Travel to Croatia
Arrival by car
Driving remains one of the most popular ways to reach Croatia. The Croatian motorway network (A roads) is modern and well maintained. Motorways are tolled — euros accepted in cash or by card. Contactless payment is available at most toll booths.
Required documents
- Valid driving licence (EU licence accepted)
- Vehicle registration document
- Insurance certificate (Green Card)
- Valid national ID card or passport
- Environmental sticker (depending on transit countries)
Driving rules
- Headlights: compulsory day and night throughout the year
- Seat belts: compulsory for all passengers
- Mobile phones: prohibited while driving without a hands-free kit
- Blood alcohol limit: 0.5 ‰ (0.0 ‰ for professional drivers and under-24s)
- Safety vest: must be worn if you break down on the road
- Warning triangle: must be carried in the vehicle
Speed limits
- 50 km/h in built-up areas
- 90 km/h on roads outside built-up areas
- 110 km/h on expressways (semi-motorways)
- 130 km/h on motorways
Roadside assistance and traffic information
24-hour assistance and road condition information: 987 (HAK – Hrvatski Autoklub). In an emergency: 112.
Arrival by plane
Croatia has several international airports served from the UK and Ireland by many low-cost and scheduled carriers: Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, Wizz Air, British Airways, Croatia Airlines.
Croatia Airlines (croatiaairlines.com) operates direct flights from London and connections via Zagreb from most major European cities.
From the UK, low-cost flights to Split or Dubrovnik take around 2.5 hours. Book early for the summer season (June–August) as prices rise quickly.
Arrival by bus
FlixBus offers direct or connecting services from London and other UK/European cities to Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Dubrovnik. Journey times from London are approximately 24–30 hours depending on destination.
Within Croatia, the national bus network (akz.hr, autobusni-kolodvor.com) is extensive and covers all towns and coastal destinations, including island connections (with ferry transfers).
Arrival by ferry
Regular ferries connect Italy to Croatia, ideal if you are travelling by car. Main routes:
- Ancona → Split / Zadar / Stari Grad (Hvar)
- Bari → Dubrovnik / Split
- Pescara → Split / Hvar
- Venice → Pula / Rovinj / Zadar / Split
Operators: Jadrolinija (jadrolinija.hr), SNAV, Venezia Lines, Minoan Lines.
Within Croatia, Jadrolinija operates services between the mainland and the islands (Krk, Rab, Brač, Hvar, Vis, Korčula, etc.).
Practical information
Visa and documents
EU citizens enter freely with a valid national ID card. Croatia has been a member of the Schengen Area since 1 January 2023 — no border checks at internal EU borders. Citizens of the UK, USA, Canada and Australia do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days. Other nationalities should check entry requirements for their specific passport.
Currency
Croatia uses the euro (€) since 1 January 2023. Bank cards are widely accepted. ATMs (bancomats) are available in all towns and tourist resorts.
Visitor registration
All foreign visitors must be registered with the local authorities. This is automatically handled by hotels, agencies and accommodation owners through the eVisitor system.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz. Type C/F sockets (standard European). UK visitors will need a plug adaptor.
Time zone
Central European Time (CET): UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 in summer (1 hour ahead of UK time).
Language and communication
Official language: Croatian. In tourist areas, English, German and Italian are widely spoken. English is commonly understood in hotels and tourist centres.
Telephones and internet
Country code: +385. EU operators benefit from roaming at no extra cost. Wi-Fi is available in almost all accommodation and restaurants. Prepaid SIM cards available from A1, HT (T-Mobile) and Telemach.
Tourist tax (sojourn tax)
A tourist tax (boravišna pristojba) is collected by the accommodation provider. The amount varies by season and accommodation category (generally 1–2 € per person per night). It is usually included in the final displayed price.