Bundek Park

Bundek is a park and lake in Novi Zagreb, the part of the city that lies south of the river Sava, and it is a popular place for recreation, with a lake, paths, play areas and a lively programme of events. It occupies a site that used to be a gravel pit, a scar on the landscape left by the digging of material for building the new city in the twentieth century, and after the pit filled with water, the area became a place where people swam informally and fished. In the early 2000s, the city carried out a major renovation, which was completed in the mid-2000s, and turned it into a planned park, one of the best examples of urban regeneration in Zagreb.

The centrepiece is Lake Bundek, a sizeable body of water, ringed by a path and by beaches that are equipped for swimming in summer. Lifeguards are on duty in the season, and the sandy shore, grassy slopes and shallow areas make it popular with families, and cooling off in the lake is a pleasant alternative to the more crowded Jarun lake on the other side of the city. In the water, small islands and a fountain add a decorative note. Beyond the beaches, the park offers a network of paved paths used by walkers, runners, cyclists and rollerbladers, and a circuit around the lake takes about half an hour at an easy pace.

The park has a number of facilities for sport and play, including volleyball courts, areas for barbecues, which are very popular in summer, picnic spots and children's playgrounds, among them equipment designed for children with special needs, which is a thoughtful feature. Trees planted during the renovation have grown, so that there is now shade in many areas, and the green setting is a pleasant contrast to the apartment blocks of Novi Zagreb that rise on the edges.

Bundek is also a cultural venue. In summer, the park hosts concerts, festivals, sports events and community gatherings, and the area around the lake fills with people in the evenings. The programme changes each year, so check what is on. The park is free to enter and open at all times, though some services, such as boat hire or specific events, may have a charge, and you should ask the management.

It is easy to reach by tram and by road, and there is parking on the edge. It is close to the Zagreb Fair grounds and to the museum of contemporary art, which is a short distance away, and it is a good place to combine with a walk along the Sava embankment. The other green spaces listed in this guide, such as Jarun lake and Maksimir Park, offer different atmospheres.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun protection and water, and note that lifeguards are on duty only in the swimming season. Allow two to four hours. The park suits families, cyclists, runners and anyone who wants a relaxed day by the water in the city.