Zagreb and Rijeka are very well connected by bus. The travel time between the cities is between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the travel route and time of day. The Journey by bus goes via the highway.
The cost for a one-way adult ticket usually ranges from 10 to 15 euros, with an average price of around 14 Euros. Some bus companies offer a round-trip discount. Tickets for children below 12 years old usually come with a discount. Bus tickets can be purchased at the bus station or online.
Buses between Zagreb and Rijeka are frequent, in the summer season there are about 25 daily departures between the cities. The earliest bus leaves Zagreb around 6 a.m. and the latest bus leaves around 10 p.m. Below we have listed some of the most popular departure times. For the full schedule on a specific date, please use the search form above.
You can find the timetable for buses in opposite directions here.
Intercity bus departs from the main bus station in Zagreb it is located at the address Avenija Marina Držića 4, 10000 Zagreb, which is about 20 minutes walk from the city center, you can find more info about the bus station here:
The buses will arrive at the main bus station in Rijeka which is located in the center of town at the following address, Trg Žabica 1 HR-51000 Rijeka.
A one-way adult ticket costs around 14 Euros. Round-trip tickets might have a discount if you travel with the same bus company. Reduced tickets for children under 12 are available from most bus companies.
The bus travel time ranges from 2 hours to about 3 hours. Most buses drive non-stop to Zagreb, a few of the departure has a stop in Karlovac to drop off and pick up new passengers.
The buses are quite frequent, with roughly a departure every hour during the daytime. The first departure is at 6 a.m. and the latest departure is around 10 p.m. On the busiest summer travel days, there can be up to 25 departures.
The most common amenities are WI-FI and air conditioning, one some departures you might additionally find power sockets.
Each passenger is allowed to bring a standard-sized suitcase for the hold, along with a backpack or a smaller bag for valuables. Normally, an additional suitcase for the hold isn't an issue, as bus companies typically account for this. Please be aware that luggage stored in the hold may incur a fee, so it's advisable to carry some Euro coins.
Travel distance fastest route | 165 Km / 103 Miles |
Average ticket price | €14 / $16 / £12.5 |
Departures in summer | around 25 |
Departures in winter | above 15 |
Bus companies | Brioni, Arriva, Flixbus, AP Varazdin |
Stops at Zagreb Airport | No |
Stops at Rijeka Airport | No |
Zagreb to Plitvice | Zagreb to Zadar | Zagreb to Sarajevo |
Zagreb to Split | Zagreb to Vienna | Zagreb to Belgrade |
Zagreb to Pula | Zagreb to Rovinj | Zagreb to Porec |
Zagreb to Varazdin | Zagreb to Osijek | Zagreb to Ljubljana |
Text and photo, by Morten Smalby