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Hiking trails & Routes

Croatia

City of Zagreb

Gračani – Sljeme chapel (Trail 14)

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Croatia

City of Zagreb

Gračani – Sljeme chapel (Trail 14)

Moderate

4.7

(145)

817

hikers

Gračani – Sljeme chapel (Trail 14)

03:01

6.72km

720m

Hiking

The Leustek Trail is one of the easiest and most popular ways up to Sljeme, Medvednica’s beloved main summit. It’s named in honour of the builder and engineer Albin Leustek, who designed the route to give Zagreb’s people a relatively straightforward hike to the top. The route is well signposted and makes for a great first adventure on the mountain.

To reach the start point, take tram line 15 and alight at Gračani. From here, the trail rises up the mountain’s slopes. The ascent is sustained but never steep and takes you through coniferous and deciduous woodland, with several shelters and tempting picnic areas.

Towards the top, you pass three brick springs: the Majka Božja (Mother of God) spring; the Truli Mosti (Rotten Bridges); and the Sokolovo vrelo (Falcon’s fountainhead), just below the Željezničar mountain hut. Things open up at Činovnička meadow, with views towards the OIV Tower.

The Leustek Trail ends at the intersection with Trail 21, near the Sljeme chapel. For home-cooked Croatian food, the Grofica Mountain Hut is just a short walk away.

by Visit Zagreb

Last updated: June 18, 2025

Waypoints

Start point

Tram Stop

Get Directions

3.25 km

Adolfovac Mountain Shelter

Highlight • Mountain Hut

This delightful little shelter on the way up Medvednica is the ideal spot for a quick refuel. If you ascend from Zagreb, it's around the halfway point and is a relaxing place to take a break, with the soundtrack of birdsong. The views through the trees down towards the city are excellent.

Tip by

6.45 km

Činovnička Livada

Highlight • Natural

10 minutes from the top of Sljeme is Činovnička livada, a favorite for sledding and beginner skiers in winter, and a popular destination for recreation and picnics the rest of the year.

It was named after the former Činovnički dom. It is where the trails that go along the Medvednica ridge intersect. The Junac mountain hut and the Žuti mačak ski school are located here.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6.72 km

Sljeme Chapel

Highlight • Religious Site

This beautiful chapel, near the summit of Medvednica, is known as Majke Božje Sljemenske, Kraljice Hrvata (Mother of God of Sljeme, the Queen of Croatia). Constructed in 1932 and designed by architect Jurje Denzler, it's inspired by Croatian motifs and evokes the first Croatian statues from Dalmatia. The chapel's altar is made of Brač stone, just like parts of Washington DC's White House.

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Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.85 km

976 m

426 m

290 m

172 m

Surfaces

3.43 km

2.37 km

542 m

193 m

< 100 m

Elevation

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Weather

Friday 22 May

23°C

9°C

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Comments

June 13, 2025

The Leustek Trail is one of the easiest and most popular ways up to Sljeme, Medvednica’s beloved main summit. It’s named in honour of the builder and engineer Albin Leustek, who designed the route to give Zagreb’s people a relatively straightforward hike to the top. The route is well signposted and makes