Nowadays, Croatia is among the world's top tourist destinations and its tourist success is very much measured by the number of guests arriving into this beautiful country every day. The great importance of tourism is always positively reflected in the development of transport infrastructure which allows its visitors to enter the country in the most efficient way.
Before starting your Sail Croatia trip, you’ll need to find the most efficient way to arrive. Whether we are talking about buses, trains or ferries, one thing is for sure - Croatia is very well connected to other countries. However, when it comes to airports, you might be surprised to know that there are as many as seven different airports in Croatia, making every part of Croatia accessible and available for a quick visit.
With what feels like an infinite amount of airline carriers making their way into Croatia, we’ve made it a little easier for you to find the best airline for you. Check out our resource on How To Get To Croatia which lists airline carriers by country!
If you’re cruising with us, we recommend flying into Split or Dubrovnik International Airports as this is where our cruises start and finish. If you plan to explore other areas of Croatia before your cruise, or you’re simply visiting this beautiful country, these are the airports you can fly into.
Split Airport (SPU)
Split Airport is the third busiest airport among Croatian airports (after Zagreb and Dubrovnik). It is located in a town called Kaštel Štafilić, approximately 20 kilometers west of Split and 6 km away from the historic town of Trogir. It is definitely the most important airport on the entire Croatian coast, connecting the rest of Croatia and Europe to the administrative and cultural centre that is Split. In recent years, Split Airport has received increased traffic, especially in July when the Ultra Music Festival is being hosted in Split, which attracts a huge number of festival goers to this party destination.
Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
Dubrovnik Airport is the second busiest airport in Croatia, after Zagreb. It is located in Čilipi, 20 kilometers south-east of Dubrovnik. In addition to Zagreb and Split, Dubrovnik is also a significant airport in Croatia, especially considering that the airport is around half an hour from the Gruž port which welcomes a huge number of cruise ships every day with guests eager to visit the "Pearl of Adriatic".
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Zagreb Airport (ZAG)
Zagreb hosts the main international airport and is therefore the busiest Croatian airport. It is located around 15 kilometers from Croatia's capital and the largest city of Zagreb. At the same time, it is the only airport with a significant number of flights all year long. In March 2017, a new passenger terminal was opened, which significantly increased the capacity of the airport. Zagreb Airport is also the base of the Croatian airline company, Croatia Airlines.
Pula Airport (PUY)
Pula Airport is one of the most important Croatian airports, which is located near the town of Pula. There has been a steady increase in incoming passengers to this airport during the summer months since it offers quick access to the stunning Istria peninsula and its surrounding area. The importance of this airport has also been recognized by several low-budget airlines, such as Ryanair & Jet2, who offer fast services to their guests through this busy airport.
Zadar Airport (ZAD)
Zadar Airport is another important Croatian airport. It is located 8 km from the historic and popular town of Zadar, near Zemunik Donji, and is a good connection point for Northern Dalmatia and Lika. Located in the middle of the Adriatic coastline, and enabling quick access to one of over 1,000 Croatian islands, Zadar is an ideal starting point for any destination. If you are a nature lover, be sure to visit some of the five national parks and three nature parks located close by. Today, Zadar Airport offers many low-cost flights, such as Ryanair, and connects many European towns within a couple of hours.
Rijeka Airport (RJK)
Rijeka Airport is located near Omišalj on the island of Krk, about 25 kilometers from Rijeka, and it is a direct line to the impressive northern Adriatic. Recently, it also has been offering many low-budget flights, which is why many decide to travel from Zagreb by using a plane.
Osijek Airport (OSI)
Osijek Airport is located around 20 km away from the town of Osijek. It is the only airport in eastern Croatia that offers connections to the region of Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem. Although most of the guests arriving in Croatia during the summer months will be heading to the coastline, Croatia's inland areas can also offer some amazing scenery and perfect holiday destinations that should not be missed!
Based on the findings from the 2019 Croatian census, the below are the most popular airports amongst travellers ranked by international arrivals:
1. Zagreb
2. Split
3. Dubrovnik
4. Zadar
5. Pula
6. Rijeka
7. Osijek
