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Airports
There are international airports in Zagreb,Zadar,Split, Dubrovnik
and Rijeka (on the island of Krk). Recently, Osijek airport
in Slavonia has been renovated for regional traffic. It is
also being considered to revitalize Pula airport (Istria)
as a destination for low cost airlines. Currently, the following
low cost airlines are flying to Croatia: Germanwings, Hapag-Lloyd
Express (HLX) and SkyEurope. Major established companies that
fly to Croatia are the domestic Croatia Airlines (now a regional
member of the Star Alliance), Lufthansa and British Airways.
In the near future, an intercontinental link between Zagreb
and North America will be reintroduced.
Statistics:
Overall: 68 airports (2004 est.)
Airports with paved runways (2004 est.):
total: 23
10,000 ft (3,047 m) or more: 2
8,000 to 9,999 ft (2,438 to 3,047 m): 6
5,000 to 7,999 ft (1,524 to 2,437 m): 2
3,000 to 4,999 ft (914 to 1,523 m): 4
under 3,000 ft (914 m): 9
Airports with unpaved runways (2004 est.):
total: 45
5,000 to 7,999 ft (1,524 to 2,437 m): 1
3,000 to 4,999 ft (914 to 1,523 m): 7
under 3,000 ft (914 m): 37
Rail transport
There are several major railway routes in the country:
from Zagreb to Vinkovci (and on to Belgrade, Serbia)
from Zagreb to Osijek via Koprivnica
from Zagreb to Rijeka
from Zagreb to Split
There are also other routes to Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Serbia.
The railways urgently need to be modernized, since during
communism there have been hardly any investments into the
railway infrastructure. Many important routes are still not
electrified and allow only single track traffic along series
of bends. The aforementioned routes have been in constant
renovation for the last ten years, with the result of increased
maximum speed: on the Zagreb-Novska-Vinkovci line, there are
sections where the limit was raised from 80 km/h to 120 km/h,
and there are plans to go to 160 km/h on certain sections
with the same rail tracks.
Recently, the Croatian railways introduced an initial series
of modern tilting trains ordered from the German branch of
Bombardier Transportation. They are normally deployed on the
mountainous route between the two largest Croatian cities,
route Zagreb - Split, but are also sometimes on the InterCity
routes in the continental part of the country. In the case
of the Zagreb-Split route, this offers passengers a much more
comfortable and time-saving journey with regard to previous
trains whose journey took 9 hours, whereas the tilting trains
take no more than 5.5 h, and are more quiet and better equipped
as well.
The Croatian railways hope to revitalize rail traffic through
further improvements and to establish the rail as serious
competitor to rising car traffic, particularly during the
summer months.
Statistics:
Railway length (as of 2004):
total: 2,726 km
standard gauge, 1.435 m: 2,726 km (984 km electrified)
Road transport
According to recent statements of European traffic experts,
the Croatian highways belong to the most modern and safest
highways in Europe. This is also due to the fact that the
largest part of the Croatian motorway system has just recently
been constructed, and construction works are rapidly continuing.
A major reason for the current highway construction mania
is that in the last 20 years under Communist rule, when Croatia
formed part of the former Yugoslavia, no major projects had
been realized (in 1991 when Croatia seceded, the only highways
were Zagreb-Karlovac and Zagreb-Slavonski Brod). It was long
ago (back to the times of the Croatian Spring) when the dream
was born to connect the two largest Croatian cities, Zagreb
and Split, with a highway. The construction of this enormously
important project, however, has always been blocked by the
ruling Communist Party. Nowadays, in Croatia highway construction
is considered as a symbol of unity, economic prosperity and
cohesion and it is being systematically pursued.
Tourism is of major importance for the Croatian economy,
and most tourists come to vacation in Croatia in their own
cars. Without adequate roads, the traffic would get rather
jammed during the summer months. For this reason, and as a
means for stimulating urgently needed economic growth, highways
have become indispensable for the sustainable development
of this country. Croatia already has a considerable highway
density for a country that still has to cope with the consequences
of Communism and the recent war.
Statistics:
Roads and highways (as of 2002):
total: 28,344 km
paved: 23,979 km (including 455 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,365 km
Road rules
In 2004, a controversial new traffic law has been introduced,
which provides for drastic safety measures for drunken or
dangerous driving: it reduced the blood alcohol limit to 0.
Some of the more technical safety measures include that all
new Croatian tunnels have modern safety equipment and there
are several control centers, which monitor highway traffic.
Legend:
"Highway" means what is called autocesta in Croatia:
a road with two lanes in each direction, plus a side-lane
for emergencies.
"Expressway" means what is called polu-autocesta
in Croatia: a road with two lanes in each direction, without
any side-lane for emergencies.
A1 and other A*: designations of national routes
E70 and other E*: designations of European routes
Note 1: In Karlovac, E71 turns to Bihac and Knin, a road that
is not a highway. E65 turns to Rijeka on an old road that
is not a highway (and is instead replaced by highway A6).
Toll is charged on all highways, except on the motorway that
surrounds the city of Zagreb. The toll is collected upon leaving
the highway system, at all exit toll gates. Normally paid
in kuna, all major credit cards and euros are accepted at
all toll gates. Drivers receive a receipt at appropriate machines
upon entering the motorway system. This receipt states the
point of entry. The receipt must be presented upon leaving
the motorway when toll is collected. Toll is being paid according
to kilometers. It is not possible to evade this procedure
since there are separate service areas in each direction and
there is no possibility of return. Additionally, every vehicle
is being monitored by video cameras at the toll gates.
Frequent travelers also have the possibility of buying a
special SmartCard with certain included discounts (currently,
one SmartCard for vehicle class 1 is 1200 kuna). However,
it is not recommendable for less than 10 longer journeys along
Croatian motorways per year. It is possible to charge this
card with certain desirable amounts.
There are also reduced rates for transport companies, which
should prevent heavy traffic along regional roads. The government
has introduced discounted tariffs for all classes of vehicles
during the 2005-2006 winter months (December 24 until March
1). These discounts, however, apply only to SmartCard users.
Highway A1
The 380km long highway A1 Zagreb - Split is the showpiece
project of all previous Croatian governments. The A1 connects
the continental part of Croatia with Mediterranean Dalmatia.
Its construction finished on June 26, 2005. The highway consists
of two lanes in both directions in its full length (except
of two tunnels, at Mala Kapela and at Sveti Rok, the second
tubes will be opened for traffic when the car traffic frequency
reaches adequate levels).
The most important edifice is Sveti Rok tunnel (5.687 m),
which goes through the famous Velebit mountain range barrier.
This tunnel actually connects two climatic zones (the mountaineous
climate of central Croatia and the Mediterranean climate of
Dalmatia). The most modern, and at the same time the longest
Croatian tunnel, is also along the A1. It is the tunnel through
the Mala Kapela mountain range (5,780 m elevation).
The highway winds itself as a panoramic road through the
Croatian hills, goes along the Dalmatian coast and passes
the world-famous Krka National Park. There is a service area
right beside a beautiful vantage point near to this National
Park. The construction of this highway will continue rapidly
in direction to the important Ploce sea port (and further
on to Dubrovnik). The scheduled deadline for constructions
up to Ploce is 2008. During this and the following year, numerous
service areas and petrol stations will gradually be constructed
along all Croatian highways.
Other highways
Within the following years, all major routes towards the north
(to Slovenia) will be highway connections. Since June 2005
there are highways from the Slovenian border at Umag in direction
to Rovinj and from the Rupa border crossing to Rijeka.
Scheduled for May 2007, the connection Zagreb–Krapina/Macelj
border crossing, southern of Maribor will be completed.
The eastern and western "wing" of the so-called
"Istrian Y" (expressway connection in Istria) has
been opened for traffic since June 2005. About 2006, the last
remaining part in direction to Pula in the south will be constructed.
It is also being considered to transform these sections into
a highway when a certain traffic limit will be reached.
The last remaining part of the highway connection A6 between
Rijeka and Zagreb was constructed in spring 2004. An extension
of the two-way traffic sections is planned for 2008. Within
the following years, a second highway bypass around Rijeka
and the highway connection Rijeka–Senj/Žuta Lokva
to the existing A1 will be built.
A highway connection of Zagreb and the important industrial
city of Sisak should be constructed until 2008.
Within the next few years, all parts of Croatia should be
easy to reach along modern highways. Highways will soon extend
from Županja (eastern Slavonia) to Serbia. Construction
works along the European North-South corridor 5C (route E73)
between the Hungarian border at Beli Manastir, Osijek and
the Bosnian border in direction to Sarajevo and further on
to the sea port of Ploce will soon begin. (The connection
from Zagreb to the Hungarian border at Varaždin and Cakovec
has already been established.)
Significant tunnel and bridge construction projects in Southern
Dalmatia are already being planned, such as the Biokovo tunnel
near Makarska, which will connect the panoramic seashore road
with the future A1, and a sea bridge to the Pelješac
peninsula (bridging Bosnian territory).
Bus traffic
In contrast to the fairly underdeveloped rail traffic, buses
represent the most-accepted, cheapest and widely-used means
of public transport. National bus traffic is very well developed
and it is very easy to reach even the remotest parts of Croatia
by bus. Almost all buses on national routes are air-conditioned
and offer pleasant traveling comfort.
In practice, bus fares are being collected on the bus while
traveling, which is sometimes even cheaper than when paying
at the ticket office (there is an additional fee for stored
luggage).
From Croatia, there are many international bus routes to
the neighboring countries (Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
etc.), as well as to Austria, Germany, Switzerland and to
other European countries. International buses correspond to
European standards.
Zagreb has the largest and most modern bus terminal in the
country, with specially-designed waiting areas above the bus
parking area. The Zagreb bus terminal is not far away from
the main train station (Glavni kolodvor) and it is easy to
reach by direct city tram lines.
Water transport
Sea transport
Croatia has several large seaports. The largest seaport with
the deepest channel to a port in the Adriatic is Rijeka on
the northern Croatian coast, followed by Ploce in southern
Dalmatia. The port of Ploce is of strategic importance for
the industries of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The largest Croatian
passenger ports are Split and Zadar (capital of Dalmatia),
also called gateways to the islands (there are more than thousand
islands along the Croatian coast).
Ports and harbors:
major transport seaports: Omišalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Šibenik
other seaports: Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Pula, Split, Zadar
inland waterway ports: Vukovar (on Danube)
Merchant marine (as of 2005):
total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 750,579 GRT/1,178,786
DWT
ships by type:
bulk carrier 25
cargo 12
chemical tanker 2
passenger/cargo 25
petroleum tanker 4
refrigerated cargo 1
roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:
1
Denmark 1
registered in other countries: 31
River transport
Croatia is also on the important Danube waterway, which connects
Eastern and Central Europe. The major Danube port is Vukovar.
Perennially navigable rivers:
Danube (section from Batina to Ilok which is in Croatia)
Sava - from Sisak (until it exits Croatia near Gunja)
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