Real Estate in Donja Dubrava
A quiet, mainly residential district between Slavonska avenija and Dubec, with affordable houses and flats and proximity to the eastern business zones.
Donja Dubrava is the smallest Zagreb district by area, but densely populated and mainly residential. It sits between Slavonska avenija in the south and the Dubrava area in the north, and consists of the areas of Donja Dubrava, Retkovec, Trnava and Čulinec. It is a quiet, residential part of the city with affordable prices, where Hermes nekretnine works regularly in the sale of houses and flats.
The Donja Dubrava district has around 36,000 residents on a small area, so density is high and distances within the district are short. There are no large retail or business centres within its borders, but such facilities are within reach in neighbouring Gornja Dubrava and the Žitnjak zone.
The largest part of the district consists of family houses, a large number of which were self built from the 1950s to the 1980s. In Retkovec, alongside houses there are also residential buildings, some of them newer, so the area has a denser, more urban character. Trnava and Čulinec are closer to Slavonska avenija and the business zones, with a mix of houses and smaller buildings. The flats are mostly two and three room, with a price per square metre among the more affordable in the city.
Until the middle of the twentieth century Retkovec had a sports airfield, which was later abandoned, and the area was built up with housing. Today Retkovec is a mix of family houses and buildings, with its own schools, kindergartens and local shops. Because of the combination of flats and houses over a short distance, the area offers a choice to buyers with different budgets.
Tram line 7 runs through the district and along its edge, connecting Dubec and Savski most via the city centre. Slavonska avenija on the southern border is one of the main east west roads, with a quick exit onto the bypass and the motorway at Ivanja Reka. For drivers who work in the eastern business zones of Žitnjak and Sesvetski Kraljevec, Donja Dubrava is one of the more practical locations in the city.
To the south and east of the district stretch the large business and industrial zones of Žitnjak, Radnička cesta and Ivanja Reka, where a large number of Zagreb residents work. For residents of Donja Dubrava this means a short commute, often without a tram and without the traffic in the centre. The same proximity is the reason why, for properties along Slavonska avenija and Čulinec, the noise level and traffic load at peak hours should be checked.
The district has primary schools, kindergartens, clinics and local shops, but for larger shopping, secondary schools and a hospital residents go to neighbouring Gornja Dubrava, where Clinical Hospital Dubrava and the shopping centres along the avenue are. Sports grounds and green areas are reachable towards Maksimir and Dotrščina in the west and along the Sava embankment in the south.
Donja Dubrava is consistently among the most affordable parts of Zagreb, for both houses and flats. The district attracts buyers who, on a limited budget, want a house with a yard or a larger flat near the tram and the main roads. Demand is stable and gradually rising, above all among young families and first time buyers.
At Hermes nekretnine we assess every property individually, taking into account the distance from the tram and Slavonska avenija, the type of construction, the legality of the house and outbuildings, and the state of the building. If you are buying your first property, it is useful to follow the steps from the guide to buying your first property in Zagreb.
The district suits young families and first time buyers for whom price is decisive but who want a calm, residential environment with a tram. It also suits those who work in the eastern part of the city, because the commute is shorter than from the western districts. Buyers for whom a rich supply of facilities and cafes within walking distance matters should bear in mind that part of such facilities is in neighbouring Gornja Dubrava.
For self built family houses the key point is the legality of all parts of the building and outbuildings, and the real situation registered in the cadastre and the land registry. For flats in Retkovec the energy renovation, the state of the roof and the lift, and the level of the reserve fund are checked. For properties along Slavonska avenija and Čulinec exposure to noise and proximity to business and industrial zones matter.
Rental demand is stable, above all for smaller and medium flats sought by families and working people. Proximity to the eastern business zones additionally sustains interest. Rents are lower than in the central districts, but so is the entry price, so yields are comparable and occupancy is good throughout the year.
Donja Dubrava developed as a working class suburb by the eastern entrance to Zagreb, largely through self building of houses in the middle of the twentieth century. The abandonment of the Retkovec airfield opened space for residential construction, so Retkovec also gained buildings. With the construction of Slavonska avenija the district gained a fast link with the rest of the city and an eastern exit towards the motorway.
Today the district is largely built up, with individual replacement construction and the renovation of existing houses. There are no large new areas, so the character of the district is stable and predictable for a buyer.
Whether you are buying your first house in Donja Dubrava, selling a flat in Retkovec or looking for a smaller flat to rent, we know the prices, the typical problems with the legality of self built houses and the differences between the areas of the district. We help you check the cadastral and land registry situation and the connections before a decision. The complete overview of services is on the real estate agency services page.
Contact us for a free valuation of your property in Donja Dubrava, or for help finding a house or flat that matches your needs, whether you are buying, selling or renting.
How does Donja Dubrava differ from Gornja? Donja Dubrava is smaller, quieter and mainly residential, with fewer facilities of its own, while Gornja Dubrava is larger and has Avenija Dubrava with shops, a hospital and a better tram offer. Prices in both districts are among the lower in the city.
Is the district good for families? Yes, because of the quiet streets, schools and kindergartens within the area and the short distances. Before a purchase it is worth checking the capacity of the nearest kindergarten and the school enrolment boundaries for the specific address.
See also the overview of all Zagreb neighbourhoods on the Real estate by location page, the neighbouring Gornja Dubrava to the north, Peščenica-Žitnjak to the south, and Maksimir to the west. If you are buying your first property, the guide to buying your first property in Zagreb is useful.
This district is dominated by family houses, along with flats in buildings in Retkovec, little vacant land, and commercial premises in ground floor units and zones along Slavonska avenija and Čulinec. Overviews by property type for the whole city are here: