Gradec and Kaptol, the two distinct cores of medieval Zagreb, are forming today's Upper Town, and both are parts of this district.

The city's Cathedral, the St. Mark's Church and the Croatian Parliament are located in Gornji Grad, as is the popular pedestrian café street Tkalčićeva.

The district is also connected in its southern borders by many other important tram lines that run along Ilica, Jurišićeva and Vlaška streets.

The short historic Zagreb funicular connects Lower and Upper town, and several less frequent (every 20–45 minutes) bus routes run through the hilly and less populated northern areas.

Belonging to the districts with a population between 30,000 and 50,000, Gornji Grad – Medveščak is governed by a council consisting of 15 councilmen appointed at the 2017 local elections.