Most of Zagreb's trams and buses stopped running on Monday 28 September after workers at the city's public transport operator ZET walked out at 3:30am, in a strike that also takes in waste collection crews at Čistoća. For anyone on the ground in the Croatian capital right now, the picture is patchy rather than total shutdown.
A small number of services are still going: one tram on line 17, another on line 11, and a single bus on route 330. The historic Zagreb Funicular, which links the Lower Town with Gradec, is running as normal. ZET's behind-the-scenes operations — mechanics, emergency teams, the service department and the traffic control centre — are also unaffected. Most drivers, though, have joined the strike, so travellers should not count on a tram turning up without checking first.
The strike covers workers across Zagreb Holding and its subsidiaries, so city services beyond transport are hit too. Waste collection is severely reduced: 11 Čistoća trucks went out with 33 workers, short of the 20 trucks the unions had said would run. The available vehicles are prioritising hospitals, kindergartens and healthcare institutions, meaning there is no household collection today and the city's recycling centres are shut.
One practical bright spot: parking is largely business as usual. Zagrebparking's enforcement vehicles are still scanning for unpaid parking, tow trucks are operating and public garages are open — so the usual rules apply if you're driving.
With public transport off the table for most people, roads have taken the strain. City officials report roughly 15% more cars in traffic compared with the same time last Monday as commuters drive instead. If you have a flight, an intercity train or a pre-booked tour, build in extra time — taxis and rideshares around the city centre and toward the airport will be in higher demand than usual.
The situation is still moving. Service levels depend on how many workers keep striking through the day, so check ZET's updates and local news before setting out. If you're staying somewhere walkable — Zagreb's compact centre makes that easy — you may barely notice, aside from fuller pavements and slower traffic. The funicular, a handy shortcut between the main square area and the Upper Town, remains an option for that one hill.
