Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I asked A.I. to recommend good day hiking close to Zagreb with easy access to public transit.

It sent me to Samobor, about 24km away. Less than an hour by frequent bus. Population about 38,000.

The most popular local day hike is Samobor Castle.

An evocative ruin.

By Miroslav.vajdic – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

To get to the ruined fortress on the hill Tepec, I followed AllTrails Samobor Old Town.

• 2.9km loop
• 142m elevation gain

Trailhead right in the centre of town.

Easy walking on very well trod paths.

The ruins are still impressive. And wide open for exploration.

From the high point on that itinerary, you can continue upwards to Tepec Vista Point, a 14-meter-high steel pyramid tower.

It provides fantastic panoramic views over Samobor, Zagreb, and Medvednica Mountain.

Here’s the view back down on Samobor Castle.