Page 280 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

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Breakdown Assistance
and Traffic Information
Emergency road services
are provided by the local
Automobile Club, HAK, which
can be reached 24 hours a day
all year round by dialling 1987
(preceded by 003851 for calls
from outside Croatia). The
service provides repairs (a
charge will apply) on the spot
or in a garage (subject to
transport), the removal of
damaged cars and transport up
to 100 km (62 miles) distance.
The HAK also provides useful
information on road and Entrance to the main railway station in Zagreb, Glavni kolodvor
maritime traffic, motorway tolls, Trains Buses
any temporary diversions, the
prices of petrol, ferry times, Although the railway network Buses are a convenient means
possible alternative routes and in Croatia is slowly being of transport. The national bus
general assistance for those modernized, travelling by train is service covers an extensive
travelling by car. Their website not very popular except in the network with numerous
provides useful information area around Zagreb. However, connections and destinations,
and links. all the main Croatian towns and although tickets will be more
cities are linked by rail, with the expensive than on trains.
exception of Dubrovnik, where Suitcases and larger rucksacks
Road Conditions/Hazards
there is no railway station at all. will need to go into the luggage
Croatian roads are of a decent The main railway station is in storage compart ments below
standard, comparable to those the capital city (Glavni Kolodvor the bus and incur a surcharge.
in most EU countries, while Zagreb). There are trains to Services are divided into
the newly constructed motor- Rijeka with connec tions to the “intercity” (direct connections
ways are superior to most. Istrian towns; to Split, with a between the larger cities) and
How ever, the picturesque branch line for Zadar and the regional services (with
Magistrala (coastal highway), Šibenik, serving the Dalmatian connections between the smaller
which runs down the Adriatic coast; to Osijek, to the east and towns and the main cities).
from Rijeka to Dubrovnik, twists Varaždin, to the north. There are daily connections
and turns and can be extremely The following journey times between the towns and cities of
slippery when wet. On the can be expected: 4 hours for Croatia and night buses cover
islands and in rural areas, the Zagreb to Rijeka, 6 hours the longer routes.
roads may be narrow and from Zagreb to Split (or For information, go to the local
poorly surfaced. 8 hours 30 min by night), bus station (autobusni kolodvor)
2 hours for Zagreb–Varaždin, and consult the timetable. Vozi
and 4 hours 30 minutes for svaki dan indicates the daily
Car Hire Zagreb–Osijek. Express services services, while ne vozi nedjeljom ni
Car rental agencies can be operate on some routes. praznikom shows which services
found in all the main towns and Croatian Railways (Hrvatske do not run on Sundays and public
cities, airports and holiday Željeznice) has its main office holidays. The main bus station in
resorts. A valid driving licence is in Zagreb (seep276). Zagreb is the Autobusni
required and the driver must be kolodvor Zagreb in Zagreb the
at least 21 years old. Besides the main station in Split is Autobusni
well-known large multi national kolodvor Split.
rent-a-car comp anies such as
Avis, Budget and Hertz, there Coach Tours
are many local indepen dent
companies as well. The travel agency Atlas offers a
The larger companies, choice of coach tours, such as
however, offer the option of the 8-day escorted “Highlights
leaving the car in a different of Croatia” which includes
town from the collection point. Dubrovnik, Split, Trogir, Zadar,
Not all rental companies are able Zagreb and Plitvice and the
to offer this flexibility and there 10-day “UNESCO Heritage Sites
is always an extra charge for Travelling by coach to the city and National Parks of Croatia”.
this service. of Dubrovnik Atlas also runs regular 1-day

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