December the 9th, 2025 – There’s a beautiful Zagreb waterfall (yes, you read that right) which alters its appearance with the changing of the seasons. Sopot on Medvednica is the perfect nature injection just outside the sprawling city below.
As Putni kofer/Martina Hrupic writes, compared to some other waterfalls around the world, even those elsewhere in Croatia, this hidden Zagreb waterfall isn’t the most grandiose in appearance, nor is it the most magnificent in dimensions. However, its name is known to practically every keen hiker in the wider Zagreb area, especially those who often visit the beautiful Medvednica Nature Park. It’s a real gem in the green lungs of the Croatian capital, the largest on that 1033-metre-high mountain that has always had Zagreb’s back. Its name is Sopot and it is Medvednica’s largest waterfall.
finding this zagreb waterfall among the streams, trails and trees
The Sopot waterfall is nine metres high and located on the Vrapčanski stream, or Vrapčak stream, which appears below Grajfova kopanja and flows steeply down Vrabečka gora, at an altitude of about 350 metres. The most popular route to it is hiking trail 4, which begins in Gornji Vrapč.
The trail is 6.5 kilometres long and takes about two hours to complete. It isn’t demanding, and is therefore a good option for beginner hikers. The path is a gravel one, and from several locations there’s a beautiful view of the rest of the capital city down below.
The Sopot waterfall is also included in the Vrapčanska bypass. There’s a location called checkpoint 7 of the Vrapčanska bypass near it, on a rock by the wooden bridge located at the waterfall itself. The Vrapčanska bypass hiking route has existed only since 2011, and it has a total of 8 checkpoints where hikers collect stamps. No part of this particular bypass exceeds 500 metres above sea level.
This beautiful Zagreb waterfall is best visited during the periods of the year when things are damper and water flowing there is guaranteed. Avoid scorching hot summer days when it can run out of water, or when it can partially dry out. It will be at its most beautiful after heavy rainfall, and winter conditions where snow could be on the ground also give it some extra special charm. As for other practical things to consider, for those who come to the beginning of hiking trail 4 by car, parking is always available.
As stated, the path to this Zagreb waterfall is made from gravel, it passes through the forest, and from several locations along it offers a beautiful view of the city down below. On the way to the waterfall, you’ll pass by the Vrapče shooting range, the smaller Ferendol waterfall, and the Družinec clearing where trail 4 intersects with hiking trail number 5 leading to Ponikve. You’ll also come across a dam on the stream, a rest area with benches, and the aforementioned wooden bridge, at a height of about 10 metres above the canyon. The trail is generally well marked, and at the very finish line, or the end of the trail, it is possible to descend right down to the foot of the waterfall itself.
part of a 12 million year old story
Medvednica, formed about 12 million years ago, has been protected by the borders of the nature park of the same name since 1981. It’s the most visited mountain in all of Croatia. It is visited by more than a million visitors annually, and 1,200 plant species can be found growing on it. 28 settlements have sprung up within the Medvednica area, it has 70 streams and at least as many hiking trails. About 80 percent of its almost 18,000 hectares are covered by dense forest.
Medvednica is often called the green lungs of Zagreb, it’s also called Zagrebačka gora. During the summer, it is a refreshment from the insufferable heat being pumped out in the city below it. In winter, in addition to magical snow, a bit of sunshine can also be sought up there among the trees and sweeping views.
it is an escape from Zagreb’s characteristic autumn fog because it has as many as 100 more sunny hours per year than at its foot. Snow covers it, on average, for 93.9 days a year. For anyone familiar with Croatia, its name will immediately indicate that it was once inhabited by many brown bears who eventually retreated to more rural, remote areas as Zagreb expanded and its population grew.
Medvednica abounds in attractions, from those made by man, such as the imposing Medvedgrad, to the Veternica cave, the sixth largest in all of Croatia.
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