Zagreb Airport (ZAG), officially Franjo Tuđman Airport, is Croatia’s busiest airport.
The airport is located in Velika Gorica, about 17 km (≈10.5 miles) southeast of downtown Zagreb.
The current terminal building was opened in 2017 with a current maximum capacity of 5 million passengers yearly. ZAG handled roughly 4.3 million passengers in 2024. You can fly direct from Zagreb to about 70 destinations with one of the 20 airlines operating at the airport.
Zagreb Airport is relatively modern and has excellent amenities, though much smaller than many European hub airports. You can expect straightforward navigation and quick processing.
Major Airlines - Croatia Airlines, Ryanair
Zagreb Airport is served by around 20 airlines. Of these, the national carrier, Croatia Airlines, operates the most flights - up to 800 in stronger months. Practically all of those flights are to European destinations.
Ryanair dominates the low-cost market with its network of 30 destinations from ZAG. With cheaper fares and direct routes to smaller airports in holiday destinations, it also captures a large portion of the leisure market.
With about 70 direct destinations, you can reach much of Europe from ZAG. Major European carriers that fly to Zagreb include Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Iberia, Air France, British Airways, and KLM.
The airports outside of Europe that you can reach by a direct flight from Zagreb are pretty limited. Turkish Airlines offers a twice-daily flight to Istanbul, Qatar Airways flies daily to Doha, flydubai flies to Dubai every day too, and Air Transat has a seasonal flight to Toronto - the only North American connection available at ZAG.
You can see all airlines serving ZAG here.
Terminal Layout and Gates
ZAG features a single passenger terminal, Terminal 1, that opened in 2017. The facility spans three levels with a layout standard for most airports: Arrivals at Ground Level, Departures and check-in desks on Level 2, and additional services on Level 3.
It has 45 check-in counters and 23 passport control booths, 3 baggage carousels, and an apron with remote stands for peak traffic.
Zagreb Airport has 11 gates:
Schengen Gates: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Non-Schengen Gates: 8, 9, 10, 11.
Most gates are within walking distance post-security, and the signage is clear.
The airport’s layout is compact, and the entire airport experience, from check-in through Security and reaching your gate, normally takes less than 20 minutes.
WiFi and Other Services
Free public WiFi is available throughout the terminal. The “Zagreb_Airport_Free” network does not require registration, but you have to accept the Terms & Conditions on the welcome page to connect.
For extra services, ZAG offers a “Museum Zone” after security featuring Croatian historical exhibits, which can be a pleasant diversion before departure.
There are also services like luggage-wrapping, lost & found (office located on Level 2), baby-changing rooms, shops/retail, and smoking rooms.
In Arrivals, there are also ATMs and a currency exchange box, as well as several meeting rooms for business needs.
You can find the Lost Property Office on the 2nd floor with working hours from 8 AM to 6 PM daily.
There is also a prayer room, a medical office for emergencies, and the free-to-use ZAG Flybrary with more than 600 books in Croatian, English, and other languages.
See the best things to do in Zagreb.
Dining Options at ZAG
The airport offers a modest amount of choice when it comes to food and beverage outlets. You can grab something to eat or drink before security (landside) and after security (airside).
Before the security check, stop at Cakes&Bakes for a wide range of baked items, sandwiches, pizzas, and hot and cold beverages.
Airside, try one of these places:
Brewmark Pub: a full-service pub with a warm and relaxing atmosphere, beers on tap and bottled, and cocktails on offer.
Spread: a walk-through food court concept with pizzas, burgers, salads, and freshly squeezed juices.
Caffe Nero: A nice and cozy coffee shop.
Needstop: A small convenience store stocked with cold and hot sandwiches, toasties, baked goods, confectionery, packaged tea, coffee, and soft drinks.
Lounges at Zagreb Airport
ZAG has just 1 lounge: the Primeclass Lounge. It is located airside after passport control, on Level 2 opposite Gate 23. It is in the Schengen Area and thus can only welcome those flying within Schengen.
The lounge operates from 05:00 to 22:00 (could be until later depending on flight schedule) and accepts Priority Pass, DragonPass, Diners Club, and other membership passes. The walk-in price for anyone else is 40 EUR, which allows for an unlimited stay on that day.
It offers a self-service buffet with hot and cold food, WiFi, a business corner, and comfortable seating. There are no showers, though.
Transport to and from the airport
Getting to/from ZAG is relatively straightforward. If you’re coming by car, the airport connects to the road network via D408, making it a 20-25 minute drive to central Zagreb, depending on traffic.
The public bus line 290 (operated by ZET) connects central Zagreb (Kvaternik Square) with Velika Gorica, with a stop at the airport in each direction. Departures are roughly every 35 minutes, and the trip takes about 30-40 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €1.40.
A dedicated airport shuttle operated by Pleso Prijevoz runs between Zagreb Central Bus Station and the airport and costs €4.00.
The official taxi pick-up area is right outside arrivals. Taxis have regulated fares that start at 2.60€ + 1.75€ per km. A trip to the Zagreb city center costs a flat rate of 33.50 EUR.
Many travellers opt to use ridesharing apps like Uber or Bolt for cheaper prices.
If you’re going to other Croatian cities or want added convenience, pre-book a private shuttle.
Car Rental at Zagreb Airport
Zagreb Airport is served by many of the major car rental companies and a few local ones.
The following providers have premium locations at ZAG:
SIXT and FLIZZR at Premium location East
OK MOBILITY at Premium location West
Alamo, National, and Enterprise
Avis, Budget, and Payless
In addition, these companies have counters in the Arrivals hall:
Hertz
Firefly
Avant
Last Minute
Dollar Car Rental
Thrifty Car Rental
Nova Rent a Car
Right Car
M.A.C.K.
Europcar
Active
Avia
ABmobil rent
Carwiz
EFEX
Parking at Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport
The parking facilities include a public car park with more than 800 spaces, a Kiss & Fly drop-off zone, and a special car park for tourist coaches and camper vans.
The public car park is right in front of the terminal. The parking charges are €3.80 per hour, up to €24 for the first day and €12 for each additional day.
The Kiss & Fly drop-off zone offers direct access to the terminal building. Stays up to 10 minutes are free (once per hour). After that, the charges are €3.80 for the first 30 minutes or €8.60 for the first hour. Exceeding an hour will lead to your vehicle being removed at your expense, plus a penalty charge of €24.
For electric vehicles, there are 3 standard charging stations and 4 fast charging stations in the immediate vicinity of the terminal. The parking charges are 3.5€ per 20 min plus a charge for the electricity used.
Hotels near Zagreb Airport
The closest hotel options to Zagreb Airport are in Velika Gorica, about 5 minutes from the airport and 15-20 minutes from central Zagreb.
Well-rated ones include the 2-star Ivac Inn - Zagreb Airport Hotel, the 3-star Hotel Pleso, and the 4-star Hotel Royal Airport.
Downtown Zagreb presents a lot more choice, including big-name chains like Hilton, Sheraton, and Radisson.
Zagreb, Croatia
Yes
