Most visitors will not be getting around Croatia by train as there are few links between popular tourist destinations and no trains that run along the coast. Built under Austrian rule, the railway network was intended to get goods, products and passengers in and out of Croatia which is why train lines run from the north through Zagreb, the agricultural interior and down to the major ports of Rijeka and Split. Nevertheless, trains offer a safe and comfortable but slower alternative to bus travel.

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The only rail routes that make sense for coastal-bound travellers are the Zagreb to Rijeka and Zagreb to Split routes. Cyclists should note that transport of bikes is permitted on most lines, including Zagreb-Split and Zagreb-Rijeka.

As buses do not carry bikes, taking a train may be the best idea for cyclists.

[See a map of Croatia's railway system]

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For decades the focus of government investment has been in improving roads while the railways gradually slipped into disrepair. A great deal of work needed to be done on the infrastructure which little by little is now starting to happen.

The investment that has been made in the railway system has mainly gone into improving the interior lines that link Varazdin, Koprivinica, Sisak and Sunja with Zagreb which is where you'll find the fastest, most modern trains. 44 new trains have been ordered, one of which went into service in April 2015, linking Zagreb with Koprivnica, Sisak and Sunja.

Here are the major train lines :

Zagreb to Karlovac

There are over a dozen trains that run the 40-minute route. Two daily trains connect to Knin where it's possible to find a bus to Zadar but a Zagreb-Zadar bus is much faster.

[What to see in Karlovac]

Zagreb to Split
Again, the buses are much faster, taking about 4 1/2 hours to the train's 6 1/2 hours, but there are two daily trains--morning and afternoon that make the journey all year round. There's an extra couple of trains in summer, including an overnight train which can be convenient for arriving in Split early enough to take a ferry out to the islands.

[More on trains to Split]

Zagreb to Zadar
There are two trains daily both of which arrive in the morning. The late evening overnight train makes the most sense for an early arrival in Zadar.

Zagreb to Rijeka
There are two daily trains to Rijeka. The trip takes from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours which is only a little longer than the bus.

[What to see in Rijeka]

Zagreb to Istria
There are no direct trains to Istria but the Rijeka train connects with a bus that winds through Istria stopping at Hum, Pazin, Zminj, Kafanar, Vodnjan and other little towns before ending in Pula about 4 1/2 hours later.

Zagreb to Osijek
There are five daily trainstaking about 4 1/2to 5 1/2 hours, making it a little longer than the bus.

[What to see in Osijek]

Zagreb to Varazdin
About a dozen trains make the 2 1/2 hour journey daily, making it a reasonable alternative to the bus.

[What to see in Varazdin]

There are no trains to Dubrovnik or any trains that run along the coast.

[All ways to travel to Dubrovnik]

Buying Train Tickets

You can book domestic train tickets online at the Croatian Railways site.

You can also reserve and buy your train tickets from any train station in Croatia and pay using euros. In the larger stations you can also pay with any major credit card.

Classes of Train Travel

There are several different classes of train travel with the cheapest being passenger trains which offer unreserved 2nd-class seating. Express trains have 1st and 2nd class cars.

Comfort

I've booked the sleeping car from Zagreb to Split and found it a relatively comfortable experience. Naturally, the compartments are not spacious but there is a sink, soap, a bottle of water and a croissant to go with the coffee that is served in the morning. Towels are not included, toilets are shared and there is no air-conditioning and no dining car.

Rail Passes in Croatia

Croatia is part of the Eurail Pass system. You can travel to Croatia on a Eurail Pass, a regional pass or travel in Croatia on a Croatia Rail Pass. More.

Train News

Truth in Trains
Despite what you may have read elsewhere, there are no fast trains running from Zagreb to the Croatian coast. More.

Croatia Train Apps

HZNET
Developer: dKorunic
Platform: Android; Hznet
Price: Free
Review: In Croatian but fairly straightforward to work out. The interface is basic and there are no online reservation possibilities.

Map of Croatia's Railway System