The Country
How to get to Croatia has a clear non-rev headline: United Airlines (Star Alliance) operates nonstop flights from Newark (EWR) to both Dubrovnik (DBV) and Split (SPU) — making Croatia one of the few Southern European destinations where a US Star Alliance carrier drops you directly on the Adriatic coast without a European connection. For non-revs who can’t access Newark loads, the full European hub network covers Croatia comprehensively: British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair serve the Oneworld path; Air France and KLM handle SkyTeam; and the full Star Alliance roster — Austrian, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Brussels Airlines, LOT Polish, Swiss, and SAS — all operate into Croatian airports. Croatia Airlines (OU) is the national carrier and a Star Alliance member, hubbed at Zagreb (ZAG), connecting the capital to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula, Zadar, and many European cities. Croatia adopted the euro in January 2023, replacing the kuna, and joined the Schengen Area on the same date — simplifying border crossings significantly. US citizens enter visa-free for up to 90 days.
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Tourism Board
Official Source
Croatian National Tourist Board
croatia.hr
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Why Go
Dubrovnik — City Inside the Walls
The old city of Dubrovnik is entirely enclosed by 14th-century limestone walls, two kilometres of walkable ramparts above the Adriatic — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most extraordinarily preserved medieval cities in the world. Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. The cable car to Mount Srđ gives the full aerial view. The Lokrum island ferry runs year-round, 15 minutes from the old port. Game of Thrones filmed its King’s Landing sequences here. June through August it is extremely crowded — shoulder season (May, September, October) is when non-revs with flexible timing have a clear edge.
Split & Diocletian’s Palace
Split’s old town is built inside the retirement palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, constructed around AD 305. The palace walls are still standing, and within them is a living city of restaurants, apartments, bars, and the Cathedral of Saint Domnius — built inside Diocletian’s own mausoleum. The Riva waterfront promenade faces the harbour where Hvar, Brač, and Vis ferries depart. Split is Croatia’s second city and far less frenetic than Dubrovnik while offering a genuinely extraordinary historical layer under everyday life.
Plitvice Lakes & National Parks
Croatia has eight national parks. Plitvice Lakes National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest national park in Southeast Europe — is the most dramatic: 16 terraced lakes connected by a series of waterfalls descending through karst limestone, the water an improbable turquoise-green from mineral deposits. Located midway between Zagreb and Split, it can be done as a day trip from either city. Krka National Park near Šibenik features waterfalls you can swim under. The Kornati islands — 89 uninhabited islands — form a national park accessible only by boat from Šibenik or Zadar.
Istria & the Dalmatian Islands
Istria — Croatia’s triangular northwestern peninsula — combines Roman history (Pula’s amphitheater is the sixth-largest in the world, still used for concerts), truffle country, and Venetian hill towns. Rovinj’s tangle of pastel streets on a peninsula above the Adriatic is among the most photogenic towns on the Mediterranean. The Dalmatian islands — Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Mljet, Vis — are reached by regular Croatia Ferries from Split. Each island has a distinct character: Hvar for nightlife and lavender fields, Vis for remoteness and war history (it was a Yugoslav military island closed to tourists until 1989).
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Key Carriers
Star AllianceCroatia Airlines (OU) — Croatia’s flag carrier and Star Alliance member. Hub at Zagreb (ZAG). The domestic network connects Zagreb to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula, and Zadar, and Croatia Airlines operates extensive European routes from all major Croatian airports. For non-revs, Croatia Airlines is the key for reaching secondary airports once positioned in Europe. Flag Carrier
Star AllianceUnited Airlines (UA) — nonstop EWR→DBV (Dubrovnik) and EWR→SPU (Split). The only North American carrier with nonstop service to the Croatian Adriatic coast. The critical non-rev path for Star Alliance employees flying from the US east coast.
OneworldBritish Airways (BA) — nonstop LHR/LGW→DBV, LHR/LCY/STN→SPU, LHR→ZAG. British Airways has the broadest Oneworld coverage into Croatia, serving three major Croatian airports from multiple London terminals.
OneworldQatar Airways (QR) — nonstop DOH→ZAG. Zagreb is served by Qatar, giving Oneworld employees a path through Doha. Position to DOH from any of Qatar’s US gateways.
SkyTeamAir France (AF) — nonstop CDG→DBV and CDG→SPU and CDG→ZAG. The primary SkyTeam European hub for Croatia, covering all three major Croatian gateways.
SkyTeamKLM (KL) — nonstop AMS→DBV and AMS→SPU and AMS→ZAG. Amsterdam provides additional SkyTeam coverage into Croatia alongside Paris.
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Croatia’s Airports
| City |
Airport |
Code |
Notes |
| Dubrovnik |
Dubrovnik Airport |
DBV |
Primary Adriatic gateway for southern Croatia. United EWR nonstop (Star Alliance). BA, Iberia, Finnair (Oneworld). Air France, KLM (SkyTeam). Also serves as the overland gateway for southern Bosnia. |
| Split |
Split Airport |
SPU |
Primary Adriatic gateway for central Dalmatia. United EWR nonstop (Star Alliance). BA LHR/LCY/STN (Oneworld). Air France CDG, KLM AMS (SkyTeam). Ferry hub for Dalmatian islands. |
| Zagreb |
Zagreb Franjo Tuđman International |
ZAG |
National capital and Croatia Airlines hub. No US nonstops — European hub connections via Turkish (IST), Austrian (VIE), Lufthansa (FRA/MUC), BA (LHR), Qatar (DOH), Air France (CDG), KLM (AMS). Gateway to Plitvice Lakes. |
| Pula |
Pula Airport |
PUY |
Istrian Peninsula. Croatia Airlines (ZAG), Lufthansa (FRA/MUC, Star Alliance), SAS (CPH/OSL, Star Alliance). Seasonal European routes. Gateway to Roman amphitheater, Rovinj. |
| Zadar |
Zadar Airport |
ZAD |
Northern Dalmatia. Croatia Airlines domestic connections. Ryanair and EasyJet European routes. Gateway to Kornati National Park and the Zadar old town (UNESCO). |
| Osijek |
Osijek Airport |
OSI |
Slavonia region (eastern Croatia). Croatia Airlines from MUC and domestic (DBV/SPU). Very limited service. Most travelers reach Osijek by road or rail from Zagreb. |
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How to Get to Croatia From North America
Dubrovnik AirportDBVUS Nonstop · Southern Croatia
| Nonstop From |
Code |
Carrier |
| Star Alliance — United Airlines |
| 🇺🇸 Newark |
EWR |
United Airlines (UA) Nonstop |
DBV loads for Star Alliance non-revs: United’s EWR→DBV is seasonal widebody service. Loads can be heavy in July and August at peak Mediterranean summer travel; late May, June, September and October offer better standby odds. Dubrovnik is also accessible from London on British Airways (Oneworld) from LHR and LGW, from Paris on Air France (SkyTeam) from CDG, and from Amsterdam on KLM (SkyTeam). Austrian (VIE) is the strongest Star Alliance European connection beyond United.
Split AirportSPUUS Nonstop · Central Dalmatia
| Nonstop From |
Code |
Carrier |
| Star Alliance — United Airlines |
| 🇺🇸 Newark |
EWR |
United Airlines (UA) Nonstop |
United’s EWR→SPU nonstop makes Split the most flexible North American non-rev entry point into Croatia — you arrive at the ferry hub for all the Dalmatian islands (Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Vis) without needing an onward connection. British Airways serves SPU from LHR, LCY, and STN (Oneworld). Air France from CDG and KLM from AMS round out SkyTeam coverage.
✈️ Zagreb (ZAG) — European Hub Positioning
Zagreb has no North American nonstops. Reach it via European hub connections — all three alliances are well represented.
🇹🇷 Istanbul ISTTurkish Airlines (Star Alliance) → ZAG. Turkish covers most US hubs. The strongest Star Alliance path to Zagreb for travelers who can’t access the United EWR nonstops to the coast.
🇦🇹 Vienna VIEAustrian Airlines (Star Alliance) → ZAG, DBV, SPU. Austrian serves all three major Croatian airports from Vienna. Position to VIE from BOS, ORD, LAX, JFK, EWR, YUL, or IAD on Austrian nonstops, then connect to Croatia.
🇩🇪 Frankfurt/MunichLufthansa (Star Alliance) → ZAG, SPU, PUY. Lufthansa serves Zagreb from FRA and MUC, Split from MUC, and Pula from both FRA and MUC. Strong Star Alliance coverage for the coast and capital.
🇬🇧 London LHRBritish Airways (Oneworld) → ZAG, DBV, SPU. BA serves all three major Croatian airports from Heathrow, and DBV/SPU additionally from Gatwick. The broadest Oneworld coverage into Croatia.
🇶🇦 Doha DOHQatar Airways (Oneworld) → ZAG. Qatar serves Zagreb nonstop from Doha. The Oneworld Middle East hub path into the Croatian capital.
🇫🇷 Paris CDGAir France (SkyTeam) → ZAG, DBV, SPU. Air France serves all three major Croatian gateways from CDG. Best SkyTeam path from the US East Coast and international gateways.
🇳🇱 Amsterdam AMSKLM (SkyTeam) → ZAG, DBV, SPU. KLM also covers all three major Croatian airports from Amsterdam. Solid backup SkyTeam option alongside Paris.
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Getting Around Croatia
🚢 Jadrolinija — Croatia’s National Ferry Network
The Islands Are Part of the Journey
Jadrolinija operates the national ferry network connecting Split, Zadar, Šibenik, and Dubrovnik to 32 islands along the Dalmatian coast. For non-revs, the ferry system is as much destination as transport — the slow roll down the coast from island to island, the car ferries loading in ten minutes, the catamarans reaching Hvar in an hour. From Split, regular services run to Brač (45 minutes), Hvar (1 hour to Stari Grad, faster to Hvar Town), Vis (2 hours), and Korčula (3 hours). Jadrolinija also operates the coastal route from Rijeka to Dubrovnik — a multi-day sailing down the length of the Adriatic with island stops. Schedules at jadrolinija.hr.
🚌 Zagreb to the Coast
Bus & Road Links Between Capital and Adriatic
Croatia’s road network has been substantially modernized — the A1 motorway runs from Zagreb to Split in under 4.5 hours, and on to Ploče near the Bosnian border. Regular bus services depart Zagreb’s main bus station (Autobusni Kolodvor Zagreb) for Split (4.5–5 hours), Dubrovnik (8–9 hours), and Zadar (3.5 hours). Croatia Airlines flies domestically between Zagreb and Dubrovnik and Split, but given airport transfer times and the motorway quality, buses are competitive for the Split route. For Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb, buses run regularly (2–2.5 hours) and the park’s entrance gates are a short walk from the main road stop.
🇧🇦 Bosnia Side Trip from Dubrovnik or Split
Mostar & Sarajevo Are on the Doorstep
Non-revs who fly into DBV or SPU are within easy bus reach of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dubrovnik to Mostar takes about 2.5 hours by bus; Mostar to Sarajevo is a further 2.5 hours. From Split, buses run to Mostar in about 3 hours. The combination of the Croatian coast and the Bosnian interior — Dubrovnik plus Mostar’s Stari Most, or Split plus Sarajevo’s Baščaršija — is one of the most historically and visually compressed itineraries in Europe. See our Bosnia & Herzegovina Travel Guide for the full routing picture.
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Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Croatia?
No. Croatia joined the Schengen Area on January 1, 2023. US citizens can enter Croatia and travel freely within the entire Schengen Zone visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. A valid passport is required. Always verify current entry requirements at iatatravelcentre.com before travel.
Should I fly into Dubrovnik or Split?
Both have United nonstops from Newark. The choice is geographic. Dubrovnik (DBV) is the right gateway for the old city, the islands of the far south (Mljet, Korčula), and as a jumping-off point for Bosnia. Split (SPU) puts you at the center of the Dalmatian coast with better access to Hvar, Brač, and Vis, and is the practical base for Plitvice Lakes (3 hours by road). If loads are unworkable on one route, check the other — they’re separate aircraft and separate United flights, so conditions can differ.
Is Croatia Airlines accessible to non-rev travelers?
Croatia Airlines is a Star Alliance member, which means Star Alliance employees at airlines with interline agreements have access through the standard alliance framework. Verify your specific airline’s agreements through your travel portal. Croatia Airlines is important for reaching domestic airports — particularly Pula (PUY), Zadar (ZAD), and Osijek (OSI) — once you’ve positioned through Zagreb or a major European hub.
What currency does Croatia use?
Croatia adopted the euro (€) on January 1, 2023, replacing the Croatian kuna (HRK). ATMs and card payments are accepted widely throughout the country. No currency exchange is needed for travelers arriving from the Eurozone.
Go Deeper
Europe Non-Rev Planning Playbook
Hub-by-hub routing strategies and partner carrier tips for all of Europe on standby — Adriatic coast to Balkans and beyond.
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Tourism source: Croatian National Tourist Board (croatia.hr). Heritage citations: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Entry requirements: IATA Travel Centre (iatatravelcentre.com). Ferry schedules: Jadrolinija (jadrolinija.hr). Route data compiled from airline and airport schedules.
