Transportation

The main airports are Zagreb (Franjo Tuđman, ZAG), Split (SPU) and Dubrovnik (DBV). At Zagreb, an airport shuttle bus (Croatia Airlines / Pleso prijevoz) links the terminal to the city bus station; taxis and ride-hailing also serve it. Split and Dubrovnik are reached by airport shuttle bus plus taxi or ride-hailing. There is generally no direct rail link.

Public transport is city-based. Zagreb has an extensive tram network plus buses run by ZET, while Split and Dubrovnik rely on city buses (Libertas in Dubrovnik). In coastal towns, walking plus buses covers most needs. Buy tickets on board, at kiosks or via app and validate on boarding.

There is no nationwide smart card. In Zagreb, ZET uses paper tickets and multi-ride or time-based tickets bought on board or at kiosks and validated when boarding. Other cities use their own local tickets, so buy per city rather than expecting one shared card.

Official taxis are metered. Ride-hailing apps Bolt and Uber are well established in major cities and often cheaper and more transparent, showing the price upfront. In tourist areas, prefer app rides or metered taxis to agreed-fare touts.

Croatia drives on the right. Motorways are tolled (toll booths; an ENC electronic tag is available). Driving the Adriatic coast is popular and scenic. In summer, expect heavy traffic and difficult parking in coastal towns. Bring an International Driving Permit alongside your licence.

Intercity travel relies mainly on long-distance buses (FlixBus, Arriva and others) linking Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik. The railway HŽ (HŽPP) has a limited network and does not reach the far southern coast. Ferries (Jadrolinija, Krilo) serve the islands and coast.

Croatia Airlines operates domestic flights linking Zagreb with Split, Dubrovnik, Pula and other cities. Flights are useful for long distances and for reaching the southern coast and island gateways quickly instead of a long bus ride.