5 Best Sights in Zagreb and Environs, Croatia

The Naïve school of painting dates back to the 1930s, and the museum features more than 1,900 works of peasant artists who were largely self-taught. The Naïve movement in Croatia began in the village of Hlebine in Koprivnica-Križevci County, and canvases by one of its founders, the highly esteemed Ivan Generalić (1914–1992), dominate here, though there are also paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints by other noted members of the movement, plus a section devoted to foreigners working along similar lines. The museum is on the second floor of the Raffay Palace.

Housed in the striking 18th-century rococo Palača Sermage (Sermage Palace)—characterized by cinnamon-colored, black-framed geometric medallions decorating its facade and an impressive wrought-iron terrace—this gallery has a rich array of traditional paintings by Croatian and other European artists. It's part of the City Museum Varaždin.

Located off St. Catherine's Square, Croatia's largest art museum opened in 1982. International, local, classical, and modern art shows are regularly held in its three-story exhibition space, and concerts often take place in the gallery's beautiful atrium.  Some of the city's best street art is hidden just behind the building as well.

In a huge gray building, this vast private collection, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, and rugs, was donated by Ante Topić Mimara (1898–1987), a Croatian who spent many years abroad where he made his fortune, supposedly as a merchant. On display are canvases attributed to such old masters as Raphael, Rembrandt, and Rubens, as well as more modern works by the likes of Manet, Degas, and Renoir and ancient artifacts including Egyptian glassware and Chinese porcelain.  At the time of this writing, the museum was closed but hopes to reopen by early 2025 after renovations. Check before you go.

Displaying works created since 1950 by Croatian and foreign artists, this museum is well worth a visit for anyone interested in modern art—the vast collection includes paintings, sculptures, graphic design, films, and videos. It lies outside the city center, south of the Sava River in Novi Zagreb. To get here, take Tram 6 (toward Sopot) or Tram 14 (toward Zapruđe) from the main square; journey time is approximately 30 minutes.