Zagreb public transport workers initiated a massive strike at 3:30 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026, forcing a near-total shutdown of city trams and airport buses. The sudden work stoppage involves drivers from the Zagrebački električni tramvaj (ZET) and employees of the local waste management company Čistoća. Both utility companies operate as subsidiaries of the municipal Zagreb Holding group. Tourists and local commuters face severe disruptions across the Croatian capital as the transit fleet remains parked inside city depots. Planners must immediately switch to walking, the operating funicular, or pre-booked private transfers.

Which ZET Trams and Buses Are Operating Today?

Only two tram lines and one bus route have a single vehicle running across the entire city network today. The official City of Zagreb dispatch confirms one tram operates on line 11, one tram operates on line 17, and a single bus runs on route 330. Travelers waiting for any other numbered route will not see a vehicle arrive. A normal weekday schedule requires 15 daytime tram lines and over 100 kilometers of active track to move the city population. The historic Zagreb Funicular remains the only transit service running a completely normal schedule today.

How to Travel to Zagreb Airport During the Strike

Travelers heading to Franjo Tuđman Airport must book a private car transfer because the primary ZET airport bus 290 is completely suspended. Normally, route 290 connects Kvaternikov Trg directly to the departure terminals. Airport officials advise checking the Zagreb Airport passenger portal to align arrival times with heavier road traffic. Missing a flight due to a local municipal transit strike rarely qualifies for airline compensation without premium travel insurance. Booking a private transfer or securing a licensed taxi immediately is the absolute only reliable method to catch departing flights today.

Are Taxis, Ride-Shares, and Road Traffic Affected?

Taxis and ride-share vehicles are operating normally, but wait times are much longer due to a 15 percent increase in passenger car traffic on city streets. Commuters who usually take the tram switched to private driving this morning to reach their offices. This sudden congestion slows down all surface transport across the city center. Parking enforcement remains fully active, meaning public garages and street meters require standard payment. The Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure urges drivers to use extra caution around crowded pedestrian crossings as more people walk to their destinations.

How Does the Strike Impact City Waste Collection?

Household waste collection is entirely paused and public recycling centers are closed across Zagreb. The Čistoća workers union deployed a minimal emergency fleet of just 11 to 20 garbage trucks out of their massive daily rotation. These few active trucks service priority locations like hospitals, kindergartens, and major healthcare institutions exclusively. Tourists staying in residential short-term rentals should store their trash indoors until the strike resolves. Keeping sidewalks clear prevents sanitary issues while the primary municipal workforce negotiates their labor contracts.

Essential Steps to Adjust Your Travel Itinerary in Zagreb

Restructuring your daily plan around walking distances will save hours of frustrating delays. The Croatian National Tourist Board highlights that the historic central zone is highly compact and entirely walkable for most visitors. Relying on digital maps for tram times today will result in false information because most navigation applications assume normal schedules.

Follow these specific travel adjustments to avoid the transit shutdown:

• Cancel tight connections: Leave your hotel at least 45 minutes earlier for timed museum entries or guided walking tours.
• Pre-book all transfers: Secure a taxi to the airport or the central train station hours before your actual departure time.
• Verify intercity travel: Check your onward bus or train tickets to other Croatian cities, as those national carriers are not involved in this local municipal strike.
• Use the Funicular: Ride the historic funicular to travel between the Upper Town and Lower Town, as it remains fully staffed and operational.

Public emergency services, traffic control dispatchers, and mechanics remain on duty despite the driver walkout. Travelers must monitor local announcements closely because crewing numbers can shift during the afternoon shift change. Taking direct control of your transport schedule today removes the uncertainty of waiting on empty street corners.