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Zagreb to Split, one of Europe's scenic railway journeys. Courtesy of Adam Vanting |
The comfortable scenic option!
Five or six hours stuck on a bus on an ugly motorway? No thank you! Zagreb to Split is one of Europe's most scenic railway journeys, take a picnic and bottle of wine, sit back and enjoy the experience with no seatbelts, no ugly motorway, just great scenery. Trains are run by HŽ Putnički prijevoz (HŽPP) = Croatian Railways. Once in Split, regular buses run along the coast to Dubrovnik. Information current for 2026.
Train times Zagreb ► Split
► Dubrovnik
Train times Dubrovnik
► Split ► Zagreb
Zagreb ► Split by train
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Morning train (summer only)
Runs 27 June to 29 August 2026.
Leaves Zagreb at 07:08, arriving Split 14:09.
This summer-only train IC521 is usually a German-built air-conditioned diesel unit with 1st & 2nd class.
It's a scenic ride with mountains, lakes, rivers, and even vineyards. There's no catering so bring your own food & drink. Seat reservation is compulsory. Check train times at www.hzpp.hr.
You can check the train formation & car types at www.vagonweb.cz/razeni. Change cs to en for English and search for train 521.
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Afternoon train (all year round)
Runs daily all year round, leaving Zagreb at 13:49, arriving Split 21:47.
Train IC523 consists of a locomotive hauling three 2nd class intercity cars with classic 6-seat compartments. Two cars are air-conditioned with power sockets at seats, one car is non-air-con and lacks power sockets, but the windows open, ideal for photography.
It's a scenic ride with mountains, lakes, rivers, and even vineyards. There's no catering so bring your own food & drink. Seat reservation is compulsory. Check train times at www.hzpp.hr.
You can check the train formation & car types at www.vagonweb.cz/razeni. Change cs to en for English and search for train 523.
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Sleeper train
A sleeper train leaves Zagreb at 22:06 arriving Split 06:53, this runs on most Friday nights except 27 June to 28 August 2026.
From 27 June to 28 August 2026 it runs every day, but starting in Osijek and passing through Zagreb at 00:46, arriving Split 08:49.
The sleeper train has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments and two couchette cars with 6 berth compartments.
You can check the formation & carriage numbers at www.vagonweb.cz/razeni. Change cs to en for English and search for train 1821.
Split ► Dubrovnik by bus
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In Split, the bus station is right next to the railway station, see map. Buses run to Dubrovnik every hour or two until about 19:00, taking around 4 hours. There are various operators.
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For bus information see www.ak-split.hr (Split bus station arrivals & departures), www.dubrovnik-online.net or www.libertasdubrovnik.hr (Dubrovnik bus station departures). For prices & tickets see Omio.com or Flixbus.com.
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There are plenty of buses & plenty of seats, just buy a ticket at the bus station when you get to Split.
Dubrovnik ► Split by bus
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Buses leave Dubrovnik bus terminal every hour or two, taking around 4 hours to Split bus terminal. In Split, the bus terminal is right next to the railway station, see map. There are various operators.
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For bus information see www.ak-split.hr (Split bus station arrivals & departures), www.dubrovnik-online.net or www.libertasdubrovnik.hr (Dubrovnik bus station departures). For prices & tickets see Omio.com or Flixbus.com.
Split ► Zagreb by train
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Morning train (Monday-Saturday all year, daily in summer)
Runs Monday-Saturday all year, daily from 28 June to 30 August 2026.
Leaves Split at 07:54, arriving Zagreb 16:04.
Train IC520 consists of a locomotive hauling three 2nd class intercity cars with classic 6-seat compartments. Two cars are air-conditioned with power sockets at seats, one car is non-air-con and lacks power sockets, but the windows open, ideal for photography.
It's a scenic ride with mountains, lakes, rivers, and even vineyards. There's no catering so bring your own food & drink. Seat reservation is compulsory. Check train times at www.hzpp.hr.
You can check the train formation & car types at www.vagonweb.cz/razeni. Change cs to en for English and search for train 520.
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Afternoon train (Sundays all year, daily in summer)
Runs Sundays all year, daily from 29 June to 29 August 2026 and some other dates.
Leaves Split at 14:10, arriving Zagreb 21:24.
Until 26 June and from 1 September this Sunday departure also consists of a locomotive & 2nd class intercity cars. From 27 June to 31 August it's a comfortable German-built air-conditioned diesel unit with 1st & 2nd class.
It's a scenic ride with mountains, lakes, rivers, and even vineyards. There's no catering so bring your own food & drink. Seat reservation is compulsory. Check train times at www.hzpp.hr.
You can check the train formation & car types at www.vagonweb.cz/razeni. Change cs to en for English and search for train 522.
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Sleeper train
Runs most Sunday nights all year, runs every day from late June to late August.
Leaves Split at 21:23, arriving Zagreb 05:15.
The sleeper train has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments and two couchette cars with 6 berth compartments.
You can check the formation & carriage numbers at www.vagonweb.cz/razeni. Change cs to en for English and search for train 1821.
How much does it cost?
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Zagreb to Split by train costs €28 in 2nd class + €1.06 for seat reservation, standard fare.
Advance-purchase fares start at €15.06 + €1.06 seat reservation, you can find these even close to departure date.
On the sleeper train, online fares start at €15.06 + €7 couchette reservation.
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Split to Zagreb by bus costs around €16-€19.
How to buy tickets
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Book the train at the Croatian Railways website www.hzpp.hr.
Click EN for English. Booking opens 2 months ahead, but you'll usually find places even on the day.
For Zagreb, use Zagreb Glavni kol. = Zagreb main station.
It allows you to select your seat from a seat map. To add a bicycle on the loco-hauled day trains, select a bicycle space in car 1 as well as a seat in any car you like, this adds a bike ticket. On the overnight train it can book seats & couchettes, but not sleepers.
Use '12345' as your postcode as it doesn't recognise UK-style postcodes.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Or it's easy to buy tickets at the station, there are almost always places available.
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Buy a bus ticket at the bus station, or online at Omio.com or Flixbus.com.
Route map
What's the journey like?
Zagreb-Split by afternoon train IC523
Two cars are air-conditioned with power sockets at seats, one car is non-air-con and lacks power sockets, but the windows open, ideal for photography. There's no catering, so bring a picnic and bottle of wine! Northbound train IC520 and (except in summer) Sunday train IC522 uses the same rolling stock. Zagreb station guide.
Above left, comfortable seats in classic compartments. Photos courtesy of Adam Vanting.
Above: As the train curves around, you can look across and see the railway on the far side of the valley. Courtesy of Adam Vanting.
Below: You've reached the Adriatic! The view as your train approaches Split. Courtesy of Adam Vanting.
Zagreb to Split by morning train IC521, summer-only
This summer-only train IC521 is usually a German-built air-conditioned diesel unit with 1st & 2nd class. There's no catering, so bring a picnic and bottle of wine! Zagreb station guide. In summer, northbound train IC522 is also a German diesel unit like this.
IC521 is a German-built tilting train. Above right, 1st class seats, below left, 2nd class seats. Exterior photos courtesy of Gareth Davison.
Travel tips
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1st or 2nd class?
Most trains on this route are 2nd class only, which is absolutely fine. Only the summer-only German diesel unit has 1st class seats, although these are also arranged 2+2 across the car width so are hardly any different from 2nd class seats.
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Boarding your train
As with virtually all European trains, there's no check-in. Just stroll into the station, find your train and get on, any time before it leaves. The doors may be closed a minute before departure.
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Luggage
You take your bags onto the train with you. nobody weighs or measure them, as long as you can manage your luggage yourself you're fine.
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Bikes
One of the carriages on the loco-hauled trains has a spacious bike/luggage compartment with space for up to 10 bikes. There are no bike spaces on the summer-only German diesel unit, only on the loco-hauled trains.
To add a bike when buying tickets at hzpp.hr, continue to the stage where you select your seat. Select a seat for yourself in any car you like, then select a bicycle space in car 1, this adds a bike ticket to the booking.
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Dogs
Small dogs go free, larger dogs at half fare, for details see the FAQ at hzpp.hr.
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Power outlets & WiFi
There are power outlets in the modernised and air-conditioned carriages of the loco-hauled trains, but not in the non-air-con carriage with the opening windows. There are no power sockets on the German diesel units. There's no WiFi, mobile data will work along much of the route, but possibly not in the mountains.
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Food & drink
There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink, maybe even a bottle of wine.
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Suggested hotels in Zagreb
The historic art deco Esplanade Hotel is top choice here, see this review with photos. Built in 1925 for Orient Express passengers, it's across the road from the station. Alfred Hitchcock, Mick Jagger, Vivien Leigh, Ella Fitzgerald, Nikita Khrushchev, Richard Nixon and even Queen Elizabeth II have all stayed here, and it's not even that expensive. Check prices & book.
For something slightly cheaper but still close to the station with good or great reviews, try the Palace Hotel, also a historic building with art nouveau features. I can also recommend the more modern Central Hotel.