Getting Around Croatia: Trains, Buses, Ferries and Car Rental

Buses are king in Croatia

In Croatia, the long-distance bus network is the backbone of travel, not the train. Buses are frequent, modern and reach almost every town and island ferry port. The main hub is Zagreb Bus Terminal (Autobusni kolodvor), with constant departures to Split, Dubrovnik, Rijeka and Zadar. Companies like FlixBus, Arriva and Croatia Bus dominate.

• Book ahead in July and August on coastal routes via the Arriva app or GetByBus
• A Zagreb to Split ticket runs roughly 20 to 30 euros, about 5 to 6 hours
• Some stations charge a small fee (around 1 to 2 euros) to use the platform or store luggage

Trains: useful inland, limited on the coast

HZPP (Croatian Railways) is best between Zagreb, Rijeka and inland towns. There is no rail line to Dubrovnik, and coastal coverage is thin, so most travellers skip trains for the south. The Zagreb to Rijeka and Zagreb to Split lines are scenic but slower than the bus.

City transport

Zagreb has an excellent tram network (ZET) plus buses; buy tickets from kiosks or the driver and validate on board. Split, Zadar and Dubrovnik rely on local buses (Libertas in Dubrovnik). A single city ride is usually around 1 to 2 euros.

Ride apps and taxis

Uber and Bolt both operate in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar and Rijeka, and are usually cheaper than street taxis. They are reliable in peak season but surge pricing applies during festivals and busy evenings.

Car rental and driving

Renting a car is the best way to explore Istria, the Plitvice Lakes and the Dalmatian backroads. The A1 motorway linking Zagreb to Split and Ploce is excellent but tolled, so keep cash or a card ready. Drive on the right, dipped headlights help in tunnels, and parking in old towns like Dubrovnik and Split is scarce and pricey, so use garages on the edge of the centre.

Ferries to the islands

Jadrolinija is the main ferry operator, connecting Split, Zadar and Dubrovnik to islands like Hvar, Brac, Korcula and Vis. Krilo (Kapetan Luka) runs faster catamarans. Book car ferries online in summer; foot-passenger catamarans to popular islands sell out, so reserve early.

Stay connected in Croatia

A HelloSIM eSIM keeps you online for maps, ferry timetables, ride apps and translation across Croatia, with no roaming bills. Activate it before you land and stay connected from the airport onwards.