The sea, the sun and a well-deserved rest. But highways, tolls and endless travel can be stressfull. We have written for you three variants of ways to get to Istria by car. In each of them you will find an interesting tip for a pleasant stop. You don’t have to worry about the trip, in this article you will find out what fees you will have to pay and where you can avoid them.
Mandatory travel equipment?
Before you hit the road, make sure you have this equipment, which is mandatory in the states you will be driving through.
- Warning triangle
- First aid kit
- Reflective vest (for each crew member)
Attention! On-board cameras are prohibited in Austria.
If you feel drowsy, stop or change with a passenger. You can also use our suggested stops. All you need for your trip is an identity card or passport. Animals must be vaccinated and chipped.
Highway stamps
We recommend buying motorway signs in advance at petrol stations in front of the border, so that you do not suddenly find yourself on a toll road. Another gas station can be up to several tens of kilometers away and one never knows.
You pay € 9.40 for the Austrian motorway stamp for 10 days, which is 250 CZK. The bimonthly stamp will cost you € 27.40 (approx. 730 CZK).
However, Slovenian motorways offer to buy either a weekly stamp for € 15 or a monthly one for € 30.
In Croatia, tolls are paid for the distance traveled. For example, from Umag to Pula, the highway is charged at 51 kn, about 6.85€.
Linz – Salzburg – Villach – Ljubljana – Umag – Pula
The motorway from Linz takes you around lakes such as Attersee and Mondsee. You can admire beautiful mountain panoramas around Salzburg.
We recommend a short 30 minute long but very pleasant stop at the Gollinger waterfall (motorway exit). Entry costs € 5 for adults, but you will be surely thrilled. The hiking trail leads up to the waterfall, so you can admire it from all sides.
After a refreshing stop on the planned route, there are paid tunnels – Tauern and Katschberg, for which you pay fee € 11.50. The tunnels can be bypassed via Radstadt and St. Michael im Lungau.
Another paid tunnel, Krankenwanken, awaits on the border with Slovenia. The passage costs € 7.20, or you can take a detour around Faaker See.
As you drive around the town of Bled, we recommend exiting the motorway and taking a short break at Lake Bled with the panoramas of the Julian Alps. Its dominant feature is a castle on a small island set directly in glacial clear water.
The rest of the way through Ljubljana passes quickly thanks to the beautiful views. A few kilometers beyond the borders at the Umag motorway junction, the so-called Istrian ypsilon begins. This highway leads around various resorts to Pula and is tolled.
The total fees for this trip with stamps will cost about 50 €.
Villach – NP Triglav – Tolmin – Umag – Pula
From Villach, I recommend turning towards Podkoren to avoid the paid section at the border.
After visiting Triglav Park, you can continue from the village of Tolmin. Either a short distance along the Italian side along the sea, or connecting to the Slovenian highway, it’s up to you.
From Umag you will connect to the Croatian highway, pay tolls and it is only a short distance from the destination.
Fees for this trip will cost about 42 €.
Stop in the Triglav National Park
Even a holiday trip can be beautiful. So it doesn’t hurt to stop for a few days in the Triglav National Park. We believe that our tips will excite you!
As you drive around the small Zelenec Nature Park, stop for a walk to the emerald blue lake.
When you drive a few kilometers beyond the borders of Italy, you can visit two crystal clear lakes Lago di Fusine hidden in the woods. At the end of the road is a park with barbecue and a large parking lot where you can sleep.
Another option for an overnight stay by the lake is Lago del Predil, which is quite famous, but you can go up to one of the most beautiful views of Mangart.
Another attraction that the Triglav National Park offers is the Vršič pass with breathtaking views, which will be accompanied by the river Soča. It is very popular thanks to the rafting offer.
If you visit the heart of the national park to Lake Bohinj, you can’t make the wrong choice. The blue clear lake surrounded by Slovenian mountains is definitely worth a visit.
Vídeň – Graz – Maribor – Ljubljana – Umag – Pula
The most frequently used border crossings are in Znojmo or Mikulov. This variant is advantageous especially for tourists from the eastern part of Bohemia.
Furthermore, the passage from Vienna via Graz is completely hassle-free if they do not make any repairs here. There are no fees to be paid here. This is followed only by the purchase of the Slovenian motorway stamp and the crossing of borders.
The crossing around Ljubljana is also quiet, there are only short sections of the highway. However, this is complemented by stunning views of the Julian Alps.
In Postojna there are well-known large limestone caves with stalactites, so you can use them for a short stop. If you want to wait a while longer, we recommend the Slovenian seaside town of Koper with its historic center.
Now only the Slovenian-Croatian border crossing awaits you. From here you head to the Umag transport junction, where you will take a toll motorway.
The total fees for this trip with stamps will cost about 32 €.
Current coronavirus situation
Entry to Croatia is currently free for Czech citizens. You do not have to quarantine or submit a negative test for coronavirus. The monuments are usually also open and look forward to tourists.
An electronic form with contact details and place of residence is required for faster border check-in. The driver can fill it in for the whole car before the trip. If you check it, you will avoid scheduling on the spot and they may include you and place you in a faster check-in lane.
