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Travel insurance for Croatia

Travel insurance for Croatia

Croatia has a huge amount to offer visitors, even if you remove the beautiful beaches. Having been part of the Roman empire for many centuries, it's steeped in history and fascinating architecture. There's also a wide and growing culture of summer festivals. For example, Ultra Europe electronic music festival, Dimensions festival, and Outlook Festival for those seeking big bass.

Oh, and did we mention the beaches? Read on to find out everything you need to know for your Croatian adventure.

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Reviewed by Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert 7 min read | Published 06/11/2024

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Do I need travel insurance for Croatia?

If you're visiting Croatia, holiday insurance isn't a legal requirement. But it's always worth considering. Having the right policy in place will give you the peace of mind that you're financially protected if something goes wrong.

Wildfires can occur without warning in Croatia, especially over the summer months. Other natural disasters such as floods can and do happen too. For this reason, it's a good idea to make sure you're protected against travel disruption and delays, and even natural disaster cover when travelling.

And while crime such as pickpocketing is relatively low in Croatia, it can't be ruled out - especially at events or festivals. Having travel insurance means you'll be covered for the cost of stolen belongings.

There have also been some changes to travel rules within Europe lately. It's a good idea to check these out before heading off on your Croatian holiday.

More generally, travel insurance can protect you if delays have a knock-on effect on your travel plans, through features like flight cancellation cover. It can also shield you from expensive medical bills should you become injured or fall ill while travelling abroad thanks to travel insurance with medical cover.

Is Croatia in Europe for travel insurance?

Yes, Croatia is on the European continent, and is a member of the EU. So you'll need European travel insurance for your trip to Croatia.

When getting a quote for a single holiday, you just need to select Croatia in the quote process. You'll only be asked to specify European cover if:

You're backpacking just in European countries
Or going on multiple holidays in a year just in Europe

Choosing the right policy for your trip

Every trip is different, and there are a variety of policy types available to suit your trip. Depending on your needs and the nature of the trip, one of these options could be ideal:

Single-trip travel insurance

Single-trip travel insurance can cover one trip of up to 31 days. It could be good for a one-off annual holiday like a city break in Split or Zagreb, or gateways to islands such as Šibenik. Or possibly to a summer festival.

Annual travel insurance

Annual travel insurance covers multiple trips over the year, usually for trips up to 31 days. This could save you money if you're thinking of visiting Croatia more than once, or making trips to other countries during the year.

Backpacker travel insurance

Feeling adventurous? If you’re travelling to Croatia and multiple countries as part of a longer trip then you might want to look into backpacker cover to cover you for multiple destinations. It could be a good option if you're backpacking around Europe.

Cruise travel insurance

Popular cruises depart from Southampton, taking in stops in Croatia (eg Dubrovnik, Zadar), Italy and Greece. You'll often need cruise travel insurance, as standard policies won't protect against things like unused excursions and cabin confinement.

Important information

All insurance will exclude cover for known events. These are global events that can cause travel disruption and/or put you in danger. An example of this is the COVID-19 pandemic.

If an emerging situation was declared a 'known event' when you bought your travel insurance, this exclusion applies. If you nonetheless travel to a place where there's a known event, your travel insurance will not cover you.

In addition, if you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), you won't be covered. If you fail to comply with the entry requirements of your destination, you also won't be covered.

There are currently no travel warnings in place for Croatia*. So you should be able to get travel insurance without issue.

*Correct as of October 2024

What does travel insurance for Croatia cover?

What's usually covered:

Emergency medical treatment: There’s always a charge for treatment in Croatia, so having travel insurance with medical cover will help ensure you're covered.
Repatriation to the UK: If you need to be transported home for medical treatment, your travel insurance should include repatriation cover. Otherwise, the cost falls to you.
Baggage cover Your travel insurance should include baggage cover against theft, accidental damage or loss. This could be especially important in tourist-heavy areas, such as beach resorts or festivals.
Travel disruption: This could protect you financially in the event of flash flooding or wildfires, for example.
Cancellation or curtailment cover: In recent years, there have been earthquakes in Zagreb and in Petrinja, near Sisak in central Croatia. Travel insurance could cover you if your holiday is cancelled due to natural disaster, or other reasons listed on your policy.

What's usually not covered:

Travelling against FCDO advice: If you travel against government advice, this could invalidate your policy. So if the FCDO advises against travel to a specified location but you go anyway, you may not be able to claim on your insurance.
Undeclared, pre-existing medical conditions: To get cover for any pre-existing medical conditions, you'll need a specialist medical travel insurance policy. If you don't tell your insurer about all conditions that you need cover for, any claims you make might be rejected.
Extreme sports and activities: Some sports and activities are considered 'high risk' by insurers, so won't be covered by standard travel insurance. For example, if you want to go ziplining in Dubrovnik, you may need into activity travel insurance.
Incidents involving alcohol and drugs: Incidents which occur while under the influence of alcohol or drugs are usually excluded.
Changing your mind: You may not be covered if you change your mind, for example if you decide you no longer want to go to Croatia.

How much is Croatia travel insurance?

The price of travel insurance for Croatia will be variable depending on your personal circumstances, the type of trip and so on.

But for a ballpark figure, these are some examples of the our cheapest travel insurance policies for Croatia:

Policy type	Policy Cost
Single-trip travel insurance	£4.75¹
Annual travel insurance (Europe)	£9.75²
Backpacker travel insurance	£38.09³

¹Cheapest single-trip policy for a 30 year old with no previous medical conditions, travelling to Croatia for 1 week. Confused.com data - November 2024.
²Cheapest annual European policy for a 30 year old with no previous medical conditions. Confused.com data - November 2024.
³Cheapest backpacker policy for a 30 year old with no previous medical conditions, travelling to Europe for 3 months. Confused.com data - November 2024.

Medical care in Croatia

When visiting Croatia, it's a good idea to have a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This can give you access to medically necessary healthcare.

But in Croatia, there's always a charge for healthcare - which can be up to 530 Euros for a single treatment. This is why a GHIC or EHIC shouldn't be seen as an alternative to comprehensive travel insurance.

Travel insurance should provide some level of cover for these medical expenses, minus any excess you agree to pay (although it is possible to get no-excess travel cover).

Plus there are other costs you may incur which aren't covered by your GHIC or EHIC, including:

Changes to travel plans and accommodation bookings
Repatriation to the UK
Treatment that's considered non-urgent
Private healthcare or clinics

If you need emergency medical treatment in Croatia, be sure to contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. Generally providers will have a 24/7 helpline for emergencies. It's a good idea to keep the contact number handy in case you need it during your trip to Croatia.

Top tip: The FCDO has a directory of medical facilities in Croatia, where some staff will speak English.

What our travel insurance expert says

"The popularity of Croatia has grown considerably to UK tourists, especially over the last 10 years. This has been bolstered by its EU membership in 2013 and recent joining of the EU currency in 2023. Despite this, it still offers cheap and affordable food and drink - making it a great value holiday with stunning architecture and history and a huge range of beaches.

"While being a member of the EU can offer a bit more protection to travellers and tourists, your EHIC or GHIC card isn’t a substitute for healthcare or treatment if you need it. If you need any treatment in Croatia, you can expect to pay up to 530 Euros for a single treatment. This cost could spiral depending on if you need further treatment. Having the right travel insurance means you're covered financially should you need medical care, or at worst an unscheduled early or late flight home."

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

Travel insurance for activities in Croatia

During your time in Croatia, what do you plan to do? Be aware that certain activities aren't usually covered by standard travel insurance. So check your policy T&Cs to see if you need additional cover.

If you do, you can generally choose from a range of extras, which can be added to your policy for a fee. These include:

Golf travel insurance

With its stunning all-year-round weather, Croatia could be a great underrated golfing holiday. One of the most popular resorts is the Kempinski Hotel with the Golf Adriatic PGA national course. This offers 5-star luxury accommodation with breathtaking Mediterranean scenery.
Standard travel insurance may cover a round or two as part of your trip. But if you’re planning an all-swinging golfing holiday with your own clubs and equipment, you should consider bespoke golf travel insurance. This can cover loss, theft or delay of your clubs, hiring replacement clubs, missed green fees... and even a round of drinks if you get a hole in one!

Adventure travel insurance

While many activities will be covered by standard travel insurance on holiday, it's always best to check. For instance, if you’re thinking of doing the Pula Kayak tour, a quad bike safari or rafting on the Cetina river, you may need extra activities cover.
There’s no set list of what needs extra cover, as this will vary from provider to provider. So check with your insurer if you’re planning on doing any activities.
Not having the right cover could void your policy. This could mean having to pay for medical care and treatment if you get injured. This can be incredibly expensive, so it's always a good idea to consider travel insurance.

Ski insurance

Ski holidays and resorts can be combined with a Croatian city or beach break. Sljeme peak on Mount Medvednica, just above the capital city of Zagreb, is one of the most well-known resorts in the country. It's got a tougher snow park for experienced snowboarders and skiers.
Other resorts include Platak (near the coastal city of Rijeka), Petehovac (50km east of Rijeka) and Mukinje (close to Plitvice Lakes). If this sounds tempting, you'll need ski travel insurance.
For dedicated holidays on the slopes, add winter sports cover to your quote to increase your protection - including stolen, damaged or delayed equipment if you bring your own.

Do I need a visa to travel to Croatia?

No. UK tourists with a British passport don’t need a visa to travel to Croatia as it's in the Schengen area.

Plus you can stay for up to 90 days in any 180 day period. This covers you:

As a tourist
If you're visiting family or friends
For attending business meetings, cultural or sports events
For short-term studies or training

But your passport must:

Have a date of issue less than 10 years before the date you arrive. If you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that's more than 10 years ago. Make sure you check it first, you can use our passport checker tool for this.
Have an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.
Be stamped on entry and exit. If your passport is missing a stamp, show evidence of when and where you entered or left. It may be useful to keep boarding passes or tickets.

At Croatian border control, you may also need to:

Show proof of your accommodation - for example, a hotel booking confirmation, or proof of address for a second home
Show proof of your travel insurance
Show a return or onward ticket
Prove that you have enough money for your stay – the amount varies depending on your accommodation

You can get more Croatia entry requirement information at GOV.UK.

Tips for travelling to Croatia

Time zones

Croatia is one hour ahead of the UK. Nice and easy for keeping in touch with people back home.

Currency

Is the Euro, which Croatia only recently adopted in January 2023.

Register with the police within 48 hours of arrival

Most hotels will do this for you automatically. But it’s something you must do if you're staying in an Airbnb, with friends or in private accommodation.

If your accommodation doesn’t do this, print and fill in this form to hand into the local police station. Alternatively, go to the nearest police station with the owner of the accommodation to register your address in Croatia.

Carry some cash

Keep currency on you, especially away from the larger cities and main tourist hubs. Smaller towns may not accept cards or have ATMs.

Beware of unexploded mines

Only a concern if you’re hiking or travelling outside of tourist areas into the remote country! Beware of unexploded mines in previously war-affected areas, including:

Eastern Slavonia
Brod-Posavina County
Karlovac County
Areas around Zadar County
More remote areas of the Plitvice Lakes National Park

When travelling in these areas, don't walk on uncultivated land or step off the marked paths. If in doubt, get local advice.

Be mindful of certain crimes

Violent crime is rare in Croatia, and crime levels are low. But there have been reports of assaults in taxis. Make sure you use a licensed cab from a rank or from your hotel. Uber operates widely across most towns and cities.

If you’re taking a taxi alone, GOV.UK recommends reducing the risk by:

Taking a photo inside the taxi, where its number is visible, and sending it to someone you trust
Sharing your ride status on the taxi app
Making a call while in the taxi, telling someone which taxi it is and where you're going

Pickpockets may operate in tourist areas - so keep valuables out of sight, avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and keep items zipped / locked if possible.

Research and respect the culture

In tourist destinations like Split and Dubrovnik, you can get on-the-spot fines for behaviour considered inappropriate which might be accepted in other countries. This could include walking through towns shirtless or in swimwear, or drinking in public areas.

Find out more about safety in Croatia at GOV.UK.