Travel To Croatia, The Ultimate Croatia Travel Guide

Croatia, Croatia Day Trips, Croatia General Information, Croatia Travel Guide, Dubrovnik, Travel Tips, Walking Tour and Map

Why Travel to Croatia? Things to know before visiting

The complete guide for Travel to Croatia. Croatia is a surprisingly attractive place for travel and it is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination because it has everything a traveler or tourist could ask for. Travel in Croatia using this guide, complete with self guided tours of popular attractions. The Croatia Travel guide below includes visiting attractions such as the picturesque rugged mountains, deep valleys, the most unusual national parks with hundreds of waterfalls, miles and miles of golden beaches, Croatian islands along the coast at the Adriatic sea (Mediterranean Sea), medieval cities and towns with different histories and cultures, historical sites, mouth-watering cuisine and a pleasant warm Mediterranean climate. Croatia is the perfect travel destination for any one looking to add to their bucket list.

The country (population over 4 million) is very safe and the people, most of whom speak English. They are extremely helpful, friendly and hospitable, making travel to Croatia an easy choice. Croatian money is the Kuna with an exchange rate of about 6.5 Kuna to the US dollar. It is not an overly expensive country to visit. You will likely find it so enjoyable that you will want to stay longer or go back again. The capital and largest city is Zagreb, along with the popular Old Town of Dubrovnik, there are the two entry points for most visitors.

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https://youtu.be/GVxZxOaEuF4

Video of 10 popular areas, depending on how long you can spend on your Croatia travel, you may need to pick areas to visit. We rented a car and selected Zagreb, Plitvice National Park, Split, Krka National Park, Zadar, Hvar Island and Dubrovnik (included villages along the way).

Check out our personal Croatia travel guide which includes our road trip and itinerary HERE.

Suggested Self Guide Walking Tours when you Travel to Croatia:

Self Guided Tours listed below:

These include walking maps and guide for your travel in Croatia to different destinations. You will also find attractions guides with images of the places to visit on the map. Each tour will take anywhere from 2 hours to a full day depending on how long you want to spend at each stop and if you want to break for a snack or lunch:

  • Croatia Travel Guide – Things to do in Zagreb, Croatia:
    • Upper Town, Old Town Zagreb – 15 must see attractions of historic Old Town Zagreb. Upper Town is a network of streets between the hills of Kaptol and Gradec. Walk the attractions of Upper Town Zagreb, the self-guided walking tour will take you to the must-see attractions in ½ a day. You may want to explore some of these attractions in greater depth such as the Museum of Broken Relationships, climb the Lotrščak Tower or light a candle at the Stone Gate.
    • Zagreb Lower Town, Lenuci Horseshoe – Lenuci Horseshoe is actually a U-Shaped systems of Squares and parks. Visit the 7 Squares including Botanical gardens, galleries and the under ground 31,000 sq meter shopping mall. The Lenuci horseshoe in Lower Town Zagreb is a short walking distance from Zagreb’s main Ban Jelačić Square and facing the main train station Glavni Kolodvor. Six of the Seven Squares are named after famous people and include a music pavilions, the Croatian National Theater, museums, parks, and state archives. Many of the historical buildings are dotted throughout the horseshoe.
    • Walking tour Zagreb Lower town and Grič Tunnels – A 2 hour tour of these wartime under Zagreb old town; they were built as shelter during the war and are now used by the locals to either cross Old Town or to go travel between upper town and lower town. The tunnels are located beneath the historic neighborhood of Grič (also called Gradec or Gornji Grad), which gave the tunnel its name. Not only are the tunnels a short cut, they are cool in the summer and a welcome relief from the searing sun. Explore the old world war tunnels and visit the sights of lower town.
    • Unique and Fun things to do in Zagreb – Explore unique activities and places to visit in Zagreb. This includes a visit to the popular Jarun Lake or the the Antiques Fair or participate in Zagreb’s Saturday morning ritual.
  • Croatia Travel Guide -Things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia:
    • Dubrovnik Game of Thrones and Old Town Self Guided Tour – Explore Dubrovnik and the Island of Lokrum by following the Guide and Map. Visit the film locations for Game of Thrones. Climb Fort Lovrijenac and visit “Red Keep'” retrace the “Walk of Shame, visit Pile Bay ie: “Blackwater Bay” and enter Kings Landing though Pile Gate. This self guided tour will take you a full day that includes an optional trip Lokrum Island to sit on the “Iron Throne”. The map has picture of the sites and how they looked for the film scenes.  The walking tour will take you ½ a day. If you visit Lokrum island and spend time at the beach/monastery/fort on the island, this will take you another ½ day to full day. Lokrum Island is the location of the City of Qarth in GoT and is a 10 min water taxi ride from the Dubrovnik Port
    • Dubrovnik Day Trips – Use this guide to travel around Dubrovnik, Croatia. Spend a day at each of the villages of Ston and Cavtat that are a short distance from Dubrovnik. Cavtat is a charming village that was invaded by the Slavs. The inhabitants fled their homes and were the original settlers of Dubrovnik. Visit the historical villages and spend time on the beach or hike the Ronald Brown Pathway.  Ston is a small village on a hill surrounded by a 7 km wall that is second in size to the Great Wall of China. It is famous for its defensive walls, its salt “mines” and its oyster bays. The oysters from Ston are well renowned
  • Croatia Travel Guide – Villages and Towns around Dubrivnik
    • 23 Epic Day trips from Dubrovnik – Complete Dubrovnik  area map and guide for travel around southern Croatia. In this guide you will find 23 day trips with things to do including maps, transportation and attractions in Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina and other popular locations.
  • Croatia Travel Guide – Things to do Split, Croatia:
    • Old Town Split and Marjan Hill – Explore the Old Town Square in Split, then take a walk to the the view points of Marjan Hill. This self guided tour can take a whole day and combines the attractions of the historic town on Split with the picturesque walking trail of Marjan Hill. The tour will end at the beach where you can spend the rest of the day. From the beach you can take the local bus back or walk along the promenade back to Old Town
    • Split, Diocletian’s Palace – Explore the top 10 must see attractions in the palace. The Palace tour is a ½ day self-guided tour that ends at the market. After the tour, stop by the market for a little shopping or some local treats to enjoy on the promenade.
    • Split, Salona ancient Roman Ruins – Located just on the outskirts of Split, are the historic roman ruins of Salona (also known as Solin). Salona was the birthplace of Emperor Diocletian. From Solin/Solona, continue onto the UNESCO designated town of Trogir. This self guided tour has instructions for local buses to take you on a route for a full day trip from Split to Salona (stop in Salona, then continue onto Trojir). From Trojir, follow the guide to catch the local bus back to Split
    • Trogir, UNESCO World Heritage Site – This historic town only 17 miles from Split was founded in 3BC and is often overlooked by many. With a population of just a little over 10,000 it is a charming, authentic village, a heritage city where the Old Town is on an Island. It is an easy bus ride from Split to Trogir, with a stopover in Salona (Solin).
  • Croatia Travel Guide – Things to do in Zadar, Croatia:
    • Zadar Western Half – The old town of Zadar is located on an island. Explore must-see attractions including the famous Sea Organ, Greeting to the Sun and the medieval Roman Ruins. The map and guide takes you on a ½ day self guided tour on the westerns side of the island.
    • Zadar Eastern Half – Take a ½ day to visit the churches, parks and other attractions on the eastern side of Zadar Island. Visit the fish markets and green markets for fresh food and explore the cobblestone alleyways for a touch of ambiance and potential souvenir shopping.
    • Zadar islands – Off the coast of Zadar is The Zadar Archipelago with around a 100 islands, many of them uninhabited. Use this complete guide and map to visit all or any of the 9 popular the Islands. You can rent a boat rent a boat with or without a captain, get a water taxi, take the ferry/ to visit the islands and swim in the Adriatic or anchor at hidden beach/cove.
  • Travel to Croatia, Guide to visit the Islands (Island hopping):
    • Croatia Islands – Rent or hire a boat to visit the 9 popular islands off the mainland. Visit 1 or 2 or all 9 islands for a fabulous day out to sea
  • Croatia Travel Guide – Things to do on Hvar Island, Croatia
    • Hvar old town attractions and Španjola fortress (Fortica) – Take the ferry to visit the popular Island of Hvar. Use the self guided tour & map to visit the attractions of the insanely beautiful Hvar Old Town. Included in the self guided tour is a climb to the fortress. Just north of the Hvar main square are stairs to the Fortica Španjola, Spanjola fortress, that overlooks Hvar Town. The self guided tour will take you on a walk up to the Španjola Fortress that has been protecting Hvar for hundreds of years. Enjoy the magnificent view and explore the fortress, its prisons and well placed canons.
    • Hvar Island driving tour – Take the local bus, rent a car / scooter for the day and visit the numerous attractions on Hvar Island.  This can take two days as there is a lot to see and do. The self guided driving tour includes: wine tasting, visiting a cave monastery high on the hills, quaint fishing villages, popular beaches, hidden coves and harbors. A comprehensive tour that will take you across the island
    • Hvar Islands and Lavendar Fields Tour – You can rent a boat (with or without a captain) and visit the islands off Hvar Island. The Pakleni Islands are an archipelago of 20 islands off the coat of Hvar. They are known for beautiful beaches, charming village towns and secluded coves.  In addition use the guide to take the bus to visit the abandoned villages of Velo Grabjle and Malo Grabjle,. It is a short bus ride or scooter/car trip from Hvar Town. Explore the fields of lavender and Olive Grove farms.
  • Getting around Croatia – Croatia Travel guide with detailed information on Croatian buses and ferries.

Where to Stay in during your travel to Croatia

  • The following will help to find accommodations that suit your needs :
    • If you are renting a car, does the accommodation have parking and is there an additional cost for parking?
    • Do you need cooking facilities?
    • How far is it from the main attractions?
    • Is there a coffee maker, microwave or fridge in the room?
    • Is there public transportation close by?
    • Does it have good reviews? How many?
    • Do the check in and check out times work with your travel plans?
  • There are great accommodations as you Travel in Croatia that suit everyone’s needs. I hope above list gives you some ideas of the things to think about when booking a place to stay.

List of accommodations across Croatia

Check here for availability, pricing and booking of recommended hotels, apartments and guesthouses with varying price points in Croatia

  • $ (In Dubrovnik)
    • Roko House – A 16th Century house with rooms, studios and apartments
    • Rooms Klarisa Palace – Quiet location, renovated rooms, within the Old Town and also close to Pile Gate
  • $$$ (In Dubrovnik)
    • The Pucic Palace – Historic hotel right in Old Town, next to a local market and the famous Jesuit staircase

Guide for Best Time To Travel to Croatia

Travel to Croatia in the off season finds some attractions closed including restaurants and cafes in the coastal regions. Croatia is very much a seasonal destination and can be very quieter outside of May to September. If you travel to Croatia in April, May or September, you will be rewarded with fewer crowds, pleasant temperature and activities and accommodations are much cheaper at that time. Most visitors travel to Croatia during the summer months of June, July and August when the weather is sunny and hot. Croatia is full of tourists as this is the height of the season.

If you travel to Croatia during the period of October to April, you may be disappointed to find that many restaurants, cafes and bars are closed. In addition there are limited excursions running. We chose to travel to Croatia in late April and found that many restaurants in central Hvar Town, on the Riva in Split and Zadar were closed. We did find that the national parks were almost empty and most times we were alone on the walking routes in Plitvice and Krka national parks. It was a rare treat!

General Guide of attractions for your Travel to Croatia:

Croatia itinerary, maps, tips and guides to explore your destination:

  • Walking tours… self-directed or with a guide (some are free, the guides appreciate a tip at the end)
  • Day Trips…including Trips to Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovinian and Kravica Waterfalls
  • Food and Wine Tours -fun hours cooking with English speaking local specialists
  • Sailing and Kayaking Tours around the harbour and to the Islands
  • Bus tours…  the “get on and get off “ type of bus tours are good

Tip: ask your guide or driver about restaurants where the locals eat. That is where you will find genuine local cuisine at a very reasonable rates. I have been in restaurants that are local favorites where the staff do not speak English, but between other patrons assistance and a little finger pointing at the menu, it has turned out to be a real authentic experience.

Travel to Croatia by Air

  • Check recent prices and book your flight to Croatia using the latest WayAway booking tool. If you are a frequent traveler of both domestic and international flights, the site allows for membership subscription that provides cashback on many travel services and 24/7 customer service including travel related advice. It scans hundreds of websites to finds cost effective flight offers worldwide and offers a cashback program on travel services. Check WayAway services and get the subscription discount for WayAway booking tool.

Attractions and Guide for your Travel to Croatia

There are so many places to visit when you travel to Croatia, it’s hard to decide which ones to visit and which ones to miss. I have listed the places we visited with walking tour maps and guides. Select the sites you want to visit, determine how much time you need (want) to spend there and plan accordingly. We suggest a road trip from Zagrab to Dubrovnik via Zadar, Plitvice National Park, Krka National Park, Split and Hvar. If you do not have a vehicle, you can take one of the buses to the parks.

Guide to decide where to visit when you travel to Croatia

When deciding on where to visit, it is helpful to know the regions of the country to make planning easier.  There are five geographical regions that each have tourist destinations: Slavonia, Central Croatia, Istria, Kvrner and Dalmatia.

Slovania

The most eastern part of Croatia, it borders both Hungary and Serbia. Mostly agriculture with sprawling flat farmlands that are dotted with historic towns and fairy-tale castles left over from the Habsburg dynasty. It extends all the way to the Danube. With farmlands and vineyards, it is the white wine region of Croatia.

Central Croatia

Located between Istria and Slavonia, the capital city of Croatia, Zagreb is located in the middle of this region. Zagreb is the economic hub of Croatia where retail and wholesale trade make up the bulk of the economy. Central Croatia is characterized by the most significant castles, forts and romantic villages of the Austrio-Hungarian Empire including the Trakošćan Castle, which was built in the 13th century and renovated several times throughout the years. It is said to be the most beautiful castle in Croatia.

Istria

Located along the western part of the country between the Adriatic Sea and the Kvarner Gulf, it is known for its gourmet food and amazing wines. It is the Tuscany of Croatia due to its landscape of rolling hills blanketed with olive plantations, vineyards and forests. Istria is famous for its truffles. Over 70 different varieties of truffles have been discovered here including some that could fetch $2,500 per pound. It’s famous tourist cities include the maritime ports of Porec and Pula and coastal cities of Umag and Rovinji. Pula is fast becoming a popular tourist site and an uncrowded alternative to Dubrovnik. The Brijuni group of islands are a collection of 14 islands near Pula and are great for daytrips from the mainland.

Kvarner

The Kvarner Gulf region is along the coastline from Istria to Dalmatia and may be Croatia’s best kept secret. It includes the coastal city of Rijeka and Opatija and the islands off the northern coast including Krk, Rab, Cres, and Lošinj.

Dalmatia

The most visited region in Croatia. It gets its name from the Illyrian tribe called Dalmatae who occupied this region. It includes the counties of Zadar, Split, Sibenik and Dubrovnik.

The largest Dalmatian islands include Hvar, Brač , Korčula, Dugi Otok, Mjlet, Vis, Pag and Pašman.

Visit the National Parks on your Travel in Croatia:

Plitvice and Krka

Plitvice and Krka – both national parks are worth a visit and can be taken as day trips from Zagreb, Split or Zadar.

Access the parks by renting a car, booking a private transfer, booking a private tour or catching a shuttle bus such as Flexibus.

Plitvice National Park

Plitvice is Croatia’s largest biggest and most popular national park. If it fits with your schedule, this is a must visit attraction when you travel to Croatia It is a 2-hour drive from Zagreb and about an hour from Split or from Zadar. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site of over 73,000 acres of pristine landscapes (16 lakes) and 90 waterfalls. All of these are accessible by a network of hiking and biking trails. The park is breathtakingly beautiful and is a MUST SEE on your travel to Croatia.

Krka National Park

Granted park status in 1985, it extends along 73km of the Krka River covering an area of 142 square kilometers. Krka Park runs from the Adriatic near Šibenik, inland to the mountains of the Croatian interior. Like Plitvice it is a stunningly beautiful place with waterfalls and gorges and the Kirka river gushing through a limestone canyon 200m deep. Unlike Plivice, you are able to swim in the Kirka river and waterfalls so bring your bathing suits and jump in to cool off.  The remoteness of the area attracted monks in the past who constructed a monastery. The Visovac monastery is located on a small island in the park and can be visited by boat.

Language

When you travel to Croatia, you will find the Croats speak Croatian, a South Slavic language but most people speak English or will do their best to communicate with you. They are extremely friendly.

Currency used when you travel to Croatia

Even though Croatia joined the EU in July 2013, the main currency accepted is the Croatian Kuna. Unofficially, the Euro, the US dollar and the Pound Sterling are accepted by some local merchants. However, you shouldn’t rely on the Euro, nor any other foreign currency within Croatian borders. It is recommended that when you travel to Croatia, you use cash (kuna) as much as possible, in order to be fully aware of the rate of exchange and not subject to bank fees – as you would do if you use a debit card, and most UK-issued credit cards

Political

Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia is a country at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, on the Adriatic Sea. It borders Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, Hungary to the northeast, and Slovenia to the northwest, sharing a maritime border with Italy.

Historical

The territory of Croatia bridges the central European and Mediterranean worlds, and its history has been marked by this position as a borderland between the eastern world and the western world. The Eastern and Western churches competed for influence there. As a part of Yugoslavia, it struggled within the Serbian-dominated state of the interwar years and emerged from World War II as a separate republic that navigated between the Soviet and Western blocs. All these competing interests have had an influence on Croatia’s development.

Cultural

Following Yugoslavia’s 1948 break with the Soviet Union, Croatia was allowed far greater autonomy and self-expression in cultural and other spheres of life than did the communist societies of most of its neighbours. As a result, Croatian culture was able to develop in continuity with the Western heritage of which it has long been a part and to which it has contributed for the last thousand years.

Wifi – Croatia SIM Card

When we travel to Croatia, we use online guide. We usually take our old unlocked smartphones with us and buy a Croatian SIM card. If we are with our kids, we get them to do the same thing. SIM cards are fairly inexpensive and its a great way to stay in contact and also visit the attractions without getting lost. Zagreb has free wifi in the downtown area and we found it worked intermittently for us.

The main cell carriers in Croatia are T-Hrvatski Telekom (T-HT), Vipnet, and Tele2. Each has different packages and promotions depending on your needs. Some have special tourist packages. I recommend getting the ones with data that allows a reasonable price for topup. I don’t find the voice package useful as I usually do not call anybody. Mostly I use data and text when travelling. I usually get the SIM card and have the person at the store install it and test it before I leave the store. In Croatia I went with T-Hrvatski Telekom and did not have any issues and topped it up as needed.

  • Hrvatski Telecom (www.hrvatskitelekom.hr/visiting-croatia); 
  • Tele 2 (www.tele2.hr/welcome-to-croatia); and
  • Vipnet (www.vipnet.hr/tourist-offer/en)

Food/Cuisine

Croatian cuisine is delicious. It has been heavily influenced by Turkish, central European, and Italian cuisine. Typical dishes are cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat, ćevapčići (rolls of seasoned grilled meat), dumplings, and pickles. Along the coast, fish is served with blitva, a dish of Swiss chard mixed with potatoes and crushed garlic in olive oil. There are also local delicacies, such as cheese from the island of Pag and wine from any number of good-quality small producers, particularly in Dalmatia. You may also want to try some unique food and wine tours while in Croatia.

Where to Stay when you travel to Croatia

  • There are some great hotels, apartments and guesthouses with varying price points in across Croatia, Check the accommodation and Booking Map Here.

Getting to Croatia

  • Check the most updated prices to book your flight to Croatia using the latest booking tool. The site has a cashback option for travel services for their subscription members. This is a useful option for frequent domestic and international travelers.

Tips for Croatian Visitors

  1. Book a hotel, AirB&B or hostel near the centre of town so you can do a lot of sight-seeing on foot.
  2. Wherever you stay, find out where the nearest corner store or supermarkets located. You’ll find that basic food needs, e.g. coffee, tea bread are available at reasonable prices. Also wine, beer and liquor are much cheaper in the supermarkets.
  3. Visit the local fish, meat and farmers markets. You’ll find the fish, meat and veggies are fresh and delicious when cooked. When traveling in Croatia, try to go to the fish markets first thing in the morning, which is what we did. We picked up fresh seafood that we cooked for an evening meal. It was absolutely delicious.
  4. Make your own breakfast at your leisure, to tide you over until lunch which you should have at a local “un-touristy” restaurant.
  5. For an evening meal, again go out to a local “un-touristy” restaurant or stay at home and cook the delicious fare from the local markets.
  6. If you plan a full day, make sure the next day is more relaxed and restful.
  7. Use the buses rather than the trains and taxis are expensive. You can often get insights into the people and where and how they live travelling by bus.

Transportation Guide for Travel in Croatia

Airports

There are many airports within Croatia but the main ones for tourists entering the country are Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar. On our travel to Croatia, we arrived in Zagreb and departed from Dubrovnik. However the other airports in the country are serviced by these four. You can also arrange for a private car pickup from the airport here. The Private Transfer service has English speaking drivers, 24/7 customer support, free cancellation and flight monitoring service.

Airport Transfers

Bus Company Pleso Prijevoz (in cooperation with Croatian Airlines). +385-1-6331-982, e-mail: [email protected]

Taxi

Taxis are outside the baggage claim area. You can pick a registered taxi with a yellow sign on top of the car but ensure it’s a metered taxi.  Check on the most recent typical cost of a taxi ride from the airport to city center.  If you don’t get a metered taxi you should agree on price BEFORE getting into taxi. Also confirm the price is for the trip not per person. In addition to a Private Transfer you can pre-book your taxi.

Uber (mobile app)

  • Uber is available in some Croatian cities via the Uber app.
  • Uber for private boat transfers

Guide to Car Rental for travel in Croatia

It is best to pre-book a car rather than rent at the airport. You are not going to be able to drive a car in the some of old historic cities like Old Town Dubrovnik and Trojir as they are car free. In these places, there are many car parks within walking distance of the main square. Car rental is great for exploring the Croatian countryside.

Due to the significant investment in highway infrastructure, the roadways are well maintained. Highways run between Zagreb and Split and between Zagreb and the Serbian border. If you get off the main highways, some rural roads are narrow and can be treacherous. Caution is advised on these roads. watch your speed limit, the police are hiding in back lanes, and yes we did get a speeding ticket we had to pay cash on the spot, so have enough cash ready in case.

In general speed limits are: 50 km in the city and rural roads, 90km in the outskirts, 110 km on major roads and 130km on motorways. Seat belts are mandatory and mobile phones are not permitted while driving unless its hands free. I would also suggest getting a list of typical traffic signs because they are not always easy to interpret.

The Croatian auto club provides information on highways, tolls, towing service and road conditions including location of gas stations, which I can tell you are not always easy to find. Fill up and don’t get stranded. They also provide a multilingual service.

We rented a car during our travel in Croatia. We traveled from Zagreb to Hvar to Dubrovnik. I have used rentalcars.com, autoeurope.com and / or discovercars.com on many occasions during my travels. I have found the rental process to be very smooth with these companies.

Do’s and Don’t of Car Rental / Car Hire

  • Get rental car insurance either through your credit card or take out additional insurance. Call your current insurance company to see if it covers rentals cars. You want insurance to cover YOU (full/comprehensive coverage), damage to the rental car and also to cover the other party (3rd party).
  • If you use your current coverage available on your personal vehicle in your home country, keep in mind that any claims on the rental car will increase your rates on your personal vehicle upon renewal and therefore you may want to purchase separate insurance for the rental car.
  • You may not need upgrades offered by the desk agent at the rental desk.
  • Check you car thoroughly and document any damages when picking up the car.
  • If you are crossing a border, inform the rental car company as there may additional steps to take when crossing the border.
  • Do not prepay for gasoline, check on the way out where the closest gas station is to fill up before dropping’s the car back. Croatia does not have as many gas stations, so when taking trips, know where to fill gas in advance.
  • Check prices and availability to pre-book your car with rentalcars.com or autoeurope.com or discovercars.com.

Highway Toll

Highway usage is governed by toll booths, where you pay by credit card or cash in kuna or in euros.

Guide to Intercity Transportation (Between Cities)

Intercity by Train

If you travel in Croatia, trains are not recommended as they do not always run on time.  Local trains have unreserved 2nd class tickets, but reservations are required for 1st class and executive trains.  The tracks do not support high speed travel so even express trains run at local speeds.  The bus system is much better developed connecting the majority of towns and cities.  Bookings for trains can be made online

Intercity by Boat/Ferry

Travel to the islands around Croatia or to the coastal cities including Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar can be done by Catamaran, passenger ferry, car ferry and private boat hire or simply cruise around the islands using a variety of private cruise companies. Booking for all routes can be made online from one website

The major operators are:

  1. Jadrolinija – a state owned sea ferry company that has both car carrying ferries (called car ferry), passenger only ferries (conventional ferry) and fast boats and catamarans. This is a great way to travel in Croatia.
  2. SNAV – This is an Italian company that operates conventional ferries, catamarans and Hydrofoils. They have ferries running between Croatia and Italy specifically Ancona(Italy), Stari Grad (Hvar Island) and Split
  3. Blue Line International – This is a Croatia owned ferry company for travel between Italy and Croatia.

Note:  Uber for private boat transfers are available, or you can go to the local harbour and you will find taxi boats operated by locals. Agree on a price first.

Intercity by Bus

  • The buses operate different routes. you can travel in Croatia on these buses both between cities and to the national parks. Tickets can be purchased online or at large bus stations where bus companies have an office to allow you to purchase tickets. Check to see if you need to pay extra for luggage. Tickets cannot be purchased from the driver. Flexibus will search the various bus companies and give you the operator, schedules and their prices, including the national parks. In this way you do not have to search individual bus companies. Alternately you can search the individual ones below:
    • Arriva – Travels to most destinations, including plitvice
    • Bironi – based out of Pula
    • Cazmatrans – travels to most locations
    • Croatia Bus – Zagreb based company, includes transfer to the national parks
    • Dalmacija Bus – Operate a route between Zagreb and Split, which stops in Sibenik and Trogir
    • Promet Split – Routes around Split
    • Puntamika – Routes between Zagreb, Zadar and Split

Intercity by Scooter

Scooter’s can be a great way to travel in Croatia and see the countryside. You can also travel on the Croatia islands using scooters, but they are not cheap and can be dangerous as island roads are graveled.  Scooters are the preferred mode of transportation for locals during the summer months. Rental charges for tourists range from 250-400kn per day depending on the engine size. Check for the latest standard rates.  The island of Vis and Korcula have very windy roads and if you are not adept at riding a scooter they can be dangerous. Renting in Korcula is not recommended. Keep in mind that for a small fee some rental companies will meet you at the port with the scooter when you arrive.

City Transportation

Innercity – you can rent bikes or use city trams and local buses to access attractions not within walking distance. The cities have good bike paths and bike rental facilities. You will also find their public transportation convenient to use. Tickets can be purchased at kiosks (Tisak stands), or from the bus driver (have exact change). Make sure tickets are validated for the travel time.

Local bus information for Dubrovnik can be found HERE, the major operator in Dubrovnik is Libertas Dubrovnik. Local Buses in Split are run by Promet Split. Zagreb’s public transportation system is called ZET, short for Zagrebački Električni Tramvaj.

Private boat taxis to islands off the coast are available from various coastal towns.

Croatia Scams

Be vary of local scams on your travel to Croatia. Croatia is regarded as a fairly safe country but you should exercise caution when walking at night in dark alleys and avoid groups of rowdy drunk people. The country is not as open to homosexuals as others so you may want to exercise caution in displaying affection in public areas. Avoid clubs that play what is known in Croatia as “Turbo Folk” music. These clubs are often featured in the local newspapers as violence erupts in them quite often.

Although Zagreb has very few strip clubs, you should avoid these, as tourists have been “ripped off” in the past. These clubs have been known to overcharge as much as €2000 for a bottle of champagne and they employee ruthless bouncers, Stay away from them!

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