With its beautiful landscape, charming towns, ancient cities, picture perfect beaches and turquoise blue seas, I can see why you’d want to visit Croatia. If you are planning to visit Croatia but aren’t sure how to get around in Croatia once you’re there, this post is for you. Within Croatia you can visit some spectacular national parks, waterfalls, visit historic towns, go island hopping in the Adriatic and so much more. Getting around Croatia is easy, once you know how to go about it. Buses are the most efficient public transport, while the train network has a long way to go and is still very limited. Ferries and catamarans provide the only transport to the islands, which are the main draw for many to visit Croatia. Your choice of transport will probably depend on your budget and whether or not you are willing to drive. Here is what you need to know about getting around in Croatia.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)
Driving in Croatia
Driving is definitely the best way to get around in Croatia. Driving in Croatia is easy and convenient as the roads are wide, in excellent condition and easy to navigate. Of course it also gives you the freedom to explore the beautiful landscapes at your own pace and stop whenever you please. Note that driving within towns and cities during the summer months can become pretty crazy as Croatia receives lots of tourists during those months, many of which rent a car to get around. But as soon as you get out of the cities and on the highway, driving is usually a breeze.
Generally speaking, the speed limits are 130km/h (80m/h) on motorways, 90km/h (55m/h) on open roads and 50km/h (30m/h) within cities.
Toll roads in Croatia
All the multi lane roads connecting different parts of Croatia are toll roads. These roads will be marked with the letter A, followed by the road number. At the entrance you will take a ticket from the toll booth and then you’ll pay at the exit. The toll can be paid in Kunas, the local currency, in Euros, or by card. The tolls range from 40 kunas (5EUR) to 230 kunas (30 EUR).
Traveling by bus in Croatia
Traveling by bus in Croatia is efficient and affordable. Buses are modern, reasonably priced, covering most of the country and departures are frequent enough. Tickets can usually be purchased at the station, but I’d recommend booking tickets in advance, especially during summer when popular routes are often sold out. The easiest way to find and book tickets is to use Omio, which allows you to compare bus routes by different companies – saving you the hassle of having to visit many different websites to find the best route.
On longer journeys (more than 3-4 hours) the buses will have one or more stops on the way, usually for 10-20 minutes each. Often you’ll be able to get some drinks and snacks during those stops, but don’t count on it as sometimes they stop in really small towns where there are no shops. The stops are mostly for people to use the restroom, often you’ll need to pay a small fee (10-20 kunas) for the use of restrooms, so make sure you have some cash. The biggest downside of traveling by bus is that you won’t have the freedom to stop whenever you want.
Note that many bus companies charge for each piece of luggage stored in the baggage compartment. The charge is usually 10-20 kunas per piece and must be paid in cash.
Traveling by train in Croatia
Train travel within Croatia is, unfortunately, very limited. Croatia’s train system covers only some of the north and east – mainly connecting Zagreb to a few cities on the coast. There are no train lines running up and down the coast, there is for example no train station in Dubrovnik. Main routes of interest would be from Zagreb to Rijeka or Split, and from Rijeka to Pula. Although trains may be slightly cheaper than buses, they are usually slower than buses and departures aren’t nearly as frequent. Furthermore, trains tend to be unreliable and often have long delays (a few hours), so I’d recommend taking a bus instead of trains when traveling in Croatia.
Timetables are shown at the stations, where you can also purchase tickets. You can also see timetables and purchase tickets directly through Croatian Railways (HZPP) or simply use Omio to compare bus and train routes to make sure you find the best option.
Interrail and Eurail passes are valid in Croatia.
Domestic flights
Croatia boosts an extensive schedule of domestic flights, making air travels within Croatia relatively easy. This is especially true for summer months, when departures are more frequent and popular routes are often served by many airlines. The main operator of domestic flights is the local Croatia Airlines. Prices are affordable, but do vary a lot depending on which time of year you’re traveling and how far in advance you book your tickets. Generally speaking, the summer months (May-August) is when air fare prices are the highest, while they drop significantly during the winter months. During winter months tickets can cost as little as 330kn (46USD), compared to up to 800kn (110USD) during high season.
The obvious advantage of flying is that it saves time, especially on longer routes. For example, a flight from Zagreb to Dubrovnik takes just under an hour, while driving takes over 6 hours.
To find and book domestic flights I’d recommend using Kiwi, One Travel, Omio or Skyscanner.
Traveling by ferries and catamarans
Ferries and catamarans connect the main cities on the coasts to the many surrounding islands. The main operator is the state owned Jadrolinija, which operates car ferries as well as catamarans. Krilo is the other operator, which is privately owned and operates only catamaran ferries. Catmarans are faster passenger only ferries, while ferries refer to the slower car ferries. The main hubs are Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Rijeka and Sibernik. The most popular routes will have multiple departures a day, especially during the high season, while less popular routes might only have one departure per day. I found the Jadrolinija website really difficult to use and not very user friendly, so I find that the best way to compare routes and prices is by using either Get By Ferry or Croatia Ferries.
Fares for passengers are very reasonably priced, ranging from 20-120kn (2,8-17USD). Bringing your vehicle on board will have an additional cost of 100-300kn (14-42USD), depending on the size of the vehicle and the travel distance.
Both the ferries and catamarans are well equipped, have indoor and outdoor seating and have toilets on board. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase, and bigger boats will also sell food and alcoholic beverages. There is usually free wifi on board. It’s advised to arrive at the port 45 minutes before departure, which I’d recommend, especially in the high season. Outside of the high season you don’t really have to, unless you’re bringing a vehicle on board, which we’ll get to next!
You might also like: 14 tips for staying safe while traveling
Bringing a car on board the ferries
Bringing your car or vehicle on the ferries is certainly possible. Spaces for vehicles are limited, and are on first comes first served basis, so make sure to get to the port early. When you get to the port, the first thing you should do is drive your car to the queue. There will be at least five lanes for cars, each of them are clearly marked with a number. Those that arrive first will go to lane number 1, which will be the first line to be able to drive aboard the ferry. Then lane 2, and so on.
Once your car is parked in one of the lanes, you can go and buy your ticket if you haven’t already. Locals will usually park their car in the lanes, and then go for a walk grab a coffee at one of the cafés at the port. Just make sure to be back at your car when the ferry is docked, as you don’t want to be the person holding up the entire lane 🙂
Island hopping
Island hopping between the many Adriatic islands in Croatia might very well be the highlight of your trip. With over 1200 islands dotted across the stunning blue waters of the Adriatic sea, it’s easy to see why Croatia is a popular destination for island hopping. Some islands worth visiting include Hvar, Korčula, Vis, Brač, Rab, Mljet and Cres. To get to one island to another you can take the Jadrolinija or Krilo ferries/catamarans or charter a private boat for a more luxurious experience. To make the most of your trip, I’d highly recommend doing some day trips to explore more of the islands.
Final thoughts
Something I feel like I have to mention, is that Croatia is split into two parts. Twenty kilometres (12 miles) of Bosnia-Herzegovinian coastline separate the Dubrovnik region from the rest of the country. So what does this mean for you? In practice, you can normally just drive through without having to show your passport or any paperwork. However, it is possible that you will be stopped at the borders so make sure to carry your passport and additional visa documents, if relevant. Schengen passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Bosnia or Croatia.
I hope this post helped you plan your next trip to Croatia! If you want to get notified when I publish new posts, just click the red bell in the lower right corner or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new posts 🙂
If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:
- Visiting Krka national park in Croatia
- 11 Things that surprised me about Croatia
- Best cafés to work from in Split
- 10 Things to do in Split
- Where to eat in Zagreb
PIN IT!
