Travelling through Croatia - roads, airports, railway, bus transportation

The network of highways in Croatia is well-developed with its total length spanning more than 29 thousand kilometers. There are even modern expressways; their length being a little over 850 thousand kilometers. Traveling within Croatia by car, be it personal or rented, is therefore quite comfortable. The streets in large cities are although quite narrow and very meandering in the mountainous regions. In settlements, the maximum permitted speed for motor vehicles is not more than 50 kilometers per hour. You can drive up to 90 kilometers per hour on the outskirts and up to 130 kilometers per hour on the highways. Taxis are also popular in the cities of Croatia. For parking, you have to pay about two and a half dollars. A ride on a taxi costs one dollar per kilometer. It is worth noting that in Croatia, there are a lot of cycling routes and motorists are very respectful towards riders.

Thanks to the rather long coastline of the Adriatic Sea, there is a well developed sea link. Ferry services are very popular among tourists. At the height of the season, comfortable sightseeing liners also run. Most often, there are local rides that connect the coastal cities. There are also ferries which run only a few times a week. The city transport is composed of buses and trams. Passenger services compared to other European rates are not expensive. It is worth noting that there is a healthy competition among transport companies working in the country, such that the comfort of a trip on the bus for the same price can vary greatly. The largest bus companies are Autotrans and Brioni Pula. A distinctive feature of traveling by bus is the music that plays in every salon. For an additional fee, drivers can also offer to passengers a view of the performance of the national opera. Trams as a rule, go strictly by schedule. However, since the transport is quite worn out you will not feel much comfort during the trip.

Travel by train on average is 10-13% cheaper than buses. The railway passes through all the major cities of the country and connects through the most remote regions. The most active railway service is in the north of the country and the total length of the track is about three thousand kilometers. Only second class trains run within cities. For longer trips, you can choose express trains or comfortable, but expensive, first class trains. Trains run in strict accordance with the schedule. In Croatia, the air transport network is quite well developed. Airports are located practically in all major cities. There are air harbors exclusively for domestic routes, and also large international airports. Passengers are provided with excellent amenities such as restaurants, luggage storage, car and bicycle rental agencies, shops, boutiques and souvenir shops. You can connect from the airport to the city by taxi, car, or by municipal buses.

Despite the fact that Croatia is a rather small state, the Croats built 9 large international airports with the aim of developing tourism. In addition, more than a dozen air harbors function in the country for domestic and charter flights. One of the largest airports in the country is Pleso, located 15 kilometers from Zagreb. Local and international banks, souvenir shops, several cafes and restaurants, ATMs, stores and a post office are situated within its territory. Next to the terminal, there is a taxi stand as well as a stop for regular buses. The next major airport is “Split”. It is located 20 kilometers from the city of Split. The territory of this air harbor also has all the amenities for passengers, including nursing rooms. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The second largest airport in the country is Osijek. It accepts a small number of international flights, but is very popular among tourists. It is best to book a transfer from the airport in advance, since a taxi ride will cost several times more. On the territory of the airport there are Duty Free shops, bank offices, cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as places for rest and parking. Pula is the most popular seaside airport. It is located 7 kilometers from the city. You can get there by taxi or by transfer. The airport runways are designed for receiving such larger aircrafts as Boeing and Ilyushin il 86. The carrying capacity of the airport yearly is at least half a million passengers.

Zadar Airport is one of the oldest in Croatia. It receives flights from most European countries. Its carrying capacity is in the range of three hundred thousand a year. It is located less than 10 kilometers from the city of Zadar. To get to the city’s bus station, you can use the buses of various carriers. It is worth noting that only this airport has a business terminal. You can find on its territory, special lounges for those who want to relax before or after the flight. In addition, there is a Duty Free shop, bank branches, a medical center, cafes and restaurants, and parking.

Croatia has excellent road coverage. There are also about 800 thousand kilometers of high-speed tracks. Therefore, traveling around the area by car is quite comfortable. Moreover, you can rent a car in any major city and even on the territory of international airports. You can find on all roads at the optimal distance petrol stations, cafes and shops. The maximum speed limit for driving within the city is 50 kilometers per hour. However, it should be noted that the streets in the cities are very narrow, so it is preferable to use a car only for long-distance travel. Outside the residential areas, you are allowed a speed limit of up to 90 kilometers per hour, but on high-speed roads the permissible value is 130 kilometers per hour. Talking on the phone while driving is strictly prohibited as it attracts a huge fine.

The use of bicycles is pretty much popular in Croatia. You can save considerably by renting them especially since there are special cycling routes in the country. In the absence of bicycle routes, it is also safe to move along motor roads, since Croats have great respect for bicycle riders. Please note that it is possible to travel by plane within the country. Airports can be reached by taxi, by shuttle bus or by bus. In this case, it is worth considering that not every airport terminal is run by city buses. The railway network in the country is not very developed, but it covers the most remote regions. Within the city, you will usually find trains with second class carriages. For longer trips, it is possible to buy a ticket for an express or comfortable first-class train. In which case, it is advisable to buy tickets in advance.

The city public transport system is composed of buses and trams. In large cities, the buses run every 20-30 minutes in various domestic directions. In other cities, buses run every hour. You can get acquainted with the schedule at the bus stations or on the official websites of carriers. The cost of traveling by buses varies from company to company. The comfort level is also different, so do not be surprised that for the same amount, you will experience absolutely different traveling conditions. Night trips cost more, the price depending on the city and destination. Tickets can be bought at roadside kiosks and shops, or at the park. However, the latter option will cost a little more.

Taxi in Croatia is also popular, although it is relatively not expensive. Average boarding fee will cost about two and a half dollars, and at least 1 dollar for every next kilometer. Please note that this excludes the luggage fee. Almost every car has a meter, so you can monitor and calculate the cost of travel. However, prices in cities at the peak of the tourist seasons can rise by two or three times the usual amount. At night (from 10 pm to 5 am), the taxi fare rises by 20%. The same rule applies to movement on holidays and weekends. Please note that hitchhiking in Croatia is not advisable, since locals very rarely express a desire to offer a lift on the road to tourists.