UPDATED: 15.12.2023.
Zagreb’s public transportation system is called ZET. It is abbreviated from Zagrebački električni tramvaj (Zagreb electric tram).
ZET is made up primarily of buses and trams that zig zag throughout the city but also includes a cable car to Sljeme and a funicular to Gornji grad. The transportation network extends beyond to neighboring cities, including Zaprešić, Sesvete, and Velika Gorica, where the Zagreb airport is located.
Zagreb is a very walkable city, so one could easily live or visit without a car. Nevertheless, with 19 tram lines and 147 buses that run daily, ZET’s system is extensive. Trams and buses run 24 hours a day, although not all lines run all the time.
In this post, we cover:
- ZET quirks
- ZET trams
- ZET buses
- ZET cable car
- ZET funicular
- Cost of tickets
The facts are these…
Quirks of the Zagreb’s ZET system
Zagreb’s public transportation system is definitely more reliable than smaller cities in Croatia as it supports a much larger population. However, there are a few things that you should be aware of, so let’s comb through all of them.
1. Delays during holidays
Overall, buses tend to arrive like clockwork according to the schedule. However, beware of Croatian holidays when some outlying routes may run late, if at all.
You can always check the ZET news site to see if any lines are down or delayed. They always post a notice at the top of their homepage, although it is in Croatian.
[Read: Croatian national holidays]
2. Know where you’re going
Not all stops post the schedule for the buses and trams that come through. It’s best to know where you need to go and when the bus will come before you head out if your route includes outlying areas. If traveling only within the center, most tram and bus stops include a map.
3. Don’t miss the bus
At some of the busier stations, the buses tend to stack up in traffic. In that case, many of the buses will open their doors long before the actual stop. If you aren’t paying attention, you can miss your bus entirely.
4. Yes, there are inspectors
Služba kontrole (or inspector) from ZET will board the bus to check tickets on occasion, usually during the day when there is good weather.
If you purchased a ticket from a tobacco stand or Tisak, make sure you get it stamped when you board. Ticket stamping machines are located near the front and rear doors of each tram. If you get caught without a ticket, you can get fined up to 106,81 euros.
[Read:What is a Tisak and how it may just save your life]
Get temporary residence in Zagreb
Zagreb public transport – ZET trams and lines
15 tram lines run daily from 04:00 to 00:00. The daytime lines are:
- Line 1: Zapadni kolodvor – Borongaj
- Line 2: Črnomerec – Savišće
- Line 3: Ljubljanica – Savišće
- Line 4: Savski most – Dubec
- Line 5: Prečko – Dubrava
- Line 6: Črnomerec – Sopot
- Line 7: Savski most – Dubec
- Line 8: Mihaljevac – Zapruđe
- Line 9: Ljubljanica – Borongaj
- Line 11: Črnomerec – Dubec
- Line 12: Ljubljanica – Dubrava
- Line 13: Žitnjak – Kvaternikov trg
- Line 14: Mihaljevac – Zapruđe
- Line 15: Mihaljevac – Gračansko dolje
- Line 17: Prečko – Borongaj
View the daytime tram timetables here.
4 tram lines run nightly from 00:00 to 04:00. The night lines are:
- Line 31: Črnomerec – Savski most
- Line 32: Prečko – Borongaj
- Line 33: Dolje – Savišće
- Line 34: Ljubljanica – Dubec
View the night-time tram timetables here.
View the day and night tram maps for Zagreb here.
Zagreb public transport – ZET buses and lines
147 buses run daily from 04:00 to 00:00. View the timetables for all daily bus lines here.
4 buses run nightly from 00:00 to 04:00. The night lines are:
- Line 116: Ljubljanica – Podsused most
- Line 172: Zagreb (Črnomerec) – Zaprešić
- Line 212: Dubec – Sesvete
- Line 268: Zagreb (Glavni kolodvor) – Velika Gorica
View the night-time bus timetables here.
The ZET bus map is available here.
Zagreb public transport – ZET cable car Žičara Sljeme
As of 2022, there is a new cable car that drives from Gračansko dolje to Sljeme, the top of the Medvednica mountain above Zagreb. The cable car is called Žičara Sljeme, which means Cable car Sljeme.
The air route is approximately 5 kilometers long. If you want to enjoy the impressive view of Zagreb and its surroundings, Sljeme is the right place to go.
View ticket prices of Žičara Sljeme here.
View the working hours of Žičara Sljeme here.
View more information about Žičara Sljeme here.
Zagreb public transport – ZET funicular
The ZET funicular operates in the center of the city and connects Donji grad (Lower Town) and Gornji grad (UpperTown).
The funicular runs every 10 minutes. The ride on the 66-meter track lasts only 65 seconds which makes it the shortest in the world.
Until today, the funicular’s original appearance, construction, and most of the original technical characteristics are kept, and it is a protected cultural monument.
[Read:UNESCO monuments of culture and nature in Croatia]
What is the cost of ZET tickets in Zagreb?
Once you board, you’ll need to get your ticket stamped/validated or scan your ZET cardusing the yellow box.
Here are the costs of ZET tickets:
- 0,53 euros (day) if you buy a ticket in advance from an authorized vendor or ZET shop (30 min duration)
- 0,93 euros (day) if you buy a ticket in advance from an authorized vendor or ZET shop (60 min duration)
- 1,33 euros (day) if you buy a ticket in advance from an authorized vendor or ZET shop (90 min duration)
- 0,80 euros (day) if you buy a ticket aboard bus/tram (30 min duration)
- 1,33 euros (day) if you buy a ticket aboard bus/tram (60 min duration)
- 1,99 euros (day/night) if you buy a ticket aboard bus/tram (90 min duration)
- 3,98 euros for unlimited travel within a 24-hour period (1 day)
- 9,29 euros for unlimited travel within a 72-hour period (3 days)
- Children up to 7 years can ride for free if they are accompanied by an adult. Up to three children under 7 can ride with one adult. If an adult travels with four or more children, they would need to pay for a ticket for the fourth child and beyond.
An authorized vendor usually includes Tisak and iNovine.
The towns of Velika Gorica and Zaprešić, as well as the municipalities of Bistra, Klinča Sela, Luka, and Stupnik, have the same ticketing system and ticket costs as noted above for Zone 1.
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View our other transport guides
- Bus travel in Croatia
- Boats and ferries in Croatia
- Full list of airports in Croatia
- Guide on driving in Croatia including highways, tolls, gas stations, car washes, and parking
- Guide on train travel in Croatia including loads of discounts
- How to get to and from Dubrovnik Airport
- How to get to and from Pula Airport
- How to get to and from Rijeka-Krk Airport
- How to get to and from Split Airport
- How to get to and from the Zadar-Zemunik Airport
- How to get to and from Zagreb Airport
- Public transport by bus in Dubrovnik
- Public transport in Osijek
- Public transport in Pula
- Public transport in Rijeka
- Split’s bus system (Promet)
- Šibenik’s public bus system (ATP)
- Zadar’s public bus system (Liburnija)
Source:
ZET
Please note:Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice,contact usto consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice,contact usto consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.
