Zagreb public transport: tickets, passes and apps

ZET runs Zagreb's trams and most city buses. Fares are banded by time rather than distance: a short ticket covers a set window from validation, and a day pass covers unlimited rides until the end of service. Ticket types, prices and validity windows below are 2026 estimates — confirm at a ZET sales point or on the official site before you travel.

Buy before you board where you can. Kiosks (tisak) and ZET sales points sell paper tickets; SMS tickets are common with a Croatian SIM. Drivers sell a limited range, often at a higher price, and not on all routes — check.

Paper tickets from kiosks and ZET sales points are the simplest option for a short visit. Validate the ticket in the stamping machine as you board the tram or bus — an unstamped ticket counts as no ticket, and inspectors do patrol and fine. Keep the ticket until you leave the vehicle.

SMS tickets work if you have a Croatian SIM: send the keyword to the published number and you receive a valid ticket by return message. This is convenient but useless on a foreign SIM without roaming, so most visitors stick to paper. Check the current keyword and number with ZET.

Contactless bank cards and phone wallets are not the standard fare medium on Zagreb trams and buses. Do not assume you can tap in the way you would in London or Amsterdam — check the current options with ZET before you rely on it. If you plan to ride a lot, a ZET pass loaded onto a card at a sales point is the reliable route.

Almost everything a visitor wants sits in the central city zone: the main square (Ban Jelačić), the Upper Town, the main railway station, the bus station, Maksimir and the museum district. A city-zone ticket covers trams and city buses across that area.

Outer zones apply to suburban buses toward places such as Samobor, Velika Gorica and the airport area — check which zone applies to your route. If you are heading beyond the city, buy the correct zone ticket; a city ticket will not cover the whole trip, and inspectors check. For day trips out of Zagreb, intercity buses and trains are usually a better buy than stacking zone tickets.

Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG) is the year-round hub for the city, with a bus connection to the centre. The official shuttle bus runs to the main bus station (Autobusni kolodvor), from where trams and city buses continue into the centre. Local buses also serve the airport on some routes — check the current timetable and which ticket or fare applies, because the airport sits outside the central city zone.

A taxi or ride-hailing car (Uber and Bolt both operate in Zagreb) is the simplest option with luggage or on a late arrival, when the shuttle and trams have stopped — check the current transfer time and price. If you are staying near the airport for an early flight, base yourself there rather than in the centre.

Zagreb's centre is compact and walkable. Trams are most useful for reaching the main station, the bus station, Maksimir and Novi Zagreb, or for saving time in bad weather. For a single day of sightseeing around the centre, walking plus one or two tram rides is often cheaper than a day pass.

Validate every ticket, even on a quiet tram — inspectors appear without warning and fines are charged on the spot. Keep small change or a card for kiosk purchases, and note that kiosks close in the evening, so buy your ticket earlier in the day if you plan a late ride.

If you are in Zagreb for several days and using trams daily, compare a multi-day pass against single tickets before buying. The break-even point depends on how many rides you actually take, so count your likely trips first and check current fares.