Whether you're planning your first visit to Croatia or returning for another unforgettable adventure, figuring out the best way to get around this breathtaking country can make all the difference. From island-hopping along the Adriatic to navigating charming medieval towns and winding mountain roads, Croatia offers a wide variety of transport options—and each one comes with its own unique charm.
During our own travels through Croatia, we quickly learned that how you get around depends entirely on where you're going, what you want to see, and how you prefer to travel—whether you're all about slow scenic journeys, quick city-to-city connections, or total freedom behind the wheel. The good news? Croatia makes it surprisingly easy to explore, with a well-connected network of ferries, buses, roads, and even domestic flights linking its islands, coastlines, and inland gems.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most popular and practical ways to get around Croatia—whether you’re planning a romantic honeymoon, a family holiday, or a solo road trip. From car rentals to catamarans, we’ve covered everything you need to know to travel Croatia comfortably and confidently.
Whilst countries across Europe are known for being particularly easy to get around, whether it’s by car, public transport, or other methods, one country on the continent that deserves a mention when crediting this, in particular, is Croatia.
We find travelling around Croatia is a fairly straightforward task, with the country being easily navigable and offering fantastic public transport routes, this makes it a convenient destination to explore to our heart's content.
For those looking for a unique and luxurious way to explore Croatia's stunning coastline, you can book luxury Croatia cruises from Sail Croatia, offering access to the country's breathtaking islands, hidden beaches, and charming coastal towns. These cruises provide not only a seamless way to travel but also an unforgettable experience of the Adriatic’s beauty and culture.
Now being one of the most visited countries in the Mediterranean, with a whopping 11.2 million visitors recorded in 2021, we wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve considered a Croatia trip, with its wealth of heavenly islands, cities brimming with culture, and a near-perfect sun-drenched climate on offer.
But as the country stretches over 56,594km², with a breadth of breathtaking landscapes, mediaeval towns, and mesmerising beaches to explore, figuring out the best way to get around the country is a must.
This is why we, here at Vida Villas, have created this comprehensive guide on how to get around Croatia, making it simpler to decide the best Croatian transport methods to roam freely, and conveniently, around this much-loved corner of the globe.
After exploring Croatia at various times of the year, we've learned there’s truly no bad time to visit—just different experiences depending on the season.
Like much of Europe, the peak travel months in Croatia are July and August. This is when the weather is at its best: think long sunny days, warm seas, and buzzing beach towns. But with that popularity comes crowds, busy roads, limited availability on public transport, and higher prices—especially for car rentals and ferries.
That’s why we often recommend considering the shoulder seasons: May–June and September–October. These months still offer lovely weather (often pleasantly warm rather than scorching), fewer tourists, and lower costs. The vibe is more relaxed, and you’ll have a much easier time getting around.
That said, it’s worth keeping in mind that outside of high season, some ferry routes and bus schedules are reduced—or even paused altogether. So if you're traveling off-season, it's important to double-check transportation availability ahead of time. Ultimately, your ideal time to visit Croatia depends on what you’re looking to experience—whether that’s sunny beach days, peaceful city strolls, or scenic road trips with minimal traffic.
One of the first things we always do when planning a trip to Croatia is decide on our must-see destinations. Are we heading for the iconic coastal cities like Split and Dubrovnik, or venturing inland to explore hidden gems like Plitvice Lakes or the capital, Zagreb? Do we want to island-hop along the Dalmatian coast, or dig deeper into Istria’s charming hilltop towns?
Nailing down your route early helps you figure out the best way to get around. If you’re sticking to one region, public transport might be all you need. But if you’re aiming to see a bit of everything—coast, islands, and countryside—it might make sense to combine transportation options, like car rentals and ferries.
Croatia is generally very well-connected. Major cities offer reliable transport links, and many of the coastal towns are accessible by ferry or bus. But some off-the-beaten-path places may require a bit more planning—or your own set of wheels. So, before deciding how to travel, map out where you want to go and what you want to do. That will make choosing the best transportation options much easier.
If you're anything like us and value freedom and flexibility while traveling, renting a car in Croatia can be a game-changer. It’s ideal if you’re planning to visit several spots in one trip or want the option to take spontaneous detours (and trust us—Croatia is full of them).
We’ve found car rentals readily available in most cities and tourist hubs, often starting at around $20 a day for basic vehicles. It’s a particularly great option for families or those carrying a bit more luggage, offering more space and convenience than public transport.
Driving in Croatia is straightforward—just remember they drive on the right! Roads are generally in excellent condition, and toll motorways connect many major cities. Toll fees are charged at booths and can be paid by cash or card. Fuel is also more affordable than in many other European countries, making road-tripping quite economical.
As for distances? They’re refreshingly short. You can drive from Zagreb to Split in under 4 hours, or get from Dubrovnik to Split in just over 3. You’ll find parking available in most towns and cities, often metered with simple pay machines.
If you want to explore hidden beaches, charming inland villages, or national parks like Krka and Plitvice at your own pace, hiring a car in Croatia is one of the best decisions you can make.
Buses are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get around Croatia—and we’ve used them extensively during our travels. They’re clean, reliable, and well-connected, especially between major cities and coastal towns.
You’ll find most long-distance bus routes operated by companies like Flixbus and Arriva. Tickets can be booked online (highly recommended in summer!), or in person at main bus stations—either at ticket counters or machines that usually accept both cash and card.
For example, buses between Zagreb and Zadar take 3–5 hours and cost around 130 kuna (£15), while routes from Split to Dubrovnik are about 4–5 hours and cost just over 150 kuna (£17). Prices can vary slightly depending on the route, time of year, and how early you book.
During peak summer months, buses can fill up quickly—especially popular coastal routes—so it’s best to reserve your seat in advance. Timetables for smaller towns might not be online, so pop by the local bus hub or ask at a tourist info centre to confirm departure times.
Whether you're planning a day trip or hopping between cities, Croatia's bus network makes getting around both simple and budget-friendly.
While we’re huge fans of train travel in many countries, Croatia’s rail network is quite limited—so we don’t usually recommend it unless you're traveling between specific cities.
The national railway, Hrvatske željeznice (HZ), mainly centers around Zagreb and offers connections to places like Split, Rijeka, Osijek, and Sisak. But trains are generally slower and less frequent than buses, and many routes take significantly longer.
For instance, Zagreb to Osijek takes around 5.5 hours by train—whereas a bus might be quicker and cheaper. Still, if you're not in a rush and prefer rail travel, it's a comfortable way to see the landscape.
Overall, train travel in Croatia is best suited for relaxed, scenic trips—not necessarily the quickest way to get from point A to B.
On longer routes, for example, Osijek to Rijeka (9 hours) we should expect to pay just under £30 (240 Croatian Kuna) for your journey, but shorter routes like Zagreb to Osijek (5 hours) may only set us back less than £20 (150 Croatian Kuna).
We can buy train tickets from train stations in major cities and towns at kiosks or machines, both normally accepting cash and card. We can also purchase tickets online, with our best option to do this being via the Croatia Railways website.
In short, travelling around by train in Croatia only serves a useful purpose if we’re making long journeys across the country, or if a bus or car journey proves to be no quicker or cheaper.
Island-hopping in Croatia is one of our favorite travel experiences—and ferries are by far the best way to do it. With over 1,000 islands scattered along the coast, there’s no shortage of breathtaking destinations to explore.
The largest ferry operator is Jadrolinija, which runs most of the main routes between the mainland and islands. In summer, ferries can get packed, so we recommend booking tickets in advance—especially if you're bringing a car on board. If you haven’t booked, aim to arrive at least two hours early to increase your chances of getting a spot.
Though not the cheapest option, ferries are a scenic and convenient way to reach Croatia’s famous islands—and well worth the investment if you’re building an island-hopping adventure into your itinerary.
For example, if we’re looking to get from Dubrovnik to Brač, one of Croatia’s most beautiful islands, we can expect to pay over 240 Croatian Kuna (£27) for one person as a foot passenger. A cheaper route, as an example, is Split to Hvar, another popular island location, which may cost as little as 100 Croatian Kuna (roughly £12) for a passenger. These prices are both for the high season.
Though not the cheapest, ferries are a convenient way to reach Croatia’s island locations. So, if we’re wanting to discover them, perhaps factoring this into the budget before arriving in the country would be a wise decision.
When time is short and distance is long, flying can be the quickest way to travel in Croatia. Domestic flights connect major cities like Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik, mostly operated by Croatia Airlines.
Flights are generally more frequent in summer, with limited schedules during the winter months. While there are a few flights to the islands, they're far less common than ferry connections, so boats are usually the better choice for reaching places like Hvar or Korčula.
Ticket prices vary depending on the route, season, and how far in advance you book. We’ve found that flying can be convenient for longer routes—say, if you're short on time and want to get from Zagreb to Dubrovnik quickly—but usually comes at a higher cost than taking the bus or driving.
If speed is your top priority and budget allows, flying is a great option. But if you're traveling slowly or sticking to a tighter budget, ground transport will usually serve you just fine.
Croatia offers cheap, efficient, and convenient transport opportunities for us to get around the country with ease. Depending on the trip we have in mind, this will influence which transport option suits you best.
We hope that this guide to getting around Croatia has given insight to begin planning your journey to make the most of your time in the country.
If you are planning a trip to Croatia and need accommodation for your visit, Vida Villas offer a stunning selection of rental properties around the country. Alternatively, you can contact our team, who will be happy to provide any help or information you may need.
