Zagreb Airport (Franjo Tuđman Airport, ZAG) is Croatia's main year-round international hub. Unlike Split and Dubrovnik which are primarily summer seasonal, Zagreb operates full schedules year-round — making it one of the better winter car hire options in the region. The airport sits 10km southeast of Zagreb city centre.

Terminal and pickup information

Zagreb Airport has a modern single terminal with car hire desks in the ground floor arrivals area. All major suppliers are present — Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt and Budget. Croatian companies including Oryx also operate from here. The car park is directly adjacent to the terminal building — a short walk from the hire desks.

Tips for hiring at Zagreb Airport

Year-round availability: Unlike coastal airports, Zagreb has good hire availability even outside summer. October–April prices are significantly lower than Split or Dubrovnik in peak season.
A1 motorway access: The A1 motorway connects Zagreb Airport directly south to Split (4 hrs) and north-west to the Slovenian border. Plitvice Lakes are 2 hours south on the A1 — one of Europe's most impressive UNESCO sites.
Cross-border trips: From Zagreb you can easily drive to Ljubljana (Slovenia, 1.5 hrs), Vienna (Austria, 4 hrs) or Budapest (Hungary, 3 hrs). Confirm cross-border permissions with your hire company before booking.

Tourist traps to avoid

  • Desk insurance upselling — buy a standalone excess waiver policy before travelling
  • Not checking cross-border restrictions — Croatia is EU but not all suppliers permit neighbouring countries without a supplement
  • Motorway vignette — Slovenia requires a vignette (sticker) for motorway use if crossing the border

Best drives from Zagreb Airport

  • Plitvice Lakes National Park (2 hrs south) — drive straight from the airport on the A1. Arrive early — the car park is the bottleneck.
  • Istrian Peninsula (2 hrs west) — Rovinj, Motovun, truffles and one of Croatia's most charming coastlines.
  • Dalmatian coast: Split (4 hrs south) — the A1 motorway is fast and well-maintained. Plan for toll costs of approximately €15.
  • Plitvice to Split in two days — the classic Zagreb Airport hire car route: Plitvice night 1, Split or Šibenik night 2.