Airplane, Zagreb

I arrived Zagreb by plane from Germany. The airport of Zagreb (Zracna luka Zagreb) is situated 17 km southeast of the city centre. It is a very small airport with arrivals and depatures on just one floor.

The only option to get into town by public transportation are the buses of Croatian Airlines. Every 30 minutes they serve a route to the main bus station (autobusni kolodvar). The price is 25 Kunas (2004).

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Zagreb's airport Pleso is 17 km out of town. It is easily negotiated because of its small size; both domestic and international arrival and departure areas are on the ground floor.
Currency exchange: there are two Bank offices, open 07:00 - 21:00, ATM which is outside international arrivals and the Post Office.
Getting to town: Croatia Airlines runs a bus service from airport to the bus station. It costs 25kn and takes approx. 30min. Other option is by taxi which costs 150-250kn.
This is central office of the Croatian Airlines, which is situated on Trg Nikola Subic Zrinski. Here you can buy tickets or any other information regarding your fly.
tel. reservations 385/1/4872727
tel. information 385/1/4819633

During my most recent visit to Zagreb, Croatia in December 2010, I flew with Croatian Airlines from Zurich Airport/Flughafen to Zagreb Pleso Airport. Flight delays departing Zurich due to snow. One thing to note, Croatian's don't seem to adhere to assigned seating and I had to ask the flight attendant for assistance in order to have my assigned seat made available to me. The aircraft seemed OK, and the flight was relatively good, somewhat on the loud side due to excessive noise intrusions from Croatian passengers. Upon arrival at Zagreb Pleso Airport, Customs was a breeze as was luggage collection. There was plenty of snow and very cold. Even in winter, Zagreb seemed beautiful and it was considerably less crowded.

I opted to return via EuroNight train from Zagreb Main Station to Zurich HBF, despite that I had a booked flight on Croatian Airlines. As in the past, the train was clean and very comfortable. I was in a sleeping car, compartment for 4 passengers, and I shared it with two young Croatian's. Despite the journey taking nearly 16 hours, it was well worth it and I got a very good night's sleep. I arrived in Zurich the next morning and continued my journey to Luzern.

Zagreb Airport is situated in Pleso village, close to Velika Gorica city. There are good connections to, almost, all European cities. Employees are very kind and they will help you everything you need.

It is small & effective.

No delays at check in (Croatian Airlines), security or passport control. Flight to Sarajevo was just a few minutes late leaving, but nothing to fret about. Balkan time, after all…

Heading in the opposite direction, arrivals is just as good. I waited about 35 seconds for my suitcase to arrive...

200kn exactly for a taxi from the city centre. In the opposite direction it cost 220. Croatian Airlines runs a coach service but its city terminus is the bus station, and it’s not quite in the city centre (at least too far for me to walk with all my stuff in the heat of July).

I was lucky to get a very good deal with Germanwings so that I could make a spontaneous trip to Zagreb. In December 2004 I paid 22,22 EUR for the return ticket. Today they connect Cologne, Berlin and Stuttgart with Zagreb. Make sure to subscribe to Germanwings' newsletter so that you get "warned" when there is a special offer available.

As I am not flying with Germanwings anymore due to an unhappy incident on the way from Zagreb to Cologne I am happy that Air Croatia has many connections with German cities - including Düsseldorf - too.

I checked direct flights from Zurich to Zagreb and realized that our national airline SWISS is actually flying there. For the time I checked, the price was somewhat around CHF 500. I then did an internet search and found out that Croatian Airlines are having a co-shared flight and that booking with Croatian Airlines would save me a hefty CHF 100. Not bad, ey? Same flight, but much cheaper.

I booked via ebookers.ch.

Zagreb is NOT an international hub. For example there are no direct flights from Zagreb to Rome as it is advertised here. So there are more risks to lose your bags (or yourself). For people that are using Zagreb as transit - not a very good idea, especially if you need a transit visa.

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1) If you arrive zagreb by airplane after you leave the airport there are big busses.They can travel you to AUTOBUSNA KARTA (last stop).The drivers say that it is to city centre but AUTOBUSNA KARTA is a bit far from city centre.The Fare is 30 kuna or 5 euro whichever you have.
2) After you get off from the bus there is a TRAM STATION in front of you.There is a Newspaper seller small office also.You can buy tram ticket from there and it is for 6,5 kuna.Wait for the number 6 tram and get in when it comes.
3) Leave the Tram at the 3rd station if you want to reach TOMISLAV SQUARE (1st Foto)
Leave the Tram maybe 4th or 5th station if you want to reach the main square which is BAN JELACIC Square (2nd Foto)

Getting from the airport to the city was pretty easy. Outside the terminal building should be a bus taking you to the main bus station for 30kuna. From here it is a short tram (number 6)(5 mins / 3 stops) to the main train station or Trg bana Jelacica (10 mins / 5 stops).