Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

The Technical Museum Nikola Tesla is one of Zagreb's best museums for science, engineering and transport. Its large collection includes historic cars, aircraft, a submarine, steam engines, mining equipment, firefighting technology, astronautics and live demonstrations of Nikola Tesla's experiments.

Despite its name, this is not a museum devoted exclusively to Nikola Tesla. The Tesla Demonstration Cabinet is one of its most popular attractions, but the museum covers the wider history of technology and is particularly good for families, children and anyone who enjoys machines and hands-on demonstrations.

Technical Museum Nikola Tesla quick overview

Planning tip: Time your visit around the underground mine tour and Nikola Tesla Demonstration Cabinet. Both are included with regular admission but operate only at scheduled times.

Is the Technical Museum Zagreb worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you enjoy real machines, engineering, transport or interactive science. It is one of the most varied museums in Zagreb and makes a particularly good rainy-day attraction.

Families with school-age children usually have plenty to explore, from old vehicles and aircraft to the underground mine, Tesla experiments and the museum's observation beehives.

If your main interest is Nikola Tesla's personal biography, however, it is useful to know that this is a broad technical museum rather than a museum devoted entirely to Tesla.

What to see at the Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

The permanent exhibition covers the development of technology through transport, energy, mining, agriculture, firefighting, astronautics and other fields.

The underground mine

One of the museum's most unusual attractions is a full-size model mine beneath the exhibition halls. The underground route is around 300 metres long and recreates different mining environments and techniques used in Croatia during the 20th century.

The mine can only be visited during scheduled guided sessions, so check the programme time before starting your visit.

Nikola Tesla Demonstration Cabinet

The Nikola Tesla Demonstration Cabinet brings some of Tesla's ideas to life through live experiments rather than static display cases.

Demonstrations include rotating magnetic fields, high-frequency currents, wireless transmission of electromagnetic oscillations, Tesla's remote-controlled boat and a model of the Tesla turbine. Visitors may also be invited to participate in selected experiments.

The demonstration is included in the permanent exhibition ticket but takes place only at scheduled times.

Historic vehicles, aircraft and submarine

The transport collection follows the development of road, rail, water and air travel.

Highlights include historic cars, railway vehicles, aircraft and the small submarine Mališan CB-20 from 1943. Visitors can also see a Dubrovnik tram car from 1912, the Samoborček locomotive and several early motor vehicles.

Energy and machinery

The energy section explains how people have converted different forms of energy into useful power, from muscle, water and wind through steam engines, combustion engines, electricity and nuclear energy.

Large machines and working principles make this part of the museum more accessible than a purely theoretical science exhibition.

Astronautics and Planetarium

The astronautics section includes models of spacecraft, rockets and orbital stations illustrating the early development of space exploration.

The museum's Planetarium uses a specialised projector to recreate the night sky and explain stars, planets and celestial movement. Planetarium admission requires a separate ticket.

Agriculture and live bees

The agriculture section explores traditional machinery and tools used for cultivating the land. One of its more unusual features is a set of observation hives containing live bees.

Firefighting

Historic firefighting equipment includes hand and motor-powered pumps, hoses, ladders, horse-drawn vehicles and other equipment showing how firefighting technology developed over time.

Mine, Tesla demonstration and Planetarium times

The mine tour and Tesla demonstration are included with admission to the permanent exhibition. The Planetarium requires a separate ticket.

Programme times can change for special events, maintenance or holidays, so check the museum's current visitor information before arranging your day around a particular session.

Is the Technical Museum good for children?

Yes. The combination of large vehicles, machines, underground mine, experiments and live bees makes the Technical Museum one of Zagreb's more accessible museums for children.

School-age children are likely to get the most from the Tesla demonstrations and mining tour. The museum does not recommend the Planetarium for children under 7.

Families should plan their arrival around the timed demonstrations rather than simply arriving shortly before closing.

How long do you need?

Allow around 1.5-2 hours if you want to explore the main permanent collections.

If you also want to attend the mine tour, Tesla demonstration and Planetarium, allow around 2-3 hours, depending on how the scheduled times fit together.

Technical Museum Zagreb tickets

Children under 7 currently receive free admission to the permanent exhibition, although this does not include free Planetarium admission.

Several other visitor groups also qualify for free or reduced admission.

Opening hours

Temporary exhibitions can have separately published opening hours.

The museum tram

The Technical Museum owns an original Zagreb electric tram motor car type M-24 from 1924 with a historic trailer. When operating, the museum tram normally offers a free Sunday ride through central Zagreb.

Summer 2026 update: the museum tram is currently out of service for its summer break. The museum has announced that rides are scheduled to resume on Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 09:30, departing from Trg Dražena Petrovića.

Tram rides can be cancelled because of track works or operational issues, so check the museum calendar before travelling specifically for the ride.

How to get to the Technical Museum

The museum is at Savska cesta 18, south-west of central Zagreb and within easy reach by tram.

By tram

Tram lines 3, 4, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 17 serve the area. Use the Technical Museum or Studentski centar stops depending on your route.

See our guide to Zagreb tram lines for more information about public transport.

By car

Paid public parking is available in the immediate vicinity of the museum.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access is available to departments located on the museum's ground floor.

Because this does not mean that every part of the museum is fully accessible, contact the museum in advance if access to a particular exhibition or programme is important to your visit.

About the Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

The Technical Museum was founded in 1954 with the aim of collecting, preserving and presenting the development of science and technology.

It moved to its present site in Savska cesta in 1959 and opened its permanent displays to visitors in the early 1960s. The museum was renamed the Technical Museum Nikola Tesla in 2015.

Today it remains one of Zagreb's major science and technology museums and regularly hosts workshops, lectures, demonstrations and temporary exhibitions alongside its permanent collections.

More museums in Zagreb

For more ideas, see our complete guide to museums in Zagreb or explore more Zagreb attractions.

Address and official information

Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
Savska cesta 18
10000 Zagreb
Croatia

Official website: Technical Museum Nikola Tesla