By train
Ljubljana → Zagreb
The return leg is the same story: cheap, unhurried and border-free in practice.
Live times and tickets
Both railways in one search; cheapest fares are the advance ones.
How it works
The return leg is the same story: cheap, unhurried and border-free in practice. If you are collecting a rental car in Zagreb, this is the sensible way to reach it — a one-way rental from Ljubljana into Croatia carries a heavy cross-border fee.
Operated by SŽ (Slovenian Railways) and HŽ (Croatian Railways). Services run 3–4 direct trains a day, the first around 06:30 and the last around 18:00; confirm on the day, timetables shift with the season.
Common questions
How long is the train from Ljubljana to Zagreb?
About 2 h 20 min – 2 h 40 min, 3–4 direct trains a day.
How much does it cost?
from €9 for the cheapest advance fares; walk-up tickets are roughly double.
Is there a border check?
Both countries are in Schengen, so there is no passport control on board in normal times. Carry ID anyway.
Train or rental car for this trip?
Train. A one-way rental across the border carries a heavy fee, Slovenia needs a separate motorway vignette, and Ljubljana's centre is closed to cars.
Return leg
Renting instead?
Car rental in Zagreb — prices, rules and the Neum border trick →