Slovenian visitor returns from Spain, criticizes Zagreb: 'It looks like a city in Eastern Europe'

A Slovenian visitor's candid observations about Zagreb have ignited a discussion among locals regarding life in Croatia's capital. After returning from Spain, the visitor shared his impressions of the main train station, describing it as "somewhat neglected," with pigeons, cobwebs, and an unappealing interior.

He further remarked that, based on the station's appearance, Zagreb felt like a city in Eastern Europe, a sentiment he admitted might not be representative of the entire city but was his initial impression upon arrival. This observation was met with mixed reactions online, with some agreeing and others defending the city's condition.

The visitor also noted an incident on public transport where a bus driver allowed him to ride for free when he lacked change. This led him to question the enforcement of public transport fares and the general culture of rule adherence in Zagreb. He posed questions to Zagreb residents on Reddit about their satisfaction with living in the city, what they liked and disliked, the current atmosphere, and their outlook for the future.

The discussion expanded to include comparisons between Zagreb and other Croatian cities, particularly Split, with residents debating where they would prefer to live. One Zagreb resident acknowledged that many buildings in the old town are in poor condition due to age and graffiti, noting that private ownership often hinders necessary renovations. She suggested potential, albeit politically difficult, solutions like mandatory renovations or acquisition by the city.

While acknowledging that public transport is not perfect, she described it as generally adequate and mentioned improvements in fare compliance due to mobile payment options. Other commenters shared their views, with one suggesting that Zagreb's station is significantly better than Split's, which they described as "100 times worse."