Croatia’s borders have been open to international tourism since July 1, 2020. Like many other countries that are open to tourists, Croatia entry requirements depend on the country you are traveling from.

Travelers from EU/EEA countries or that are EU/EEA citizens must either present a EU Digital COVID Certificate; proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 that is not older than 210 days, where the final dose was received more than 14 days prior; proof of receipt of the first dose of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Gamaleya vaccine between 22 to 42 days prior; a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 and proof of receipt of one dose of vaccine within 6 months of contracting COVID and fewer than 210 days prior; a positive PCR test or rapid antigen test from the last 12 to 180 days as proof of recovery from COVID-19; a negative PCR test result from within 72 hours prior to arrival; a rapid antigen test result from within 48 hours prior to arrival; take a PCR or rapid antigen test on arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result; or self-isolate for 10 days from their arrival in Croatia.

Travelers from outside the EU/EEA that are not traveling from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macao, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States, or China can enter Croatia for tourist reasons. They must have a certificate of paid accommodation for a hotel, rental, or other accommodation.

Travelers from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macao, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States, and China can enter Croatia for any reason.

All travelers from outside the EU/EEA must present a negative PCR test from within 72 hours prior to arrival; present a rapid antigen test (RAT) from within 48 hours of arrival in Croatia; present a vaccination certificate for COVID-19 that is not older than 210 days, where the final dose was received more than 14 days prior; present a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 and proof of receipt of one dose of vaccine within 6 months of contracting COVID and fewer than 210 days prior; present a positive PCR test or RAT from the last 12 to 180 days as proof of recovery from COVID-19; self-isolate on arrival until they can take a PCR test or RAT and obtain a negative result; or self-isolate for 10 days from their arrival in Croatia.

All travelers, regardless of other travel restrictions, should complete an Enter Croatia form online before they arrive.

Can I travel to Croatia right now?

Croatia’s borders are open to all countries at the moment and travelers from all countries can visit for tourism purposes. Below is a map of the countries that can enter Croatia for tourism.

Croatia COVID-19 travel restrictions and entry requirements

Croatia’s entry requirements vary based on which country you’re traveling from.

If you’re traveling from an EU/EEA/Schengen Area country or are an EU/EEA/Schengen Area citizen, you must present an EU Digital COVID Certificate. If you do not have one, you must present proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19, a negative PCR test result from within 72 hours prior to arrival, or a rapid antigen test result from within 48 hours prior to arrival.

You can also choose to get tested on arrival, but you must self-isolate until you receive a negative result. If you cannot get tested, you must self-isolate for 10 days from your arrival in Croatia.

If you are traveling from a country on the Croatian Institute of Public Health’s list of countries to which special epidemiological measures apply (currently, Brazil, South Africa,  Tanzania, and India), you must have proof of a negative PCR test result from within 48 hours of arrival in Croatia and self-isolate for 14 days from your arrival in Croatia. Alternatively, you can take a PCR test at your own expense on the 7^th day of your self-isolation period. If that test is negative, you will no longer have to quarantine.

If you are coming from any other country, you must either present a negative PCR test from within 72 hours prior to arrival or a rapid antigen test (RAT) from within 48 hours of arrival in Croatia; present a vaccination certificate for COVID-19 that is not older than 210 days, where the final dose was received more than 14 days prior; present a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 and proof of receipt of one dose of vaccine within 6 months of contracting COVID and fewer than 210 days prior; present a positive PCR test or RAT from the last 12 to 180 days as proof of recovery from COVID-19; self-isolate on arrival until you can take a PCR test or RAT and obtain a negative result; or self-isolate for 10 days from your arrival in Croatia.

If you are traveling from outside the EU/EEA, and are not traveling from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macao, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar,  Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States, or China, and are entering Croatia for tourism purposes, you must have proof of paid accommodation at a hotel, rental, or other accommodation.

Travelers from all countries must complete an Enter Croatia form online before they arrive.

ALERT: EXCEPTIONAL ENTRY MEASURES TO STOP THE NEW STRAINS The Croatian Institute of Public Health has created a list of countries to which special epidemiological measures apply. As of now, this list (in Croatian) includes: Brazil India South Africa Tanzania All travelers from these countries must have proof of a negative PCR test result from within 48 hours of arrival in Croatia and must quarantine for 14 days from their arrival. However, travelers can shorten their quarantine period if they take a PCR test at their own expense on or after the 7th day of their quarantine period. If that test is negative, they can end their quarantine early.

COVID-19 vaccine to travel to Croatia

If you are traveling from an EU/EEA country or are an EU/EEA citizen and you have an EU Digital COVID Certificate; proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 that is not older than 210 days, where the final dose was received more than 14 days prior; proof of receipt of the first dose of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Gamaleya vaccine between 22 to 42 days prior; a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 and proof of receipt of one dose of vaccine within 6 months of contracting COVID and fewer than 210 days prior; or a positive PCR test or RAT from the last 12 to 180 days as proof of recovery from COVID-19, you are exempt from any testing and quarantine requirements.

If you are traveling from any other country (including Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macao, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar,  Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States, and China) and you present proof of  full vaccination for COVID-19 that is not older than 210 days, where the final dose was received more than 14 days prior; a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 and proof of receipt of one dose of vaccine within 6 months of contracting COVID and fewer than 210 days prior; or a positive PCR test or RAT from the last 12 to 180 days as proof of recovery from COVID-19, you are exempt from testing and quarantine requirements.

All you need to do to enter Croatia is present your chosen proof of vaccination or recovery and complete an Enter Croatia form.

Travelers from Brazil, India, South Africa, and Tanzania must, regardless of vaccination status, have proof of a negative PCR test result from within 48 hours of arrival in Croatia and self-isolate for 14 days from their arrival in Croatia. Alternatively, they can take a PCR test at their own expense on the 7^th day of their self-isolation period. If that test is negative, they will no longer have to quarantine.

Is PCR testing mandatory to travel to Croatia?

PCR testing is not mandatory to visit Croatia if you present an EU Digital COVID Certificate, proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 instead. If you do not, you must provide proof of a negative PCR test result that was obtained within 72 hours prior to arrival in Croatia or a negative rapid antigen test result that was obtained within 48 hours prior to arrival in Croatia.

If you do not present an EU Digital COVID Certificate, proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19, a negative PCR test result from within 72 hours prior to arrival, or a rapid antigen test result from within 48 hours prior to arrival, you will have to self-isolate until you get tested and obtain a negative result.

If you cannot get tested, you will be required to self-isolate for 10 days from your arrival in Croatia.

Children who are under the age of 12 and are traveling with a parent/guardian are exempt from the testing requirement as long as their parent/guardian has a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate, a negative PCR or RAT test result, vaccination certificate, or proof of recovery from COVID-19.

Travelers from countries on this list (currently, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, and India) must have proof of a negative PCR test result from within 48 hours of arrival in Croatia and must quarantine for 14 days from their arrival. If they take a PCR on or after day 7 of their self-isolation period and receive a negative result, they can end their quarantine early.

Is there a mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Croatia?

There is no mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Croatia for travelers who present proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19, a negative PCR test result from within 72 hours prior to arrival, or a rapid antigen test result from within 48 hours prior to arrival.

If you are traveling from a country on the Croatian Institute of Public Health’s list of countries to which special epidemiological measures apply (currently, Brazil, South Africa,  Tanzania, and India), you must self-isolate for 14 days from your arrival in Croatia. Alternatively, you can take a PCR test at your own expense on the 7^th day of your self-isolation period. If that test is negative, you will no longer have to quarantine.

If you are traveling from an EU/ EEA country or are an EU/EEA citizen and you do not provide an EU Digital COVID Certificate, proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19, a negative PCR test result from within 72 hours prior to arrival, or a rapid antigen test result from within 48 hours prior to arrival, you must get tested on arrival in Croatia and self-isolate until you receive a negative result. If you do not get tested, you must self-isolate for 10 days.

If you are traveling from any other country, you will have to self-isolate on arrival until you get tested for COVID-19 if you do not provide proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19, a negative PCR test result from within 72 hours prior to arrival, or a rapid antigen test result from within 48 hours prior to arrival. If you cannot get tested, you must self-isolate for 10 days.

If you do need to quarantine, you must follow these instructions from the Croatian Institute of Public Health. You can find more information on who needs to quarantine here.

Is travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage mandatory to travel to Croatia?

No, you are not required to have travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage to enter Croatia. However, if you want the safety and security of knowing that you’re covered no matter what happens, you shouldn’t travel without it.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive travel insurance policy with COVID-19 coverage for your trip to Croatia, look no further than Heymondo. Their policy includes COVID-19 testing and treatment abroad, which is why we have used them for all of our trips we’ve taken this year. Their COVID-19 travel insurance is already quite affordable, but if you want to save even more, you can get 5% off their policies just for being our reader.

Other travel restrictions for Croatia during COVID-19

Croatia also has a few other regulations for travelers:

• Travelers from a country outside the EU/EEA that is not on this list who are entering Croatia for tourism purposes must have a certificate of paid accommodation at a hotel rental, or other accommodation in Croatia.

• All travelers must complete an Enter Croatia Form and present it upon arrival. The form can also be submitted online before departure.

• All travelers may be subject to a health screening upon arrival.

• Face masks must be worn in all public spaces.

• You must maintain a distance of at least 2 meters from others indoors and a distance of at least 1.5 meters from others outdoors.

• Depending on your nationality, you may need a tourist visa to enter Croatia. Check if you need one below.

What’s open in Croatia

Croatia is home to many beautiful sights and attractions. As the country has reopened to international tourism, hotels, beaches, attractions, and restaurants have opened too.

Hotels and accommodations that are open in Croatia

There are plenty of hotels and accommodations that are open in Croatia at the moment. However, some accommodations do close seasonally (unrelated to COVID-19), so if there is a specific accommodation you have in mind, be sure to check the dates that they are open when you book. All accommodations that are currently open must abide by the rules found here (in Croatian).

These rules include that guests must maintain a 1.5-meter distance from other visitors who are not in their family group. Hand sanitizer will be available at the accommodation’s entrance for all guests to use. Guests will be informed of all of the accommodation’s hygiene guidelines during check-in, with a pamphlet, or with informational posters around the accommodation. All public, high-contact surfaces will be disinfected frequently.

Beaches that are open in Croatia

Croatia has some lovely beaches, which are currently all open to the public. Of course, some safety regulations are in place to protect swimmers and sunbathers.

All beach visitors must keep a distance of 1.5 meters from other groups, both on the beach and in the water.

More information on beach regulations can be found here.

Attractions that are open in Croatia

There are lots of things to see and do in Croatia: you can visit the Walls of Dubrovnik (which were featured on Game of Thrones), the Palace of Diocletian, Plitvice Lakes and other Croatian national parks. Many attractions are currently open, although they are subject to increased health and safety requirements.

All guests should disinfect their hands before and after the attraction. Guests must also maintain a distance of 1.5 meters from other visitors who are not in their family group and wear face masks at all times while visiting the attraction.

Some of the best tours that are currently running with safety measures are:

• 5 Islands and Blue Cave Day Trip
• Krka National Park Day Trip
• Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Tour
• Rastoke & Plitvice Lakes National Park Tour
• Trogir and Blue Lagoon Tour

More information on regulations for attractions can be found here (in Croatian) and here (in Croatian).

Restaurants that are open in Croatia

Tasting the delicious local cuisine is just one of the many things you can do on a trip to Croatia. Currently, restaurants and cafes are open. Restaurants are open for indoor dining, outdoor dining, delivery, and takeout. Cafes are open for outdoor dining, delivery, and takeout.

Outdoor dining on terraces is open from 6 AM to 12 AM. There is a ban on selling alcoholic beverages from 12 AM to 6 AM. All guests must wear face masks in cafes and restaurants when picking up food. Guests must also disinfect their hands when entering the cafe or restaurant.

More information on these guidelines can be found here (in Croatian) and here.

Airports that are open in Croatia

Croatia has 9 different airports, many of which are international. Four of the most prominent international airports are Zagreb Airport (also known as Franjo Tudman), Dubrovnik Airport, Split Airport, and Zadar Airport, all of which are open. Zagreb Airport is the largest and busiest international airport, so most international travelers will arrive there.

All airports have instituted health and safety measures for travelers to follow, including wearing a face mask at all times, maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 meters from others, and sanitizing hands. Travelers may also be subject to health screenings.

Where to get a PCR test in Croatia – COVID-19 Testing in Croatia

Your country may require you to take a PCR test in order to fly back home. If you need to get a PCR test in Croatia, here is a list of places you can get tested.

Croatia reopening to International Tourists – F.A.Q.

Check out these FAQs related to Croatia reopening for tourists and let us know if you have any other questions in the comments below.

Sources

This guide to Croatia reopening for tourism will be updated with any new developments as they are reported. However, if you want more information on travel to Croatia, you can check these official sources:

• US Embassy Updates on COVID-19 in Croatia
• CDC Travel Recommendations for Croatia
• General Croatia Travel Advisory
• Croatian Government Information on COVID-19 Entry Requirements in English
• Enter Croatia Form
• Croatian Institute of Public Health Quarantine Instructions in English
• Croatian Government Coronavirus Dashboard in English
• Croatian Hotel Regulations in Croatian
• Croatian Restaurant and Cafe Regulations in Croatian
• Croatian Tourist Board COVID Q & A in English
• Croatian Regulations for National Parks and Zoos in Croatian
• Croatian Regulations for Museums and Galleries in Croatian