Before You Go – Tips on travelling in Croatia

Before You Go – Tips on Travelling in Croatia

Croatia truly is one of Europe’s great destinations – blue seas, gorgeous pebble beaches, golden Renaissance cities and a laid-back way of life that’s still better value than most other European hotspots. With more than 1,700km of Adriatic coastline, hundreds of islands and one of the sunniest climates in Europe, it’s a stunning place with a fascinating culture and friendly locals. Croatia has spectacular national parks, centuries-old castles, vineyards and wineries, olive groves, rolling hills of lavender, and restaurants serving traditional cuisine alongside some of the world’s best seafood.

Croatians are friendly people and most will be willing to help if you have a question. Google Translate is on your phone – please do make an effort to translate your question into Croatian so you can be more readily understood.

Going on one of our small ship Croatia cruises? We have dedicated pages with cruise-specific info:

Entry Requirements

Entry to Croatia Requirements

Entry to Slovenia Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions – Travelling in Croatia

Do I need a visa to visit Croatia?

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, the USA and most continental European countries can enter Croatia for stays of up to 90 days without a visa. You must hold a return or onward ticket, all documents required for your next destination, and sufficient funds.

If you’re from another country you may need a visa arranged well in advance – this can take several weeks for each country you intend to visit, so as soon as you’ve confirmed your holiday, please arrange your visas immediately.

Check here to see if you need a visa: Croatian Consulate – Info for Foreign Visitors or here: Project Visa – Europe

Visas are the passenger’s responsibility. We do not issue visas and you must check yourself whether you need one before arrival. Your passport must have at least 6 months’ validity from your date of departure from Croatia.

Will my phone work in Croatia?

Most phone companies now offer international roaming. Sometimes you need to switch it on before you leave home, so do check. If you don’t want roaming, a travel SIM card is a great idea. Either way, you’ll want a way to make calls or send texts from the moment you land – for example, to contact your transfer driver at the airport.

We’ve personally found that the Vodafone $5/day roaming plan works well if you’re mainly using free Wi-Fi and just want something for emergencies. Regardless of what you choose, please arrange something before you leave home so you’re not stuck at the airport with no way to contact anyone.

We always include at least one local mobile number on your voucher so you can call or text someone for immediate help once you’re in Croatia. Please save these numbers in your phone before you leave, in case you lose your printed voucher or can’t access the digital copy without Wi-Fi.

We also have WhatsApp for emergencies – you can call or message us for free using the internet. Please install it before you go and send us a test message if you like.

Our WhatsApp number is the same as our office number: +612-9212-1507. You’ll see our Discover Croatia logo when you add us. Shortlink: wa.me/61292121507

Where can I get Wi-Fi in Croatia?

Most hotels and cruise ships have free Wi-Fi, and it’s freely available in most businesses across Croatia, Slovenia and the surrounding countries.

If you’re travelling to remote areas or need something more reliable, we’ve used the Bon Bon Internet SIM card for Croatia. You can buy a SIM card from any of their stores.

For your own safety, we recommend using a VPN on all your devices when you travel, especially on free Wi-Fi. You can purchase a VPN service or use a free one – just search “buy VPN” or “free VPN”.

What currency is used in Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia?

Croatia is part of the EU and uses the Euro. We suggest you travel with some Euros in cash. You can also withdraw cash from ATMs with your debit or credit card if you have a PIN.

Credit cards are widely accepted in restaurants and hotels, though smaller shops may only take cash and some outlets require a minimum purchase amount for card payments. Consider bringing more than one card, as not all types are accepted everywhere. Due to increasing card fraud worldwide, be prepared to show identification (your passport) when paying by card.

ATMs: For the best exchange rate, ATM cards are hard to beat. Take the usual precautions – avoid withdrawals at night or in poorly lit areas, shield your PIN, and refuse unsolicited help from strangers. Report a lost or blocked card to your bank’s 24-hour emergency number immediately.

Traveller’s cheques are not practical anywhere. Euro notes should be in good condition (not stained or torn) and recently printed, as banks and exchange offices can be particular.

Slovenia also uses the Euro, so cash Euros and credit cards work throughout.

Bosnia uses the Bosnian Mark. You can exchange Euro notes in banks, withdraw Marks from ATMs, or use your credit card.

The approximate conversion between the Euro and the Australian dollar can be found at www.xe.com. Your bank’s rate will usually be slightly less favourable than the interbank rate shown there.

What is the food like in Croatia?

There are plenty of restaurants, konobas (traditional Croatian pubs), cafes and bars in every town. Many restaurants display their menus outside so you can browse before committing, and outdoor dining is common. Croatian cuisine varies by region – wherever you go, ask for the local specialties. Fresh seafood is a highlight along the coast, and pizza, pasta and meat dishes appear on most menus too. Try ćevapi for a Croatian take on the sausage.

Croatian beers are excellent – try Ožujsko, Laško or Karlovačko. Virtually every region produces its own wine varieties. Tap water is clean and drinkable throughout Croatia.

Smoking: Smoking is still permitted in most outdoor dining areas, similar to the rest of Europe. Most indoor areas are smoke-free. If this is a concern, ask to be seated somewhere away from smokers.

Can you cater for food intolerances, vegan or vegetarian diets?

Croatia is quite modern with food requirements and happy to adjust menus where possible. Gluten-free, dairy-free, nut allergies, seafood allergies, vegetarian, vegan and most other needs can be catered for.

For all our cruises and tours, we ask you to complete our Passenger Info Form well before arrival. We need at least 60 days’ notice so that operators can plan properly. Shorter notice (down to 30 days) can sometimes be accommodated, but last-minute requests are difficult once supplies have been ordered.

For vegans, we suggest bringing some protein powder as this can be the hardest thing to source on holiday. If you’re starting in Split or Dubrovnik, make time to visit a supermarket, fresh market or health food store to stock up on your favourite snacks.

Health food shops for special dietary needs

Bio & Bio is a chain of shops catering for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian and natural products (including food, nut and rice milks, toiletries such as sunscreen and shampoo). Use Google Maps to find the nearest store (search “bio & bio croatia”) – they have shops in most major cities and towns.

You can also search “health food store” or “supermarket” on Google Maps in Split or Dubrovnik.

Vegan and vegetarian restaurants

  • Silk Street Food in Korčula Town – fresh food options
  • Up Cafe in Split – organic cafe with light meals and desserts
  • Art of Raw Food – vegan restaurant in Zagreb
  • Vegehop – vegetarian restaurant in Zagreb
  • Prijatelji Životinja (Animal Friends) – useful list of vegetarian and vegan restaurants across Croatia

Useful websites and apps

Useful phrases for dietary needs in Croatian

  • Vegetarian (food) – vegetarijanski (ve-geh-tarry-yan-skee)
  • Vegan – vegan (veh-gan)
  • Coeliac – celijakija (seh-lee-ya-kee-ya)
  • Gluten free – bez glutena (bez glue-ten-ya)
  • “I am vegetarian” (male) – Ja sam vegetarijanac; (female) – Ja sam vegetarijanka
  • “I am vegan” (male) – Ja sam vegan; (female) – Ja sam veganka
  • “I am allergic to…” (male) – Ja sam alergičan na…; (female) – Ja sam alergična na…
  • “I do not eat…” – Ja ne jedem…
  • “I do not drink…” – Ja ne pijem…
  • Eggs – jaja; Meat – meso; Fish – ribu; Milk – mlijeko; Dairy – mliječne proizvode; Peanuts – kikiriki

If you find extra information that’s useful, please let us know so we can add it for future customers. Thank you!

What is the best time to visit Croatia?

April to September are the best months weather-wise. July and August are the hottest and busiest. In April, May and October the prices drop a little and the crowds thin out – though it may be too cool for swimming outside of mid-June to late September.

For more detail, see our dedicated page: Best Time to Visit Croatia.

Climate: Along the coast the climate is Mediterranean – warm, dry summers and mild winters, with an average of 2,600 hours of sunshine a year, making it one of the sunniest coastlines in Europe. Inland, the climate is more continental with hot summers and cold, snowy winters.

How do I get around Croatia?

Car: The most popular option for independent travellers. Croatia has a superb motorway from Zagreb to Split with connections to Zadar and Šibenik. If you need roadside assistance, the Croatian Auto Club number is 987.

We always recommend getting an International Driving Permit in case of an accident. The NRMA offers an online application if you have two weeks for postage. Take both your Australian licence and your International Permit with you.

Rome2Rio can help you work out driving times and distances between cities.

Bus: Reliable and well-connected. Even the smallest villages have some kind of bus service. Express buses cover longer distances and are very comfortable.

Train: Several trains a day between major towns, and tickets are inexpensive compared to Western Europe. Trains run from Zagreb down to Split, but there’s no train service between Split and Dubrovnik (use ferries or buses instead). The train between Ljubljana and Zagreb takes around 2.5 hours and is a great option.

Ferry: If you can get there by ferry, do it. Cruising among the Adriatic islands is a wonderful experience. In tourist season, boats and ferries connect all major ports. The most scenic route runs from Rijeka to Dubrovnik, stopping at Rab, Split, Hvar and Korčula along the way. Many ferries have restaurants on board, and you can travel on deck, in a reclining seat, or in a private cabin.

Air: Regular flights connect Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik with Rome, Venice, Vienna, Frankfurt, Paris, London and other European cities. There are also domestic flights between Zagreb and Dubrovnik, Split, Pula and Rijeka (the airport is on Krk island).

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel Insurance – yes, you need it. We don’t sell it, but we have some general info on that page to help you out.

How much should I tip in Croatia?

Tipping is not compulsory in Croatia, but it is appreciated. Here are some general guidelines:

Restaurants: If not included, tip 10%–15% of the bill depending on service. Many European restaurants include a service charge, but a tip on top is customary.

Cafes: Round up the bill (e.g. €18 → €20), though it’s fine to pay the exact amount.

Taxis: Tip up to 10% of the fare. We recommend booking taxis through your hotel reception and pre-negotiating fares.

Tour guides: €1–2 per person per half day of sightseeing for local guides at specific locations.

For tipping on cruises, see our Croatia Cruise FAQ – cruise tipping works differently and is covered in detail there.

More info on tipping in Croatia

How far in advance should I book?

Cruises: Book as soon as your plans are finalised. All cruises are popular, especially during peak season (June and September), and these dates can sell out up to a year in advance. One-way cruises tend to sell out first, so please speak to us before booking any flights. See our cruises page for availability.

Escorted tours: Escorted group tours are best booked early as spaces are limited. Once a departure is full, it’s closed.

How the booking process works: The booking process for Croatia cruises and tours.

What are the public holidays in Croatia?

  • 1 January – New Year’s Day
  • 6 January – Epiphany
  • Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (variable)
  • 1 May – Labour Day
  • Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter)
  • 22 June – Anti-Fascist Struggle Day
  • 25 June – Statehood Day
  • 5 August – Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day
  • 15 August – Assumption of Mary
  • 8 October – Independence Day
  • 1 November – All Saints’ Day
  • 25 December – Christmas
  • 26 December – St Stephen’s Day

What are some key facts for travellers?

  • Time zone: GMT/UTC +1 (Central European Time)
  • Language: Croatian (Hrvatski). English and German are widely spoken.
  • Population: Approximately 4 million
  • Dialling code: +385 (remember to add the + when dialling from a mobile)
  • Electricity: 220–240V, 50Hz. Standard European 2-pin round plugs – Australians will need a travel adaptor.
  • Weights and measures: Metric

Discover Croatia (Sydney)
Phone/WhatsApp: +61 2 9212 1507
Email: res@discovercroatia.com.au