Flights to Croatia

Will they? Won't they? Rumours of an airport on Hvar have been around for years, and during the winter 2011-2012 a press conference from the Mayor of Hvar Town indicated it could be here within five years. A German company was saying sea planes were imminent, making Split to Hvar Town a 12-minute transfer. Maybe.

In fact, in the summer of 2012, Split to Hvar Island did indeed become a 12-minute jaunt, thanks to the newly introduced helicopter service. The response from the first passengers was enthusiastic. One thing that is for sure is that Hvar's airstrip, pictured above, is not yet equipped for the Airbus A380, although it does operate some fascinating panorama flights.  Learn more!

The most convenient international airport for reaching Hvar is Split, although the airport is actually sited in nearby Trogir. The services to Split have expanded dramatically in recent years: in spring 2012 it was announced that 8 new airlines would link Split to 7 new destinations during the year. Flights link Split to most of Europe, apart from Spain and Portugal.

Croatia's main international airport is near the capital Zagreb, which has excellent road, rail and bus links with Split. Operating on a smaller scale, and relatively convenient for reaching Hvar are Dubrovnik (which does have links with Spain), Zadar, Rijeka and Pula. The airport websites give you all the details of seasonal flight schedules, along with other useful information.

One advantage of using the airports further away from the island is that you have the chance to see a little bit more of Croatia's spectacular beauty, so it's worth allowing time within your journey planning to do a bit of exploring.

For up-to-date flight programmes linking Croatia to the rest of the world, click here, with thanks to the comprehensive Visit Croatia website.