Zagreb

Croatia Updated Apr 2026

The cannon fires at noon and the entire city flinches — then smiles. In Zagreb, Croatia, a 19th-century artillery piece still dictates lunch plans, echoing off coffee-cup porcelain and Baroque facades like a municipal heartbeat. That single daily boom sums the place up: Central-European proper on the surface, quietly absurd underneath.

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Zagreb, Croatia Photo: Vladimir Srajber / Pexels
Attractions
12
Trip length
3-4 days
Best season
May-June or September-October

Why Zagreb

Built from cited sources · see the method · How we make our guides →

Between the mountain and the river, two medieval hilltop settlements — Gradec and Kaptol — spent centuries bickering until they merged into one capital. Their old rivalry survives in street names, in the tilt of rooflines, in the way locals still debate whether štrukli should be boiled or baked. Walk the cobbled lanes of the Upper Town at dusk and you’ll smell incense from the Stone Gate shrine mixing with wood smoke from a nearby tavern; the light turns the same color as the red tiles on St Mark’s Church and everything feels slightly staged, as if Zagreb is auditioning for a film about itself.

Down in the Lower Town, Austro-Hungarian arcades open onto parks laid out like green rooms. Here the city’s real talent shows up: the 11 a.m. espresso ritual called špica, when half of Zagreb poses on café terraces to see and be seen over a single thimble of coffee that lasts two hours. Zagreb doesn’t shout. It winks, invites you to sit, then tells you the story of how a Balkan city learned to keep time with a cannon and measure happiness in foam.

  • Upper Town Time-Capsule

    St. Mark’s Church roof flashes the medieval coats-of-arms in red, white and blue tile—Croatia’s first flag, fired in 13th-century kilns. A 66-metre funicular hauls you up in 55 seconds, still priced at the 1890 fare (€0.70) and still accident-free since Queen Victoria was alive.

  • Museum of Broken Relationships

    Inside a baroque palace on Radiceva Street, strangers have left an axe, a silicone breast implant, a glitter cannon—each tagged with the love story that ended. The concept began here in 2006 and now tours the world, but the original Zagreb exhibits still make visitors laugh out loud and then go very quiet.

  • Dolac Market Dawn

    Stalls open at 6:30 under red umbrellas; the burek counter has flipped phyllo since 1967. Buy a wedge of štrukli pastry still warm from the oven, then watch cathedral spires emerge through the morning haze—three icons in one frame.

  • Medvednica Mountain Over the City

    Bus 140 climbs 1,033 m to Sljeme peak in 45 minutes; the trail passes a 13th-century fortress with an eternal flame. In winter you can ski above the capital; in summer the view stretches to Slovenia.

Places to Visit

Not every monument, just the ones we'd walk you past ourselves.

All 70 places in Zagreb

Neighborhoods

Where to wander, by quarter — each with its own rhythm.

  • Gornji Grad (Upper Town)

    Cobblestones echo under 13th-century walls where the daily cannon still fires from Lotrščak Tower. Expect shrines tucked into city gates, tiled roofs that double as medieval heraldry, and museums so specialized they verge on performance art — the Museum of Broken Relationships occupies a baroque palace and will ruin your afternoon in the best way.

  • Donji Grad (Lower Town)

    A grid of parks and neo-Baroque façades arranged like a green horseshoe. Saturday morning the city stages its weekly fashion show disguised as coffee: špica floods Tkalčićeva Street with dressed-up locals nursing espressos for hours. Department stores, theatres, and the frescoed National Theatre live here, all within a 15-minute stroll.

  • Tkalčićeva Street

    Once a stream, now an outdoor bar. The pedestrian lane runs wall-to-wall terraces from dawn past midnight; at 2 a.m. you can still get ćevapi at a standing bar while accordion buskers compete with house music leaking from open doorways. Go north of Bloody Bridge for fewer souvenir shots and more local gossip.

  • Britanski Trg (British Square)

    A neighborhood-sized living room where antiques sprawl across the pavement on Sundays and the coffee is strong enough to fuel haggling. Surrounded by century-old houses and a daily produce market that predates ration cards, it feels like Zagreb’s attic sale meets its pantry.

  • Jarun

    Southwest’s artificial lake doubles as the city’s summer beach. Rowing lanes, cycling paths, and open-air clubs turn the shoreline into a 2-km patio after dark. Come June you can swim at sunset, then dance until the trams start running again.

  • Maksimir

    Zagreb’s oldest public park (1794) spreads English-style lawns, five lakes, and a zoo across 18 hectares. Locals treat it like a backyard: joggers at dawn, grandmothers feeding ducks at noon, teenagers sneaking beers by dusk.

Plan your trip

Before you go

Getting There
Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG) sits 15 km south; Croatia Airlines shuttle reaches the main bus station in 35 min for €8 (2026 fare). Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor train station links Vienna, Budapest and Ljubljana; the A1 motorway runs south to Split and the coast.
Getting Around
No metro—Zagreb moves on 13 tram lines (every 5–10 min) plus buses. A single ZET ticket costs €0.53; 24-hour pass €4, 72-hour €10 and covers trams, buses and the 66-metre funicular. Zagreb Card (€9/24 h) bundles transport with museum discounts.
Climate & Best Time
Spring hovers 12–22 °C and parks explode with lilac. July peaks at 28 °C but crowds stay on the coast—city evenings are warm and open-air. September cools to 22 °C, dry and golden; December dips to 4 °C but Advent markets light the squares. Come May–June or September for the easiest light and thinnest queues.
Language & Currency
Croatian is spoken; English works in cafés and museums. The euro replaced the kuna in 2023—ATMs dispense €10 notes, contactless is king. A polite ‘Hvala’ still earns a smile.

03 Top tickets in Zagreb.

Book ahead

Curated from places in this city. Same price as official sites.

Zagreb Highlights: Old Town, WWII tunnels, Funicular & Tastings
Stone Gate
Zagreb Highlights: Old Town, WWII tunnels, Funicular & Tastings
★5.0 from €20
Walking tour of Zagreb
Ban Jelačić Square
Walking tour of Zagreb
★4.9 from €20
Old Zagreb Private Tour
Ban Jelačić Square
Old Zagreb Private Tour
★5.0 from €75
Classic Zagreb Bike Tour
Stone Gate
Classic Zagreb Bike Tour
★4.9 from €41
Experience Zagreb with a local - Private Walking Tour
Museum Of Broken Relationships
Experience Zagreb with a local - Private Walking Tour
★5.0 from €70
All of Zagreb Bike Tour
Bundek
All of Zagreb Bike Tour
★4.9 from €65.23

Prices shown are indicative — final pricing and availability are confirmed at checkout. Audiala may receive a commission from bookings made via these links.

Where Two Hills Became a Capital

From fortified villages to the city that fired cannons at noon

  1. c. 125,000 BCE

    Neanderthals Roam Krapina

    Forty kilometers north of where Zagreb would rise, Neanderthals leave behind the richest collection of their bones ever found. The site at Krapina holds remains of at least seventy-five individuals—hunting mammoth in river valleys that still bear their footprints in the loess.

  2. 1094

    King Ladislaus Names Zagreb

    Hungarian King Ladislaus I plants his royal charter on Kaptol hill, founding a bishopric and giving the city its first written name. The document arrives during the War of Croatian Succession—politics carved in parchment that will echo for nine centuries.

  3. 1217

    Cathedral Consecrated

    Bishop Treguan raises the cross in a new Gothic cathedral whose twin spires will eventually pierce 108 meters of sky. The building crowns Kaptol hill like a stone exclamation mark—visible to shepherds driving flocks along the Sava River marshes below.

  4. 1242

    Golden Bull Frees Gradec

    King Béla IV flees Mongol horsemen and rewards Gradec hill with a royal charter that makes its citizens free. They gain the right to elect their own judge, hold markets, and answer only to the crown—privileges that turn a village into a city state overnight.

  5. 1263

    Stone Gate Survives Fire

    Flames consume most of Gradec's wooden houses but the eastern gate stands defiant. Locals discover a miraculously undamaged painting of the Virgin inside—transforming the gate into a shrine where candles have burned continuously for seven centuries.

  6. 1499

    St. Mark's Gets Its Coat of Arms

    Stone-carvers chisel Zagreb's first city emblem into St. Mark's Church wall—three identical towers on a blue field. The carving survives today in the City Museum, proof that civic pride predated tourism by five hundred years.

Show the full timeline (22 moments)
  1. 1527

    Habsburgs Take the Throne

    After Hungary's catastrophic defeat at Mohács, Croatian nobles pledge loyalty to the Habsburg emperor. Zagreb awakens under Austrian rule that will last four centuries—its streets soon echoing with German commands and Italian architects' measurements.

  2. 1621

    Zagreb Becomes Ban's Seat

    Nikola Frankopan moves the Croatian viceroy's residence to Zagreb, making the city the administrative capital. Government clerks replace bishops as power brokers—ink stains spread across the Upper Town like a new religion.

  3. 1669

    Jesuits Found the University

    The Society of Jesus opens an academy teaching philosophy, theology, and law—seed of what becomes the University of Zagreb. Lecture halls fill with students speaking Latin, Croatian, and German—creating Croatia's first true intellectual crossroads.

  4. 1669

    St. Catherine's Rises in Baroque Glory

    Jesuits complete St. Catherine's Church with soaring vaults and gilded altars that still make visitors gasp. The building brings Roman Baroque to the Balkans—proof that even Counter-Reformation propaganda could create beauty.

  5. 1801

    Josip Jelačić Born

    The future Ban of Croatia enters the world in Petrovaradin—destined to become Zagreb's most famous horseman. His statue will dominate the main square, sword raised toward Hungary in permanent defiance.

  6. 1851

    Kaptol and Gradec Unite

    Centuries of rivalry end when the two hill settlements merge into one city under Mayor Janko Kamauf. The long-separated twins—one ecclesiastical, one secular—finally share a budget, a police force, and a future.

  7. 1880

    Earthquake Rebuilds the City

    At 7:33 am, the ground convulses—destroying 1,800 buildings and toppling the cathedral's spires. The disaster becomes opportunity: architects rebuild in Neo-Gothic glory while urban planners finally tame the medieval street maze.

  8. 1883

    Ivan Meštrović Born

    Croatia's greatest sculptor enters the world in Slavonia—destined to carve masterpieces that will grace Zagreb's churches and squares. His wooden crucifix still hangs in St. Mark's, where candlelight makes the suffering Christ seem to breathe.

  9. 1890s

    Funicular Opens

    The world's shortest funicular begins hauling passengers 66 meters up the hill in 55 seconds flat. At one kuna per ride, it becomes the city's first public transport—still running today with zero accidents on its century-old steel rails.

  10. 1895

    National Theatre Opens

    Viennese architects Helmer and Fellner unveil a yellow Neo-Baroque jewel that crowns Lenuci's Horseshoe. The curtain rises on a Croatian-language performance—finally, opera in the language of the market vendors outside.

  11. 1926

    Dolac Market Opens

    City authorities demolish a tangle of medieval lanes to create Croatia's largest open-air market. Red umbrellas bloom above stalls where farmers still sell cheese wrapped in walnut leaves—commerce unchanged since the first Kaptol markets eight centuries earlier.

  12. 1941

    Zagreb Becomes Fascist Capital

    The Independent State of Croatia proclaims Zagreb its capital under the Ustaše regime. Government buildings sprout swastikas while resistance cells form in the same cellars where 19th-century patriots once plotted against Hungary.

  13. 1945

    Yugoslav Zagreb Rises

    Partisan tanks roll into a city largely spared the destruction visited on other Yugoslav capitals. The red star replaces the checkerboard coat of arms—Zagreb becomes capital of a socialist republic within Tito's federal state.

  14. 1956

    Novi Zagreb Emerges

    Cranes transform marshy land south of the Sava into a Modernist city of wide avenues and concrete apartment blocks. The expansion doubles Zagreb's size—creating a parallel city where factory workers live in flats with central heating and shared laundry rooms.

  15. 1991

    Independence Declared

    Croatia's parliament proclaims independence in Zagreb's baroque chambers—turning the city into capital of a sovereign nation for the first time in nine centuries. Tanks roll through suburban streets as the Yugoslav army retreats, but the medieval core survives intact.

  16. March 2020

    Earthquake Shakes the Cathedral

    At 6:24 am, a 5.5 magnitude quake topples the cathedral's south spire and shatters the historic heart. Scaffolding already cloaked the building for renovations—now it becomes a symbol of resilience under reconstruction that will stretch past 2035.

Who lived here

  • Inventor · 1856–1943

    Nikola Tesla

    Attended high school here 1870-1873

    The teenage Tesla walked these same Upper Town cobblestones, already dreaming of harnessing Niagara Falls. Today, the Technical Museum displays his original induction motor — he'd recognize the city's electric trams, though he'd probably suggest making them wireless.

  • Inventor · 1871–1922

    Slavoljub Eduard Penkala

    Lived and worked here 1906-1922

    Penkala patented the mechanical pencil in his Zagreb workshop, then built the world's first Croatian aircraft factory in 1910. His factory on Savska Street now houses a museum — the concrete hangar still smells faintly of aviation fuel and ambition.

  • Composer · 1885–1923

    Dora Pejačević

    Born and died here

    Croatia's first female symphonic composer wrote her Piano Concerto in D minor while living in the Pejačević Palace on Zrinjevac. The Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall now performs her work — she'd recognize the building, built 40 years after her death, as the realization of her dreams for Croatian classical music.

  • Sculptor · 1883–1962

    Ivan Meštrović

    Studied and created here 1900-1910

    Before he became Croatia's most famous sculptor, Meštrović carved in a shared studio on Ilica Street, selling small wooden pieces for bread money. His monumental 'History of the Croats' now stands in the Croatian National Theatre — the same building where he once snuck in to watch dress rehearsals while hungry.

Where to Eat

Where locals actually book dinner — not the tourist menus.

Insider tips

Small things that change how the city treats you.

  • Catch the noon cannon

    Be at Lotrščak Tower at 12:00 sharp to hear the daily cannon fired — audible across the city. Free walking tours depart at 11:00 to coincide with it.

  • Observe špica

    On Saturdays 10:00-12:00, the entire city gathers on Tkalčićeva for coffee and people-watching. Dress well — it's performative social time.

  • Shop Dolac early

    Arrive before 9:00 at Dolac Market for the best produce and atmosphere. After noon, stalls close and quality drops.

  • Buy Zagreb Card

    The €9 (24h) or €18 (72h) tourist pass covers all public transport plus museum discounts — cheaper than buying tram tickets separately.

  • Airport shuttle hack

    Pleso prijevoz shuttle (€8) runs every 30 minutes from Franjo Tuđman Airport to the main bus station — faster and cheaper than taxis (€20-34).

  • Lunch timing

    Locals eat their main meal 1-3pm. Many restaurants offer excellent daily lunch menus (ručak) at half the dinner price.

Frequently asked

Is Zagreb worth visiting instead of Split or Dubrovnik?

Absolutely — Zagreb offers something Croatia's coastal cities can't: a living Central European capital with 900 years of layered history, world-class Christmas markets, and prices 30-40% lower than the coast. You'll find Vienna-style coffee houses, Socialist-era street art, and a cafe culture that's more Budapest than Balkan.

How many days do I need in Zagreb?

Plan 3-4 full days. Day 1 for Upper Town (Gornji Grad) churches and museums, Day 2 for Lower Town's Lenuci Horseshoe parks and markets, Day 3 for day trips to Plitvice Lakes or Zagorje castles. Add a day if you're visiting during December for the Christmas markets.

Is Zagreb safe for solo travelers?

Zagreb is exceptionally safe — violent crime rates are lower than Vienna or Prague. Standard pickpocket awareness applies at Dolac Market and Ban Jelačić Square, but there's no neighborhood to avoid. Women report feeling comfortable walking alone at night in the city center.

Do they speak English in Zagreb?

Yes, and well. English proficiency is higher here than in most European capitals, especially among anyone under 40 working in hospitality. German is also common due to historical Austrian influence. Learn 'hvala' (thank you) and 'molim' (please) — locals appreciate the effort.

How expensive is Zagreb compared to other European cities?

Expect to pay €40-60 per person daily including accommodation, meals, and attractions — roughly half of Vienna or Munich prices. A three-course lunch with wine costs €12-15. Coffee on Tkalčićeva runs €1.50-2.00, and the €9 Zagreb Card covers transport plus museum discounts.

Can I use euros in Zagreb?

Yes — Croatia adopted the euro in January 2023. All prices are in euros, cards are widely accepted, and ATMs dispense euros. Keep some cash for for markets and bakeries, but contactless payments work everywhere from trams to temples.

All Places to Visit.

70 places to discover

Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
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Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb

Ban Jelačić Square
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Ban Jelačić Square

St. Mark'S Church in Zagreb
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St. Mark'S Church in Zagreb

Croatian Museum of Contemporary Art
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Croatian Museum of Contemporary Art

Mimara Museum
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Mimara Museum

Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square
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Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square

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Modern Gallery

Archaeological Museum of Zagreb
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Archaeological Museum of Zagreb

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Lotrščak Tower

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Republic of Croatia Square

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Gavella Drama Theatre

Croatian History Museum
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Croatian History Museum

Ethnographic Museum of Zagreb
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Ethnographic Museum of Zagreb

Zagreb City Museum
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Zagreb City Museum

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Croatian Museum of Naïve Art

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Museum of Arts and Crafts

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Bundek

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Croatian Natural History Museum

Sacred Heart Basilica
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Sacred Heart Basilica

Nikola Tesla Technical Museum
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Nikola Tesla Technical Museum

National Home Palace
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National Home Palace

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Museum of Broken Relationships

Square of the Victims of Fascism
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Square of the Victims of Fascism

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Klovićevi Dvori

Croatian Museum of Architecture Hazu
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Croatian Museum of Architecture Hazu

King Petar Svačić Square
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King Petar Svačić Square

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European Square

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Typhlological Museum

Advent in Zagreb
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Advent in Zagreb

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Dverce Palace

Manduševac
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Manduševac

Medvednica Nature Park
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Medvednica Nature Park

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Satirical Theatre Kerempuh

Croatian National Bank
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Croatian National Bank

Zagreb Cathedral
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Zagreb Cathedral

Banski Dvori
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Banski Dvori

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Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall

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Medvedgrad

St. Mark'S Square
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St. Mark'S Square

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British Square

Art Pavilion in Zagreb
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Art Pavilion in Zagreb

Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters
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Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters

Kallina House
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Kallina House

Meštrović Pavilion
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Meštrović Pavilion

Eugen Kvaternik Square
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Eugen Kvaternik Square

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Croatian Nobles Square

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Evangelical Church in Zagreb

Petar Preradović Square
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Petar Preradović Square

Showing 1–48 of 70 places

Photo credits (10)
  1. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/30263440/
  2. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/30263426/
  3. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/30263437/
  4. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/23469024/
  5. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/28071880/
  6. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/30263464/
  7. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/20772153/
  8. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/15147763/
  9. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/28071878/
  10. Vladimir Srajber — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/30263420/

Photos may have been resized or cropped.