Rijeka Airport is unusual among Croatian airports in that the bus option is effectively off the table for most travelers. The choice here is narrower: taxi or pre-booked private transfer. Here is how they compare.
Why there is no practical bus
Split and Dubrovnik airports have dedicated bus services that run regularly and meet most flights. Rijeka Airport does not. The airport is on Krk island, and while bus routes exist in the wider area, no regular scheduled service reliably connects the terminal to Rijeka city or Krk Town in a way that meets incoming flights.
There are reports of occasional public bus connections, but these require local knowledge, are infrequent, and do not make practical sense for most arriving travelers with luggage. This guide will not pretend a bus option exists when it does not reliably serve travelers.
Airport taxis
Taxis are available outside the terminal during the summer season. Rijeka Airport handles a moderate volume of seasonal traffic, and in peak summer (July-August) taxis are usually at the rank when flights arrive.
Fares to common destinations:
- Rijeka city: 35-50 EUR
- Krk Town: 15-25 EUR
- Opatija: 50-70 EUR
- Malinska: 15-20 EUR
The disadvantages: outside peak season, or for early morning and late evening arrivals, the taxi rank may have very few or no cars waiting. Rijeka Airport does not have the consistent taxi availability that Split or Dubrovnik do. This is a meaningful difference.
Pre-booked private transfer
A driver assigned to your specific flight waits in the arrivals hall with your name. This is particularly valuable at Rijeka Airport because:
1. Taxi availability is not guaranteed, especially outside summer peak hours. 2. The airport serves a mix of destinations — Rijeka, multiple Krk island towns, Opatija, and beyond — and your driver can be briefed on your exact destination and route in advance. 3. Pricing is confirmed before you travel, with no surprises at the end.
Transfer pricing is competitive with taxis for most routes:
- Rijeka: 30-50 EUR
- Krk Town: 20-35 EUR
- Opatija: 45-65 EUR
Price comparison
Solo traveler to Rijeka:
- Bus: Not reliably available
- Taxi: 35-50 EUR
- Transfer: 30-50 EUR
- Bus: Not reliably available
- Taxi: 15-25 EUR
- Transfer: 20-35 EUR
- Bus: Not reliably available
- Taxi: 50-70 EUR (may need a second car for large group)
- Transfer minivan: 55-75 EUR with confirmed space for all passengers and luggage
The practical recommendation
For daytime arrivals in peak summer: taxis are usually available and the spontaneous approach works. Go with whichever option you prefer.
For evening arrivals, early morning flights, shoulder season travel (May-June, September-October), or winter operations: pre-book a transfer. The alternative of emerging from a quiet terminal and finding no taxis waiting is a real scenario at Rijeka Airport, not a theoretical one.
For families, or anyone going to a less central destination like Baška or a smaller Krk island village: pre-booking is the simpler, more certain approach regardless of the season.