Arrival & Transport
By Plane
Croatia has seven international airports. The most important for German travelers:
Split (SPU) — Gateway to Central Dalmatia
The best-connected airport on the coast. Direct flights from Munich (1:35h), Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Stuttgart. Airlines: Eurowings, Lufthansa, Croatia Airlines, easyJet, Ryanair.
Transfer: Bus No. 37 to the city (€5, 30 min), taxi (€35–40), pre-booked transfer (€25–30). Airport is located 25 km west near Kaštela.
Dubrovnik (DBV) — Southern Dalmatia
Only 20 km from the old town. Direct flights from Frankfurt (1:50h), Munich, Berlin. Seasonally also Condor, TUI fly.
Transfer: Atlas shuttle bus (€10, 30 min), taxi (€30–35). Note: Traffic jams on the only access road during rain.
Zagreb (ZAG) — Capital & Plitvice Lakes
Best connected year-round. From Berlin (1:30h), Munich, Frankfurt, Vienna. Croatia Airlines hub.
Transfer: Shuttle bus (€5, 25 min), tram from Velika Gorica (€3), taxi (€20–25).
Zadar (ZAD) — Northern Dalmatia & National Parks
Ryanair hub! Often the cheapest flights. From Cologne, Berlin, Memmingen. Perfect as a starting point for Plitvice Lakes (130 km) and Krka (60 km).
Pula (PUY) — Direct to Istria
Small airport, seasonal. From Munich (1:15h), Stuttgart. Ryanair from Berlin.
Rijeka (RJK) — Kvarner Bay
Located on the island of Krk. Few connections, but growing (Ryanair, Eurowings).
Osijek (OSI) — Slavonia
Hardly any international flights. Only relevant for Eastern Slavonia.
Flight Prices (Guidelines)
| Period | Price (one-way) |
|---|---|
| Off-season (Nov–Apr) | €30–60 |
| Shoulder (May, Sep–Oct) | €50–100 |
| High season (Jun–Aug) | €80–200 |
| Last Minute (July) | €150–300+ |
Tipp
Zadar is often the cheapest airport — and perfectly located between Plitvice Lakes, Split, and the islands. Ryanair flies from €20 one-way!
By Car
Croatia is a classic road trip destination. The coastal roads are spectacular, the highways modern, and with a car, you can reach remote bays and villages.
Distances from Germany
| From → To | km | Travel Time | Toll (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munich → Pula (Istria) | 520 | 5h | ~€25 (AT+SI) |
| Munich → Zagreb | 480 | 4:30h | ~€25 (AT+SI) |
| Munich → Split | 920 | 8:30h | ~€55 (AT+SI+HR) |
| Munich → Dubrovnik | 1,100 | 10h | ~€60 (AT+SI+HR) |
| Berlin → Zagreb | 900 | 8:30h | ~€30 |
| Vienna → Zagreb | 370 | 3:30h | ~€15 (AT+SI) |
Route Options
Route A (fastest): Via Austria + Slovenia
Munich → Salzburg → Villach → Karawanken Tunnel → Ljubljana → Zagreb → Coast. Toll: Austria (Vignette €10.20/10 days, Karawanken Tunnel €7.90) + Slovenia (e-Vignette €15/7 days, evignet.si).
Route B: Via Italy
Munich → Brenner → Verona → Trieste → Istria. Scenic, but more tolls and longer distance. Brenner toll €11 + Italian toll ~€25.
Toll in Croatia
The Croatian highways (autocesta) are toll roads. Payment at toll stations: Cash (Euro), credit card, or ENC transponder.
| Route | Price (Car) |
|---|---|
| Zagreb → Split (A1) | €28.10 |
| Zagreb → Dubrovnik (A1+A10) | ~€32 |
| Zagreb → Rijeka (A6) | €8.70 |
| Zagreb → Pula (A6+Istria) | ~€15 |
| Rijeka → Zadar | ~€15 |
ENC Transponder
The ENC Box (Electronic Toll Collection) allows for the express lane at all toll stations. Costs about €15 at any major toll station or gas station. In high season, it saves 15–30 minutes of waiting time, especially at the Sveti Rok Tunnel.
Fueling & Parking
- Gasoline: €1.45–1.60/liter, similar to Germany. Slightly more expensive on the coast.
- Gas Stations: Well-developed, even on the islands. Cards accepted everywhere.
- Parking: In coastal cities the biggest challenge. Dubrovnik: €4–8/h, Split: €2–4/h. Cheaper outside the centers (€1/h). Apps: EasyPark, FlowPay.
Tipp
Parking in Dubrovnik is a nightmare (and expensive). Park on the outskirts (Ploče or Gruž) and take the bus. Or stay in Cavtat and travel by boat.
Ferries & Island Hopping
Croatia without a ferry is like Italy without pasta. The Jadrolinija (state-owned) operates the largest network with car and passenger ferries. Additionally: Krilo and TP Line (fast catamarans, passengers only).
Important Ferry Connections
| Route | Type | Duration | Person | Car | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Split → Supetar (Brač) | Car ferry | 50 min | €5 | €35 | Jadrolinija |
| Split → Stari Grad (Hvar) | Car ferry | 2h | €7 | €42 | Jadrolinija |
| Split → Hvar (City) | Catamaran | 1h | €12 | — | Krilo |
| Split → Vis | Car ferry | 2h 20 | €8 | €45 | Jadrolinija |
| Split → Vis | Catamaran | 1h 25 | €12 | — | Krilo |
| Drvenik → Sučuraj (Hvar East) | Car ferry | 35 min | €3 | €25 | Jadrolinija |
| Dubrovnik → Korčula | Catamaran | 2h 30 | €15 | — | Krilo/TP Line |
| Orebić → Korčula (Dominče) | Car ferry | 15 min | €3 | €25 | Jadrolinija |
| Valbiska (Krk) → Merag (Cres) | Car ferry | 25 min | €4 | €28 | Jadrolinija |
| Zadar → Sali (Dugi Otok) | Car ferry | 1h 15 | €5 | €30 | Jadrolinija |
| Rijeka → Split → Hvar → Korčula → Dubrovnik | Coastal ferry | 22h | €35 | — | Jadrolinija |
Booking & Tips
- Car Ferries: In high season definitely book online (jadrolinija.hr). Without booking, expect 2–3 ferry waits!
- Catamarans: Passengers + hand luggage only. Faster and more comfortable, but no car.
- Island Hopping Route: Krilo runs the route Split → Hvar → Korčula → Mljet → Dubrovnik. Perfect for island hopping without a car.
- Prices: Pedestrians on car ferries are cheaper than catamaran tickets!
- Bora Wind: Ferries are canceled in strong Bora (north wind). More frequent in winter, rare in summer but possible.
Tipp
The Krilo catamaran connection Split → Hvar → Korčula → Dubrovnik is perfect for island hopping without a car. Be sure to book tickets online (krfrancesca.com)!
Rental Car
A rental car is almost indispensable in Croatia if you want to see more than one beach resort. The coastal roads are well-developed and scenically spectacular.
Prices & Booking
| Period | Small car/day | Compact/day | SUV/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | €15–25 | €20–35 | €35–55 |
| Shoulder season | €25–40 | €35–55 | €50–80 |
| High season | €40–70 | €55–90 | €80–140 |
Providers
International: Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, Avis — good standard, more expensive, better for one-way rentals.
Local: Nova Rent, Fleet, Oryx — often cheaper, good service, but check reviews.
Comparison Portals: CHECK24, billiger-mietwagen.de, rentalcars.com — find the best prices here.
Important Tips
- Full insurance without deductible: Definitely add or cover via credit card (Barclays, Advanzia). Narrow old town alleys take their toll.
- Island Ferries: Not every rental company allows taking the car on ferries! Check the contract beforehand and pay an additional fee if necessary.
- One-way rental: Picking up in Split, dropping off in Dubrovnik costs an extra €50–150, but saves a lot of time.
- Border crossing: Bosnia (Neum Corridor), Montenegro, Slovenia — most rental companies allow it, but only with written permission. Clarify beforehand!
- Diesel: Cheaper than gasoline, prefer rental cars with diesel.
- Automatic: Not standard in Croatia. Book early, otherwise only manual transmission available.
Bus & Train
Buses — The Backbone of Public Transport
Buses reliably connect all cities and towns. Main providers: FlixBus (international + long-distance), Arriva, Čazmatrans, Croatia Bus, and many local companies.
| Route | Duration | Price (from) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zagreb → Split | 5–6h | €15–25 | 15+ daily |
| Zagreb → Dubrovnik | 8–10h | €25–40 | 8–10 daily |
| Split → Dubrovnik | 4–5h | €12–20 | 10+ daily |
| Zagreb → Pula | 3.5–4h | €12–20 | 5–8 daily |
| Zagreb → Zadar | 3–3.5h | €12–18 | 10+ daily |
| Split → Makarska | 1.5h | €6–10 | frequent |
| Zadar → Šibenik | 1.5h | €8–12 | frequent |
Booking: buscroatia.com, getbybus.com or directly at the bus station. Book in advance for popular routes during the season!
Luggage: 1 suitcase in the hold often costs an extra €1–2 (paid at the bus station).
Train — Only Inland
Croatia's rail network (HŽ) is limited to the inland. There is no railway line along the coast.
- Zagreb → Split: approx. 6h, scenic through the mountains. €15–25. 2× daily, significantly faster with the new Talgo train planned from 2025.
- Zagreb → Rijeka: approx. 4h, through the Gorski Kotar region.
- Zagreb → Osijek: approx. 4h, through the Pannonian Plain.
- Zagreb → Varaždin: approx. 2.5h, for day trips.
Conclusion: The train is only relevant for Zagreb-inland connections. On the coast: bus or rental car.
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