HR Croatia: how to get around

Information on the trains, including timetables and prices, can be found on the Hrvatske željeznice (Croatian Railways) site in Croatian and English.

Tickets are not usually sold on board, except if you happen to get on the train on one of the few stations/stops without ticket sales. However, only local trains stop on such stations. In all other cases, a ticket bought on the train will cost considerably more than the one bought outside the train.

You should be aware that the platform designation is different from many countries. The platform (peron) is then further subdivided into two sides (kol).

A very comprehensive coach network connects all parts of the country. Bus service between major cities (intercity lines) is quite frequent, as are regional services. The most frequent bus terminal in Croatia is Bus Terminal Zagreb (in Croatian "Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb"). Buses are faster than trains for inter-city travel. See Bus travel in the former Yugoslavia for more information.

• Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb – Zagreb Bus Station (timetable information, content in Croatian and English)
• CroatiaBus – bus company (timetable information, prices, content in Croatian and English)
• Arriva Croatia – bus company (timetable information, prices, content in Croatian, English, German, and Italian)
• Autobusni promet Varaždin – bus company (timetable information, prices, content in Croatian, English, and German)
• Libertas Dubrovnik – bus terminal and company (international and domestic information; content mostly in Croatian)

Croatia is endowed with a beautiful coastline which is best explored by ferry or yacht to access the hundreds of islands.

In many instances, the islands are accessible only by sea. For information on the regular ferry and catamaran connections, see these sites:

• Jadrolinija – the national ferry company. In addition to the routes operating from the major cities to the islands, it operates a ferry along the Adriatic Coast from Rijeka to Dubrovnik (and then across to Bari, Italy) calling at Split, Hvar, Mljet, and Korčula. Check the timetables [1] as the schedules are seasonal. The boats are large and have sleeping facilities as the Rijeka-Split leg goes overnight.
• SNAV – an Italian company connecting Split with Ancona and Pescara. Check timetables as the schedules are seasonal.
• Split Taxi Boat – speed taxi boat transfers from the town or airport of Split to nearby islands.
• Azzura lines – an Italian operator connecting Dubrovnik with Bari; check timetables as the schedules are seasonal.

Outside the summer months it is often difficult or impossible to make a day trip to the more remote islands: ferry schedules are made to suit commuters who live on islands and travel to the mainland, not vice versa.

For a more bespoke experience, there are literally dozens of yacht charter and other boat hire companies at virtually every significant port along the Adriatic coast. For bareboat charter you usually need certification from a reputable organisation, such as American Sailing or the RYA, or an extensive sailing resume.

Croatia has a different traffic culture than northern Europe. You should therefore exercise caution when driving a car. The winding and narrow roads along the coast, excessive speeds and reckless overtaking can cause accidents. During the July-August tourist season, be prepared for congestion at key border crossings and on the roads leading to the coast.

Roads in Croatia are usually well maintained, but can be very narrow and full of curves. Some local roads in Istria have been worn down to a smooth surface from regular wear and tear, and can be extremely slippery when wet. Highways with more than one lane per direction (motorways) tend to connect major cities and can be well out of the way even for some longer routes such as to Plitvice. Speed limits outside motorways are thus low (60–90 km/h), and it's not recommended to drive faster (although most locals do), especially at night. Beware of animals crossing the road.

In case you want to overtake a slow vehicle on a narrow road, often the drivers in front of you will flash their right yellow turning lights and drive all the way on the right to signal the drivers behind that it is okay to overtake. But this is at your own risk.

Renting a car is around the same price as in the EU (from around €40). Almost all cars have a manual transmission. Most rental agencies in the Balkans allow you to rent a car in one country and drive in the neighbouring countries however try to avoid a renting a car in Serbia and driving it into Croatia (or vice versa) in order to avoid negative attention from nationalists.

On Croatian Motorways [2] toll fees apply. The A6 motorway runs between Zagreb and Rijeka, while the main motorway A1 from Zagreb connects to Dubrovnik through the newly opened Pelješac bridge, circumventing the border crossing with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Another major motorway is the A3, linking the Slovenian border (not far from Zagreb) with eastern Croatia and the Serbian border (120 km from Belgrade). The general speed limit on motorways is 130 km/h (81 mph). You will probably encounter cars driving much faster, but following their example is of course highly unsafe. Check your mirrors before pulling into the left (passing) lane, cars may approach from behind at higher speeds than on typical Western European motorways.

When exiting a toll motorway, ask the receipt at toll booth if it is not given to you to be sure you do not get overcharged (you could receive along with the receipt some unexpected change compared with the price you were given verbally).

If an unknown person flashes their car lights at you it may be a sign that they've recently passed a police unit doing speed limit checks. Ensure you comply with all the traffic rules and regulations to avoid being stopped and fined.

Trying to find a parking space near Croatia's coastal old towns in the summer can be an exercise in futility. Even though prices range from the merely expensive in Split to the extortionate in Dubrovnik, the spaces fill up very quickly. However, away from the old towns, parking is convenient and often free at shopping malls and large supermarkets, sports venues, near residential tower blocks and at restaurants (free for guests).

Motorways and border crossings can experience congestion at high-traffic weekends during the tourist season.

You can use a taxi service by calling 970, or sometimes another number for a private company – check individual city articles. The taxi usually comes within 10 to 15 minutes from the call except in the busy summer season where it depends on how much business they have. Croatian taxis are generally rather expensive. In major cities prices are around €1/km, more in Split but less in Zagreb. Uber and other rideshare services exist but have about the same prices except during surges.

You can also book the transportation in advance which is great when you are in a hurry or have a larger number of people in need of transportation, or you just want everything organised in advance.

You can also arrange a taxi service by e-mail in advance to have even more comfort and to save money since these taxi operators are cheaper than the regular taxi service.

Ride-hailing is available in Croatia and the following are the most anticipated providers:

• Bolt. Includes many towns. (updated Jul 2020)
• Uber. Works in Zagreb, Split. (updated Jul 2020)

Hitchhiking is generally good, but on some roads, it is not permitted. Roads on which you cannot hitchhike are usually denoted by a sign with the word 'autostop' crossed out ('autostop' is Croatian for 'hitchhiking'). These are generally motorways: Hitchhiking directly on a motorway (i.e. while standing on the stopping lane) could easily result in a fine if a police car passes by. If you can get to a highway toll stop simply ask people to take you with them as they open their windows to pay the toll. The toll collectors usually won't mind. The tricky part, of course, is to get to the toll stop. If you are in Zagreb and you are, like most people, heading south, take the bus 111 from the Savski most station in Zagreb and ask the bus driver where to get off to get to the toll stop. The next best place to ask people to pick you up are gas stations. And finally, using the good old thumb will work too if everything else fails.