Zagreb Airport has one passenger terminal, opened in 2017. Arrivals are on the ground floor (baggage claim, ground transport, ATMs). Check-in and departures are on Level 2 (45 counters, Information Desk, Kiss & Fly). After security, Schengen gates are 1 to 7 and non-Schengen gates are 8 to 11, with higher-numbered bus boarding gates for remote stands. The Primeclass lounge is airside in Schengen Departures, opposite Gate 23. The building is compact and walkable end to end.
Last updated: May 24, 2026. Layout cross-checked against the official Zagreb Airport site and on-site observation.
One Terminal, Opened 2017
Zagreb Airport (ZAG) has one passenger terminal, opened on March 28, 2017 and designed by Croatian architects Branko Kincl, Velimir Neidhart, and Jure Radić, with design capacity of around 5 million passengers a year. For the wider airport picture, see our Zagreb Airport overview.
Roughly 65,800 m² across three functional levels, 45 check-in counters, 23 passport control booths, 3 baggage carousels, 8 jet bridges, and additional bus boarding gates for remote stands. The building is compact, signage is clear in Croatian and English, and most gates are a short walk from security.
Terminal Layout by Level
The building is organised vertically with separate flows for arrivals and departures. For a visual reference, you can also see the airport map.
Ground floor (Arrivals)
The ground floor is the arrivals level: baggage claim with three carousels, customs lanes, the Meet & Greet area, all car rental desks, currency exchange, and ATMs. Buses, the Pleso shuttle, taxis, and rideshare pickups all sit just outside, and the Public Car Park is directly in front. Full detail is on our arrivals information page.
Level 2 (Departures and Check-in)
Level 2 holds the check-in hall (45 counters plus self-service kiosks), the Information Desk, the Kiss & Fly drop-off zone, the Lost Property Office, baggage wrapping, tax-free refund counters, and the entrance to security and (where required) passport control. Step-by-step guidance lives on our departures information page.
Airside (post-security)
Once you clear security and any required passport check, you reach the airside concourse: Duty Free, cafes, water fountains, charging points, and the gates. The Primeclass Business Lounge is in the Schengen part of airside on Level 2, opposite Gate 23.
Schengen and Non-Schengen Gates
Croatia joined the Schengen Area on January 1, 2023. Flights to other Schengen countries no longer pass through passport control on departure or arrival. After security, the airside concourse splits into Schengen and non-Schengen zones.
Schengen gates (1 to 7)
Flights to Schengen countries (Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, and so on) board from gates 1 to 7 in the main pier, plus higher-numbered bus boarding gates in the Schengen zone for remote stands. The Primeclass lounge is in this area, opposite Gate 23. No passport control on departure.
Non-Schengen gates (8 to 11)
Flights to non-Schengen destinations (UK, Turkey, USA, UAE, Qatar, Serbia, Bosnia, North Macedonia) depart from gates 8 to 11, with bus boarding gates for remote stands. Passport control is required to enter this zone, and the lounge sits on the Schengen side.
Check-in and Security
Check-in counters and self-service
The departures hall holds 45 staffed counters in several rows, plus self-service kiosks for participating carriers. Most airlines support online check-in. Croatia Airlines has the largest counter block; Ryanair, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and KLM rotate through assigned rows day by day.
Recommended arrival times
90 minutes before a short Schengen flight, 120 minutes before any longer international departure. Add 30 minutes in July and August, on Friday and Sunday evenings, and during the weekday 06:00 to 09:00 rush.
Security
Standard EU rules: liquids in 100 ml containers in a single transparent 1-litre bag, laptops and large electronics out separately. ZAG is rolling out CT scanners that skip the unpacking step, but lane mix varies. For the priority lane, see our Fast Track priority lane page.
Transit and Connections
The terminal's small footprint makes connections easy. Minimum connection time for Croatia Airlines at ZAG is 45 minutes. A Schengen-to-Schengen connection stays airside with no passport check. A non-Schengen arrival connecting onward passes passport control on entry, and a Schengen-to-non-Schengen change clears passport control between zones.
Family and Accessibility
Two small children's play areas sit airside near gates 4/5 and 12/13. Baby-changing facilities are in main restroom blocks both landside and airside; complimentary courtesy strollers can usually be borrowed from the Information Desk. Reduced mobility assistance is free and must be requested through your airline at least 48 hours before your flight. Lifts serve all levels.
Practical Notes on the Terminal
Water fountains
Free water fountains sit airside after security and in the arrivals area before passport control. Bring an empty refillable bottle and top up airside.
Smoking areas
The terminal is smoke-free except in designated enclosed cabins airside and at marked outdoor areas landside near the entrances. Vaping follows the same rule.
Prayer room
A multi-faith prayer room exists but stays locked when not in use. Ask at the Lost Property Office and staff will come open it.
Lost property
The Lost Property Office is on Level 2 in Landside Departures, open daily 08:00 to 18:00. Items left on board the aircraft are handled by your airline's ground agent, not the airport office. The wider amenity list lives on the full services and amenities guide.
Insider Tips for the Zagreb Airport Terminal
Don't over-allocate inside time. Once through security, the walk to the furthest gate is usually under ten minutes. The buffer matters for the security queue, not the walk.
No luggage storage at the terminal. If you have a long layover and want to head into the city, use off-site lockers in central Zagreb (Glavni kolodvor and Autobusni kolodvor both have them) or hold the bag with you.
The mezzanine on Level 2 is the quieter spot. When the check-in hall is busy, the mezzanine along the back wall has seats with power and a view over the concourse.
Schengen and non-Schengen split after security. If your itinerary crosses the line, follow the Transfer signs as soon as you reach airside.
Primeclass is in Schengen Departures only. If you are flying non-Schengen, use the lounge before crossing passport control; on the other side it is unreachable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many terminals does Zagreb Airport have?
One. A single passenger terminal opened in March 2017 and handles every commercial flight at ZAG.
When did the new Zagreb Airport terminal open?
March 28, 2017. It replaced the 1960s building on the same site and was designed by Croatian architects Branko Kincl, Velimir Neidhart, and Jure Radić.
How big is the Zagreb Airport terminal?
Around 65,800 m² across three functional levels, with a design capacity of about 5 million passengers a year.
Which gates are Schengen at Zagreb Airport?
Gates 1 to 7 in the main pier, plus higher-numbered bus boarding gates for remote stands. The Primeclass lounge sits in this area, opposite Gate 23. No passport control on departure.
Which gates are non-Schengen at Zagreb Airport?
Gates 8 to 11, plus bus boarding gates for remote stands. Passport control is required to enter the non-Schengen zone.
How early should I arrive at Zagreb Airport for my flight?
90 minutes for a short Schengen flight, 120 minutes for any longer international departure. Add 30 minutes in July and August and during the weekday 06:00 to 09:00 rush.
Where is the lounge in the Zagreb Airport terminal?
Airside in Schengen Departures on Level 2, opposite Gate 23, open daily 05:00 to 22:00. Non-Schengen passengers cannot reach it from the other side of passport control.
Is the Zagreb Airport terminal easy to navigate?
Yes. The terminal is small, signage is clear in Croatian and English, and most travelers walk from check-in to gate in under 10 minutes.