From Zagreb Airport to the City Centre: Bus, Taxi or Private Transfer?
Updated October 20, 2026 · 5 min read
The airport shuttle to the main bus station is the best value for one or two people; a private transfer wins for three or more, for late arrivals and with heavy luggage. Franjo Tuđman Airport lies roughly 30 minutes from the centre by car, according to both private-transfer listings below. The bus takes longer, and what it costs depends on which source you read, so check the operator before you travel.
The options compared
| Option | Journey | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport shuttle to the bus station | 35–45 minutes | about €8–9 one way | Guides differ; check the operator |
| City bus 290 | 45–50 minutes | €0.95–€1.30 | Ends at Kvaternikov trg |
| Taxi or ride app | about 30 minutes | guides quote about €15–35 | Varies with demand |
| Private transfer, up to 3 people | 30 minutes | €55 per group | 4.7 · 88 reviews |
| Private transfer, up to 2 people | 30 minutes | €50 per group | 5.0 · 41 reviews |
The bus and taxi rows come from travel guides and the operator’s own site, not from a booking page. Fares change, so treat them as an order of magnitude.
Shuttle: the default choice
The operator, Pleso Prijevoz, says on its website that a shuttle runs every 30 minutes between the airport and Zagreb Bus Station. Guides give the journey as 35 to 45 minutes and the one-way fare as €8 or €9, with a return ticket at €12 in one of them. The bus station is not in the middle of the old town, so allow time for the last stretch to your hotel. Buy the ticket online or from the driver. Look at the operator’s timetable if you land very early or very late, because the first and last departures differ between sources.
City bus 290: cheapest, slowest
One guide lists the airport bus 290 at €0.95 from a kiosk and €1.30 from the driver, paid in cash, with a journey of 45 to 50 minutes and its stop at Kvaternikov trg in the east of the centre. It is the cheapest way in, and the right one if you are travelling light and your hotel is near that stop. With two suitcases and a child, it is not.
Taxi and apps
Guides quote anything from around €15 for a ride app to about €35 for a metered taxi, depending on time and demand. Use the price shown in the app before you get in, and agree the fare first if you take a street taxi. We have no fixed tariff to give you, and any figure is a guide.
Private transfer: what the listings say
Both listings promise a driver and a 30-minute journey. The details differ:
- The €55 one lists an English-speaking driver, an air-conditioned vehicle, Wi-Fi and luggage help. The driver meets you on the second floor of the airport in front of Cakes & Bakes. Up to 60 minutes of waiting at the airport is included on arrival; beyond that it is €8 per 15 minutes, paid in cash to the driver. You must give your flight number and a phone number that works when you land.
- The €50 one has a driver holding a sign with your name at the arrivals exit. The booking page says each passenger may bring one suitcase and one carry-on bag. The price is for a group of up to two.
Both booking pages list wheelchair users as not suitable. If you need accessible transport, ask the operators directly or look at other options, and do not assume.
For three travellers, the shuttle at €8 to €9 costs about €24 to €27 one way against €55 for the private car. For a couple the private car is €50 against about €16 to €18 by shuttle, a difference of roughly €32 to €34, which buys you door-to-door and no waiting.
Which for whom
- One traveller, light luggage: shuttle, or bus 290 if you are patient.
- A couple arriving by day: shuttle.
- Three or more, a family or a late flight: the private transfer for the group.
- Wheelchair users: neither private listing; ask first.
If you want a car
Zagreb itself does not need one. If you are weighing a car for the Plitvice Lakes, read the Plitvice guide on coach versus car. You can compare rental cars for Zagreb and check the excess, the deposit and the fuel policy before you book.
Our advice
For most people the shuttle is the answer. Book the private transfer when you are three or more, when you land late, or when you will arrive tired. Once you are in town, see the city tours to plan your first day.
