This huge, paved piazza is named after 19th-century Croatian war hero Count Josip Jelačić, memorialized in a bronze equestrian statue by Austrian sculptor Anton Dominick Ritter that anchors the square. Along the perimeter are department stores, bars, and cafés, the latter of which offer inviting outdoor seating during warmer months. There's always something going on in Jelačić Square, from a changing of the guard ceremony to art markets, yoga classes, street performances, and holiday festivals. It's a popular meeting place for walking tours of old town Zagreb, and nearly all city sightseeing itineraries make a stop here.
Ban Jelačić Square marks the boundary between Gornji Grad and Kapitol (both in the Upper Town) and Donji Grad (Lower Town). It is crossed by several of the city’s great boulevards, including Illica and Radićeva, and is a stop on nearly all Zagreb tram lines and city sightseeing tours.
The square is always open but becomes particularly festive in December during the annual Christmas market. It's also the site of a pop-up arts and crafts fair during the summer and a fireworks show and live music every New Year's Eve.
Thanks to its central location and connection to public transit lines, Ban Jelačić Square makes an ideal jumping-off point for the exploration of some of Zagreb’s best sights. Within walking distance, take in panoramic city views from the Zagreb 360 Observation Deck, step inside the neo-Gothic Zagreb Cathedral, and take a ride on the world's shortest funicular up to Lotrščak Tower.
