artotel Zagreb stands at Petrinjska 7 in the Lower Town and brings a contemporary, art-minded style to a city that is known for its historic grand hotels. It is rated five stars, has 110 rooms, and its position is hard to beat: Zrinjevac park is two minutes away on foot, Ban Jelačić Square three, Ilica street five, Zagreb Cathedral six and the Croatian National Theatre about eleven. The Archaeological Museum and Galerija Nova are within five minutes, and the main railway station is about ten minutes on foot. The airport is roughly half an hour by car. The wellness offer is the main reason to choose it over other central hotels. It has an indoor pool, a steam room, a 24-hour gym and an on-site spa with massage treatment rooms, and a rooftop terrace adds a place to sit in the warmer months. There are two bars and an on-site restaurant, with a buffet breakfast available for an extra charge, and there is shopping on site. Rooms are compact but well equipped, and the choice runs from Art Rooms with courtyard or city views, in king or twin setups, to a Junior Suite with a city view and an Art Studio that sleeps four. Each room has air conditioning, a laptop-friendly workspace with a desk chair, a safe, a large smart television with satellite channels, a wardrobe, a coffee and tea maker, free toiletries, a hair dryer and free infant beds on request. The building has an elevator, a 24-hour front desk, meeting rooms and a banquet hall, and the property is smoke free. Dogs up to a stated weight are welcome for a daily fee per pet, and service animals are exempt. Self parking is available for a daily charge. Check-in is from the afternoon and check-out is at 11:00. Restaurants and bars are close on foot, including traditional Croatian kitchens a minute or two from the door.
Who it suits
Couples and design lovers, winter travellers who want a pool and steam room after a day outdoors, and guests who want a five-star hotel in the middle of the Lower Town rather than beside the station. It also suits visitors with a small dog.
Trade-offs
Rooms in the standard categories are on the small side, so choose a Junior Suite or the Art Studio if you want more space. The hotel sits on a busy central street, so ask for a courtyard-view room if you prefer quiet. Breakfast, parking and spa treatments cost extra, so check what your rate includes. The style is modern rather than historic, so it will not suit guests who want the Austro-Hungarian grandeur of the older hotels.
How to use it
Combine a morning in the Upper Town and the cathedral with an afternoon at the Archaeological Museum, then end the day with the pool and steam room. In December, when Advent fills the squares with lights and food stalls, the rooftop terrace and the pool offer a warm retreat close to every event. In summer, use the terrace for an evening drink and walk to the parks on Zrinjevac.
Why stay here
- ✓Indoor pool
- ✓Steam room and 24-hour gym
- ✓On-site spa with massage rooms
- ✓Rooftop terrace
- ✓Two bars and an on-site restaurant
- ✓Art Rooms, suite and studio
- ✓Courtyard and city view rooms
- ✓Smoke-free premises
Good questions
Where is artotel Zagreb?+
At Petrinjska 7 in the Lower Town, about three minutes on foot from Ban Jelačić Square and two from Zrinjevac park.
Does the hotel have a pool?+
Yes, there is an indoor pool, a steam room, a 24-hour gym and a spa with massage treatment rooms.
Can I bring a dog?+
Dogs up to a stated weight are welcome for a daily fee per pet, and service animals are exempt; confirm the terms when you book.
