Croatia travel requirements 2024: What travelers need to know

We aim to keep this post updated about Croatia travel in 2024 with official Croatia travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours.

We lived and worked from Croatia in winter of 2019 and loved it.

As restrictions vary based on the traveler’s citizenship, we will focus primarily on rules affecting U.S. citizens.

At the end of the post, we share on-the-ground perspectives from local residents and travelers to Croatia so you can get a sense of what it’s really like.

Last update: October 2023. Originally published: November 2020.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of our links, we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Can US citizens travel to Croatia? Can I travel to Croatia right now? 

Can Americans travel to Croatia? Yes, travelers from the United States can enter Croatia for tourism. As of May 2022, Croatia travel restrictions and entry requirements related to COVID-19 have been removed.

Travelers can visit Croatia without any testing, vaccination, or quarantine rules.

Visitors from over 60 visa-exempt countries, including the U.S., will soon be required to have a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorization to enter Croatia and other European countries. The start date has been delayed from 2024 to 2025. 

See details about ETIAS here

Quarantine rules in Croatia: What happens if I get Covid?

Foreign travelers are not required to quarantine upon arrival to Croatia.

Travelers who test positive for Covid while in Croatia can get in touch with a local epidemiologist. Call 113 (from a Croatian number) for general advice about COVID-19. 

As of May 2023, there are no longer quarantine requirements for those who test positive. However, they are advised to avoid large gatherings. Self-isolation for five days, followed by ten days wearing a mask, is recommended for those who come into contact with the elderly, chronically ill, immunocompromised people, and pregnant women. 

People who were in close contact to those who tested positive are not required to quarantine. They are, however, asked to wear mask for 10 days, to self-test on the fifth day, and to avoid large gatherings especially among people who are at increased risk.

Croatia Vaccine Passport Requirements to Enter Large Gatherings

You might be wondering: Do I need a vaccine certificate or Covid test to enter restaurants, accommodations, or attractions in Croatia?

Currently, a vaccine certificate or Covid test is no longer needed to enter accommodations, businesses, attractions, or attend large gatherings in Croatia.

Can Americans travel to Croatia in April 2024? Can US citizens travel to Croatia this Spring?

Croatia travel in April is open for US citizens. Please read on for details and check back for updates.

What is it like to fly to Zagreb ZAG, Split SPU, or Dubrovnik DBV airports right now? Croatia Airlines reports that guests are no longer required to wear face masks on flights.

Disinfecting systems and health screenings have been implemented at the airports.

Do Americans have to quarantine when traveling to Croatia? As of May 2022, travelers are not required to quarantine upon entry in Croatia.

For travelers who test positive with Covid-19 while in Croatia, please see above for details.

Does Croatia check COVID-19 symptoms of incoming travelers? Basic health screening procedures may be in place at the airports in Croatia.

Does Croatia require a negative Covid-19 test for American travelers? No. A negative Covid-19 test is no longer required to enter Croatia.

Does Croatia require a proof of Coronavirus vaccine for American travelers? No. A proof of Coronavirus vaccine is no longer required to enter Croatia.

Do I still need to provide a negative Covid test or quarantine if I have been vaccinated? No. A negative Covid test, quarantine, and proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter Croatia.

Is a booster shot required for travel to Croatia? No. A booster shot is not required to enter Croatia. There is no set period of expiration for booster shots.

What Covid testing options are available for travelers in Croatia? PCR and/or antigen tests are available for travelers at COVID-19 Testing Locations in Croatia.

As of July 2022, PCR tests cost HRK 276.56 (approximately 37.55 USD) if referred by a doctor or HRK 390 (approximately $53 USD) if not referred by a doctor. Antigen or rapid tests, on the other hand, cost approximately $20 USD.

What healthcare options are available to travelers in Croatia who get the virus? Croatia hospitals and clinics are open. However, if you get sick in Croatia, medical resources may sometimes be limited and treatment will be at your own expense.

Local COVID-19 PCR tests in Croatia are not covered by Croatian Health, unless referred by a Doctor or epidemiologist.

For travel insurance that covers Covid, check out Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing >

What service businesses and restaurants are open in Croatia? Restaurants are open for indoor and outdoor dining. Museums, attractions, and other businesses are also open.

What public gatherings are allowed in Croatia? Public and private gatherings or events are allowed in Croatia. 

Are face masks required in Croatia? Face masks are not required except in hospitals and care centers.

Are buses running in Croatia? Public transportation is available as usual throughout Croatia.

Will Croatia impose new Covid restrictions? What’s next is difficult to predict. Historically, Croatia has imposed COVID-19 restrictions when the health care system is under strain, which means when the number of hospitalizations and patients on ventilators rise to unsustainable levels.

How has the Coronavirus impacted Croatia?

The Croatian Government declared the epidemiological situation under control in early June 2020 with almost no new cases being reported for several weeks. However, the country saw a spike in cases in Fall 2020. This prompted the government to implement additional measures to slow the spread of the virus and support its health system.

Croatia, which is highly dependent on tourism, reopened its borders in July 2020. Despite this, the economy still struggled with a substantial increase in unemployment.

Croatia’s vaccination program began slightly before the New Year 2021. Over half of the population have been fully vaccinated.

For the current situation in Croatia, including: total COVID-19 positive cases; total cases in Croatia; and COVID-19 testing in Croatia, please see the Croatia Department of Health site.

What do Croatia locals and recent travelers say about visiting Croatia now?

What is it like to visit Croatia right now? It’s our goal to provide regular updates here from real people on the ground, to help potential visitors know what to expect.

The following are subjective opinions only. Official travel guidance can be found above.

September 2023 – Steven Jepson of The Thorough Tripper, American traveler “We are currently in Dubrovnik Croatia for one week as part of a 6 week/6 country European trip. Dubrovnik supposedly has the most overtourism in all of Europe, and we are seeing it first hand. I thought if we came at the end of September, it wouldn’t be too bad. It’s bad. So many people…

I have yet to see the word COVID written anywhere here. There doesn’t seem to be any restrictions whatsoever.”

June 2023 – Coni from Experiencing the Globe, Croatian resident: “Short and sweet: Croatia is completely open, without any restrictions of any kind. Everything is back to pre-pandemic normal. 

All attractions and tourist infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, etc.) are fully working. Testing facilities are plentiful, and private clinics are readily available in case of need.

Do keep in mind that Croatia is a very popular summer destination, and with no restrictions in place, you’ll find crowds everywhere in the coast and known national parks.”

January 2023 – Gabi of Under Flowery Sky, Croatian resident: “Croatia currently adopts the Euro [as currency in place of kuna] and this stimulates prices going up comparing to the past. The hostels are still full even in January and prices affordable.

Most of local attractions are open. Healthcare is easily accessible, specially in the cities. Masks are not requiered anymore.”

September 17, 2022 – Arianna of Extra Mile Project: “I spent 9 days in Croatia in September 2022 and traveled to Zagreb, Hvar, Split, and Dubrovnik by train. Life seemed to be back to normal. As an EU citizen, I easily flew into Zagreb without any travel restrictions (no testing or contact tracing required).

Masks were recommended in the airport and on public transportation but very few people were wearing one. Some museums still used a time slot-based booking system to avoid overcrowding, so I’d recommend buying tickets in advance. However, September didn’t seem to be a busy month and I was always able to find available tickets on the spot. Most of the attractions had signs at the entrance asking visitors to sanitize their hands and measure their temperature, but nobody was really checking.”

August 2022 – N.h., expat: “My cousin arrived on Sunday with EasyJet from Gatwick. She said check
-in and security took 50 minutes. Her flight was delayed by 1 1/2 hours. Everything in Split was quick and easy. The new terminal is great and everything runs pretty smoothly.”

May 28 2022 – Gloria from mumsinvited.com: “In May, I flew into Croatia for a 4 day work conference. It was a fantastic experience. I didn’t experience any travel restrictions coming from the UK. To my knowledge, there wasn’t any contact tracing or testing. I didn’t even have to take a Covid test before travelling or after my arrival. There weren’t any long queues or extra crowded spaces.”

April 16, 2022 – Third country national: “A friend (US Passport) arrived in Split 1 week ago today on a direct flight from Dublin (where she is currently living). She was asked for vax/test/recovery. She doesn’t qualify for EU COVID Cert, so provided CDC card with all 3 jabs. That’s what was asked of her, but current rules do seem to indicate she shouldn’t have needed to provide anything.”

February 16, 2022 – Kathleen O., American nomad: “Split, Croatia is returning to normal life. Local restaurants are open at full capacity (although many are closed simply because it’s outside of the tourist season), buses and ferries are running, and it looks likely to be a record summer season coming. Spring is my favorite time to visit Croatia and with cases dropping every day, it’s a good time to plan a trip.”

January 20, 2022 – Marty, Expat in Croatia: “My wife and I are halfway through a 3 month stay in an Airbnb next to the Riva in Split, Croatia. We have felt very safe as far as any Covid concerns. Split is close enough to take side trips, in fact we just returned from a week in Kotor, Montenegro and Mostar, Bosnia [crossed Croatia land border]. We also traveled to Dubrovnik, which we recommend seeing.
Here in Split, Croatia it is easy to get a Covid test if needed. They also allow non-Croatians to get a vaccine, in fact we were able to get our Pfizer booster shot. Since we are here in the off season some restaurants and shops are closed, but there is still lots to choose from. When we were here in October everything was open. They usually don’t ask to see your vaccine card to go inside to shop or eat.”

December 20, 2021 – Kathleen of My Lonesome Roads, American digital nomad: “I am living [in Croatia] for the winter while working online. Most events are still happening, like the Christmas markets, and shops/restaurants/bars are open at full capacity here in Split. There are almost no tourists here which is typical for the winter, so prices are reasonable and you can get a taste of local life. 

There are very few restrictions in place, but testing is widely available and inexpensive. Vaccination rates are very low, but the healthcare quality is good. No test or vaccine is needed for most activities.”

October 2021 – Dana, American tourist: “As part of a Mediterranean cruise with Holland America in October, 2021, we visited Zadar and Dubrovnik for one day each. Crowds were minimal and COVID restrictions virtually non-existent. That said, I recommend having a mask at the ready should the need arise. No one asked for vaccination proof at any time. 
Restaurants were plentiful and open. As noted, crowds were few and seating at bars and restaurants was easy to find.”

October 2021 – Victoria C., Scottish traveler: “We went for a family holiday to Dubrovnik, Croatia for 10 days in October 2021. Everyone we met were very welcoming and we didn’t have any bad experiences
All the local attractions were open, tours were taking place. Restaurants and bars were open. Some were closed due to it coming to the end of the season.
We were never asked for any proof of vaccines or tests in town. We had our temperatures taken when we rode the cable car that was it.
Masks were worn by most people indoors at supermarkets, shops etc. We didn’t find it overly busy and never really had to wait in any queues.”

September 2021 – Jenn, CocktailsAway.com: “My husband and I spent a week in Croatia, Dubrovnik and Stari Grad (on the island of Hvar) celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. If you are vaccinated, you will find visiting Croatia fairly easy. All restaurants and bars are open. Tours, activities, and businesses are operating.
There is a required form for tracing that needs to be filled out before arrival but outside of immigration and the hotels, no one checked our vaccine card. While everything is open, some businesses haven’t survived the pandemic so it’s wise to check ahead.”

September 9, 2021 – A., UK visitor: “I am currently in a quarantine hotel in Rovinj due to catching covid in Croatia, so I thought I’d share my experience with this so that anyone who wants to know the procedure is aware. I took my lateral flow in our hotel room ready to go back to the UK the next day but it came up positive. We rang [our travel agency] so that they could change our flights (package holiday included flight change for free), we rang the hotel reception on Istra who told us we could stay in the room we were in to isolate and that they would bring us up food for each meal. About an hour later when we’d ordered food and were settled, they rang us and said your boat will be here in half an hour. We were very confused as they just told us we could stay where we are we then had to eat and pack up our whole room in half an hour… We got on a private boat and there was a private car waiting for us that took us to Villas Rubin resort. The lady who greeted us here is lovely and very helpful if we need anything. The room is a decent size with two balconies and they drop us off three meals a day in a crate outside. We get a carton of juice each, bread rolls, fruit, salad and a big meal so can’t complain at all about the food. We have to pay at the end of our stay £60 per person per night, then our StaySure insurance will pay us back. I’ve seen lots of people say Dubrovnik has dealt with [this kind of situation] really badly, but we seem to have got a good hotel!
We’ve been told we can’t leave or go home until we are negative. I’m testing daily so if we come back negative early we get to go home.”

August 2021 – Malek, Egyptian Traveler: “I spent 3 weeks in Croatia with the wifey. People are super helpful. They welcome you help you and try to give you the best advice. when we had a wrong booking on a bus, the other travelers and some locals put the money for us to keep our journey till the next stop and the ATM. Everywhere you are asked for mask and covid passport.”

July 2021 – M.M, American visitor: “I was in Dubrovnik Croatia for 3 weeks. The tourist population was about half of what we anticipated. Though the city is small and few tourists still make it feel crowded, I would definitely recommend going to Dubrovnik now, I can’t imagine how crowded it is without COVID. 
All restrictions are being followed by locals and visitors. Testing was easy and quick for COVID and food service was exactly what you get in the US, clean and masked.”

June 2021 – Martina of PlacesofJuma, Austrian Digital Nomad: “The current situation in Croatia is very relaxed. Restaurants and cafes are open, the beaches are quiet and Covid seems light miles away. Locals are happy about every visitor, the atmosphere is really good and the room prices are still really cheap!
Keeping distance, hand washing and wearing a mask is followed. Life takes place mainly outdoors, which also reduces the risk of infection. Unfortunately, I don’t know whether the locals get tested and how often. However, many people, especially the elderly and those who work in tourism, have already been vaccinated. Larger hotels also have fantastic hygiene concepts, staff is wearing mask and some hotels offer free covid-tests to travelers.”

April 2021 – Kevin Macadam, British Digital Nomad: “We moved to Croatia for one year on the 1st March 2021. Arriving into Croatia was fine and we travelled with a dog and cat.
Yes, Croatians are welcoming tourists however Covid cases are rising in Croatia so unless you have been vaccinated then I would advise against travelling here.
People are wearing masks and testing is available, however, they have a low supply of vaccines at the moment. Tourist attractions are open and restaurants are open until 20:00, however this can differ from county to county.”

Disclaimer:
Please note, travel restrictions change frequently. Readers must take responsibility for verifying information through official sources like the State Department and CDC, in respect to their specific situations. No responsibility can be accepted by Intentional Travelers for action or inaction as a result of information provided through IntentionalTravelers.com. Any information provided here is issued as general information only.