Campervan hire in Zagreb — Plitvice Lakes, Zagorje, Varaždin and tips for 2027

Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, is a compact city of Austro-Hungarian squares, parks and cafés, and the best way to see it is on foot and by tram. As a starting point for a campervan trip it works very well: the green hills of Zagorje with their castles and thermal spas are less than an hour away, the Plitvice Lakes are just over two hours to the south, and the motorways to the Kvarner coast, Istria and Dalmatia all begin here. This guide covers routes, places to stay and the rules travellers run into most often.

Zagreb itself

Leave the campervan at a campsite and go into the centre by tram or bus. The heart of the lower town around Ban Jelačić Square is a pedestrian zone, parking in the centre is divided into paid zones and there are few spaces for tall vehicles, so it is easiest to explore on foot. Walk up to the Upper Town with St Mark's Church and the Stone Gate, or take the short funicular, and continue to the Dolac market, the cathedral and Mirogoj cemetery. Mount Medvednica rises right above the city; the road up to Sljeme is narrow and winding, so many people go by bus or on foot.

Short trips from Zagreb

• Samobor and Žumberak (about 25 km): a small baroque town famous for its custard slices (kremšnite), and the Žumberak–Samoborsko gorje nature park with walking trails. See the Samobor campervan page.
• Hrvatsko Zagorje (about 40–80 km): the pilgrimage site of Marija Bistrica, the open-air museum in Kumrovec, the Neanderthal Museum in Krapina, Trakošćan castle on its lake and several thermal spas.
• Varaždin (about 80 km): Croatia's baroque former capital with its castle and old town; the Špancirfest street festival fills the town at the end of August. See the Varaždin campervan page.
• Lonjsko Polje (about 80 km): a nature park of floodplain meadows and wooden villages, with white storks nesting on the roofs of Čigoć in spring and summer.

Plitvice Lakes and further south

• Karlovac (about 55 km): a fortress town on four rivers, with a freshwater aquarium. See the Karlovac campervan page.
• Slunj and Rastoke (about 105 km): old watermills built over the waterfalls of the Slunjčica and Korana rivers.
• Plitvice Lakes (about 130 km): sixteen terraced lakes linked by waterfalls, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In summer buy tickets online for a set entry time and arrive early. See the Plitvice Lakes campervan page.
• The coast: Rijeka and the Kvarner Gulf are about 165 km away on the A6, Istria with hilltop Motovun about 250 km (Motovun campervan page), and Split about 410 km on the A1. In Split you can also rent a boat; see our guide to boat rental in Split.

Where to stay

• Campsites. There are only a few campsites close to Zagreb, but more in Zagorje, at the spas and around Plitvice, where several campsites lie a short drive from the park entrances. In July and August book ahead.
• Motorhome stops. Some towns and attractions have official motorhome stops with water and waste disposal. Camping apps show the current list and reviews.
• No wild camping. Camping outside registered campsites is not allowed in Croatia, and many towns, especially on the coast, also fine people for sleeping in a campervan in car parks. Parking during the day is fine where it is allowed for other vehicles.

Driving tips

• Tolls. Motorways such as the A1, A2, A3, A4 and A6 have tolls, and campervans usually pay a higher category than cars because of their height. Pay by card or cash at the toll plazas.
• Speed limits. Generally 130 km/h on motorways, 110 km/h on expressways, 90 km/h on other roads outside built-up areas and 50 km/h in town; heavier motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes have lower limits.
• Lights and winter. From the end of October to the end of March, dipped headlights are compulsory during the day. In winter conditions, winter equipment is required, and on the A1 over the mountains and in Gorski Kotar strong bora winds can close the motorway to high-sided vehicles.
• City traffic. Zagreb's main roads and the bypass are busy at rush hour; plan arrivals and departures for mid-morning or early afternoon.

When to go

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) are the best seasons: green hills, open campsites and fewer crowds at Plitvice. July and August are hot inland, often above 30 °C, and the lakes are busiest. In December Zagreb's Advent market is one of the best-known in Europe, but nights are cold and many campsites close in winter.

A campervan in Zagreb with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our campervan offer in Zagreb. Send us your dates and number of travellers through the contact page and we will look for a vehicle for you, and keep an eye on the campervans in Zagreb page for new listings. Do you rent out a campervan in or around Zagreb? List it with us.