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Money in Croatia, sorted.
A calm, current plan for the money side of your trip: why your card covers the towns, the euros worth keeping for the islands and konobas, the ATMs to skip, and the taxes to know now that Croatia is on the euro.
Two changes since a pre-2023 visit. On 1 January 2023 Croatia joined both the euro and the Schengen area, so the old kuna is gone (everything is now priced and paid in euros) and there are no longer routine passport checks at land borders with neighbors like Slovenia or Hungary. Since April 2026, arriving from outside the EU, you give a quick fingerprint and photo at the border under the new EES system, with no fee and no form. A separate authorization, ETIAS, is due later in 2026, but a US passport is all you need for now.
The three things people ask
Will my card work? Do I need cash? Are ATMs easy?
The quick read for a first trip.
Your card
Fine in the towns
Visa and Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay work in hotels, restaurants, shops and larger stores across the towns and cities. Amex is patchier. The soft spots are the islands and small konobas, where cash is smoother.
Check yours →Cash
Euros for the coast
Carry some euros for the islands, small konobas (family taverns), market stalls, ferries and parking machines. Croatia is fully on the euro now, so the old kuna is gone. Get cash from a bank ATM, not a coastal exchange kiosk.
How much to bring →ATMs
Avoid coastal Euronet
Use an ATM attached to a real bank (Zagrebacka, PBZ, Erste) and skip the standalone Euronet machines all over the tourist coast, which push poor rates. Whichever you use, decline the 'pay in US dollars' offer and choose euros.
See ATMs in Croatia →(opens in a new tab)Cash or card
Card-friendly in the towns, with euros for islands, konobas and ferries.
A rough feel for everyday spending. Cards cover hotels, restaurants and larger shops in the towns and cities. Cash is a moderate share, for the islands, small konobas, market stalls, ferries, parking machines and tips, so keep some euros on you.
See what the trip really costs →Your money plan
Four steps and you're set.
Before you go
- Bring a no-foreign-fee Visa or Mastercard, plus a backup. Amex is patchier here.
- Croatia is on the euro now, so pack as you would for any eurozone trip; the old kuna is gone.
- Plan to pay by card in the towns and carry some euros for islands, konobas and ferries.
- At the border you will now be fingerprinted and photographed under the new EES system. There is no fee and no form, and a US passport is all you need for now.
At the airport
- Skip the exchange counters and Euronet ATMs. Use a bank ATM, and decline 'convert to US dollars.'
- Grab about 100 to 150 euros for your first day or two, for ferries, konobas and small stops.
- For islands, note that most car ferries and catamarans take cards online, but small vendors on board and at the dock often want cash.
- Set up an eSIM before you land; Croatia has fast, cheap mobile data along the coast and inland.
Day to day
- Tap your card or phone in the towns, and choose euros every time.
- Keep some euros for the islands, konobas, markets, ferries and parking machines.
- On the coast, confirm the price of seafood sold by the kilogram before you order.
- If staying privately rather than in a hotel, register with the police within 24 hours.
A golden rule
- Always pay in euros, never US dollars. Dynamic currency conversion at a till or ATM, and coastal Euronet machines, both quietly add a few percent.
- Tip lightly. Round up or leave about 10% for good table service, in cash, after checking for any service charge in touristy spots.
Staying connected
Will my phone work here? And what will it cost?
Very good, coast and inland. Croatia has fast, wide 4G and solid 5G across the cities, the coast and the islands, from Hrvatski Telekom, A1 and Telemach. A prepaid SIM is cheap, but for most visitors an eSIM from Airalo, Nomad or a similar provider is the easy route. Your US plan may include some roaming, so check the rate first. You do not need mobile data to pay by card, but you will want it for maps, ferry times and tickets. The cost is where people get caught out, and on most US plans it lands in one of two buckets.
Your plan may already include it
Often, do nothing
Some US plans include slow data abroad at no extra cost. If that is you, the honest move is to leave it alone.
we earn nothing
Or it charges quietly, after the fact
The bill lands later
On pay-per-use plans the cost runs in the background while you travel, and the charge can show up weeks after you are home. Forgetting to switch off data roaming is the classic one. For a week or more, an eSIM is usually cheaper and keeps you in control.
Check what your own carrier charges before the trip, not after.
If an eSIM is the cheaper call, Nomad covers Croatia.
Get your Nomad eSIM for Croatia→(opens in a new tab)we may earn a commissionMedical cover
The one cost with no price tag.
Every other number on this page has a price you can look up. This one does not, and it can be the largest of them all. Most US health plans cover little or nothing once you leave the country, and Medicare covers essentially none of it abroad. A serious illness or injury is paid up front, and a medical evacuation runs from tens of thousands of dollars to past $100,000 if you are remote or an ocean from home.
First, you may not need to buy anything.
A cheap, refundable trip close to home does not need this. And if you are healthy, headed somewhere with good care, and one of the premium cards on the shortlist above already includes emergency medical and evacuation, you may be covered already. Check your card's benefits guide before you buy. Saying that costs us the commission, and it is still the right call.
How much cover matters here
Here, good hospitals are easy to reach and the care is high quality, so for a healthy traveler this leans more toward your call than a must.
If you do want cover, this is what it is for: the evacuation and the up-front hospital bill, the part no card limit is meant to absorb.
Enough for most trips
Faye, or a comparable whole-trip policy
Bundles trip protection with emergency medical, which is enough cover for most travelers on a typical trip.
The deeper end
A dedicated travel-medical plan built for serious care and evacuation abroad
Stronger on medical care and evacuation, for a remote or higher-risk trip where that is the real exposure.
If it happens
Call it first, then call your insurer's 24/7 assistance line, which is what confirms payment and arranges an evacuation. 112 reaches every service, in English. If you prefer the direct lines, 194 is an ambulance, 193 the fire service and 192 the police. The 911 number does not work here.
TrueTripCosts explains the gap and points to options. It does not set your coverage amounts or act as your insurance advisor, and every policy carries its own exclusions, so read them before you buy. Emergency number checked Jul 2026. Confirm the current number before you travel, as local lines can change.
Currency basics
The euro in Croatia, in plain terms.
Quick conversion
Croatia adopted the euro (EUR) in 2023, replacing the kuna. The euro is worth about 1.15 US dollars in 2026, so 100 euros is roughly 115 dollars and 10 euros about 11.50. The notes and coins are the standard euro ones used across the eurozone, and prices already include VAT.
Cards widely taken
Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay work in hotels, restaurants, shops and larger stores across the towns and cities. Amex is patchier. Lean on your card in town and keep euros for the islands and smaller places.
Cash for the coast
Keep some euros for the islands, the small konobas (family taverns), market stalls, ferries and parking machines, where cash is still the easy way to pay. The old kuna is gone, so do not seek it out.
Tipping is light
Tipping is modest. In restaurants, rounding up or leaving about 10% for good service is normal, in cash. In touristy coastal spots, check the bill first for a service charge. For a coffee or a drink, just round up.
Real exchange rate
What your money is really worth here.
This is the mid-market rate, the one the banks trade at and the yardstick every other rate is measured against. Your card lands a little below it, and if a screen ever offers to bill you in dollars, that is worse again. So this is the number to expect, and how you spot a bad one.
1 US dollar is about 0.88 EUR
Taxes and refunds
A small nightly sojourn tax, and money back on shopping.
Two things to know. Croatia charges a sojourn tax (boravisna pristojba) per person per night, collected by your accommodation, usually around 1 to 2 euros per adult and a little more on the coast in high summer, with children under 12 exempt and those 12 to 18 paying half. Everyday prices already include VAT, a 25% standard rate with reduced rates of 13% on things like hotel stays and 5% on some basics, so the figure on the tag is what you pay. If you shop, non-EU visitors can reclaim the 25% VAT on goods: spend over about 100 euros in one store, ask for a tax-free form, keep the goods unused, and have customs stamp it when you leave the EU. After fees you get back roughly 17%, not the full 25%. Refunds are for goods, not hotels or meals.
Before you book: passports, the six-month rule and whether you need a visa. Not a US citizen, or connecting through Europe? The rules can differ, and even a layover can need its own visa. See our passports and visas guide →
Watch out for
The small traps that catch first-timers.
Tipping
Tip lightly.
Croatia tips modestly, and nobody expects the percentages common in the US. In a restaurant with table service, rounding up or leaving about 10% for good service is normal, and cash straight to the server is best. In more touristy coastal spots, check the bill first for a service charge that may already be added. For a coffee, a drink or a quick bite, simply rounding up is plenty. Taxi fares are usually just rounded up, and a helpful hotel porter might get a euro or two. Nobody will chase you for more.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do I need cash in Croatia?
Some. Cards cover hotels, restaurants and larger shops in the towns and cities, but the islands, small konobas, market stalls, ferries and parking machines often want cash. Keep some euros on you and top up from a bank ATM as needed.
Does Croatia use the euro or the kuna?
The euro. Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, and the old kuna is gone. Everything is now priced, charged and given in euros, the same notes and coins used across the eurozone.
Which ATMs should I avoid in Croatia?
Skip the standalone Euronet machines common along the tourist coast, which push poor rates. Use an ATM attached to a real bank such as Zagrebacka, PBZ or Erste, and always choose euros, not dollars.
Should I pay in euros or US dollars?
Always euros. If a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in US dollars, decline; that dynamic currency conversion adds a few percent. Paying in euros lets your card's network handle the exchange fairly.
What is the sojourn tax in Croatia?
A small tourist tax charged per person per night and collected by your accommodation, usually around 1 to 2 euros per adult and a little more on the coast in high summer. Children under 12 are exempt, and those aged 12 to 18 pay half.
Can I get a VAT refund on shopping in Croatia?
Yes. Non-EU visitors can reclaim the 25% VAT on goods: spend over about 100 euros in one store, ask for a tax-free form, keep the goods unused, and have customs stamp it when you leave the EU. After fees you get back roughly 17%, and it is for goods, not hotels or meals.
Do I need to register with the police in Croatia?
If you stay in a hotel or a registered rental, it is done for you automatically at check-in. If you stay privately with friends or family, you must register yourself at the local police within 24 hours, with your passport.
Do you tip in Croatia?
Lightly. Round up or leave about 10% for good table service, in cash, after checking touristy bills for a service charge. Tipping is not expected for a quick coffee or drink beyond rounding up.
Do I need a visa or ETIAS for Croatia?
Not right now. US citizens visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. Croatia joined Schengen in 2023, and since April 2026 you give a fingerprint and photo at the border under the new EES system, with no fee and no form. ETIAS, a small online fee, is due later in 2026.
What it really costs
What you'll really spend in Croatia.
Your flights if you want them counted, your room, your on-the-ground spending, the two fees most US cards add without telling you, and Croatia's tourist tax. One number, nothing waiting on the statement. No bank to pick, no sign-up, nothing saved.
Optional. Enter your round trip fare per traveler to fold flights into the total.
In Croatia, plan for about $0.
Realistically somewhere between $0 and $0.
Whether at an ATM or a card terminal in a shop or restaurant, always choose to be charged in the local currency, not dollars. Paying in dollars (called dynamic currency conversion) lets the machine set its own, worse, exchange rate on top of any fee.
Rough guide, not a quote. The percentage here is a blended stand-in for a typical US card's foreign fee, not your exact rate. The real number moves with the card you carry: one no-foreign-fee card can cover both sides, while a plain rewards credit card only removes the fee on what you buy, and cash still costs a little unless that card also waives ATM and foreign-cash fees. A debit card, or accepting the "pay in dollars" (dynamic currency conversion) offer at a till or ATM, can push it higher. Rates checked Jun 2026 and rounded.
How this estimate is built
These are the assumptions behind the number. Change the room price, nights, travelers, or travel style above, and every line here moves with them.
- Hotel
- Daily spending
- Flights
- Cash vs card
- ATM withdrawals
- Foreign fee
- The range
- Tourist tax
Not sure which card to bring? See my pick for Croatia.
Already carry a card with no foreign transaction fee? Then you are set for Croatia, and can skip this. There is nothing to buy.
If you are getting a card for Croatia, this is the pairing I would pick: a no-foreign-fee credit card for spending, and a fee-free ATM debit card for cash. We earn nothing on these today. Always confirm the current fee with the issuer before you apply. Checked Jun 2026.
Capital One charges no foreign transaction fee on any of its cards.
No foreign transaction fee
Fee-free ATM cash worldwide
Want one account that holds and spends in the local currency? A different job from the three above, and the one I reach for abroad. It is free to open; you can create a virtual card in the app and add it to your phone wallet in minutes, without waiting for the physical card; and you can convert US dollars into the local currency inside the account before you travel, then spend from that balance. Wise uses the mid-market rate plus a small conversion fee (around 0.4% and up), with no flat foreign fee.
The three picks above pay us nothing, and their tags say so. Wise is the only option here that can earn us a commission, and its tag says that too. Paid or not, the pick is still the pick.
Travelers, not touristsA little Croatian goes a long way
A little Croatian goes a long way
Nobody expects a visitor to speak Croatian, but a warm dobar dan, a hvala, and an unhurried appreciation of the coast mark you as a guest rather than a tourist. Croatians are proud of their heritage and their food, and they notice the effort.
Say a few words
Tip: Along the coast, a konoba is a family-run tavern and the place for the best local food; meals there are unhurried, so settle in rather than rush. A quiet dobar dan as you walk into a shop or cafe is simple, expected courtesy, and it warms the welcome.
Know a story
Diocletian's palace at Split
The city of Split grew up inside a Roman emperor's retirement home. Around 300 AD, Diocletian built a vast seaside palace here, and centuries later locals moved in among its walls, turning the ruins into a living old town. You can still wander its colonnaded court and stone cellars today.
Good to know: the palace basement halls are worth a wander
Klapa harmony in a stone alley
Dalmatia's traditional music is klapa, unaccompanied male voices singing in close harmony, and it is UNESCO-listed for good reason. Wander the stone alleys of a coastal old town in the evening and you may catch a group singing, their voices ringing warmly off the limestone walls.
Good to know: you may hear it in Split, Trogir and coastal towns
The seafaring Republic of Dubrovnik
For centuries Dubrovnik was a small but mighty maritime republic, its merchant ships trading across the Mediterranean and its diplomats keeping it independent between far larger powers. Walk the famous city walls today and you circle a place that punched well above its size.
Good to know: walking the full city walls is the classic thing to doCroatia is proud of its dazzling coast, its Roman and maritime heritage, and its food and wine. A few words of Croatian and an unhurried appreciation of the coast are warmly returned.
No links here, nothing to buy. This part is just to help you travel well.
Sources, and how this guide was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
Changed since last checkFirst publication. Confirmed the money facts that matter most this year: Croatia is now on the euro (adopted in 2023), which is worth about 1.15 US dollars, cards are widely taken, and there is a small nightly sojourn tax that is higher on the coast in summer. VAT is 25%, and non-EU visitors can reclaim it on shopping over about 100 euros. On entry, Croatia joined Schengen in 2023 and the EU's biometric Entry/Exit System went live in April 2026, with a US passport still all you need for now.
- Croatian Tax Administration (Porezna uprava)the 25% VAT and the tax-free refund for travelers from outside the EU
- European Union travel portalthe Entry/Exit System (EES) now in operation at Schengen borders, and ETIAS due to follow
- Croatia.hrthe official tourism site, for the sojourn tax, ferries and visitor basics
Our own judgmentThe daily cash share, the tipping feel, and the exact sojourn tax you pay are our own estimate from experience and consistent traveler reports, not an official figure. The sojourn tax varies by town and season and is shown here as a representative amount.
More money guides in Europe
If you are also weighing up nearby destinations, each guide covers cards, cash, ATMs and the fees to expect.
Going deeper on Croatia
The money questions people ask on the ground.
Short, focused answers to the specific things that catch first-timers out in Croatia.
- Tipping in CroatiaCroatia has a modest tipping culture. Staff earn a wage, tips are appreciated rather than expected, and since 2023 you tip in euros, not the old kuna. Here is what you actually owe.
- Do I need cash in Croatia, or can I use cards?Short answer: a card for most things, a little euro cash for the rest. The big update: Croatia switched to the euro in 2023, so any older advice about the kuna is out of date. Here is how to handle it.
- Bringing your dog or cat to Croatia.Croatia runs on the single EU pet-entry process for a US-origin dog or cat: microchip, rabies in the right order, and an EU health certificate on a 10-day clock. No quarantine, no rabies titer. Here is what that means for Croatia, and the local parts worth knowing.
This is how Croatia stands today.
Money rules move. We can let you know for free if that changes.