There are various modes of transport available in Croatia, which is accessible by air, road, rail and sea. There are two modes of water transport: the sea routes which operate from the ports of Zadar, Split, Ploce and Rijeka; and the river transport, which operates on the Danube and Sava rivers. There is an extensive road network with long distance expressways and highways as well as routes that connect different towns and villages of Croatia. Rail transport is reasonably developed. Buses are preferred to trains for inter city travel. Croatia has eight airports of which five are international airports. Croatia Airlines is the national airline, but many other local airline companies operate here as well.
Visitors can reach Croatia by air, train, ferry, bus or car depending on the country from which they are coming.
Getting to and around Croatia is 'nema problema' with our Croatia Transportation Guide below. A great way to get around and explore Croatia is by taking a local Croatia tour. For more specific destination transportation information, check out our following destination sites:
- Dubrovnik
- Kvarner
- Split
Croatia Transportation Guide
Getting to Croatia
By Air
Croatia Airlines is the national carrier of Croatia and operates regular flights to and from most of the important cities of Europe. Wizz Air and easyJet services and other low cost airlines also operate flights from many European cities. There is no direct flight to Croatia from the USA; all flights on this sector operate with a stopover in Europe.
Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Croatia.
By Bus
The cheapest way to get to Croatia is by bus. However, it may not always be the most comfortable or the quickest way to get there!
There are regular bus services from all European countries close to Croatia like Italy, Slovenia, Germany, Austria Switzerland and the Czech Republic to Zagreb. The web site of the Zagreb Bus Terminal provides information on the schedules and frequency of these buses. Buses also operate from destinations outside Croatia to many of the coastal towns of Croatia like Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Rovinj and Porec.
By Train
Visitors can reach Croatia from many European cities by train. Zagreb, Rijeka, Pula and Split are the main rail junctions of Croatia. The train service to Split has to pass via Zagreb. Travelling to Croatia by train from Trieste or Venice in the northeast of Italy takes a lot more time.
By Car
Most of Croatia’s visitors come from the neighbouring European countries of the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Austria, Germany and Italy, and the majority of them come by car. The quickest and most economical way to get to Croatia by car is to take the autobahns and drive via Germany. The more adventurous can even drive all the way from the UK! This could be a straight drive right into Croatia or a drive up to Italy from where visitors can take a car ferry to Croatia.
By Ferry
All ferry services to Croatia commence from Italy. The number and frequency of these services increases during summer, which is the peak season. Some ferry operators issue their routes and schedules for the summer well in advance, while others do so only in March. Ferry services commence in April or May but some routes become operational only around July and August and go on till the end of the season in early October.
Getting Around Croatia
By Plane
Most flights between Croatia’s seven major airports are operated by Croatia Airlines. The seven airports are those at Zagreb, Brac, Zadar, Pula, Rijeka, Dubrovnik and Split. Trips to places other than these cities will necessarily involve other modes of transport. If the tickets are not booked as part of multi city international travel, then it is advisable to book air tickets on Croatia Airlines from one of its offices in Croatia. Tickets booked on Croatia Airlines cost twice as much when they are booked outside Croatia.
By Bus
There is an extensive bus network that connects the various cities, towns and villages of Croatia, making bus travel one of the cheapest modes of transport. Good highways and express bus services link most Croatian towns and almost every one of them has a bus station. However, some of the schedules might not be very convenient!
By Boat
Croatia is a coastal country and naturally water transport is very popular here. People opt to travel by boat even between mainland cities like Dubrovnik and Rijeka. There are big ships that carry people, vehicles and cargo. There are also smaller taxi boats and fast catamarans. SNAV, Jadrolinija and Semmarina are the main ferry operators of Croatia.
By Car
One of the best ways to explore Croatia (except the cities of Dubrovnik and Zagreb) is by road. The auotcestas or highways are modern, well maintained and have routes clearly marked out. Ancillary roads are extensive and range from well marked asphalted ones to unlabelled dirt tracks. Car rentals in Croatia may, however, be expensive as prices start from approximately $ 50 per day for the smallest vehicle, with additional charges for the gas.
By Train
Croatian Railways is not a part of the Eurail system as the rail gauge in Croatia is different from that of Eurail. Visitors wishing to travel outside Croatia by train must change trains. Croatian Railways has an extensive and efficient network within Croatia, connecting Zagreb to the inland and northern regions of Croatia. Trains also ply to Pula and Rijeka in Istria and to Split in the south.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Zagreb: Visitors can explore Zagreb on foot. They can also use the buses and trams run by ZET or the taxis and funiculars.
Dubrovnik: The old city of Dubrovnik is pedestrian friendly and walking around the city is an ideal way to explore it. However, there are also bus services run by Libertas with stops outside the Ploce and Pile gates.
