Nikola Tesla was born in what is now Croatia, and Zagreb’s Technical Museum carries his name for good reason. The museum fills a modern building on Savska cesta, just outside the Lower Town, and mixes permanent collections of machines and vehicles with demonstrations that bring the science to life. Its signature experiences are tours that take you inside the exhibits. The mine tour leads you through a reconstructed underground mine gallery. The Tesla cabinet is a demonstration laboratory in which a guide shows the electrical phenomena the inventor made famous. The planetarium offers a separate show about the night sky, and its schedule and admission are handled separately from the main exhibition. A restored museum tram from 1924 runs on Sundays and carries visitors free of charge. Temporary exhibitions come and go, each with its own schedule and pricing. This is the kind of museum where a patient guide and a working demonstration are worth more than a long wall of labels, so time your visit to the tour slots and you will remember it long after the more formal galleries have faded.
Planning the visit
The museum is at Savska cesta 18 and is reached by several tram lines that stop nearby, and a public car park is close. It is open Tuesday to Friday during the working day, with shorter hours at weekends, and is closed on Mondays and public holidays. Admission is charged separately for the permanent exhibition and the planetarium, while the mine tour and the lecture in the Tesla cabinet are included with the exhibition ticket. Young children, people with disabilities and members of ICOM can enter the permanent exhibition free of charge.
Tour times
Guided tours run at set times, generally one for the mine, one for the Tesla cabinet and one for the planetarium. On weekdays these are scheduled for the afternoon, and at weekends they run around late morning. Because the slots are fixed, check the schedule on the museum’s website and arrive in time for the tour you most want. Groups of ten or more must book in advance by email. The planetarium is not recommended for children under seven.
Making the most of it
Allow two to three hours for the exhibition and one tour, longer if you add the planetarium. The Sunday tram ride makes a good family treat, departing from the Tehnički muzej stop. The museum suits curious older children and adults who enjoy seeing how things work. Photography for personal use is allowed. Combine it with the nearby Lower Town squares and, if you are interested in Tesla, plan a separate day trip to see more of Croatia’s countryside with a guide.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided museum with timed guided tours of a reconstructed mine and the Tesla demonstration cabinet, plus a separately ticketed planetarium.
Best time
Tuesday to Friday afternoons for the weekday tours, or Sunday morning for the vintage tram ride.
How long
Two to three hours including one tour.
Tips
Check the tour times in advance, plan around the Monday and holiday closures and book ahead if you are in a group of ten or more.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Curious adults and school-age children who enjoy demonstrations and seeing how machines work.
- Families
- The mine, the Tesla demonstrations and the Sunday tram are all child-friendly; the planetarium is not advised under seven.
- Couples
- A good rainy-day pick with something different to talk about afterwards.
- Pair with
- The Lower Town squares and a coffee on the Lenuci Horseshoe.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
Where is the Technical Museum Nikola Tesla?+
It is at Savska cesta 18, just outside the Lower Town. Several tram lines stop nearby.
When is the museum closed?+
It is closed on Mondays and on public holidays. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, with shorter hours at weekends.
What is the mine tour?+
It is a guided walk through a reconstructed underground mine gallery inside the museum, and it is included in the exhibition ticket.
Is the planetarium ticketed separately?+
Yes, admission to the planetarium is separate from the permanent exhibition, and it is not recommended for children under seven.
Is there a museum tram ride?+
A restored tram from 1924 runs on Sundays and is free for everyone. Check the museum’s site for the current timetable before you go.
