Cheap flights to Croatia

Undulating lavender hills on Hvar; the Unesco world heritage site of Dubrovnik and the unrivalled beauty of the Dalmatian coast are some of the main reasons tourists book flights to Croatia every summer. With thousands of miles of coastline on the Adriatic and more than a thousand islands, the country is a popular European destination for sunlovers. The surroundings to the predominantly rocky beaches are also stunning. Miles of pine forest and mountains make the view inland just as attractive as that out to the turquoise sea.

Though the country’s tourism has completely recovered from the Yugoslav war of the early 1990s, evidence of the destruction is still apparent. A walk along the old city walls of Dubrovnik show a patchwork of roofs, some hundreds of years old, some replaced just a decade ago after the bombings. The coastal towns of Dubrovnik, Split and Rijeka are most visited by beachgoers, but inland Zagreb has plenty to offer sightseers. This is also the arrival point of most flights to Croatia, though transport from here to the coast is easy to find.

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Croatia climate

Croatia has mild seasons all year, thanks to its coastal Mediterranean location. The summers are dry and hot, averaging temperatures around 27 C. The winters are fairly mild, with temperatures above freezing.

When is the best time to fly to Croatia?

Peak Season:

The European summer is the most popular season with holidaymakers – resorts are fuller between June and August and prices rise accordingly.

Off Season:

As the main draw of Croatia is its coast, the winter period (especially from November to February) is the low season for tourism. However, it is possible to ski in the mountains as there is often snow. Zagreb is rapidly becoming a tourist hotspot and is worth visiting at any time of year – even if the weather is freezing, there is enough to do inside. Lent and the accompanying carnival is another great time to fly: Rijeka is the place in which it is celebrated with the most enthusiasm.

Shoulder Season:

The mountain range running north-south alongside the country’s sea protects the coastline from the worst of the winds and the cold weather, which means spring arrives early and autumn ends late. If you’re heading for the coast, therefore, it’s possible to swim from about May, and right up until October in Southern Dalmatia. This means that May-June and September-October are great times to visit. Avoid most other tourists, pay discounted prices for hotels and pick up cheap Croatia flights.

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Getting around Croatia

Internal Croatia flights are the quickest way of getting around and are available between all major destinations, such as Split, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Zadar and Pula. Croatia Airlines is the national carrier.

If you are planning on staying on Croatia’s beautiful coast, one of the most enjoyable ways to travel round is by ferry. This is certainly not the quickest route – ferries from Rijeka to Split, for example are overnight, whereas you could drive in four hours – however it is easily the most attractive and one of the best ways to see the country. The ferries are run by Jadrolinja (pronounced “yad-ro-lin-eeah”) and are very reasonably priced. For travel to some of the more remote islands, ferry is obviously the only option.

Buses are available throughout most of the country and tend to be the quickest form of public transport. They are often more expensive than the trains, though not as comfortable. The rail network is relatively good, but any travel along the coast, or from the coast to Zagreb, is far easier accomplished by bus. The coastal path from Rijeka down to Dubrovnik offers some wonderful landscape and views of the azure sea.

Cars can easily be hired and driving is easy. Most roads are in a good state of repair for travel between the more popular tourist destinations.

How long is the flight to Croatia?

There are several flights to Croatia, specifically Zagreb, that depart from Hong Kong, and can range from 24h to over 50h (with multiple stopovers). For cheap flights to Croatia, there are generally two or three stops with different carriers servicing the routes, like Qatar Airways and Pegasus Airlines, or Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa Airlines. Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG) is the largest and busiest airport in Croatia, handling over 3 million passengers. Dubrovnik Airport, also called Čilipi Airport (DBV), is another Croatian airport that receives flights from Hong Kong. The journey time starts from 22h 25min, but can be as much as 57h.

Where can you get direct flights to Croatia from?

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) unfortunately doesn't currently offer direct flights to Croatia. An Airport Express train regularly operates from Hong Kong's central station to the airport in 24min. Most routes have two or three stopovers. Flights to Zagreb stop at Bangkok, Amsterdam, Istanbul, London, Doha, and Frankfurt. Stops on the way to Dubrovnik include Bangkok, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Zagreb, depending on the airlines. The quicker flights have fewer stops and they are shorter in duration, however, they are more costly. Fortunately, there are many routes and stopovers to choose from. It's best to arrive early at Hong Kong International Airport to allow for time to get through passport control. Certain airlines provide check-in services at Hong Kong and Kowloon Stations if you are travelling on the Airport Express.

What is the best way to travel around Croatia?

Public transport in Croatia consists of many bus and ferry routes throughout the country. Unfortunately, travel by train is pretty limited, so it's not the best way to get around. car hire is a great option, giving you flexibility, and the roads are in good condition. Public transport is your best choice if you are travelling on a budget, although the inter-city buses are rather slow. They are frequent, generally reliable, and travel throughout Croatia. Some of the smaller areas, like Istria and the Croatian islands, are more limited with their bus services. Flying on Croatia Airlines is the recommended mode of transport if you want to see more of Croatia by visiting Dubrovnik, Split and other cities. A flight from Zagreb to Split takes 50min, or you can take a five-hour journey by bus.

What are some things to do in Croatia?

Croatia is full of interesting places to visit from historic towns, karst mountains, and gorgeous beaches on the Adriatic Sea to pretty waterfalls and national parks. Some of the most popular travel destinations include Istria & Rijeka in the northern Adriatic region, Dalmatia in the southern Adriatic region, the Dubrovnik Riviera in the south of Croatia, the Croatian islands, Slavonija and Baranja, Lika and Gorski Kotar, and the capital, Zagreb. Zagreb is charming and full of atmosphere, with loads of green spaces and interesting museums. The car-free town centre is fun to explore and makes it easy to relax at one of the many pavement cafes. Dubrovnik is known as "A Pearl of the Adriatic", and is a popular place to visit in Croatia. With its medieval old town and beautiful beaches, it's an ideal place from which to explore the islands or take a day trip to Montenegro.

Do I need a passport or visa to fly to Croatia?

Before purchasing your Croatia flight deals, make sure that your passport is in order, as all passengers flying to Croatia from Hong Kong need to travel with a valid passport. All citizens of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region and Macao Special Administration Region who have a ‘Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’ passport or a ‘Região Administrativa Especial de Macau’ passport, don't need a visa for Croatia. You may stay for up to 90 days during a 180-day period.

What is good to know if travelling to Croatia?

• One of the major draws of the country is its stunning coastline, running the length of the country from Rijeka past Dubrovnik. But be prepared before you hit the beach: there are very few sandy spots to be found, and most of the resorts boast instead a rugged and beautiful black rock. Bring a thick towel if you need padding for sunbathing.
• Dubrovnik is arguably the most popular town. Its best beach, however, isn’t on the mainland but a small island just ten minutes away by taxi boat. Lokrum island is a national resort, protected by the Croatian Academy of Art and Science. As well as a stunning beach, backed by pine trees, the island also has a botanic garden, filled with tropical plants, and an old Benedictine monastery, part crumbling, hidden in the undergrowth which now serves as a restaurant. The taxi boats leave from Dubrovnik Harbour every half hour.
• Most tourists congregate on the southern Dalmatian islands, but those to the North – though often a bit cooler in temperature – can offer even more beautiful scenery and tend to be less crowded in the height of summer. Rab – which can be reached by ferry from Rijeka in just over an hour – is one of the most attractive. The greenest of all islands, it is covered with pine forests and also has sandy beaches. Rab Town has Roman and Greek buildings, with numerous churches and historic squares.
• English is not widely spoken, beyond those involved in the tourist industry. Try and learn a few words of Croat if possible, which will get you a long way in shops and restaurants. Otherwise, Italian is the most widely understood Western-European language, due to the proximity of the country and also because Croatia has long been a popular summer holiday-spot for Italians.
• If you are planning a holiday in Croatia and still need to find a hotel in Dubrovnik, a hotel in the city of Zagreb or a hotel in Split, visit trivago to compare deals and reviews.