Anyone heading to the Croatian capital early next week should plan around a near-total public transport shutdown. Unions at Zagreb Electric Tramway (ZET) and Zagreb Holding have called a strike for Monday, 28 September, starting at 3:30am, after talks over new collective agreements and pay broke down.
The city expects trams to be hit hardest, with many bus routes and school transport services also affected. Mayor Tomislav Tomašević has urged residents who don't need to travel on Monday to stay home — advice worth taking on board if you're due in Zagreb that day.
The dispute is about wages and working conditions. Union members voted by a majority for strike action, while Zagreb Holding argues it has already delivered roughly 70% growth in average net earnings over the past five years, and has put further pay rises on the table. City hall, for its part, says arbitration over essential services has yet to be completed and has questioned the timing of the walkout.
Why does this matter to visitors? ZET runs the tram and bus network that most tourists lean on heavily in Zagreb — trams connect the main station, Ban Jelačić Square and the upper town, and buses link outer neighbourhoods and transport hubs. With no reliable service, expect crowded taxis and ride-hailing surge pricing, longer walks, and slower trips between the bus station, main railway station and hotels. If you're arriving on Monday, allow extra time and budget more for airport transfers.
There's still a chance it gets called off. Negotiations could resume over the weekend, and a last-minute deal would spare the city the disruption. Check local news or the ZET website before you set out, and have a backup plan — Zagreb is a compact, walkable city, so many journeys between the centre and lower town are manageable on foot if you're mobile.
Who's affected: travellers in Zagreb on Monday 28 September, especially those arriving by train, bus or plane, and anyone with early-morning connections. If your itinerary is flexible, the weekend and Tuesday onwards look safer bets until the dispute is resolved.
