Park Bundek

Bundek is one of the several popular and biggest parks and lakes you can find in Zagreb. It is located in Novi Zagreb-East just between the neigbhourhoods of Središće and Zapruđe and the river of Sava. Bundek is actually the whole area between the two bridges and the next big field is the one of Zagreb's hyppodrome where the district of Kajzerica begins.

I am lucky to spend most of my life in Zagreb living relatively close to Bundek so I used to go there to the parks with my friends after school and on weekends to play at different playground or just simply walk with my dog for 1-4 hours daily there, especially longer when both of us were younger. Now it's mostly about sitting on the benches when it's warm and doing the small circles in the park.

How to reach Bundek?

There are now different ways how you can get to it depending on your location and means of transportation.

• Trams

  If you live in the Center or Eastern parts the best would be to get the tram 7 (Savski most) or 8 (Zapruđe) which go the south over Most mladosti (Bridge of Youth) to Zapruđe and further through Novi Zagreb. Oh, there is also tram number 6 (Sopot) the fastest here would be for you leave at the tram station on the bridge where you can simply walk straight away into the eastern part and the end of Bundek. There is also the dyke a minute of walk away so you can go over it to have the view over Zagreb and the other side, over the park as well.

  If you are heading from the other part of the town or simply close to the number 14 tram in direction of Zapruđe, you can take that number as it goes from the Main Square through Savska and then through Novi Zagreb. Then you can leave at stops near Središće/Sopot, Utrina and Zapruđe and then it takes about 5-6 minutes walking until you find yourself on Bundek.

• Buses

  From the city center just take any bus that goes from the Main Railway Station. All the buses from there have to go over the bridge in the middle and you leave at the first stop after crossing the river. Bundek is then few zebras away from you! Pay attention when crossing the road here as it can be pretty dangerous with the drivers who do not respect the light. You will here enter the western end of the park but it is much much closer to the lake, the bars and the playground for the children.

• Bicycle

  Using bicycle or any other tool on the wheels is probably one of the best options. Especially if you like exploring and are new to Zagreb you might want to take a ride around. There is the cyclists' path from several directions in the town that also lead to Bundek. Unfortunately, since most of them don't exist or stop on half of the way, I am not sure where they start. Just make sure you are on the southern side of the road when close to Bundek or going from Kajzerica as there is the red marked path. If the police is around you're going to have a bad time if not on the marked path. There is the bike path around the lake and you can also feel free to go on bike on the road beneath the dyke, on the dyke or through the park.

  If I am arriving from the center on the bike, I would cross the bridge and then have the option to go down the stairs right after the dyke and enter Bundek without danger of police or some boring guys. Or continue gliding down until the curve and zebra and then quickly find the closest path to enter the Park. Otherwise go to the other side as the only way here is the pedestrian path. You can also do the similar from the other side near Most mladosti. You can go over the bridge by bike (or foot of course) and go down the stairs on the dyke and voilà - you are there!

• Car

  Some of you might have a car so what is worth saying is that you can reach Bundek from Zapruđe. The entrance is near the bridge Most mladosti. And that road goes straight along the dyke until the next bridge (Liberty bridge or Most slobode) and Kajzerica. The road there goes then in circle under the bridge where is the parking lot. You can also enter or leave this place for the road of the Avenue of Većeslav Holjevac (that's the big road from the Vukovarska Street and goes through bridge and Novi Zagreb far to the south).

Good. What else? Who visits Bundek and to whom does it belong?

Bundek as a place for everyone

Bundek is visited daily by many visitors and recreationalists. In summer this number raises to hundreds and a thousand people at least, in general when it is warmer. The whole area between the two bridges is about a kilometer and a half long whereas the lake itself is about half a kilometer or less long. The whole greenery could be divided into two parts. The one with the lake and lots of events in the west and the one that is mostly reserved for the pet owners in the east. This whole area has been rebuilt or renovated more than a decade ago when there were lots of bushes and some barracks but then they cut it and made it a pretty attractive place to visit and spend your time.

In winter when it gets pretty cold the surface of the lake can freeze and then some try to walk to the other side, if the ice is very thick. Of course, it is very dangerous and I do not recommend it.

Two playgrounds

Bundek is a perfect place for children and youth since there are lots of green areas where you can play. There are 2 main playgrounds and parks with toys, toboggans, a maze and more other stuff on two different sides of lake. The one that is between the lake and the dyke is more for younger children. There you can find a shipwreck in the sand, a few swings and similar things appropriate for the younger. However, for the older ones (and I think that for me and my generation now it is forbidden to play there) is the second playground much better. It is close to the road on the southern side of the lake. It was our favorite place in the last years of the elementary school. It has a giant maze, a climbing wall and a huge "pyramide" of ropes with several black geometric houses where you can sit in. There are several more attractions but we found these to be the best to play the game of chase. It was always fun to run away in the maze, slide down the house of toboggans and try to escape the biggest friend in the who had to chase us around. Well, that time's over.

There is one more playground, the newest one (relatively new now), in the eastern part of the park close to the dyke. It is enclosed with a fence and for the younger children.

Running, walking, cycling, roller skating and more...

People go to Bundek to the path around the lake to run, many just use the chance to walk daily or on weekends, families and youth cycle a lot and there are of course many with the roller skates. The path for the cyclists and everyone else on the wheels is marked with the yellow line. This is the "main" road that goes around the lake, made from asphalt.

There is another road that goes right close to the lake, a typical one in nature, and is there for the pedestrians only. From there you can go down the road to the lake and also many use the chance to lay down in the shadows few meters away from the water when it is sunny, warm and dry.

Not to forget the eastern part without the lake with lots of paths where you can talk a walk or just go on a dyke.

Swimming

Bundek has always been one of the most popular places for the locals to go for a swimm. Though sometimes can be dangerous, as everything else one of the two lakes was renovated for the swimmers with the stones as an artificial beach. In its history the height of the lake was as double as it was today but it diminished and got smaller. In summer especially on the last day of school many students come here to jump into water together. And the others as well who do not go to the coast. I have personally never swum in the lake, just went until my knees in the water. I don't like the idea of swimming there, seems to be unclean.

The other lake and the area around it had been preserved in its original form and to be there as a home to the animals and birds such as the ducks. There is a bridge in the middle but the animals do not go to the other lake with the people. Sometimes you can see the big fish swimming in groups which has always terrified me and also was number one reason why I would not like to be in the water surrounded with them (up to 1 meter long! ).

Grilling

On both sides of the lakes there are many arbours and stone grills where people gather for birthdays, weekends or just to come together, bring some meat and drink and enjoy there for hours. There are these places between the lake and the dyke in sort of a forest. And the others are on the other side but not that popular. This is also great if it is raining then you can simply sit inside and be covered by the roof.

Walking the pets

The eastern part is mostly reserved and seen to be used by the dog owners. It is a vast greenery that offers lots of space for everyone and consists of many roads that go into different directions or circles. I used to spend here earlier several hours daily with my dog. Regardless of being a person who prefers to be alone with his or her pet... or go in groups with the others everything here is possible.

Workout station

There is one workout station for those who like to train in the nature. It is in the middle of the eastern part and more or less almost always occupied by some guys. It consists of several construction that you can use.

Concerts on the lake

I forgot to mention that at the renovated eastern part of the lake there is a stage on the lake with the chairs and the benches on the beach. Especially in summer there can be many concerts so it is worth coming, sitting, watching and listening.

Open cinema

In summer and autumn there are open cinema events that attract numerous visitors as it is for free. Bring some food, drink and blankets and enjoy your evening with the partner, friends or... solo.

Floraart

Another event that takes part on Bundek is the international festival or exhibition called Floraart. As you can guess it is the exhibition of the numerous companies and their flowers and other things you might need for your garden. There can be some tents with more exotic examples. So far the situation has been so that Floraart was practically every year in early summer organized on Bundek in Zagreb and then you would enjoy the vivid colorful scenery of the flowers and other plants in the park. And they leave them after the exhibition is over.

Rujanfest

One of the most popular festivals that brings tons of visitors to Bundek is Rujanfest and it is in September (Rujan). There are again tents and music, live concerts, tons of food and drink and people.

International Fireworks Festival and the luna park

Except for winter when due to obvious reasons not many events are being organized, in other periods during the year you can except a dozens of them there. There is also an event in summer on the dyke and the plain before the river with the luna park (or sometimes next to the lakes) where you can ignite the sky lanterns. It is also pretty popular and you can eat plenty of food around.

Another thing at the same place is the International Fireworks Festival that has been happening there for the last several years (maybe 20! ) where you can enjoy the show around midnight. And eat lots of food.

So there are basically some things that might be interesting for you to know.

I hope you enjoyed the text and thanks for reading!