Southeast Europe · UN member
Croatia: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Croatia · Republika Hrvatska
Croatia is a country in Southeast Europe with its capital in Zagreb. It has a population of 3.9 million (#130 in the world) and covers 56,594 km². The official language is Croatian. The currency is the Euro (EUR, €).
Where is Croatia? Map of Croatia
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia.
- Region
- Southeast Europe
- Coordinates
- 45.1667° N, 15.5° E
- Neighbours
- 5 — see list
- Coastline
- 5,835 km
- Croatia
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Croatia showing Zagreb (capital) and the largest cities: Split, Rijeka, Osijek, Zadar, Pula, Slavonski Brod, Karlovac and Varaždin.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Croatia
- Passport
Croatia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs asks Schengen visa applicants for a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least three months beyond the date they intend to leave the Schengen Area.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Croatia entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Croatia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs asks Schengen visa applicants for documents on their means of travel and their intention to return home or enter a third country.
- Proof of funds
The European Commission's table of reference amounts lists Croatia at EUR 70 per person per day, or EUR 30 for a third-country national with a certified letter of guarantee from a person or company in Croatia, proof of …
- Travel insurance
Croatia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs requires Schengen visa applicants to hold travel medical insurance valid throughout the Schengen Area for the whole planned stay, with minimum cover of EUR 30,000.
- Arrival card
Non-EU travellers arriving at a Schengen border crossing point for the first time since the EU Entry/Exit System started have a photo of their face taken and/or their fingerprints scanned.
- Customs allowance
The EU says cash of €10,000 or more (or the equivalent) must be declared when entering or leaving the EU.
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Croatia
- Safety: Yes — Croatia is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Croatia Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: June to August — when daytime highs in Zagreb are around 26–29°C.
- Money: the Euro (EUR) — 1 US dollar is about 0.8911 EUR.
- Plugs: type C and F, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112 / 192, Ambulance 112 / 194, Fire 112 / 193.
- Language: Croatian is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, 110 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Zagreb.
- Capital: Zagreb. About 3.9 million people live in Croatia.
- Outdoors: 8 national parks and 4 ski areas.
Key facts
Croatia at a glance
Languages spoken: Croatian (official) 95.2%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3.1% (including Bosnian, Romani, Albanian, and Italian) unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
Geography & history
About Croatia
The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent communist state consisting of six socialist republics, including Croatia, under the strong hand of Josip Broz, aka TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before Yugoslav forces were cleared from Croatian lands, along with a majority of Croatia's ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was…
Read the full history
The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent communist state consisting of six socialist republics, including Croatia, under the strong hand of Josip Broz, aka TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before Yugoslav forces were cleared from Croatian lands, along with a majority of Croatia's ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. The country joined NATO in 2009 and the EU in 2013. In January 2023, Croatia further integrated into the EU by joining the Eurozone and the Schengen Area.
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Climate
Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Terrain
geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands
Highest point
Dinara 1,831 m
Natural resources
oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Natural hazards
destructive earthquakes
National symbols
red-and-white checkerboard
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Croatia
The default speed limits in Croatia are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, 110 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 9090 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- 110110 km/hExpresswaysDual carriageways & expresswaysWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- 130130 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freewaysWith a trailer: 90 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)Zero tolerance for young / novice drivers
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)8.1 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Croatia safe to visit?
Yes — Croatia is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Croatia Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Croatia
The best time to visit Croatia is June to August, when daytime highs in Zagreb are around 26–29°C. May and September are also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (29°C by day), January the coldest (-4°C at night), and September the wettest with about 107 mm of rain.
- Jan3°C-4°C
- Feb5°C-3°C
- Mar11°C1°C
- Apr17°C6°C
- May21°C10°C
- Jun26°C15°C
- Jul29°C17°C
- Aug29°C16°C
- Sep22°C11°C
- Oct16°C6°C
- Nov9°C2°C
- Dec4°C-3°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Croatia
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
4 ski resorts in Croatia
- 14 km of slopes
- 15 lifts
- up to 1,354 m
Biggest: Platak · Sljeme · Rudnik Tršće
National parks
8 national parks in Croatia
- 977 km² protected
- oldest from 1949
Largest: Plitvice Lakes National Park · National Park Kornati · Krka National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Euro exchange rates today
Croatia uses the Euro (EUR, €). One US dollar buys 0.8911 EUR; over the last 30 days the EUR has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in EUR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Croatia ranks
How Croatia compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Croatia
65 airports and airfields — 6 large, 3 medium and 44 small, plus 12 heliports. 8 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Croatia borders 5 countries along 2,237 km of land borders. Coastline: 5,835 km.
Military
Croatian armed forces
Croatia ranks #69 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $2.1 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Zagreb (684,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining,…
Export partners
Italy 14%, Germany 11%, Slovenia 11%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 6%, Austria 6% (2023)
Top exports
ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Croatia
Next public holiday
All Saints' Day — Sunday, 1 November 2026. Then Remembrance Day (18 Nov).
Croatian passport
Ranked #23: 120 countries visa-free, 34 with visa on arrival, 8 with an eTA and 21 with an eVisa.
Croatian passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Croatia's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Croatia
Dial +385 before the local number. Internet domain .hr.
Climate footprint
18.5 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 4.77 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Croatia: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Croatia
Croatian diplomats to get Cambodia visa waiver, no start date announced
Cambodia and Croatia signed two agreements on 20 October 2026 in Phnom Penh, one exempting diplomatic passport holders from visa requirements and one…
EU Weighs Longer Visa Ban for Georgian Diplomats; Decision Due in 2027
The EU's suspension of visa liberalisation for holders of Georgian diplomatic passports is likely to be extended, with a decision due in the first mo…
Croatian Citizenship by Descent: Old 'Austrian' Papers Do Not Rule It Out
Descendants of Croatian emigrants may still qualify for citizenship even when family records list an ancestor as Austrian, Hungarian or Italian. Croa…
Frequently asked questions about Croatia
What do I need to travel to Croatia?
How long must my passport be valid for Croatia?
Where is Croatia?
What is Croatia known for?
What is the capital of Croatia?
What language is spoken in Croatia?
What currency does Croatia use?
What is the calling code of Croatia?
Which countries border Croatia?
How strong is the Croatian passport?
What is the speed limit in Croatia?
Is Croatia safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Croatia?
What plug type does Croatia use?
How many airports does Croatia have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.