How to get from Zagreb Airport to City Centre (2024) The Geo Room

Wondering how to get from Zagreb airport to the city centre?

You’ve come to the right article as I’ll show you the best way to get from Zagreb’s airport to Zagreb’s city centre.

Zagreb is a beautiful city to explore, but in order to explore it, you first need to make it to the city.

It can be daunting landing in a new country not knowing how to make it from the airport, especially in a country where you don’t speak the local language.

Thankfully, it’s really easy to get from Zagreb Airport to downtown Zagreb, and after making the journey myself on multiple occasions, I’ve created this ultimate guide to help you out.

Let’s get straight into it.

Zagreb Airport to City Centre

Zagreb Airport’s full name is “Franjo Tuđman Airport Zagreb” so make sure that that’s the airport you’re flying into before you continue reading.

It’s the only airport in Zagreb though, so it’s almost definitely that airport you are flying into.

The airport is really modern and easy to navigate, which is reflected by the options for getting to the city.

Getting from Zagreb airport is actually not too expensive either. Some countries I’ve visited have been extortionate, like Hamburg which cost me €13 for a 20-minute train, but Zagreb is actually alright.

Zagreb Airport to City Centre Options

There are 5 main options to get from Zagreb Airport to the city centre, they are:

Bus
Taxi
Uber
Private Transfer
Car Rental

Unfortunately, there is no train connecting the airport to the city centre. Trains in Croatia are few and far between due to the country’s mountainous landscape.

Best Way to get from Zagreb Airport to City Centre

Comparing these 5 options, we can see that the best way to get from Zagreb Airport is by taking the shuttle bus.

Method	Cost	Duration
Bus	€8	35-40 minutes
Taxi	~€33.15	20-25 minutes
Uber	~€20	20-25 minutes
Private Transfer	€60	20-25 minutes
Rental	€20 per day	20-25 minutes

A picture of a sign in Zagreb Airport showing the different transport options to get into Zagreb City Centre.

Zagreb Airport to City Centre: By Bus

The best way to get from Zagreb Airport to City Centre is by bus. When walking out of arrivals, just follow the signs for a bus. You can see it on the image above in the top right.

It takes between 35-40 minutes depending on traffic and it’s really convenient. It’s €8 per person and you pay the driver getting on the bus and you can pay using cash or card.

Buses are every 30 minutes between 9 am and 5 pm, and sporadicky throughout the rest of the day. Sometimes it’s a 30-minute wait, sometimes 45 minutes, sometimes 60 minutes outside of these hours.

And there are no buses between 9 pm and 5 am.

A picture of the shuttle bus which takes you from Zagreb Airport to Zagreb City Centre.

The shuttle bus runs to Zagreb Bus Station, also known as Autobusni Kolodvor Zagreb, which is just outside Zagreb’s Old Town.

It takes about 20-25 minutes to walk to the European Square, for example. But this is as close as you can get to the Old Town on the shuttle bus. Public transport in Zagreb is pretty good and there are trams you can get from the bus station into the Old Town if you don’t want to walk.

It’s actually really handy being dropped off at the bus station, as it’s the best place to be for getting around Croatia. For example, if you want to go from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes, you leave from the bus station.

But to summarise, the best way to get from Zagreb Airport to Zagreb City is by taking the shuttle bus which runs directly from the airport to the bus station.

Zagreb Airport to City Centre: By Taxi

If you don’t want to get the bus, the next best option is taking a taxi. The fare depends on where you are going, but obviously one of the huge benefits of a taxi is that you can be dropped off right at your accommodation.

Very useful if you have lots of luggage or arrive late at night.

Taxis are all metered and charge by the kilometre, with a starting fee of around €3. Typically it’s around €33 to get to the Old Town centre which takes 20-25 minutes depending on where you are staying.

I found the taxi drivers to be very friendly and chatty in Zagreb- which I can’t say the same about other places in Croatia.

Depending on where you’re staying, you might also get a free tour of Zagreb in the process. If you’re staying in the heart of the city, you’ll drive past all of the attractions and get a quick glimpse of why Zagreb is worth visiting– but you’ll soon discover that for yourself, of course.

There’s a taxi rank at the airport outside arrivals and there are always lots of taxis waiting, 24 hours a day.

A picture of a group of taxis in Croatia.

Zagreb Airport to City Centre: By Uber

A similar option to taking a taxi is to take an Uber. Uber is available throughout Croatia, but to be honest, it’s somewhat unreliable.

I arrived in Zagreb late at night, so no one accepted my ride request. And the other few times I tried to use it, it took ages and ages to find a driver.

Bolt is another option for Croatia, but I found it to have similar problems.

So while it is possible to get an Uber from Zagreb Airport to the City Centre, you might find a hard time getting one.

Zagreb Airport to City Centre: By Private Transfer

The most exclusive way of getting to Zagreb City from Zagreb Airport is by booking a private transfer.

I recommend booking the One-Way Private Transfer to/from Zagreb Airport.

You’ll feel like a true celebrity as your driver waits for you in the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name on it. It takes all the stress away as you know that when you get off the plane you are guaranteed to have a driver waiting.

You can have up to 8 people and it’s definitely worth considering. One-Way Private Transfer to/from Zagreb Airport is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ready to take you into the heart of Zagreb.

Zagreb Airport to City Centre: By Car Rental

The final option for getting from Zagreb Airport is by renting a car. I always recommend using Discover Cars.

It’s a broker which compares all of the car rental companies and finds you the best cars for the best price. And you can also pick the car up straight from the airport.

Plus, driving in Zagreb is actually very easy and straightforward, and completely safe too.

Having a car during a trip to Croatia is so useful. It would have saved me so much time during my trip. For example, we took a bus from Split to Dubrovnik and it took just under 4 hours, whereas driving it would’ve taken just under 3.

It was worth it in the end because Dubrovnik was beautiful and there are endless reasons to visit Dubrovnik, but still, having a car isn’t only a viable option for getting you from Zagreb Airport to City Centre, but also for getting you around the rest of Croatia.

Zagreb Airport to City Centre: FAQ

Below are some questions related to getting from Zagreb Airport to the City Centre along with my answers to each question.

Is there train from Zagreb Airport to city?

No, there is no train from Zagreb Airport to the city. Your only options for getting from Zagreb airport are the shuttle bus, or by taking a taxi, Uber or renting a car. There’s no train station in the airport.

How to get from Zagreb Airport to Zagreb train station?

The best way to get from Zagreb Airport to the train station is by taking the shuttle bus to the bus station and then taking the short walk from the bus station to the train station.

How much is the bus from Zagreb to airport?

The bus from Zagreb Bus Station to the airport costs €8. It takes about 35-40 minutes to reach the airport and runs frequently throughout the day.

Is there a shuttle from Zagreb Airport to city?

Yes, there is a shuttle bus from Zagreb airport to Zagreb city. It costs €8 for a single journey and takes between 35 and 40 minutes to reach Zagreb Bus Station.