The best way to take travel money to Croatia is to use a card with low or no currency conversion fees, as well as one that won’t charge you foreign ATM transaction charges, meaning you can withdraw, spend and use the local currency with ease.
Croatia officially adopted the euro as its currency on 1 January 2023. Prior to 2023 you would be able to pay using a combination of euros and kunas for certain items. However, this has since changed and you’ll now need to use euros for all your payments.
Cash machines are widely available all over the country and Visa or Mastercard cards can be used in most shops, supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, bars, hotels, hostels and when buying transport tickets too.
Travel-friendly debit cards can give you the best of both worlds: the ability to spend your own money abroad and the freedom to withdraw cash without incurring extra charges. The best debit cards for travel in Croatia will allow you to withdraw euros from an ATM without incurring foreign ATM usage fees. Over the length of a trip, ATM fees can add up to the price of a night out.
You can load euros onto all travel money cards and spend without incurring the fee for currency conversion. This is the main feature of any travel money card, and one of the main reasons why they’re popular with travellers. With that box ticked, choosing the right travel money card to take to Croatia will require a comparison of the cards’ other features such as reload fees, inactivity fees and ATM withdrawal fees.
Visa and Mastercard credit cards — the majority of cards issued in the UK — are widely accepted in Croatia. The currency conversion fee (or lack thereof) is what to look for.
There are a handful of credit cards which let you spend in another currency without paying the extra 3%. Check with your credit card provider to see if this is a favourable option for you. But be sure to watch out for cash advance fees and charges if you make a withdrawal on credit, it’s one of the most expensive ways to get cash.
Avoid traveller’s cheques if you can – this travel money product is more hassle than it’s worth in Croatia. Card payments are the norm and provide a money-back guarantee if you’re the victim of fraud. These features have made traveller’s cheques redundant over the last few years.
ATMs are easily found all over Croatia. Croatian ATMs use the 4-digit PIN and chip system so all UK debit and credit cards will be easily accepted. If you are withdrawing a large sum of money, you may get stuck with large bills.
It’s true that a holiday in Croatia is no longer as affordable as it once was, but you’ll still find it noticeably cheaper than the rest of Western Europe. If you’re travelling during summer, especially along the coastal stretch, expect to fork out more money than you would for a holiday during the rest of the year.
But if this can’t be avoided, there are other ways. If you’ve got a more modest budget, say if you’re travelling with friends, you could save on accommodation fees by staying in hostels and cheap hotels.
But on the other hand, if you have cash to splash, there’s no better place than Croatia to let loose and live that glamorous life, even for just a week…
| Dubrovnik service | Budget | Mid-range | Top |
|---|---|---|---|
 Accommodation | Hostel: £20–£35 per night | Hotel/motel: £45–£60 per night | 5-star hotel/superior suite: £175–£300 per night |
 Food | Fast food: £5–£10 per person | Restaurant: £15-£25 per dish | 5-star restaurant: £30+ per dish |
 Entertainment | Free walking tour | Mount Srđ cable car: £15 per adults 1-way ticket | Dubrovnik City Walls: £20–£25 per persson |
In Croatia, you should have little trouble with Visa and Mastercard acceptance. American Express is accepted in some places, but not others, so make sure to bring an alternative form of payment with you.
If you want to avoid extra bank fees, make use of a variety of cards and use each one for a specific purpose. For example, choose a card that won’t charge you for currency conversion for over-the-counter payments and a different card for ATM withdrawals — even better if you can find a card that suits both purposes.
A great option for this is to use a challenger bank like Monzo, Starling, Revolut or N26, offering no transaction fees and free ATM withdrawal. You can find out more about digital banks here.
Now that you know what currency you’ll be needing and how much of it to take, find out whether to use debit and credit cards, traveller’s cheques, cash or prepaid cards on your trip.
Exchanging cash is a simple affair in Croatia. Exchange booths (mjènjāčnica), banks and post offices will change euros, American dollars, Australian dollars, pounds, Serbian dinar, Hungarian forint and Swiss francs.
Post offices and banks are usually the most dependable places to get your money changed.
You have a number of options for picking up euros in the UK. Your bank can sell you euros for a competitive rate but you will be charged a commission for the service.
Providers such as the Post Office also sell you euros – you can order online and collect your cash from a branch near you before you leave. There’s no commission and they offer a reasonably competitive rate compared with many banks.
It’s worth getting a good exchange rate, as this will leave you with a little more to spend on your trip. Compare your options and make sure you’re getting the best exchange rate possible.
Taking a prepaid card is a good, safe option for your holiday, as is a debit card with no transaction or withdrawal fees, but it’s also worth taking some cash for small payments such as bus journeys or snacks, as they may not take cards.
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