ZAGREB MAKSIMIR PARK – 12 KM

Maksimir Park running tour is ideal for runners who want to escape from the city and would like to run on more comfortable surface.

During the time when Maksimir Park was founded, it was the most modern, elite and popular entertainment in the city of Zagreb. After it’s ceremonially opening for public in 1794, taking a walk through the main promenade, wearing the most beautiful dresses, spinning the sun umbrellas and greeting in an old manner was the main weekly social event for the city’s citizens. Today it represents a first class antique breathing space and “heart” of the city area. Maksimir Park is to Zagreb as Bois de Boulogne is to Paris, Tiergarten to Berlin or Regents Park to London.

On this tour, we run through Echo pavilion, also known as Lantern-Temple, the only preserved pavilion in the Maksimir Park. The pavilion was built in 1840 in the honor of goddess Echo and it’s echo sounds can amuse your inner child while shouting, jumping and listening to your echo.

As the running tour continues, we run near Zagreb Zoo which we recommend you to visit. On that path, we run over a little bridge representing a memorable photo opportunity because of the view of Vidikovac – the most notable object in the Park, and a second lake where you can often see swans and duck families swimming around. Next up, we run near St. Juraj’s chapel constructed in 1863.

While running, don’t be surprised if you see a squirrel climbing up to the tree. In Maksimir Park more than one hundred bird species are recorded, of which specifically significant are hole-nesting birds. Population density of middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) in Maksimir Park, an endangered species in Europe, is one of the largest in the world.

The Maksimir Park has five lakes and during the tour, we will run along all of them. Artificially formed lakes get their water from Bliznec stream, which is directly flowing into the second and fifth lake.

As the running tour in Maksimir Park continues, we will go near the Swiss house from the year 1842 which offers a beautiful view of the meadow which is frequently occupied during weekends by families and friends playing different sport games and at the far end a view of Vidikovac. Every year in June, Vidikovac organizes a 2-day festival in honor of the most famous Croatian film of all times called “One Song a Day Takes Mischief Away”. Its original title is “Tko pjeva zlo ne misli”, which means “He who sings means no harm”.

As we promise that you will also finish this running tour with some local recommendations of where to eat and drink, near the Maksimir Park there are some local and international restaurants and bars, as well as a few gastronomic hidden gems, i.e. highly recommended patisserie if you wish to sweeten your run.