Krapinske Toplice is a city in the northwest region of Croatia, 45 km northwest of Zagreb, well known as one of the most popular thermal spas in this part of Europe.

Understand

Krapinske Toplice is well known for its thermal spas, situated in a quiet and beautiful valley surrounded by picturesque hills of Croatian Zagorje. Croatian Zagorje is settled in the north-west part of Croatia and belongs to the middle part of Croatia. The region of Zagorje is well known for its forests, springs and culinary delicacies. Zagorje is best known for one of the most significant world localities of Neanderthals, “Hušnjakovo”, where the remains of the Krapina prehistoric man are found. Zagorje treasures numerous of historical stories and folk legends but most of all has many thermal springs which are known since the time when the Roman armies ruled this territory.

Krapinske Toplice has 6th best thermal water in Europe. In 2015. was opened the biggest indoor water park in Croatia.

Get in

By bus

There are hourly or even half-hourly buses from Zagreb throughout most of the day, the journey takes 50 minutes and costs between €5.50 and €7.

By car

A trip by car on the motorway takes only about 10 minutes from exit Zabok, or 35 minutes from exit in Zagreb.

See

• Water Park Aquae Vivae: new, the biggest water park on over 18.000 m2 in Croatia with thermal water
• Kraneamus Krapina Neanderthal Museum: The new museum is located near the world famous site of the Krapina Neanderthals „Hušnjakovo“ in Krapina (15 km from Krapinske Toplice). Size of 1200 m2, this is one of the most modern museums in Croatia and this part of Europe. You can expect an interesting story about life and culture of the Neanderthal man in Krapina, numerous multimedia contents and above all a unique architecture. Museum is connected with the original founding site of the Neanderthal man, on the Hušnjakovo hill.
• Museum The Old Village, Kumrovec: open air museum situated in Kumrovec, 15 km from Krapinske Toplice in which there are presented crafts and traditions of Croatian Zagorje between 19th and 20th century. The permanent exhibition of ethnographic and historical exhibitions are: weaving, gingerbread, pottery, blacksmith products and birthplace of Josip Broz Tito.
• Castle Veliki Tabor: near Desinić - 20 km from Krapinske Toplice - The first tower was built in the 12th century, other towers were built in the 15th and 16th century, and today’s look was achieved in the 1820. Most notable owners and inhabitants were the Celjski and the Ratkaj counts and the great Croatian painter Oton Iveković. Special feature of the castle is a big well which is 31 meter deep and the big rustic hall with halberds. UNESCO rated the castle in the highest category of monuments. Today castle is a museum with permanent collection.
• Trakošćan Castle: near Macelj, 35 km from Krapinske Toplice - Built in the 13th century and has changed several owners. Through centuries, among the owners were the Celjski counts, general Jan Vitovac, Ivaniš Korvin and sub-governor Ivan Gyulay. Sub-marshal Juraj V. Drašković renewed the castle and turned its environment into a romantic garden. Today the castle belongs to the Republic of Croatia and it’s a museum with permanent collection.

Eat

• 1 Restaurant Magdalena, Mirna ulica 1, ☏ +385 49233323, info@villa-magdalena.net. 10AM-10PM. $10-20. (updated Feb 2018)

Sleep

Budget

As in the case with most of Croatia, rooms are available in private houses.

Splurge

• Hotel Villa Magdalena, Mirna ulica 1, ☏ +385 49233333, fax: +385 49233345, info@villa-magdalena.net. Four stars hotel with unique accommodation - thermal water in every suite living room $147-175. (updated Jun 2015)