Zagreb to Split Bus: Croatia Bus Travel
Whenever I travel in a country, I always second guess myself and seek out a third-party breakdown of what I can expect when getting from Point A to Point B. Unfortunately, there aren’t many write-ups on what you can expect when taking the bus in Croatia…until now. As someone who took the train from Zagreb to Split, I can assure you that this is not the means of transportation that you want to use unless you (a) absolutely have to, or (b) enjoy an incredibly slow (yet scenic) journey. Other than renting a car, taking the bus is your only real (efficient) option.
Below is a quick breakdown of how to book your bus tickets from Zagreb to Split (and vice versa), what you can expect, and more.
Considering heading to Hungary? Check out my trip report on taking the bus from Budapest to Zagreb.
Taking Flixbus from Zagreb to Split
Taking the bus in Croatia is one-thousand percent better than taking the bus in Vietnam and Cambodia. It is on time, comfy, clean, and overall a very pleasant experience. No longer are the days where I dread sitting in a cramped, sweaty bus wondering how many hours late I was going to be. I really do have to thank FlixBus for restoring my faith in taking the bus as a viable travel option.
The total time of the trip between Zagreb and Split is just under 5 hours, with the total length coming in around 400km. During my near-three months living in Croatia, I took this route 6 times and found that if you book an earlier time (such as 10AM), you can likely expect to get into your destination in just under 4.5 hours.
To start, purchasing a one way bus ticket from Zagreb to Split will cost you just about USD $20. I personally recommend shelling out the extra 2 Euros to choose your seat and snagging a seat in the front (panoramic view), or near the middle door. These have the most legroom and usually no one else will book them if you snatch one (or two) up. Your $20 ticket will allow you to bring one piece of luggage and one carry-on, however this rule seems to be loosely enforced, so I wouldn’t worry too much about paying extra (unless you are bringing years worth of clothes and supplies).
Leaving Zagreb’s Autobusni Kolodvor Bus Station
Maybe I am just absolutely terrible with common sense, but I actually had some trouble navigating Zagreb’s Autobusni Kolodvor Bus Station. Not because it is huge (in fact it is quite small), but because the waiting platform is above where the busses depart. When it is time to depart, you head down the stairs of your platform and board. Seems easy, right? Right. But I had no idea what platform my bus (Flixbus) departed from. Flixbus tickets do not have the required platform printed on them.
I actually missed my bus one time, due to arriving slightly late and struggling to find the correct platform. And, but for one bus ride from Split to Zagreb where an old Croatian grandmother entered into a verbal altercation with the bus driver and delayed the bus by about 10 minutes, every single Flixbus I have taken has taken off promptly at its scheduled departure time.
Get there early just to feel things out.
Halfway to Split
One thing that absolutely blows the United States away is that roadside gas stations and truck stops have phenomenal food. Instead of fast food, grey hotdogs, and cold coffee, you can find homemade strudel (oh mama!), burek (Croatian and Bosnian meat pies), heart dinners, and other treats. For example, on my trip down from Zagreb to Split, we stopped about halfway through to change drivers and rest for 15 minutes. Instead of a McDouble or frozen burrito, I ordered a schnitzel sandwich the size of a basketball. Hard not to love that.
For reference, each time I’ve taken the bus from Zagreb to Split (or vice versa), we have stopped somewhere between the towns of Liko Lesce and Perusic. I figure this might help you gauge how long you have until you can dig into a schnitzel sandwich on your own.
Now, onto the seats!
The bus is clean. Flixbus standards are far better than the C&J Bus I frequently take in the United States. Even if you don’t book one of the seats with more legroom, each seat has plenty of room. They recline (to some degree) as well.
WiFi-wise, Flixbus has been hit or miss for me. On only about half of the busses I’ve taken has the WiFi actually worked for me. So make sure to bring a book, or drink 13 beers the night before so you can sleep off a massive hangover. Don’t worry if you have to go the bathroom on Flixbus, as they have a bathroom positioned in the middle of the bus (down the step).
Arriving in Split
The great thing about arriving in Split is that you are within walking distance of anywhere you want to be. The Split Bus Station (Autobusni Kolodvor Split) is located just a stone’s throw away from the Split Promenade, known as ‘The Riva’. If you arrive during the day, expect a breathtaking view of the water and Diocletian’s stronghold.
If you have any questions about booking a ticket with FlixBus or travelling back and forth between Split and Zagreb, feel free to reach out! I’d also love to hear about your experiences travelling in Europe in the comments.
Best,
Big Body
Big Body is a voracious lov…eater, a cowardly fighter, and a self-proclaimed curry goat BBQ-eating champion (don’t forget the donkey milk) who likes Stoicism, baseball, and writing in the third person. Having worked for himself for the last 7 years, he isn’t particularly successful but he does still drink ice-cold Sapporo draft beers with the best of them and knows his way around a Dai Pai Dong or two. He is based in Hong Kong but you can still find him in Saigon, Osaka, and Vienna for extended periods.