Croatia travel checklist: what to do before you go

Croatia is in the Schengen area, so the clock that matters is 90 days in any 180 across the whole zone, not just Croatia. Check your own passport's rules on your government's travel advice page before you pay for anything: most Western passports need validity of at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave Schengen, and the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years. Renewals can take weeks, so this is the first task.

Then decide the shape of the trip. The country page's default is two coastal bases, Split and Dubrovnik, three nights each, flying into one airport and out of the other. Summer flights to Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar sell out and get expensive; booking 2–4 months ahead is normal for July and August. If your dates are flexible, May, June, September and October give you the same coast with fewer people and lower prices.

Book the pieces that have fixed capacity. Plitvice Lakes needs a timed entry slot in season and the car park fills; sleeping nearby and walking at opening is the standard workaround. Dubrovnik's city walls and the cable car are best bought online for a morning slot. Catamaran and ferry routes to Hvar, Korčula and Vis are run by more than one operator and summer sailings do sell out, so reserve the legs that matter and keep a buffer day on either side of a flight.

Money is simple: Croatia uses the euro, cards are accepted almost everywhere on the coast, and about 10% is the normal restaurant tip for good service. Carry a little cash for konobas, markets and small islands. Sort out your phone plan or an eSIM, and download offline maps for the islands, where signal drops between towns.

Re-check the practical details. Confirm every ferry and transfer time, because island schedules change with the season and weather. Look at the forecast: the bura wind can close boat trips and the bora-driven cold arrives fast outside summer. If you are driving, remember Croatia drives on the right and dipped headlights are required in winter months — check the current rule before you set off.

Pack for a coast that is hot and dry in summer and wet and windy in winter: swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen, a light rain shell, comfortable shoes for cobbles and walls, and a European plug adapter (types C and F, 230 V). If you take medication, bring enough in original packaging with a copy of the prescription.

Have your passport, boarding pass, insurance policy number and first night's address reachable without wifi. Arrive at the airport with the usual buffer; summer queues at Split and Dubrovnik are long. On arrival, buy or top up a local SIM if you skipped the eSIM, get cash from an ATM rather than a bureau de change, and confirm how you are getting from the airport to your base — Split and Dubrovnik both have shuttle buses and the old towns are pedestrian-only.

Save the emergency numbers: 112 for everything, 192 police, 193 fire, 194 ambulance, 195 sea rescue. Then stop planning and go eat.

Croatia joined Schengen in 2023, so entry follows Schengen rules: a passport valid at least three months beyond your planned departure and issued within the last 10 years, and a 90-day-in-180 limit for visa-free visitors. US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Irish passport holders do not need a visa for tourism stays under 90 days, but always confirm on your own government's advice page, since rules change.

Keep a photo of your passport and insurance in your phone and a paper copy in your bag. If you are staying longer or working remotely, the digital nomad route is a separate application with its own timeline.

The euro replaced the kuna in January 2023, so there is no currency exchange to plan around. Cards work in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and most ferries; cash is still useful in small konobas, markets and on quieter islands. Tipping is about 10% in restaurants for good service, and rounding up for taxis and cafés.

Budget from the trip-cost pages rather than guessing: a 7-day coastal trip and a 14-day trip that adds Zagreb or Istria land at very different totals, mostly driven by summer accommodation. ATMs are common; choose to be charged in euro rather than your home currency to avoid a poor conversion rate.

No vaccinations are required for Croatia for most travellers arriving from Western countries, but routine boosters and hepatitis A are commonly recommended — check with a travel clinic four to six weeks before you go. Tap water is safe to drink. Summer heat on the coast and islands is the real risk: carry water, use sunscreen, and take the midday hours slowly. Pharmacies are well stocked and staff speak English.

Travel insurance is worth buying early, before non-refundable ferries and apartments. Check that it covers boat trips, sea kayaking and hiking if those are on your list, and that it includes medical repatriation. The emergency number is 112.

Pack for cobblestones, boats and sun. Comfortable closed shoes for old towns and walls, sandals or water shoes for rocky beaches, swimwear, a hat, sunscreen and a light rain shell. Plugs are types C and F at 230 V, so bring an adapter. A refillable bottle saves money and plastic, since tap water is drinkable.

In shoulder season add a warm layer and a windproof jacket: the bura can make a sunny day cold. If you are hiking or doing an adventure itinerary, add proper shoes and a small daypack.