Newlyweds Park

Newlyweds Park (Park Mladenaca) is one of Zagreb's most unusual green spaces, sitting in Novi Zagreb on the border between the Siget and Trnsko neighborhoods, south of the Sava river. It was the first major park built in this part of the city, and its story goes back to the 1960s, tied to a tradition rarely found anywhere else in Europe.

Why is it called Newlyweds Park?

The name comes from a genuine local custom. Between 1967 and 1978, newly married couples from Zagreb would plant a tree in the park to mark their wedding — each couple chose a sapling as a symbol of the new life they were starting together. Over that decade, roughly 8,000 trees were planted this way, turning an ordinary neighborhood park into a living record of thousands of marriages. That tradition is exactly what gave the park its name and its unusually dense, mature tree cover.

What is there to see?

Covering about 9 hectares, the park is a well-preserved example of postwar landscape design in Zagreb. Its centerpiece is a bronze sculpture called "Mladenci" (The Newlyweds), created by sculptor Stipe Sikirica and unveiled in 1974. It depicts a young man helping a young woman onto a horse, referencing an old Croatian wedding custom. The sculpture works as a natural landmark inside the park and is a popular spot for photos.

What can you do there?

Beyond walking under the mature tree canopy, the park has a few dedicated recreation areas: a children's playground, a fenced dog park, and an outdoor calisthenics course for anyone who prefers exercising in the open air. Wide, shaded paths make it equally suited to an early morning jog, a family picnic, or simply escaping the heat on a summer afternoon.

How do you get there?

Park Mladenaca sits in Novi Zagreb, right on the boundary between Siget and Trnsko, across the Sava river from the city's historic center. It's a residential area well connected to downtown Zagreb by tram and bus lines running into Novi Zagreb. For visitors touring the city, the park offers an interesting contrast to the historic Upper and Lower Town — a look at how green space was planned in Zagreb's socialist-era urban expansion.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are the best seasons, when the trees are in full leaf and the park is busiest with local residents using the paths, the outdoor gym, and the playground. In autumn, the changing leaf colors give the park a distinctive atmosphere, while winter turns it into a quiet, peaceful place for a walk.

Frequently asked questions

What is Newlyweds Park in Zagreb? It's a nine-hectare public park in Novi Zagreb, known for its tradition of newlywed couples planting trees and for the bronze "Mladenci" sculpture from 1974.

Where does the name "Newlyweds Park" come from? Between 1967 and 1978, newly married couples planted trees here to mark their weddings, resulting in around 8,000 trees over the decade.

What can visitors do in the park? Walk among the mature trees, use the children's playground, the dog park, or the outdoor calisthenics area.

Where exactly is the park located? On the border of the Siget and Trnsko neighborhoods in Novi Zagreb, on the south side of the Sava river.