Croatia travel: avoid weekend jams and discover inland historic sites

The Croatian Automobile Club (HAK) advises motorists heading to the Adriatic to travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays rather than the weekend. Congestion is common on routes such as the Sveti Rok tunnel, the A2 corridor between Zagreb and Macelj, and sections of the A8, A9 and D4 highways, where work zones and temporary traffic regulations can create long queues. HAK also notes that a new toll‑collection system is being prepared for the country’s motorways.

Beyond traffic, Croatia’s interior offers a range of off‑the‑beaten‑path attractions. Visitors can explore the underground airport and sci‑fi monument near Petrova Gora, and the 9th‑century Church of the Holy Savior near the Cetina spring, which houses the oldest surviving bell tower in the nation. The region still bears marks of the 1990s war, including former minefields that were declared cleared in March 2026, and a sharp population decline from 853 residents in 1991 to about 124 today.