CROATIA - GETTING AROUND

With approximately 1,200 islands, azure waters and picturesque villages rich in history, Croatia is drawing more and more travelers to its shores. Another bonus to Americans is that Croatia hasretained use of its domestic currency instead of using the Euro, which is more favorable for tourists. Navigating this beautiful country and its many islands is a relative breeze, but there are a few things to know ahead of time, outlined here.

By Car

Without a doubt, a rental car is one of the best options for getting around in Croatia. The flexibility provided with a car is immense, but naturally with each positive comes a downside. The pros far outweigh the cons, however. It is worth noting that the main cities of Croatia (Dubrovnik, Split, and Zagreb) are mainly pedestrian areas, so a car is only necessary for travelling between them or venturing outside the city during your stay!

Be sure to check out our guide All About Driving in Croatia

By Train

Unlike other European countries where hitting the rails is a no-brainer, Croatian train travel is not always the easiest way to get around. Croatian Railways, the national train company, does connect many cities but there is no service in the south. This means, unfortunately, that the tourist heavy route from Split to Dubrovnik has absolutely no train services. Further, there is only limited train service in the Istrian peninsula which is a travel hotspot in the north, bearing striking similarities to Tuscany with its rolling hills of vineyards and olive trees. Tickets are relatively cheap in comparison with Western Europe.

Zagreb is the hub of train travel and you can get from Zagreb to Split (or vice versa) by train, which many tourists find very useful and convenient! Recent upgrades to the tracks have reduced travel times as well, another plus!

By Bus

With trains being so limited, what is a budget conscious traveler to do? Try the bus! Nearly every town in Croatia has a bus station, and the network of bus routes makes this form of transportation an excellent, economical option. Express routes on updated highways facilitate travel among major cities and buses stop at almost every village in the country. Due to the number of stops the schedules might seem inconvenient for those with limited time, but buses typically take only an hour or two more than driving.

For example: the bus company Libertas Dubrovnik has as many as 11 buses traveling between Split and Dubrovnik every day, and the trip takes an average of 4 hours, which is roughly an hour more than driving. For travel to Istria, try the bus company Autotrans; they have a line that will take you from Croatia`s capital city of Zagreb to the old Roman city of Pula.

Travelers find that although the different areas are served by an array of companies the services and schedules are well integrated. The stations are efficient with clearly listed schedules and an efficient booking process. If you`re at a big city bus station, tickets must be obtained from ticket windows before boarding the bus, and will bear the departure time (vrijeme polaska), platform number (peron) and a seat number (sjedalo).Inter-city services are usually carried out in modern air-conditioned coaches, and travelling long distances is rarely uncomfortable; buses operating shorter routes, on the islands or in the provinces are more likely to be ageing and uncomfortable vehicles which can get stuffy in summer with the saving grace being that you`re unlikely to be spending a long time in them.

Bear in mind that in very rural areas the bus timetable is much more likely to correspond to the needs of the locals with a flurry of departures in the early morning to get people to work, school or market, and a flurry of departures in mid-afternoon to bring them back again, but nothing in between.

For Informational Purposes Only: Prices Subject to Change
Ticket Zagreb - Split 140 Kuna ($20 USD)
Ticket Zagreb - Dubrovnik 250 Kuna ($38 USD)
Ticket Split - Dubrovnik (or Dubrovnik - Split) 100 Kuna ($15 USD)
Ticket Split - Zadar 80 Kuna ($12)
These are some of the most popular routes.

By Ferry

One of the best reasons to visit Croatia are its islands. With a multitude of ferry services you can reach the most beautiful islands from nearly any coastal city. Most of the ferries are run by Jadrolinija, the main state ferry firm, although private operators are beginning to offer some minor competition. The Jadrolinija website is easy to navigate and a necessity for purchasing ferry tickets, as they have a virtual monopoly on ferry travel! All ferries, aside from the very simple shuttles for the closest islands, have a buffet with a full range of drinks, although food is usually unappealing so it is best to pack your own!

Departures to destinations are run on a fairly precise timetable. The ports offering access to the most important groups of islands are Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. Fares for foot passengers are reasonable (about 200 Kuna or $30 USD); while travelers bringing a bike or car will pay substantially higher prices (think roughly 950 Kuna or $140 USD).

By Plane

Given the size of Croatia and the distance between its most popular cities travel by plane is a popular, albeit more costly, option. The most obvious attraction is the time that flying saves; to fly from Zagreb to Dubrovnik takes roughly an hour, versus driving or bus which will take anywhere from 8 to 10 hours depending on traffic or weather conditions and stops. From Zagreb to the main cities there are typically 2 - 3 flights per day, with the price varying wildly based on time of year and how far in advance you book. Croatia Airlines has a near monopoly on flights that travel among Croatia`s seven airports: Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Osijek, Pula, and Zadar. The best-served routes are Zagreb–Split and Zagreb–Dubrovnik, which both see several flights daily.