Getting round Croatia is usually a breeze. One of the simplest ways to journey? That is determined by the sort of journey you’re planning.
Croatia’s bus community connects virtually all over the place and is a good possibility, particularly on a finances. Should you’re touring the coast, you possibly can hop on ferries to succeed in mainland cities and the islands. Driving is pretty simple, and allows you to attain locations that aren’t well-served by public transportation. Flights and trains are helpful for hopping between Zagreb and the coast.
Transportation does fluctuate seasonally. In buzzing July and August, it’s price reserving forward or turning up early for buses and boats, and it’s possible you’ll end up caught in site visitors on the best way into and out of resort cities. Between November and March, timetables for buses and ferries are lowered, and it’s possible you’ll have to plan your route extra rigorously. This is the whole lot it’s essential learn about touring round Croatia.
Buses go almost all over the place
Bus providers are glorious and comparatively cheap. You possibly can discover most of Croatia car-free, though Istria (when you’re off the principle coastal route) and the islands have patchier networks. Most bus stations are positioned pretty centrally (and conveniently close to ferry ports) making getting round simple. One exception is Dubrovnik, the place the bus station is round 5km (3.1 miles) from the Previous City – hop on a neighborhood bus or taxi.
Totally different firms typically function on the identical route, so costs can fluctuate. Baggage stowed within the baggage compartment below the bus prices additional (round 10KN a chunk). Buses between Break up and Dubrovnik go by way of Bosnian territory so maintain your passport or ID helpful.
At massive stations, bus tickets should be bought on the workplace, not from drivers, and it is price reserving forward in excessive season. Main firms embody Arriva, FlixBus and Čazmatrans. Getbybus is a helpful web site providing schedules and bookings.
Boats may be stunning
Boats join the principle coastal facilities and the encircling islands year-round, with providers prolonged within the vacationer season. Many guests discover cruising the blue waters and rocky shores of the Adriatic one among their journey highlights.
The foremost hubs are Break up, Dubrovnik, Šibenik, Zadar and Rijeka. Locals use “ferry” to refer solely to automotive ferries (which may also be utilized by foot passengers) and “catamaran” for the quicker, passenger-only providers.
Boats are snug, with seating inside and outside on the deck. The bigger boats have eating places and bars, and virtually all have at the least a snack counter. Most supply free wi-fi, although the sign is variable.
You possibly can often purchase tickets on-line (Jadrolinija is the principle operator), however pre-booking doesn’t assure you an area on a selected crusing, so it nonetheless pays to get to the wharf early in peak season in the event you’re touring with a automotive. Foot passengers pay much less, have extra flexibility and might usually rent a automotive, scooter or bicycle on arrival.
Automobiles supply essentially the most freedom
Driving is a superb possibility in the event you’re in a household or group, or if you wish to tour a number of locations in a brief journey, just like the hill cities and resorts of Istria, or the Dalmatian coast and close by Paklenica and Krka nationwide parks.
Croatia drives on the correct, and roads are largely glorious, though there are stretches the place service stations are scarce. Nonetheless, with most locations inside a couple of hours of one another, most journeys are brief. At round six hours, Zagreb to Dubrovnik is the longest drive you’re more likely to take, and one of many few main routes that isn’t solely on a multi-lane freeway (the final part by way of southern Dalmatia is but to be upgraded). The Hrvatski Autoklub has a stay dashboard on works and congestion.
Automobile rent is offered in all main cities and airports. Native firms are sometimes cheaper, however the huge chains supply one-way leases. You could get a decrease charge by reserving from overseas or getting a fly-drive bundle. To hire a automotive you should be 18 and have a legitimate license and a bank card to cowl insurance coverage extra. Hitching isn’t really helpful, however carpooling is an possibility – BlaBlaCar has native presence.
There are tolls on all highways and another routes. The primary set of cubicles you come throughout once you enter a freeway dispenses tickets. Current them on the cubicles once you depart the freeway to calculate and pay the toll.
Trains and flights are good for crossing the nation
The prepare community is restricted, and infrequently slower than buses. But it surely’s not a nasty wager in the event you’re exploring inland Croatia, or heading between Zagreb and coastal cities corresponding to Rijeka, Pula or Break up. Croatian Railways has schedules and costs.
Flying is the quickest approach between Zagreb and the coast, and whereas connections between the coastal cities are much less frequent, the connection between the Istrian capital of Pula and Dubrovnik, for instance, may be helpful in the event you time it proper.
There aren’t many flights to the islands – most guests simply get a ship from the closest mainland port – though you possibly can attain Brač Island from Zagreb. The nationwide provider is Croatia Airlines.
Bicycles are an effective way to discover the islands
Bikes are simple to hire alongside the coast. Comparatively flat islands corresponding to Pag and Lošinj supply essentially the most relaxed biking, however the winding, hilly roads on different islands have extra spectacular views.
Biking requires warning: many roads are busy highways, with no bicycle lanes. You’ll see Nextbike’s rent stations in lots of cities, particularly Zagreb, which has respectable biking infrastructure – obtain the app to get began. Some vacationer places of work, particularly within the Kvarner and Istria areas, have maps of routes and bike-rental data.
Buses and trams supply metropolis transportation
Many cities and resorts are sufficiently small to stroll round. Zagreb’s tram network is beneficial for the prepare and bus stations, whereas a brief funicular connects the Decrease and Higher Cities. Native buses are pretty frequent in most cities, and usefully join Lapad Bay with central Dubrovnik. Bus tickets are often 10KN to 20KN, with a small low cost in the event you purchase tickets at a tisak (newsstand), and must be stamped when you’re on board.
Why I like touring by ferry in Croatia
Touring by ferry or catamaran in Croatia may be wonderful. Sitting on the deck, you are feeling such as you’re in a fantastic unfurling tapestry. Lopsided pines, vivid wildflowers, coves, porpoises and fishing villages roll by because the solar shifts overhead. I’ve sailed to verdant islands, wild dance events, Roman ruins and secluded seashores, however irrespective of how thrilling the vacation spot, I all the time really feel a contact of unhappiness once I step again on shore.
Accessible transportation in Croatia
Mobility-impaired vacationers will discover the cobbled streets and limitless steps of Croatia’s outdated cities difficult. Many seashores are accessed by way of steps or rocky walkways, with these close to inns and resorts extra more likely to have ramps.
Public bathrooms at bus stations, prepare stations, airports and enormous public venues are often wheelchair-accessible. Bus and prepare stations in Zagreb, Zadar, Rijeka, Break up and Dubrovnik are accessible, however the ferries aren’t. Get extra data with Lonely Planet’s free Accessible Travel guides.
