<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000877890</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CITRIX SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTXS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001409776</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Daheb Steve</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CITRIX SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>851 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT LAUDERDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33309</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; CMO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Antonio Gomes, Attorney-in-Fact for Steve Daheb</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
