Do You need a visa?
Majority of foreign visitors don’t need visa to enter Croatia, including, but not limited to, EU countries, UK, USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Foreign citizens of those countries can enter Croatia, and stay here for 90 days within 180 days period.
Citizens of EU countries can enter Croatia using only their ID card, all others need to travel with a valid passport in order to enter Croatia.
If you require a visa to enter Croatia, but hold a valid Schengen visa, as well as visas for Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria, you don’t need a separate visa for Croatia. You are free to travel to Croatia under the condition of your current visa from the above mentioned countries.
If you require a visa for Croatia, you can print and fill the application forms here, and submit it along with requested documents to Croatian Embassy, Consulate, or an accredited tourist agency.
In order to apply for a Croatian visa, you’ll need a valid passport issued less than 10 years ago, and with an expire date at least three months after the intended departure date from Croatia.
All questions regarding visa you can send via vize@mvep.hr.
Weather in Croatia:
Croatia has three distinct climates: continental climate in its interior, the Mediterranean climate along the coast, and the mountain climate above 1200 m.
Along the coast you can expect dry, hot, and sunny summers, and mild, although sometimes wet, winters. Weather along the south Adriatic region of Dalmatia is generally drier and sunnier than in the northern Adriatic region of Istria. Daily temperatures can differ up to 5 °C.
Average summer temperatures are around 22 °C, but this also means that in July and August you can expect over 40 days with daily temperatures of over 30 C. Average winter temperatures are around 10 C, with January being the coldest month with daily average temperatures of less than 10 C. The average sea temperature varies from 12 °C in winter to 25 °C in summer.
Croatia’s interior has a moderate continental climate. This means that winters are cold and wet, with lots of fog, while summers get hot, and dry. Average winter temperatures are around 4 C, while the average summer temperature are around 22 °C.
What about our currency?
While Croatia is a part of European Union, the country still doesn’t use Euro as a common currency. Croatian currency is Kuna (short: kn), and the exchange rate is at about 7,5 kn per 1€, 6,8 kn per 1$, and 8,4 kn per 1£.
You can also pay many things with Euro, like accommodation, meals in restaurants, pay-tolls on Croatian roads, and gasoline. However you’ll usually get your change in Kuna, and the exchange rate can be less favourable than at the exchange offices.
Getting to Croatia:
Travelling to Croatia from anywhere in Europe is quite easy. From April through September many airlines have direct flights from all over Europe to all major Croatian towns. Besides, Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb are well-connected by plane with the rest of Europe throughout the year. For the detailed information on flights schedule to Croatia consult Google flights or Skyscanner website.
You can also travel to Croatia from other European towns by bus. Bus schedules are a bit harder to search for as there are many different bus companies running the service.
Train connection to and around Croatia is quite limited, and we generally don’t recommend travelling by train to Croatia.
Getting around:
The best way to travel around Croatia is by car. Croatia is small country with great roads, and lots of nice little villages totally worth a detour. The only way to really discover the country is to travel by car.
Ferries are still the most popular, and sometimes the only way to get to the islands. The main ferry ports include Rijeka, Zadar, and Split, but ferries also depart from smaller coastal towns like Brsecine, Makarska, Drvenik, Orebic, Ploce, and Prapratno.
Public transportation in the bigger towns cost around 2€ per ride. Taxis are affordable in Zagreb and Rijeka, but you need to choose the right company. UberX is available in majority of popular tourist towns like Zagreb, Split, Rovinj, Dubrovnik, Zadar, etc.. Uber is by far the cheapest taxi option in Croatia.
Croatia travel destinations
One of the most common questions we get is where to go in Croatia. Many of visitors who travel to Croatia for the first time tend to visit the main touristy towns and attractions, like Zagreb, Split, Plitvice, Hvar and Dubrovnik. However, Croatia is full of hidden gems, charming coastal towns, wonderful natural sites, and beautiful beaches.
Where to go depends heavily on a type of traveler you are, things to do in Croatia, time you plan to spend in Croatia, and your budget.
National Parks
With a surface of just over 56.000 m2, Croatia is rather a small country. However, due to its geographical location, geo-morphological, and ecological conditions, as well as its climate, in terms of biodiversity Croatia is one of the richest countries in Europe.
The nature here is divine: from the Adriatic sea, high-rising mountains, to plains of Slavonia, and rolling hills of Istria and Zagorje.
The country has eight national parks, eleven nature parks, and two nature reserves. Almost 10% of the country’s territory is protected. National parks of Kornati, Brijuni, and Mljet are located on the islands, and characterised by rich marine life. The Risnjak, Northern Velebit, and Paklenica national parks cover mountainous area. They all feature interesting limestone rocks, meadows, and vast forests.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia’s most visited national park, as well as Krka national park, are both famed for its lakes, streams, rapids, and waterfalls.
Unesco World Heritage Sites
Croatia doesn’t lack in cultural and historical sites. Even ten of them made it to the Unesco World Heritage Sites list.
These sites include The Euphrasian Basilica in Porec, St. James Cathedral in Sibenik, Trogir, Diocletian Palace in Split, Dubrovnik old town, Stari grad planes on the island of Hvar, Plitvice Lakes, the Venetian Works of Defence from the 16th and 17th centuries in Zadar and Sibenik, Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards in Cista Provo and Konavle, and Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests in national parks Paklenica and Northern Velebit.
With an exception of the Plitvice Lakes, all other sights are located along the coast.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance covers all kinds of situations if things go wrong: from luggage loss, trip cancellation, to medical assistance.
If you are an EU-citizen then your European Medical Insurance Card covers your basic medical needs and emergency medical care. However, it doesn’t cover emergency transport to your home country.
Non-EU citizens are advised to check with their embassies for what level of medical care they are covered in Croatia, as it heavily depend on bilateral and reciprocal agreement between the countries.
For other damages like document and baggage loss, loss of belongings, and trip cancellation, you’ll definitely need to purchase a travel insurance. There are many travel insurance companies offering different insurance options and packages. You can compare all your options using a website like Travel Insurance Review.
Is Croatia part of EU & Schengen visa regiment
Croatia is a member country of the EU. However, the country is still not a part of the Schengen visa regiment (UPDATE: From Jan 1, 2023 - Croatia Is a Schengen member). This means that you’ll still need to show your documents at the border entering Croatia from the neighbouring EU countries, and vice versa.
If you have a valid Schengen visa, you don’t need a separate visa to visit Croatia, but Croatian visa alone won’t make you eligible to visit other European countries. You’ll need to apply separately for a Schengen visa.
Language
You don’t speak Croatian? No worries, most of Croatians speak at least some English, and many speak at least another foreign language. Besides English, German and Italian are most widely spoken in Croatia.