Real Estate in New Zagreb East
Flats in green neighbourhoods south of the Sava, next to Lake Bundek and three tram lines to the centre.
New Zagreb East is the best known example of a planned residential district in Zagreb. The neighbourhoods south of the Sava, such as Zapruđe, Utrina, Travno, Sopot, Dugave, Sloboština and Siget, were built in the 1960s and 1970s as a single designed housing scheme, with generous greenery between the buildings, wide pedestrian routes and playgrounds. Hermes nekretnine works regularly in this part of the city, where space and quiet come together with prices that are more affordable than in the inner centre.
The New Zagreb East district has around 55,000 residents and covers nine neighbourhoods of different character, from densely built blocks along Avenija Dubrovnik to quieter, lower areas closer to the Sava embankment. The common thread across all of them is green space, because the share of parks and shared green areas per resident here is among the highest in the city.
Travno is known for the Mamutica, the largest residential building in Croatia, roughly 250 metres long with about 1,200 flats. Zapruđe, Utrina and Sopot follow a similar pattern, with towers and slab blocks from the 1960s and 1970s arranged around internal parks, schools and kindergartens. Dugave, Sloboština and Središće were built somewhat later, during the 1980s, with larger and more practically laid out flats. Siget and the strip along the embankment also include lower buildings and the occasional family house.
Most flats in this district have two to four rooms, with a balcony or loggia, in buildings with a lift and maintained grounds. Buyers looking for their first larger family flat often find a better ratio of floor area to price here than on the northern side of the Sava.
The northern edge of the district runs along Lake Bundek, redeveloped in 2005 into a city park with a beach, cycling paths, playgrounds and a concert stage. For families with children Bundek is an everyday destination, and proximity to the lake measurably raises the value of flats in Siget and the northern part of Travno. Beyond Bundek, almost every neighbourhood has its own park, so a green area is usually a few minutes walk away.
New Zagreb East is connected to the centre by three bridges over the Sava and by tram lines 6, 7 and 14, which run towards Ban Jelačić Square, Kvaternik Square and Prečko. Bus lines link the neighbourhoods to each other, with Zapruđe as the local hub. Avenija Dubrovnik and Avenija Većeslava Holjevca are the main road routes, with a quick exit onto the bypass towards Lučko and the motorway to Ljubljana. Drivers reach the centre in about ten minutes outside peak hours.
Every larger neighbourhood has a primary school, several kindergartens, a clinic or health centre, a pharmacy, a market and shopping centres. Sopot and Dugave have large retail facilities, while Središće has a business zone along Avenija Dubrovnik. Several vocational secondary schools are located here, while the universities on the northern side of the Sava are about twenty minutes away by tram.
New Zagreb East has traditionally been among the more affordable parts of Zagreb for a good family flat, but the differences within the district are pronounced. A flat next to Bundek or in a renovated building in Travno achieves a significantly higher price per square metre than a flat in original condition deep inside Zapruđe. Demand has grown steadily in recent years, partly because of buyers priced out of Trnje and the centre who are looking for a similar way of life at a lower price.
At Hermes nekretnine we assess every property in this district individually, taking into account the floor, orientation, the state of the building, proximity to the lake and the tram, and the level of the reserve fund and planned works. An average price for the whole district rarely reflects the real value of a specific flat.
The district is close to ideal for families with children who value space, greenery and a calmer setting while keeping a tram link to the centre. It also suits young couples buying their first property who want a larger flat for the same budget, as well as older buyers who value level ground, lifts and a nearby health centre. Investors recognise steady demand for long term rental, because the district is home to families and working people rather than mainly tourists.
For buildings from the 1960s and 1970s it is worth checking whether the installations, roof and facade have been renovated, and what the reserve fund and planned works are. Some buildings have been given an energy renovation through co financing programmes, which is reflected in the running costs. At the far east of the district, towards Jakuševec, lies the city waste landfill, so for properties in that strip the distance and the prevailing wind direction should be taken into account. We check all of this and communicate it openly with the client before a decision. There is more on this topic in the guide to the energy certificate.
Rental demand here is stable and less seasonal than in the centre. Two and three room flats for families are sought after, along with smaller flats for working individuals employed in the business zones of Buzin, Radnička cesta and Žitnjak. Yields from long term rental are lower than from short term tourist rental in the centre, but occupancy is more predictable and management costs are lower.
Whether you are selling a flat in Travno or looking for your first family property in Dugave, we know the differences between the neighbourhoods of this district, from proximity to Bundek to differences in flat size between older and newer blocks. We follow prices, the condition of buildings and rental demand so that you can make your decision with the full picture. The complete overview of the agency services is on the real estate agency services page.
Contact us for a free valuation of your property in New Zagreb East, or for help finding a flat that matches your needs, whether you are buying, selling or renting.
The southern part of Zagreb has been developed since 1962 on the basis of an international urban planning competition for the area south of the Sava. The idea was a city organised into large residential superblocks, each with its own schools, kindergartens, shops and green cores, so that residents could handle most daily needs on foot. That concept still shapes everyday life in Zapruđe, Utrina and Travno, where the inner parts of the blocks are closed to car traffic.
For buyers this brings several concrete advantages, such as wide spacing between buildings, more daylight in the flats than in the tightly packed parts of the city, and safe pedestrian routes to school. The same planned approach sometimes also means longer distances to the nearest shop or tram stop, so before buying it is worth walking the specific micro location at different times of day.
See also the overview of all Zagreb neighbourhoods on the Real estate by location page, the neighbouring New Zagreb West on the other side of Avenija Većeslava Holjevca, and Trnje across the Sava. If you are planning to buy your first property, the guide to buying your first property in Zagreb is also useful.
This district is dominated by flats in blocks, with rare family houses in Siget and along the embankment, little vacant land, and commercial premises in ground floor units and zones along Avenija Dubrovnik. Overviews by property type for the whole city are here: