How to Get around croatia

Get around by plane

National airline company "Croatia Airlines" web connects major cities in Croatia to each other and foreign destinations. Due to the comparatively short distances and relatively high hassle of air travel - especially when you travel with luggage - domestic air travel is used mostly for getting to end points - eg, Zagreb to Dubrovnik (see map) and vice-versa. There is a daily link between Pula and Zadar (continuing to Zagreb) - the 20 minute flight saves a long road journey, though has very awkward flight times.

Another popular flight (available in the summer months only) is between Split and Osijek, saving a long trip back through Croatia, or alternatively through the middle of Bosnia.


Get around Sailing

Sailing is a good way to see the coastal islands and networks of small archipelagos. Most charters leave from Split or the surrounding area on the North or the South circuit, each offering its own pros and cons. A good way is to book a package with a company at home, but many Croatian companies also offer both bareboat and crewed charters.

Booking of a charter vessel is basically done in two parts. Fifty percent of the charter price is paid right away, after which the booking is confirmed. The other fifty percent of the charter fee is usually paid four weeks before the charter date. Before the first payment of the charter fee you should request to see the charter contract from the agency where you chartered a boat. Pay close attention to cancellation fees because many times if you cancel your charter vacation you could lose the initial fifty percent you already payed when you booked a charter so take a close look at that in the charter contract. After that you are set for a sailing vacation.

When you arrive to marina where your chartered yacht is situated you need to do the check in (usually Saturday around 04:00 PM) and you have to do the shopping for the charter vacation. Don't neglect the groceries shopping because the sea is unpredictable and you don't want to get stuck on the boat without anything to eat or drink.

You can do the shopping in a marina (although the prices are much higher there) or you can order from yacht provisioning services who usually deliver the products to your chartered yacht at no extra fee. This is convenient because it takes the load off you and the things you must do when you arrive at the marina for your sailing holiday.For more information visit www.goolets.com


By ferry boat

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

Ferries run more frequently in the summer months, and service varies by day of the week and by season. Many lines are designed to suit commuters rather than tourists, so be sure to check the schedule in advance. The CroatianFerries.com web is a good resource to check lines and schedules.

• Jadrolinija is the Croatian National ferry company. It operates among the coastal cities and islands of Croatia, and it runs several routes between Italy and Croatia. Schedules vary by day of the week and by season. Coastal ferries include two types of boats. "Car ferries" are larger boats designed to transport vehicles and passengers. They are slower, and more expensive, but with more extensive facilities (e.g. restaurant) than the smaller boats. "Foot ferries" (also called fast ferries, fast boats, passenger ferries, or catamarans) are less expensive and faster, and they do not carry vehicles. Bicycles can be transported on car ferries only.
• G&V Line is a Croatian company based out of Dubrovnik. It runs fast ferries/catamarans along the Croatian coast. Bicycles may be accepted at the captain's discretion.
• SNAV is Italian company connecting Split with Ancona and Pescara. Check timetables as the schedules are seasonal.
• Azzura lines is Italian operator connecting Dubrovnik with Bari Check timetables as the schedules are seasonal.

In addition to ferries, private transportation by boat can be arranged through boat taxi services or private charter.

• Split Hvar taxi boat Taxi boat service that works 0-24/7 and can take you anywhere you want.
• Navis Yacht Charter provides yacht and catamaran charter services in Croatia, for those who want to explore the beautiful beaches the country has to offer in the lap of luxury.
• Yacht Charter Adriatic Prestige Management is specialized in luxury motor yacht charter in Croatia for all those yacht charter enthusiasts who want to enjoy in every second of their life on the sea. Yacht charter services are intended for those who want to explore coast and hidden bays by sea for one week or more.

Get around by train

Train travel is definitely improving in Croatia, with money being spent on updating the ageing infrastructure and vehicles. Trains are clean and mostly on time.

Croatia's rail network connects all major Croatian cities, except Dubrovnik. If you want to visit Dubrovnik, you will have to travel by train to Split, and then go on the bus for Dubrovnik. Trains to Pula are actually connected via Slovenia due to historical accident, though there are designated connecting buses from Rijeka.

Rail is still the cheapest connection between inland and coast, though not the most frequent. As of 2004, the new 160kph "tilting trains" that connect Zagreb with Split and other major cities in Croatia such as Rijeka and Osijek have been progressively introduced, resulting in higher levels of comfort and significantly faster journeys between cities (Zagreb-Split is now 5.5h from 9, Osijek is now 3 when other trains take around 4.5h). If you make a reservation early enough you can get a substantial discount, or if you are a holder of an ISIC card etc.

Information for the trains can be found on the Hrvatske željeznice - Croatian Railways web site in Croatian and English has timetable and prices.

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.

Get around by car

Roads in Croatia are usually well maintained, but usually 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. It's difficult to find a true highway with more than one way per direction, the only exceptions being the ones connecting Rijeka, Zagreb, Zadar and Split. Speed limits are thus low (60 - 90 kmh), and it's not recommended to drive faster (although most locals do), especially at night. Be aware of animals crossing the road.

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 neighboring 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 the recently built Croatian Motorways web toll fees apply (and may be paid in either HRK or EUR), the motorway A6 between Zagreb and Rijeka was finished end of 2008, the main motorway A1 from Zagreb to Dubrovnik is still under construction the current ending point is in Ravča, which is 140 km from Dubrovnik. Notice that to reach south Dalmatia including Dubrovnik, you need to cross a short portion of Bosnia-Herzegovina, so check if you need a visa or other special requirements for entry into Bosnia.

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 are on compliance with all the traffic rules and regulations to ensure that you are not stopped.

Be advised that reckless endangerment of traffic (e.g. driving > 50km/h over the posted speed limit, driving under the influence of a blood alcohol content > 1.5 ‰) may, under some circumstances, be prosecuted as a felony offense punishable by upto 3 years of incarceration.

By taxi

All major cities in Croatia are served by taxi they should be reasonably easy to pick up at airports,bus stations,city centers. The hotel,hostel or apartmant you are staying in will usually call the cab company they work closley with.You can also find phone numbers for taxis in any city on internet. see taxi prices Some taxi companies, particulary in larger towns provide for a cab to be ordered online. It is recommended to call a cab company in advance if possible and give them time to be picked up. Prices vary from company to company, but average price is 3 euro per km. + 0.70 cent every next kilometer. To avoid beeing overcharged alway ask for price before you get in cab.

Get around by bus

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

• Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb web - Bus Terminal Zagreb, timetable information, content in Croatian, English
• CroatiaBus web - bus company - timetable information, prices, content in Croatian and English.
• Autotrans Rijeka web - bus company - timetable information, prices, content in Croatian and English.
• Autobusni promet Varazdin web - bus company - timetable information, prices, content in Croatian, English and German.
• Contus web - bus company - timetable information, prices, content in Croatian and English.
• Libertas Dubrovnik web - bus terminal and company information in Dubrovnik, with international and domestic information. Content mostly in Croatian.

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