site of a former tram depot.
The museum offers a rich collection, including a demonstration cabinet dedicated to Nikola Tesla, where visitors can witness captivating experiments with high-frequency currents and wireless energy transmission.
In addition, the museum features a planetarium and exhibitions related to various technical achievements and renewable energy sources.
🌐 Visit the website

Distance to The Westin Zagreb Hotel: 600 m 🚶🏻 walk 8 minute

Local Cuisine & Wine

Zagreb’s cuisine reflects Croatia’s rich cultural heritage, blending Central European and Mediterranean influences. Local restaurants serve traditional dishes like štrukli, čevapi, and purica s mlincima, all prepared with care and a homemade touch. Wine also holds a special place—regions surrounding Zagreb produce high-quality white and red wines that perfectly complement the local flavors. The city’s culinary experience is authentic, warm, and memorable.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s most famous natural treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located about two hours from Zagreb, the park is known for its 16 turquoise lakes interconnected by a series of stunning waterfalls and cascades, all set within lush forested landscapes.
Visitors can explore the park via wooden walkways and scenic hiking trails that offer unforgettable views and close encounters with pristine nature. It's a perfect one-day escape for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty.
🌐 Visit the website

Opatija – The Pearl of the Adriatic

Opatija is a charming seaside town on the Adriatic coast, often called the "Pearl of the Kvarner Bay." Known for its elegant Austro-Hungarian architecture, lush gardens, and the famous seaside promenade Lungomare, Opatija has been a favorite destination for artists, aristocrats, and travelers for over a century.
Opatija is located just under two hours from Zagreb, making it an ideal destination for a one-day escape to the sea during your stay in Croatia.
🌐Visit the website

Museum of Relationship Breakups

The Museum of Broken Relationships is both a physical and virtual space dedicated to preserving and sharing stories of heartbreak and the objects that symbolize them. It's a museum about you, about all of us—about the ways we love, lose, and remember. At its heart lies an ever-expanding collection of personal relics from past relationships, each one paired with an anonymous yet deeply human story. Instead of offering conventional or prescriptive paths to healing, the Museum invites you to transform pain into art—by contributing to a shared archive of love and loss.
🌐Visit the website

Distance to The Westin Zagreb Hotel: 1,3 km 🚶🏻 walk 23 minute

🌄 🚌 One-Day Tours (On Request)

Make the most of your time in Croatia with optional one-day tours available before or after the conference:

🏞 Plitvice Lakes Tour
Visit Croatia’s most stunning natural attraction – a network of 16 crystal-clear lakes connected by waterfalls.

Duration: ~8–10 hours

🌊 Opatija & Rijeka Tour
Discover the elegance of Opatija, a charming Adriatic coastal town with 19th-century seaside villas, and Rijeka, a lively port city known for its cultural heritage.

📩 Tours are available upon request and subject to a minimum number of participants.

📍 Conference Venue
The Westin Zagreb Hotel – Centrally located with easy access to cultural landmarks, restaurants, and public transportation.