The golden rules
Public transport in Croatian cities is cheap by Western European standards, but a few habits make it easier and cheaper still. First, buy tickets before you board where possible: in most cities a ticket bought from the driver costs noticeably more than one from a kiosk, ticket machine or the operator's sales channels. Second, validate your ticket as soon as you get on, using the machine on board, because inspectors check and fines are much more than the fare. Third, carry small change in euros for the times you do have to pay the driver.
Fares are reviewed from time to time, so treat the figures below as a guide and check the operator's website before you travel.
Zagreb: trams, buses and the funicular
Zagreb's network, run by ZET, is the most extensive in the country, with more than a dozen daytime tram lines covering the centre and buses reaching the suburbs. Tickets are time-based: you can change between trams and buses as often as you like within the validity period. Recent fares have been about €0.53 for 30 minutes, €0.93 for 60 minutes and €1.33 for 90 minutes when bought in advance, with higher prices from the driver, and a day ticket of about €3.98. Kiosks such as Tisak, ZET sales points and machines sell tickets.
For most visitors a 30-minute ticket covers a hop across the centre, and a day ticket pays for itself after three or four longer rides. Night trams run on a few lines after midnight until early morning, and the funicular from Tomićeva Street to the Upper Town is also part of the city network. The Sljeme cable car up Medvednica is a separate attraction with its own tickets.
Split: buses and the airport
Split has no trams; Promet Split runs the city and suburban buses. The network is divided into zones, with the city centre in zone 1 and places like Trogir and the airport in outer zones. After a recent fare increase, a central-zone single ticket bought in advance has cost about €1.50, and considerably more from the driver, so buying in advance makes a real difference.
Line 37 links Split with Trogir and passes Split Airport, making it the cheapest way between the city and the airport, though it is slow at busy times. Airport shuttle buses timed with flights run between the airport and the main bus station near the ferry port and are faster. Remember that the old town is pedestrian and compact; for many visitors, walking is the best transport in central Split.
Dubrovnik: Libertas buses
In Dubrovnik, Libertas operates the city buses. The routes visitors use most connect the Pile Gate, at the entrance to the Old Town, with Lapad, Babin Kuk and the port at Gruž; line 6 is especially useful between Pile and the Lapad and Babin Kuk hotel areas. Tickets are cheaper from kiosks and machines than from the driver, and daily and multi-day tickets are available. Buses can be very crowded in summer, especially when several cruise ships are in port, so allow extra time. Dubrovnik Airport, in Čilipi, is served by shuttle buses that connect with flights.
Rijeka, Zadar and Osijek
Rijeka's buses are run by Autotrolej and link the centre with the suburbs and nearby towns such as Opatija. In Zadar, Liburnija operates city buses that connect the old town with the beaches of Borik and Puntamika, the bus station and, with shuttle connections, the airport. Osijek, in eastern Croatia, is the only city besides Zagreb with trams. Each operator has its own tickets, which are not interchangeable between cities.
Between cities: buses, trains and ferries
For travel between cities, buses are usually the best option: they are frequent, reasonably priced and cover the whole country, and tickets can be booked online or at bus stations. A small extra charge for luggage stored in the hold is common. Trains are cheap and comfortable on some lines, such as Zagreb to Rijeka or Osijek, but the line to Split is slow, so most people take the bus. For the islands, Jadrolinija and other operators run car ferries and faster passenger catamarans; book catamarans in advance in summer.
More money-saving hacks
Use a journey planner app or online map to check routes and departure times; most Croatian city networks appear in common mapping services. If you are staying a few days, look at multi-day passes or city cards, some of which bundle public transport with museum discounts. Travel outside rush hours when you can, as buses on the coast fill up quickly in summer. Finally, keep your validated ticket until the end of your journey, since inspectors can board at any stop.
