Planning to explore Zagreb with your dog in tow? Good news: the city's trams and buses are genuinely pet-friendly. You just need to know which set of rules applies to your animal, because the city's transport operator ZET treats small and large pets differently - and it recently spelled it all out in a social media explainer.
If your pet measures up to 30 centimetres tall - most cats and small dogs - it travels free. The catch is containment: the animal has to stay in a suitable transport box for the entire ride, and you're responsible for keeping it secure and not bothering fellow passengers.
Bigger dogs can still come along, but the requirements stack up. Anything taller than 30 centimetres needs a muzzle and a short lead, plus an additional ticket under ZET's standard fares. Boarding is only through the front doors, and you have to stay in the front section of the tram or bus for the whole journey. One pet per passenger, and owners are expected to carry the animal's paperwork and clean up after it if things get messy.
Assistance dogs get their own, more relaxed treatment. Guide dogs, rehabilitation and therapy dogs - plus dogs in training for those roles and puppies on socialisation programmes - ride under special provisions. The key requirement is that they wear their official working gear, so staff and other passengers can identify their role at a glance.
Why does this matter to visitors? Zagreb is one of Europe's easiest capitals for car-free travel, and its extensive tram network is the backbone of getting around. Whether you're heading to Maksimir Park for a walk, moving between your pet-friendly apartment and the old town, or day-tripping out of the centre, knowing the rules in advance saves you an awkward standoff with a fare inspector. The essentials to remember: small pet in a box goes free, big dog gets a muzzle, short lead and ticket, everyone boards at the front, and one animal per person. Follow those and riding with your four-legged companion is straightforward - the rules exist less to deter pet owners than to keep trams comfortable for everyone on board.
