So, you decided to vacation in Croatia, lucky you! Traveling to somewhere you have never been can be a little daunting, but don't worry, I've got you covered! Here are five of the most important travel tips to make your journey to this beautiful destination as relaxing as possible.
Heading to Croatia this summer? READ: Summer in Croatia.
Tip #1 - When booking a flight:
- There are very few direct flights to Croatia from the U.S. at this time. Majority of the time you will have to have a connecting flight at least once to get to the country.
- From the East Coast of the U.S. it takes roughly 12+ hours to get to Croatia, including your connection.
- If you're flying to the north coast of Croatia you can either fly into the capital of Zagreb, Croatia- Franjo Tuđman Airport or into Trieste, Italy- Aeroporto Friuli Venezia Giulia. From Zagreb airport to Crikvenica, for example, it is a 1.5 hour drive. From Trieste's airport to Crikvenica it is about a 2 hour drive and you will have to cross the border through Slovenia and then into Croatia. If you're planning to vacation further south, you have Split Airport and Dubrovnik Airport closer by.
- Most common and convenient connecting airports in Europe are through Munich or Frankfurt, Germany; London, United Kingdom; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Zurich, Switzerland; or Paris, France. There are others but most likely they will be a longer flight, which causes a longer travel time.
Looking for the perfect beach vacation in Croatia?
Tip #2 - What to pack:
- Important documents like a valid passport is needed to enter the country. Croatia does not require any visa or other documents if you are visiting for less than three months for U.S. Citizens.
- Prescription medication(s)- Croatia has several options for over-the-counter medicine, but it will be very difficult to get a prescribed medicine from a different country.
- Specific toiletries- Croatia has a wide array of toiletries that can be found at places like DM and Bipa, which are similar to America's CVS or Walgreens, or you can find products at the larger chain grocery stores, like Konzum, Plodine and Tommy. Many toiletry brands are different from the ones in the U.S. due to the European Union having much stricter guidelines on chemicals used in products. If you have toiletries that you cannot live without while you are traveling and are concerned you may not be able to find in Croatia, then just bring them with you so there is no need to worry about it.
- Adapter and Converter- Croatia, and Europe in general, use a different shaped electrical plug, so you will need an adapter to charge your electric items. Also, Croatia, and again Europe in general, use a different voltage 230V/50Hz, instead of 120V/60Hz that the U.S. uses, so you will need a converter for certain things, like electric hair tools, such as a hair dryer, curling iron, hair straightener, electric shaver, etc. Items like your phone, computer and tablet usually come with a built-in converter and do not have an issue with the change in voltage.
- Croatian/English dictionary- most places in Croatia people can speak English, especially in high tourist areas. However, Croatians appreciate foreigners trying to speak their language, even if it is just basic words and phrases, like "Hello and Goodbye - Halo i Bok."
- Bathing suit- if it's summer and you're on the coast you're probably going to go swimming at some point in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic, it's really a must!
Tip #3 - Money:
- In January of 2023, Croatia changed their official currency from Croatian Kuna to Euros. Exchange offices are easy to find, most airports have them, especially in international flight terminals, and there is always the option to exchange money in a bank or get euros directly out of an ATM, however depending on your bank you may get charged an international transaction fee, which is usually around a few dollars.
- The exchange rate can change on a daily basis. I have had $100 get me 60 euros at one point and I have had $100 get me 80 euros at another point, so it really just depends on the time and you've got to just go with the flow.
- I highly suggest you get about $100 worth of euros before traveling overseas just so when you arrive you are all set if you need to hail a taxi to get to your hotel, cruise ship, rental home, etc.
- It is very common to pay in cash, especially in cafes, bars and open markets, so I highly suggest you do it the Croatian way and give them cash rather than card, especially if it is a small bill.
Tip #4 - Driving:
- If you are driving in Croatia, they drive on the same side of the road as in the U.S.
- At the gas station, you fill your tank by yourself and you must pay inside at the counter either with cash or card. You are not able to pay at the pump.
- Fuel is double price compared to the U.S. and it is in liters rather than gallons.
- Road signs and your car odometer are in kilometers rather than miles.
- The highways in Croatia are very well maintained. The first time I traveled to Croatia I could not get over how clean the roads were. The speed signs are electronically managed, so if there is inclement weather, an accident ahead or traffic, they will digitally reduce the speed to a safer level.
- Local roads through cities and towns are more often than not narrower than roads in the US. This goes for parking spaces as well...they are tight! However, the cars are usually smaller than in the US too.
- Roads along the coastline can be very windy, which either can be a lot of fun or a little daunting depending on the person or the driver...ha!
Tip #5 - Other Transportation:
- Scooters are very popular to drive instead of cars because they are much more fuel efficient and you have several more parking options. Many who are vacationing at the beach use bicycles or the electric standing scooters as well and there are several vendors renting them out for the day.
- In the cities, you have very good and cheap public transportation either with buses and/or trollies. If you're traveling a little further, you also can always use the train. Croatia, like the rest of Europe, has a great network of trains that can take you from one country to the other fairly easily.
Traveling to the city of Rijeka? Check out our Travel Guide to Rijeka.
When traveling to Croatia, it is important to be open minded to differences whether that is customs, food, the metric measurement system, Celsius temperature, being on what the US calls "military time" or other. Discovering ways other people live is one of the greatest pay offs from a vacation to another country.
With these five most important and helpful travel tips and tricks you will be sure to have a less stressful and more well prepared visit
to this excellent European country.
If you have a question, please let me know in the comment section below
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Book a FREE 30 minute Travel Consultation with me to discuss planning your trip to Croatia!
Happy Travels! Sretan Put!
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