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There are several options to get around Croatia. However, it is worth noting that some of these options are seasonal and can change at the moment, and adverse weather conditions may affect land transportation in the winter months.
Driving in Croatia is on the right, as many destinations in Europe. The motorways are in excellent condition, many were built after Croatia gained independence in 1991. Croatia has three types of roads: motorways, rural roads and coastal roads. Don’t be surprised if more rural roads are poorly maintained.
The motorways in Croatia are toll roads; you will take a ticket as you enter, and on exit you will hand your ticket to the attendant at the toll booth, paying the amount for your journey. The attendant should speak a little English.
Motorways link Zagreb to Pula, Rijeka, Zadar and Split along the coast and Varazdin in the interior and sections within Istria. The Zagreb to Ploce, just north of Dubrovnik, passes by Karlovac, Zadar, Sibenik, Trogir, Split, and the Makarska Riviera. It is due to be extended to Dubrovnik shortly.
Bosnia checkpoint (between Split and Dubrovnik)
If you are driving between Dubrovnik and Split, you will pass through the Neum checkpoint—a small stretch of road belonging to Bosnia and Herzegovina. You will be asked to show your passports at the checkpoint to leave Croatia and enter Bosnia and again 12 miles later to exit Bosnia and re-enter Croatia. However, the Pelješac bridge opened in 2022 to bypass this checkpoint.
Click here for further details about driving in Croatia.
If you are short on time, the quickest way to get around is an internal flight – Zagreb to Dubrovnik takes an hour rather than a full day by land. It is also the best way to experience both cities in winter, when weather conditions may affect the roads.
Croatia Airlines operates internal flights year-round from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula and Zadar. There may also be fights between these airports. A timetable of year-round internal flights can be found here.
If you have time to kill, the bus routes between major cities are efficient and regularly run between many of the key locations along the Dalmatian coast and inland towards Zagreb. We found get by bus helped book bus travel.
Note – The drivers often charge a fee per bag to store luggage in the hold. Travel times are vastly extended and there are no toilet facilities onboard, a toilet stop is made along the route.
If you are travelling through Istria, we would recommend a car or transfers. While buses run to key towns, more off-the-beaten-track locations are difficult to reach.
Local taxis in Croatia are highly priced in all locations, especially along the coast and in more rural areas. Uber is available in some locations, such as Split and Dubrovnik. However, we have experienced Uber frequently cancelling in the peak season to pick up high-priced bookings on the spot; Uber drivers tend to be the local taxi drivers. Cammeo is a local taxi service available in places Uber is not.
Several ferry companies link the Croatian Coast to the nearby islands, with a regular schedule in the summer months. The leading state ferry company is Jadrolinija, which provides foot and car passage. Krilo is a privately owned catamaran and is also available in key locations.
A complete overview of routes and timetables from all destinations is available here
Want the luxury of your private boat transfer without relying on timetables and potential delays? We can arrange this for you.
Croatia is perfect for sailing, whether you are exploring the coast or Croatia’s islands. There are 70 marinas found along the coast and the Dalmatian islands beautiful bays. Perfect for chartering your yacht and creating your agenda.
At Fleewinter, we organise tailormade holidays in Croatia, including private transfers, boat charters and cruising holidays. Contact us to plan your holiday for you, so all you have to do is enjoy it.
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