Money and payments
Cards and cash
Credit/debit cards are virtually everywhere accepted but there is no American Express acceptance in Croatia.
Tipping
Discrete service charges are not included in the bill, so voluntary tipping is customary.
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Europe · Southeast EuropeOutline guideCountry in Central and Southeastern Europe
Photo: Bracodbk, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Croatia (Croatian: Hrvatska) is a Mediterranean country in Southeastern Europe, and is a part of the Balkans. Much of the tourist industry is concentrated along the coast. Nautical tourism is supported by marinas, while cultural tourism relies on the appeal of medieval coastal cities and cultural events taking place during the summer. Inland areas offer agrotourism, mountain resorts, and spas. Zagreb is a significant destination, rivalling major coastal cities and resorts. Croatia has unpolluted marine areas with nature reserves and 116 Blue Flag beaches. Croatia was ranked first in Europe for swimming water quality in 2022 by the European Environmental Agency.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Croatia.
Cards and cash
Credit/debit cards are virtually everywhere accepted but there is no American Express acceptance in Croatia.
Tipping
Discrete service charges are not included in the bill, so voluntary tipping is customary.
Croatian
The main language is Croatian, a Slavic language similar to Serbian and Bosnian, all of which were called Serbo-Croatian until the breakup of Yugoslavia.
There are three providers, Hrvatski Telekom (formerly T-Mobile; also operates the Bonbon prepaid brand), A1 (formerly Vipnet; also operates the Tomato prepaid brand) and Telemach.
Mobile networks
Tap water in Croatia is perfectly safe, and in some areas considered the best in the world.
No vaccinations are required when going to Croatia.
Croatia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and the 1990s were marked by ethnic conflict and the bloody and brutal war in Croatia is still a painful subject, but generally there should be no problem if you…
Covered in the guide
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
Zagreb is a city in Central Croatia and the capital of Croatia. The city has a charming medieval 'old city' with architecture and cobbled streets reminiscent of Vienna, Budapest, Prague and other Central European capitals.
Dubrovnik is a historic walled city on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
Osijek is a city in Eastern Croatia. Osijek is the largest city and the economic and the cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county.
Pula (Italian: Pola, Slovene: Pulj) is a nice town at the tip of the Istrian peninsula in northwestern Croatia.
Rijeka (literally "River" in the Croatian language) is a city in Kvarner Bay, a northern inlet of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is the principal seaport of the country.
Split is a city in Central Dalmatia, Croatia, and the seat of the Split-Dalmatia county. The city was built around the Diocletian palace (a palace/fort built for the retired Roman emperor Diocletian) where the locals sought refuge centuries ago.
Zadar is the biggest city, cultural, economic and transit center of northern Dalmatia and the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. Zadar is today one of the most popular Croatian tourist destinations, named "entertainment center of the Adriatic" by The Times and "Croatia's new capital of cool" by The Guardian in 2017.
Cres is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea.
Brač is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Split-Dalmatia county of Croatia, near the city of Split. It is the largest island in Dalmatia and has a population of 14,000.
Hvar is an island off the coast of Croatia with a population of about 11,000 people (2011). Imposing fortifications hover above the fluid blend of grey stone and orange cascading roofs.
Korčula (pronounced 'KOR-chu-la') is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in Southern Dalmatia, near Dubrovnik. According to some sources, Marco Polo may have been born here.
The Žumberak is a mountainous region that spans between Slovenia and Croatia.
Plitvice Lakes National Park (Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera) in Croatia is one of the most beautiful natural sights in Europe. Due to its beauty and significance, this system of 16 interlinked lakes and a large forest complex around it were set aside as a national park in 1949.
Krka National Park is the second most visited Croatian national park (after Plitvice Lakes). It is named after the river Krka that runs through it.
Places in Croatia on the World Heritage List.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Listed 1979
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Listed 2007
Šibenik Cathedral
Listed 2000
Euphrasian Basilica
Listed 1997
The Venetian Works of defence between 15th and 17th centuries
Listed 2017
Stari Grad Plain
Listed 2008
Old city (Dubrovnik)
Listed 1979
Stećci (UNESCO svjetska baština)
Listed 2016
Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian
Listed 1979
Garagnin-Fanfogna Palace
Historic City of Trogir
Listed 1997
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
A peninsula in the northwest, bordering Slovenia
Seashore and highlands north of Dalmatia, includes subregions: Bay of Kvarner and Highlands (Lika and Gorski Kotar)
A strip of mainland and islands between the Mediterranean and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Including subregions Slavonija and Baranja (north of river Drava) northeastern area of forests and fields, bordering Hungary, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
North central highlands, location of Zagreb
Public transport and paid services in Croatia.
By train
Train travel is definitely improving in Croatia, with money being spent on updating the aging infrastructure and vehicles. Trains are clean and mostly on time.
By bus
A very comprehensive coach network connects all parts of the country. Bus service between major cities (intercity lines) is quite frequent, as are regional services.
By boat
Croatia is endowed with a beautiful coastline which is best explored by ferry or yacht to access the hundreds of islands.
By car
Croatia has a different traffic culture than northern Europe. You should therefore exercise caution when driving a car.
By taxi
You can use a taxi service by calling 970, or sometimes another number for a private company – check individual city articles.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Croatia.
Finding apps for Croatia…
Other ways to travel:By thumb
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Velika Gorica · International · ZAG
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Zagreb
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 3° | 5° | 11° | 17° | 21° | 26° | 29° | 29° | 22° | 16° | 9° | 4° |
| Avg. low | -4° | -3° | 1° | 6° | 10° | 15° | 17° | 16° | 11° | 6° | 2° | -2° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 52 | 60 | 59 | 62 | 92 | 86 | 82 | 83 | 107 | 83 | 80 | 63 |
| Humidity | 92% | 89% | 83% | 77% | 74% | 69% | 63% | 62% | 71% | 82% | 90% | 92% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$60
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$160
Per person, per day
Luxury
$425
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $30 | $90 | $250 |
| Food and drink | $15 | $35 | $80 |
| Local transport | $5 | $15 | $35 |
| Activities | $10 | $20 | $60 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Croatia. Croatia is generally a safe destination for travelers. Review our Travel Guidance for Croatia to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications for Croatia when this advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Croatia.
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