Go to Croatia by train from France: tips and itineraries

Would you like to discover Croatia in a different way? Its turquoise coasts, archipelagos and medieval towns will thrill your senses. Well, Croatia is accessible from France by train + international connection to Zagreb or by train + ferry from Venice to Dubrovnik. The rail network links Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Rijeka and takes you through the Dalmatian coast, the national parks of the Velebit and Plitvice. We present our guide to Croatia, without cars or planes.

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How to reach Croatie by train?

The good news is that it's perfectly feasible to fly from France to Croatia, even if the journey requires a few connections. The simplest route is usually to cross Italy, Austria or Slovenia before reaching Zagreb or Rijeka, then the Croatian coast.

Several options are available:

from Paris, it takes about 15 to 20 hours to reach Zagreb, depending on the itinerary chosen;
some routes pass through Milan, Venice or Vienna before reaching Croatia;
In summer, seasonal night trains sometimes run from Central Europe to the Croatian coast;
it is also possible to combine train and ferry from Italy to some of Croatia's coastal towns.

Once here, the train is the best way to explore the interior, especially around Zagreb. Ferries and buses often complete the journey along the Adriatic coast to the islands.

What to do by train in Croatie?

In terms of discoveries, it's hard to resist the charm of Dubrovnik, Split or Zadar The Croatian coastline also boasts a number of magnificent islands within easy ferrying distance. The Croatian coastline also abounds in magnificent islands accessible by ferry, such as Hvar, Korčula or Bračperfect for slowing down on the Adriatic.

But there's more to Croatia than its coastline. Zagreb with its relaxed atmosphere and lively cafés, while the national parks (such as the famous Plitvice Lakes) offer some of the the most beautiful natural landscapes in the Balkans.

And then there's that long-distance feeling: crossing the Alps, skirting the Adriatic, boarding a ferry between two islands... Croatia is clearly one of those destinations where the journey counts almost as much as the arrival.