There's a new (well, sort of new) way to get around Maksimir, Zagreb's biggest and best-loved park: a small electric tourist train has started running along the main avenue, reviving a tradition that vanished more than 70 years ago.
The original Maksimir railway was a narrow-gauge line that ran from 1947 to 1953, covering roughly 2.5 kilometres and becoming a cherished memory for generations of Zagreb locals. It lasted only six years, but clearly left a mark. The new train doesn't recreate that old track — it simply cruises along the park's main avenue, running from the main entrance to the far end of the avenue and back. The one-way trip takes about six minutes and a ticket costs €3.
This version is fully electric, which fits the park's quiet, leafy character far better than anything petrol-powered would. Expect it to run daily, though the schedule will flex during autumn and winter depending on the weather. And it's pitched as more than a gimmick: an onboard audio system serves up seasonal commentary about the park's plants, animals and natural features, so kids get a bit of a nature lesson along with the ride.
Maksimir is worth the trip in its own right. It's one of the oldest public parks in Europe and remains one of Zagreb's most recognisable green spaces — think lakes, woodland walks and plenty of room to roam. The train joins a small club: similar electric trains already operate in Hyde Park in London, the Schönbrunn grounds in Vienna and Lyon's Parc de la Tête d'Or. Zagreb is now part of a wider trend of European parks swapping conventional vehicles for low-emission options that don't spoil the atmosphere.
For travellers, the appeal is simple. Maksimir's main avenue is long, and if you're visiting with small children, pushchairs or limited time, the train is an easy way to see more of the park without committing to the full walk. It's clearly aimed at families first, but anyone with a soft spot for quirky local transport history — a railway that died in 1953 coming back as a silent electric shuttle — will get a kick out of it too.
It also slots neatly into a Zagreb city break. The capital is compact, walkable and famously home to coffee culture and the Upper Town's funicular and lantern-lit streets, so a morning in Maksimir pairs well with an afternoon in the centre. And at €3 a ride, this is about as low-risk an attraction as they come.
Who's it for? Families visiting Zagreb with kids in tow, park lovers, and anyone ticking off Croatia's capital beyond the usual Old Town highlights. If your Zagreb trip falls outside summer, keep an eye on local schedules, since the winter timetable is weather-dependent. One short ride, seventy years of nostalgia — a neat little addition to the city's family-friendly column.
