How do you get to Zadar?
Getting There7.3/10Easier to reach than about 70% of cities
- Main airport
- Zadar Airport (ZAD)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: absolute-croatia.com, zadar-airport.hr
Good to know
Good to Know
- Airport shuttle timetable is published monthly and changes with flight patterns—always check the official airport website before travel, especially in shoulder seasons.
- For island ferries, match your departure port (Gaženica vs. Old Town) to the type on your ticket; ferry operators have different departure points.
- Zadar has no train service to other Croatian cities; buses are the primary intercity option and are reliable and frequent.
- Most international connections to Zadar are seasonal (peak June-August). Book ferry tickets to Italy in advance.
- Split airport is closer than Zagreb to Zadar; if flying into Split, take a bus (2h 15m) rather than arranging a transfer.
- City buses require ticket validation to avoid on-the-spot fines; the Zadar City mobile app offers a 20% discount on single tickets.
- The main bus station is adjacent to the train station, about 1.5 km from the Old Town; city buses connect these.
Intercity Bus
- Hub
- Autobusni Kolodvor Zadar (Main Bus Station)
- Address
- Ante Starčevića 1
- Facilities
- Coffee bars, fast food, luggage storage (€0.40), kiosk, toilet (€0.40 cash), Konzum supermarket nearby, ticket offices
- Distance From Old Town
- ~1.5 km / 20-minute walk
Connections
Split
- Frequency
- Multiple daily
- Travel Time
- ~2 hours 15 minutes
- Notes
- Most frequent coastal connection
Dubrovnik
- Frequency
- At least 7 direct buses daily
- Travel Time
- 7-8 hours
- Notes
- Stops at Vodice, Šibenik, Primošten, Trogir, and Split along the way; include night buses
Zagreb
- Frequency
- ~30 daily services
- Travel Time
- 3.5-4 hours
- Notes
- Via A1 highway or scenic toll-free motorway; most popular domestic intercity corridor
ŠIbenik
- Frequency
- Regular service
- Travel Time
- ~1.5-2 hours
- Notes
- Common day-trip or transit direction
Nearby Towns
- Notes
- Biograd na Moru, Sukošan, Petrčane, Nin, Zaton, Pakostane, Vir; operated by Liburnija suburban lines
Ports
Zadar Gaženica (Port Zadar Gaženica)
- Access
- City bus 9A Gaženica (Trajektna luka) or taxi; airport shuttle includes this stop
- Routes
- Most car ferries and many longer routes
- Location
- 3 km southeast of Old Town
Old Town City Port (Poluotok)
- Routes
- Many passenger-only boats and fast services (catamarans)
- Location
- City center waterfront
Routes To Islands
Ugljan Island (Preko)
- Type
- Car ferry and passenger ship
- Notes
- Fastest and most popular island connection; two service types depart from different ports (Gaženica and Old Town city port)
Dugi Otok, Rava, Silba, Olib
- Type
- Year-round service
- Notes
- Frequent local ferry routes
Island of Lošinj
- Type
- Frequent service
- Notes
- Further north but well-connected
International Ferries
Zadar Ancona
- Season
- June to late September
- Duration
- ~4 hours sailing time
- Operator
- Jadrolinija
- Frequency
- Near-daily in August, fewer departures other months
- Destination
- Ancona, Italy
- Boarding Requirement
- Report to agency no later than 2 hours before departure
- Booking Note
- Pre-book for peak dates; reserved ticket tied to specific sailing
Italy Summer Services
- Ports
- Cesenatico and Pesaro (near Rimini)
- Season
- June to August inclusive
- Operator
- Gomo Viaggi
Airport Ground Transport
~20 Minutes
- Type
- Airport Shuttle Bus
- Price
- HRK 25
- Operator
- Liburnija
- Notes
- Includes luggage; ticket valid for 90 minutes and can be used for onward city transport during that period
- Schedule Note
- Rolling timetable adjusted to flight arrivals; runs roughly 30 minutes after scheduled flight arrival
Stops
- Airport
- Gaženica Ferry Port
- Main Bus Station
- Old Town
Taxi
- Availability
- 24/7 official taxi stand at arrivals exit
- Price Estimate
- HRK 160
- Notes
- Uses taximeter; to/from city center approximately 20-25 EUR
Ride-hailing (Uber/Bolt)
- Availability
- 24/7
- Price Estimate
- HRK 97
- Notes
- Prices vary with demand; standard vehicle for 1-4 passengers
Car Rental
- Availability
- On-site at airport
- Notes
- Makes sense for travelers continuing beyond Zadar or exploring North Dalmatia region
Private Transfer
- Booking
- Pre-booked via transfer companies
- Notes
- Meet-and-greet service, operates 24/7, useful for larger groups or very early/late flights
Rail
- Status
- No direct train service
- Notes
- Although a railway exists between Split and Zadar, the line is incomplete. Train travel only goes to Knin, where passengers transfer to bus. Train service from Knin to Zadar has been replaced by buses since 2014. Not recommended option.
Airport
- Name
- Zadar Airport (ZAD)
- Travel Time
- ~20 minutes
- Distance To City
- 11 km (7 miles)
Driving
From Split
- Time
- ~1 hour 45 minutes
- Distance
- ~160 km
From Zagreb
- Time
- ~3 hours via A1 highway (fastest)
- Distance
- ~285 km
- Alternative
- Toll-free motorway with scenic views (more time)
Boarding
Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure; international routes: 2 hours before departure
Operator
Jadrolinija (primary), G&V Line, Krilo Fast Ferries, TP Line
Local City Transport
- Hours
- 5:00 AM to midnight daily (extends to 1:00 AM in summer)
- System
- 11 city bus lines covering all parts of Zadar
- Operator
- Liburnija
- Frequency
- Most frequent routes every 30 minutes; others once per hour
- Key Routes
- Line 2 and 4 connect bus station to Old Town; Line 9A goes to Gaženica Ferry Port
- Validation
- Must validate ticket on machine after boarding; penalty €14 if not validated
- Free Transport
- Children under 5 with adult (max 3); blind persons with membership card
- Ticket Purchase
- From bus driver, kiosks, or Zadar City mobile app (20% discount via app)
- Daily Pass Price
- €4-5
- Single Ticket Euro
- €1.59
- Single Ticket Price
- HRK 25
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.absolute-croatia.com
- 2.zadar-airport.hr
- 3.traveling.com
- 4.mortensmalby.com
- 5.zadar-airport-transfer.com.hr
- 6.visit-croatia.co.uk
- 7.omio.com
- 8.operas-eu.org
- 9.openferry.com
- 10.traincroatia.com
- 11.absolute-croatia.com
- 12.liburnija-zadar.hr
- 13.zadarairport.com
- 14.zadar.travel
- 15.expatincroatia.com
- 16.mortensmalby.com
- 17.global.flixbus.com
- 18.global.flixbus.com
- 19.wise.com
- 20.xe.com
More About Zadar
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.