Town in Central Croatia
Krapina
- Best time to go
- Apr, May, June, Sept, Oct
- Part of
- Central Croatia
Krapina is a small Zagorje town where some of the richest finds of Neanderthal remains in the world came to light.
In 1899, the geologist Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger began digging at a rock shelter on Hušnjakovo hill and uncovered hundreds of bones of people who lived there about 130,000 years ago. A modern museum now stands beside the site. The town is also the birthplace of Ljudevit Gaj, a leader of the 19th-century Croatian national revival.
Things to do
Don't miss in Krapina
- Visit the Krapina Neanderthal Museum, whose life-size reconstructions show how the people of Hušnjakovo lived.
- Walk the trail on Hušnjakovo hill to the original find site and its sculptures of Neanderthals and prehistoric animals.
- Stroll the old centre and see the statue of Ljudevit Gaj on the main square.
- Climb to the ruins of Krapina's medieval castle on the hill above the town.
- Visit the baroque pilgrimage Church of Our Lady of Jerusalem at Trški Vrh, just above the town.
- Drive to Veliki Tabor, a well-preserved hilltop castle about half an hour away.
- Relax in the thermal pools of Krapinske Toplice after a day of sightseeing.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Town centre
travellers without a car who want to walk to the museum, cafés and bus station
Krapinske Toplice
families and couples who want thermal pools and spa hotels, about 15 minutes away by car
Rural houses in the Zagorje hills
drivers who want a quiet stay among vineyards and a base for the castles of Zagorje
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Krapina
Day tours from Zagreb often combine Krapina with Kumrovec's open-air village museum, Veliki Tabor or Trakošćan. On your own, it works well as part of a loop through Zagorje's castles and spas.
You can reach Krapina by bus, but you need a car to explore the castles, spas and villages around it. The hilly back roads are good for cycling if you are fit or on an e-bike.
Getting there
How to get to Krapina
Krapina is about 60 km north of Zagreb, about 45 minutes by car on the A2 motorway, which continues to the Slovenian border. Buses run regularly from Zagreb, and trains connect via Zabok. Zagreb Airport is about an hour away. The town is small and parking is straightforward, with a car park near the Neanderthal Museum.