Exciting news, dear North American travellers! The major U.S. airline United has just announced four new transatlantic flight routes for summer 2026, which include a new route to Croatia – from New York to Split! This is a great addition to the flight schedules to Croatia, especially for those fro North America, of which there are only a handful.
Read on to find out all the details of these New York to Split flights, and other options for travelling from North America to Croatia.
New York to Split Flights for 2026
United will commence flights from New York/Newark Airport to Split on 30th April 2026, flying three times a week until 5th September 2026. Flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with flights departing Newark at 5pm and landing in Split the next morning at 7.45am. The perfect time as you’ll then have a full first day in Croatia!
Return flights from Split back to Newark will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights will depart Split at 10am, landing in New York at 2.05pm.
United is the first U.S. airline to launch a route from New York to Split. The other new routes that United have launched for summer 2026 are also all from New York/Newark – these are to Bari in Italy; Glasgow in Scotland and Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Flying to Bari could potentially also be an option for travelling to Croatia, as there are direct ferries from this Italian port to Dubrovnik.
Tickets for next year’s flights are available to be booked now!
Other North America to Croatia Flights
We have a special section on U.S. to Croatia Flights which details the other options available to you if you’re planning to travel across the Atlantic to Croatia.
As you can see on that page, United also operate flights from New York/Newark Airport to Dubrovnik. These flights are expected to continue in 2026 – hopefully also on a daily schedule as they did this year! – although booking for them has not yet opened. I hope this will be available soon!
Meanwhile, our Canadian friends can already starting booking their flights to Croatia for 2026. Air Transat will continue with their Toronto to Zagreb route, starting operations on Saturday 9th May 2026. This route will intially fly once a week during May, increasing to three times a week (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) in June. The route will continue until 10th October 2026.
Other Options for Travelling to Croatia
If you’ve travelled to Croatia from outside of Europe, your journey will likely have involved a stopover in another European country. And really, travelling in this way offers the most flexibility! There are plenty of flights from all over Europe to Croatia, to the seven main airports in the country, so you have plenty of choice. I would recommend flying via London, Rome or Munich or Frankfurt.
Or why not split your holiday with some time in one or more other European countries, and then fly down to Croatia. That would be quite some vacation, right?!
More Info
You can learn a little more about this new route and the others that were just announced: United – New Routes 2026.
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/new-york-split_united-airlines.jpg533800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2025-10-10 12:23:022025-10-10 12:25:26New flights from the US to Croatia – New York to Split!
As of 12th October 2025, the EU’s new Entry/Exit System will start being rolled out in Croatia and other EU countries. This has been in the works for some time now (it was due to be implemented about a year ago – I wrote about it in The new Entry/Exit System and Croatia), but it is now finally going live. Find out what it means for you when travelling to Croatia and the rest of the EU, and what you actually have to do about it.
When will the new Entry/Exit System start?
The Entry/Exit System will finally start being rolled out at Croatian borders and other EU borders from 12th October 2025. This will be a gradual rollout, with full implementation across the Schengen Zone expected by 10th April 2026.
Who is the Entry/Exit System for?
The Entry/Exit System will only apply for visa-exempt travellers to Croatia and the EU – such as those of you travelling from the U.S., the UK, Australia, New Zealand and similar – OR for those of you who hold short-stay Schengen visas.
EU travellers will not need to take part in EES, and can continue to travel to Croatia as before. You can still travel using just your country’s ID card, if you wish!
What does the Entry/Exit System involve? Do I have to do something ahead of time when travelling?
You do not have to do anything ahead of time for the EES.
The above-mentioned travellers to Croatia and the rest of the EU will now need to have their fingerprints and their photo taken at the border when entering the Schengen Zone, as well as providing their passport details. Of course, you only need to provide this information the first time you enter the Schengen Zone after 12th October. On subsequent visits, your details will be checked against the information you first provided.
As you can imagine, this will likely cause longer queues at each border into the Schengen Zone. Be prepared for this – I expect uproar against this EU measure in certain British newspapers!
So what does this mean when I travel to Croatia?
The next time you visit Croatia – after 12th October 2025 – you will likely need to provide the above information when entering the country.
Is this the same thing as ETIAS?
No, the EES is NOT the same thing as ETIAS.
Once the EES is up and running in full across the Schengen Zone, ETIAS will be rolled out in the near future. ETIAS is something that you have to be aware of and obtain before travelling. This is essentially the EU’s visa waiver programme – much like the ESTA that exists for the United States. This pre-screening service will require you to submit your personal details and travel information online before travelling, as well as requiring you to pay a fee.
ETIAS is not yet being introduced, but is expected to come into effect at the end of 2026.
As I mentioned, I also wrote about the new system quite extensively about a year ago – do read The new Entry/Exit System and Croatia as there is a fair amount of useful information there, such as why EES is being introduced.
Happy travelling!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ees-oct25_eu-border.jpg600800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2025-09-29 21:20:292025-09-29 21:20:31The new Entry/Exit System (EES) and Croatia from October 2025
Great news, travel fans! After a gap of a few years, Italian company Liberty Lines will resume their sailings from Trieste in northern Italy to destinations in both Slovenian and Croatian Istria, and Mali Losinj on the island of Losinj. This is very useful for anyone travelling between the two countries of Italy and Croatia (and Slovenia too!), and travelling by boat is a lovely alternative to the bus. Read on for full details about the return of the Trieste to Italy ferry!
I must add that the boat involved is not a “true” ferry but in fact a fast hydrofoil. As you can see from the timetables below, it’s a short journey from Trieste to Croatia – taking 1 hour 15 minutes to Porec and 1 hour 45 minutes to Rovinj.
(Credit: Liberty Lines)
Trieste to Istria Ferry Timetable
The hydrofoil sails daily except on Tuesdays. There is a different timetable on different days of the week:
Monday, Friday
Operates from 26.6.25 to 1.9.25
Monday, Friday
8.30am
↓
Trieste
↑
8.30pm
10.15am
Rovinj
6.45pm
1.30pm
Losinj
3.30pm
Wednesday
Operates from 26.6.25 to 1.9.25
Wednesday
8.30am
↓
Trieste
↑
8.50pm
9.45am 10.00am
Porec
7.35pm 7.20pm
10.50am 11.05am
Piran (Slovenia)
6.25pm 6.10pm
11.50am
Trieste
5.30pm
Thursday
Operates from 26.6.25 to 1.9.25
Thursday
8.00am
↓
Trieste
↑
8.55pm
8.40am 8.55am
Piran (Slovenia)
8.15pm 8.00pm
10.05am 10.20am
Rovinj
6.50pm 6.35pm
11.55am
Trieste
4.50pm
Saturday & Sunday
Operates from 26.6.25 to 1.9.25
Saturday & Sunday
8.30am
↓
Trieste
↑
8.20pm
9.10am 9.25am
Piran (Slovenia)
7.40pm 7.15pm
10.20am
Porec
6.20pm
11.10am
Rovinj
7.30pm
Tickets for the Trieste to Istria Ferry Timetable
Tickets can be purchased on the Liberty Lines website. They are on sale now. Prices are shown below:
Route
Adults
Children aged 7 – 15
Concession (Over 65; Disabled; Young aged 16 – 26)
One way
Return
One Way
Return
One way
Return
Trieste – Porec
€16.50
€26
€9.50
€14
€12.50
€19
Trieste – Rovinj
€21.50
€34
€11.50
€18
€15.50
€24
Trieste – Mali Losinj
€25.50
€54
€19.50
€29
€25.50
€39
Trieste – Piran
€9.50
€15
€5.50
€9
€7.50
€12
Piran – Porec
€15.50
€24
€9.50
€15
€11.50
€19
Piran – Rovinj
€20.50
€31
€11.50
€19
€15.50
€24
Children aged 0 to 6 years old travel free.
Two pieces of hand luggage are permitted per passenger. Additional pieces cost €5 per person
One small pet (up to 8kg) travels free, the cost of additional pets is €6.50 per pet. Small pets must be contained in a travel carrier; medium/large dogs must be on a lead and muzzled and the pet price must be paid.
Bikes are permitted on board (one per passenger), costing €3 one way or €6 return.
There are discounts for family groups (at least one parent and up to three children) and groups of adults of 6-10 people and groups of 11 people plus. Price can be found on the Liberty Lines website.
The Piazza Unitá d’Italia in Trieste
Other Ways of Travelling from Trieste to Istria
Bus would be the main alternative for travelling from Trieste to the Istrian towns of Porec and Rovinj. There is a daily bus from Trieste to Porec (journey time 1 hour 25 minutes; one-way ticket €15) and Rovinj (journey time 2 hours 5 minutes; €16). This bus also travels to other places in Istria such as Pula, Vodnjan and Bale so is perhaps more suitable for travellers looking to travel further in Istria. Additionally, this is a year-round service so much more suitable for those travelling outside of the peak summer months. This bus line is run by Croatian company Brioni.
The company FILS also runs a service from Trieste to Pula which in fact starts in Venice.
You can also look up timetables for the above buses – and buy tickets for them – on the Trieste Bus Station website.
Do also take a look at our Travelling from Trieste to Croatia guide for details of getting from Trieste to other destinations in Croatia!
Beautiful Porec
More info
All details on the Trieste to Istria ferry can be found on the Liberty Lines website. Do also check out the company on the Liberty Lines Facebook page to see their latest travel news.
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/liberty-lines.jpeg5591023annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2025-06-09 23:06:372025-06-09 23:06:39Trieste to Istria Ferry Returns for 2025
Not that long ago, I wrote about travelling to Croatia from the UK by train. Travelling by train has, of course, rather romantic connotations and making the dash across part of Europe to Croatia by rail would be a rather fancy way of starting your holiday. These days, many travellers are also rather conscious of avoiding air travel where possible, trying to reduce their carbon footprint. So, whilst it’s certainly possible to travel to Croatia from the UK by train, can you do the same by bus? And should you?! Well, let’s see – how can you travel to Croatia by bus from the UK?
Is there a direct bus from the UK to Croatia?
No, there is not.
Wait, come back! There are still some possible ways of travelling to Croatia by bus!
You can get to Croatia from the UK by bus with one transfer of bus, although do consider two transfers to give yourself more options. You might be surprised by how many major European cities do in fact have direct bus services to Croatia, meaning there are a number of different routes available to you.
When travelling by bus, do also consider the timings of your travel. If you depart the UK early on day 1, you’ll be reaching Croatia in the evening of day 2 of travel. That means there’s just one night on the bus. If you depart the UK in the evening of day 1 of travel, you’ll be reaching Croatia in the morning (or lunchtime) of day 3 of travel – meaning you have two nights on the bus.
On very long bus journeys (hello my fellow South American travel buddies!), some people prefer nighttime journeys as the hours fly by when you’re asleep. Other travellers perhaps can’t sleep on a bus no matter what, so two nights on buses isn’t a plus for them.
How long does it take to get to Croatia by bus from the UK?
You’ll be looking at a total travel time – if you do the journey all in one go – of around 34 to 37 hours.
Wait, come back! I wouldn’t recommend that you undertake the journey to Croatia by bus all in one go. Why not take the opportunity to stop off along the way and do some exploring? A night or two in Paris? Exploring a German city you’ve never been to before?
Some of the above-mentioned total travel time does also include transfer time (or rest time) which can be around two to three hours. Which – if you do plan on doing the whole journey all in one go – is essential for you to stop and stretch your legs, perhaps have a nice meal and maybe even do a bit of souvenir shopping.
Make a stop in Berlin
What are the best bus routes to Croatia from the UK?
So let’s choose London as our starting point in the UK (sorry, non-Londoners…I know the world doesn’t revolve around us except it mostly does) and Zagreb as a destination to get to by bus from the UK. Here are some options for making the journey by bus.
Note: Prices shown below are given as a range as they depend on how far in advance you book a ticket. You may find tickets are slightly less or more expensive than the prices shown below.
Option 1 – Via Paris and Munich – 36 hours and 5 minutes travel time
From
To…
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Journey Time
London Victoria
Paris (Bercy Seine)
07.00
17.35
10 hours 35 minutes
3 hours 25 minutes stopover
Paris (Bercy Seine)
Munich Central Bus Station
21.00
08.50
11 hours 50 minutes
2 hours 10 minutes stopover
Munich Central Bus Station
Zagreb
11.00
20.05
9 hours 5 minutes
PRICE: £85 – £95
Option 2 – Via Berlin – 35 hours and 10 minutes travel time
From
To…
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Journey Time
London Victoria
Berlin Sudkreuz
09.30
05.55
21 hours 25 minutes
1 hour 25 minutes
Berlin Sudkreuz
Zagreb
07.15
21.40
14 hours 25 minutes
PRICE: £80 – £100
Option 3 – Via Antwerp and Dusseldorf – 33 hours and 35 minutes travel time
From
To…
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Journey Time
London Stratford
Antwerp Rooseveltplaats
23.30
08.55
9 hours 25 minutes
1 hour 55 minutes stopover
Antwerp Rooseveltplaats
Dusseldorf
10.50
13.50
2 hours
2 hours 50 minutes
Dusseldorf
Zagreb
16.40
08.50
16 hours 10 minutes
PRICE: £100 – £125
Option 4 – Via Frankfurt and Munich – 32 hours and 30 minutes travel time
Once you’ve reached Zagreb, you can easily travel on by bus or train to other destinations in Croatia. Or perhaps stay in Zagreb for a few days, not travelling anywhere!
How could you not make a stop in Paris?!
Do I have to travel via Germany?
Not especially, although routes through Germany generally tend to be the quickest. Those fast autobahns certainly help!
You’ll certainly need to travel in a general southeastern direction. to reach Croatia, that’s for sure. So another possibility would be to travel via northern Italy, for example:
Option 5 – Via Paris and Milan – 35 hours 10 minutes travel time
From
To…
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Journey Time
London Victoria
Paris (Bercy Seine)
07.00
17.35
10 hours 35 minutes
3 hours 10 minutes stopover
Paris (Bercy Seine)
Milan
20.45
09.15
12 hours 30 minutes
1 hour 15 mins stopover
Milan
Zagreb
10.30
20.25
9 hours 55 minutes
PRICE: £107
Should I travel to Croatia by bus from the UK?
Bus travel across Europe is obviously relatively cheap, but what with the existence of low-cost airlines (and national carriers trying to act like low-cost airlines sometimes) flying is cheaper than ever these days. Especially if you make use of some travel hacks, such as travelling mid-week, travelling out of season, wearing all your clothes when you board to avoid paying luggage fees…
As you can see from the prices above, bus travel is cheap-ish and but not super cheap! And that’s fair enough, as you’re making journeys of around 35 hours in length.
So it’s not cheap and it’s a very long journey, but at least you benefit from departing and leaving in the centre of each city. Think of it as an adventure – because what else is travel? I’d certainly recommend it as an experience providing you are able to make stops – at least for one night, if not more – in the cities on the way to Croatia. A bit like interrailing but by bus.
Another possibility would be to mix up your travel methods. Perhaps take a train to Paris, then a bus to Munich and then another train to Zagreb? Or buses to Milan, then a train to an Italian Adriatic city, such as Ancona, and then a ferry across to Croatia?
Whatever way you choose to travel to Croatia, I wish you happy travels!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/getting-to-croatia-bus-uk_berlin-flixbus.jpg533800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2025-03-03 12:24:262025-03-04 12:25:53Getting to Croatia by bus from the UK
International ferry and catamaran services to Croatia are relatively few and far between – for a good number of years, unless you wanted to travel from Italy to Croatia, you were stuck! That’s why the news of a new line last year – the Budva to Dubrovnik catamaran – was excellent news for those looking to travel from or to another European country. The country in question being Montenegro! Now the same operator – Adriatic Lines – has announced a new for 2025! catamaran service from Dubrovnik to Kotor in Montenegro.
This catamaran can absolutely be used for a day trip from Dubrovnik to Kotor. With a journey time of 3 hours each way, you’ll be able to enjoy just over 5 hours in this historic city.
Kotor Bay
Dubrovnik to Kotor Catamaran Timetable
As with the Budva to Dubrovnik catamaran – which will return to operation in summer 2025 – this catamaran will start operating for the season in early June and run twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, until the end of September. You can see the timetable below:
Monday
Wednesday
2.6 – 30.9.25
Monday
Wednesday
9.00am
9.00am
↓
Dubrovnik
↑
8.30pm
8.30pm
12.00pm
12.00pm
Kotor
5.30pm
5.30pm
Dubrovnik to Kotor Catamaran Prices and Tickets
For day trips from Dubrovnik to Kotor, travellers can take advantage of specially priced tickets. A return “day-trip” ticket costs €59 for adults and €29.50 for children aged from 3 years to 11 years. Children aged under 3 travel free.
If you’re travelling in the direction of Kotor to Dubrovnik, an adult ticket costs €50 one-way or €100 return whilst a child ticket costs €25 one-way and €50 return. A child ticket is valid for children aged from 3 years to 11 years. Again, children aged under 3 travel free.
An extra piece of luggage costs €5 per journey. Bikes are permitted (apart from electric bikes) and cost €10 one-way.
Travelling by bus would be the main alternative way of going from Dubrovnik to Kotor. In the summer months, there are a number of buses per day including a few that would actually get you into Kotor earlier than the catamaran. Journey time by bus is around 2 and a half hours. However, during the busy summer months, you may find delays at the border crossing which would certainly add to the travel time. Travelling by catamaran would avoid the border crossing! Take a look at timetables and prices of bus journeys on GetByBus for a comparison.
You could of course also join an organised tour from Dubrovnik to Kotor – whether a shared group tour or a private tour. Take a look at some of the options below:
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dubrovnik-to-kotor-catamaran_kotor.jpg507800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2025-01-16 14:44:562025-06-10 11:42:36New Dubrovnik to Kotor Catamaran for 2025
Note – 11th March 2025: The Entry/Exit System is now expected to start in October 2025. See the European Union website for more details.
Note – 11th October 2024: I timed this post perfectly for just a few short days after writing it, the scheme has been pushed back to 2025 and some elements possibly done away with! See EU delays biometric border plan again as demand for fingerprints could be scrapped for more details. Nevertheless, I’ll keep this post here as it will hopefully help with travel in the future!
Visas regulations, passport controls and customs laws are all things that excite travellers (have I got that right?), and a new regulation for the EU and the Schengen Zone comes into effect next month. Launching on 10th November 2024, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will be a new way of collating information about non-EU travellers when they enter the bloc. Whilst of course this new system covers the whole of the Schengen Zone, let’s take a look here at how the Entry/Exit System and Croatia affects your future travel plans.
The main thing to note – there’s nothing really travellers need to do before they travel to the Schengen Zone. But do expect slightly longer border times when travelling for the first time after the introduction of the scheme, as passenger data needs to be recorded.
Taking your passport to the beach? That’s brave!
What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
Only applying to short-stay visitors who require visas OR visa-exempt travellers (such as travellers from the UK and the U.S.), the EES will act as a new digital border when it comes into play. This means that data on all such travellers entering and exiting the Schengen Zone (which comprises the EU plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein) will be recorded. EES will also register any entry refusals – should that situation arise.
The first time that you enter the Schengen Zone after the introduction of EES, you will need to register your passport information as well as your biometric data – which essentially means you need to provide your fingerprints and your photo. On subsequent visits to the Schengen Zone, your details will be checked against the information that you initially provided.
This new scheme is being introduced to help regulate travellers’ stays within the Schengen Zone. As you will likely have read many times, non-EU travellers are only able to stay for 90 days within any 180-day period. The EES will help manage this limit and is also supposed to improve border security and help combat identity fraud.
This doesn’t sound too bad, right? Right! And the kind of thing we want? Yes! The bad news, however, is that the EES will replace the need for passport stamps when entering the EU which is a shame for those of us who like that kind of thing. And pretty much the only good thing about Brexit.
When is the Entry/Exit System launching?
The EES should launch on 10th November 2024. It is now expected to start in October 2025.
The Entry/Exit System and Croatia
What is the connection between the Entry/Exit System and Croatia? Well, Croatia is of course part of the EU (having joined as far back as 2013) so any new border regulation absolutely applies to Croatia. So expect to get your passport data logged when you travel to Croatia – assuming that’s the first Schengen country you visit after this scheme is up and running.
Wait a minute?! Wasn’t there something called ETIAS? Is this the same thing as that?
No, the new EES is not the same thing as ETIAS. Phew, the EU sure does like its acronyms!
ETIAS will be a new visa waiver scheme for the EU and will operate much like the ESTA programme that’s in place for travellers to the U.S. At present, there is still no launch for the ETIAS scheme – apart from some time in “the first half of 2025”. We’ll be sure to keep you updated when more news regarding this is announced!
However, when ETIAS is finally up and running, it will work alongside the EES. You don’t have to worry about the details. It’ll just be something that works!
More info
It is advisable to take a look at the entry regulations for the country on our Visa Requirements for Croatia page to make sure you on the right side of the entry law.
You can’t top the official EU Entry/Exit System website for all the details regarding this new travel regulation and how it may affect you.
Finally, and again for British travellers, make sure you take a look at the information on our UK Passport Requirements for Croatia page. The EU and Croatia have specific rules on the validity of passports when travelling into the union. Please make sure you check your passport before you travel. You don’t want to fall foul of the rules find yourself denied boarding or even entry into the EU – which can happen!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ees-system_and_croatia_UK-passport.jpg534800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-10-08 14:02:362025-03-11 12:09:25The new Entry/Exit System and Croatia
There are not many international ferry services connecting Croatia with its neighbouring (or near neighbouring countries). In fact, there generally only exist services from Italy to Croatia with a number of ferry and catamaran routes sailing to towns in Istria, and to Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. But as of this summer, a new Montenegro to Croatia service – a Budva to Dubrovnik catamaran – is in operation that will assist travellers with a quick connection, or a day trip, in either direction.
Credit: Adriatic Lines
A big advantage of using this catamaran is being able to avoid the busy traffic at the Croatia – Montenegro road border during the summer months. And with a journey time of just two hours, this catamaran is also quicker than travelling by bus.
Budva to Dubrovnik Catamaran Timetable
Operated by Adriatic Lines, who also run services from Istrian towns to Venice, the new Budva to Dubrovnik catamaran is already in operation and will run until the end of September 2024.
In peak season, the catamaran runs twice a day six times a week whilst in second half of September the timetable switches and the catamaran will run twice daily four times week. Take a look at the timetable below:
Saturday
Sunday
29 & 30.06.24
Saturday
Sunday
7.00am
5.30pm
8.00am
3.00pm
↓
Dubrovnik
↑
11.45am
10.15pm
12.45pm
7.45pm
9.00am
7.30pm
10.00am
5.00pm
Budva
9.45am
8.15pm
10.45am
5.45pm
Monday Wednesday Saturday
Tuesday Friday Sunday
From 01.07.24 to 12.09.24
Monday Wednesday Saturday
Tuesday Friday Sunday
8.00am
3.00pm
7.00am
5.30pm
↓
Dubrovnik
↑
12.45pm
7.45pm
11.45am
10.15pm
10.00am
5.00pm
9.00am
7.30pm
Budva
10.45am
5.45pm
9.45am
8.15pm
Monday Wednesday
Tuesday Friday
From 13.09.24 to 27.09.24
Monday Wednesday
Tuesday Friday
8.00am
3.00pm
7.00am
5.30pm
↓
Dubrovnik
↑
12.45pm
7.45pm
11.45am
10.15pm
10.00am
5.00pm
9.00am
7.30pm
Budva
10.45am
5.45pm
9.45am
8.15pm
Budva to Dubrovnik Catamaran Prices and Tickets
A one-way ticket costs €55 for adults or €27.50 for children aged 7 to 13 years old. Children aged 6 and under travel free.
Travellers can take advantage of a special day return priced at €69 for adults or €34.50 for children. This includes departures from Dubrovnik at 7am or 8am, or from Budva at 9.45am.
Bicycles are permitted at an additional cost of €10 whilst an additional piece of luggage costs €5.
As this is an international journey, don’t forget your passport!
Other ways of getting from Budva to Dubrovnik
As a comparison, let’s take a look at alternatives for making the journey. Or rather, alternative for unless you have a hire car, travelling by bus is the only option that is available to you.
There are several buses per day in either direction – so bus betters the catamaran in frequency – but travelling by bus is slower. The bus journey between Budva and Dubrovnik takes between 2 hours 30 minutes and 3 hours 15 minutes, depending on which bus you take.
Bus companies operating this route include Croatia Bus and Bozur.
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/adriatic-lines.jpg597940annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-07-06 15:04:412024-07-09 15:32:20New Budva to Dubrovnik Catamaran Service
Oh, what a time of year! The countdown to your long-awaited summer holiday is ON with only a few weeks – or maybe even a few days – left to go. You’ve packed your swimming costumes, shorts, summer dresses and sandals (and probably some other things that don’t begin with the letter S), re-read your airline’s baggage allowance three times and checked if your passport is where it normally is ten times. But what have you forgotten…? Here, I’m going to round up some Croatia holiday essentials to help make your holiday the best one ever!
Croatia Holiday Essentials – Before you go
Passports
Firstly, make sure to check your passport…and I don’t mean “check where it is”! If you’re a Brit, since the country left the EU, some passports have fallen foul of EU passport rules meaning some travellers were denied boarding their holiday flights.
In a nutshell, your passport needs to have been issued within the last ten years. And for Brits and ALL non-EU travellers, your passport needs to have three months left on it after your departure from Croatia.
There’s no two ways about it – you must get travel insurance. If you don’t already have travel insurance (perhaps on an annual policy, or via your bank, for example), get it now. Like, right now. It’s a small cost to help cover anything that might go wrong, be it travel delays, illness or (unlikely) an accident.
And if you’re travelling from Europe or the UK, you definitely need to obtain a GHIC card prior to your travels as well. A GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) replaces the previous EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) – in some cases, you may still have a valid GHIC card which you can use until it expires.
The GHIC card can be used to obtain free medical care on the same basis as being at home in the UK. It’s an invaluable little thing – really, just present it at the doctors or hospital when you’re there and you’ll get treatment for free.
Money
Obtaining money for Croatia is of course super easy these days, with the country now having the Euro as its currency. Whilst you can buy some Euros before you go from your favourite money exchange place (be it a bank, the Post Office, or M&S…or Uncle Dave who’s got some notes leftover from his holiday to Malaga) I believe it’s easiest to just use your own bank card.
Check with your bank before you go about exchange rates, or possibly even consider getting a special travel bank or debit card for use abroad.
Mobile Phone Usage
Check before you travel about your home network’s travel allowance for the EU. You may find that it’s included in your current deal.
Alternatively, you may find you have to buy a top-up or a special pack for a small price. My tip – buy it before you go so you don’t have to faff around with finding wifi when you land to try and buy it then.
Or, consider getting a sim in Croatia! (See below.)
Croatia Holiday Essentials for when you arrive
Money
First things first, head to the ATM at the airport to withdraw some Euros!
Sim Cards in Croatia
If you prefer to get a local SIM card to use in your phone rather than using your home network, that’s certainly possible.
The three main mobile networks in Croatia all offer SIM cards for “tourists”:
They are all established companies and their prices are similar. The sim cards are available from newsstands and supermarkets, so your choice of what to get may depend on what you can find.
Croatia Holiday Essentials for the Beach
Have you seen the beaches in Croatia? My word, aren’t they stunning? But, for the most part, they’re pebble beaches – and whilst that means the sea water is stunningly clear, it can make for hurt feet when walking on the beach and in and out of the water.
That’s where beach shoes are essential. Try the Bravover Water Shoes (from £8.66) which come in a range of colours and sizes for adults and older children. Flexible and comfortable, they’re also quick drying so they will dry out in the sun before you know, ready for your next beach adventure.
If you can’t find suitable beach shoes for younger kids, perhaps just stick to their regular sandals (providing their waterproof enough) or flip flops or Crocs. Just watch out for shoes floating away! (Although with the calm Adriatic, that’s not too much of a problem.)
Croatia Holiday Essentials for the Heat
It’s hot in Europe. Like, really hot. As I write today it’s 30C/86F in both Split and Dubrovnik. So you’ll need plenty of items to cope with the heat.
Sun Cream and a hat
Sun cream is an absolute must. You will likely already have your own favourite brand, but Boots Soltan can’t be beaten for value and quality (all of their items offer 5* UVA protection). The kids’ sun cream that is part of their range is top notch too and they have different bottles with different applicators – meaning they come as a cream, a spray or a roll-on. The last one is sold in a mini size which is great to pop in your bag for a day by the pool or on the beach. And older ones can also use it to apply sun cream themselves.
Don’t forget to pack your favourite hat!
Portable fan
Gone are the days when a fan for the heat would mean some giant clunky thing that sits in the corner of your hotel room, pushing hot air around. These days, you can carry a fan in your hand! Like the Rafada Handheld Fan (£14.99) which also has its own base – so you can set it down on a table – and comes with a lanyard to be worn around your neck. Best of all, it’s rechargeable via a USB cable so you won’t have to carry a vat of batteries with you.
Croatia Holiday Essentials for the Little Ones
Many beaches in Croatia now offer beach furniture rental – sun loungers or chairs, sun umbrellas and similar. Many beaches are also located next to a small forest, usually of pine trees, which offer some shade.
Pop Up Tent
But for very little ones, keeping them cool is highly important, and you’ll need as much shade as you can. That’s why something like the Active Era Pop Up Beach Tent (£28.99) is a must to protect babies and toddlers from UVA and UVB rays. The design also allows for air to flow through the tent, so no overheating either!
Portable High Chair
The availability of high chairs was something I found a bit hit-and-miss for babies in restaurants in Croatia. Family hotels of course have them – usually quite nice ones – but restaurants not so much. So something ultra-portable that you can take with you like Munchkin Baby Seat (£34.99) is a great solution. This one is super light and folds down to become a bag of sorts, so you can easily sling it over your shoulder or in the bottom of your pram.
Croatia Holiday Essentials for the Not-So-Little Ones
Pool Toys
The last hotel-based family holiday in Croatia I went on (you can read about it here: Visit Croatia Review: Amadria Park Resort) had an amusing area in its stairwell that was literally (and I am using literally correctly here) full to the brim of water inflatables of every size, design and colour.
I’m totally late to the game with inflatables – who knew they were so trendy and a must for kids and adults on every summer holiday these days?
I mean, you could go for your regular lilo, but these days the bolder and more fabulous the design the better. Kids can’t help but go for unicorns, which is why this JOYIN Inflatable Unicorn Pool Float (£16.99). I mean, it’s glittery too!
A ring is always fun, and you know what’s even more fun? One that’s designed to look like a giant donut! Very much like this one – Bestway Inflatable Donut Lounger Tube (£7.49).
If you have water babies who jump in the pool at 9.01am and climb out at 5.59pm each day, you’ll need to get them some diving pool toys for swimming practice. This Skillmatics Seek & Splash Diving Gem Toys (£17.99) is for ages 6 and up and helps with maths whilst they’re diving to the bottom of the pool. As nonsensical as that sentence seems, it really does! The bunch of waterproof game cards offers challenges to collect particular numbers from the bottom of the pool.
Oh and goggles are also a must. Zoggs is a great brand for all sorts of water-based toys for kids, so their goggles are good quality, fit comfortably and offer UV protection. They also come in all sorts of fun colours, and I know your children will love picking the colour they like best! Zoggs Children’s Panorama Junior Swimming Goggles (£12) Top tip – as soon as you get these, into the suitcase they go. Because goggles are always being forgotten at home, aren’t they?
Seeing as we’re already in June, you may have booked your summer holiday to Croatia (or could it possibly be another destination?!) long ago. But if you’re anything like me, you’re probably simultaneously opening up 23 different tabs on your laptop’s browser, trying to compare the best holiday deals. If the destination you’re typing into your browser is Croatia, this page is for you – as I look at the best package holidays to Croatia 2024.
Savings on Package Holidays to Croatia
Now, seeing as we’re already in summer, prices will of course be higher. We’re in peak season, after all. But if you’re able to jet off on holiday soon (how about this week?!) and before the school summer holidays start, you may well be able to grab yourself a bargain. Alternatively, consider looking at dates in September. The ninth month of the year is normally an excellent time of year to visit Croatia!
For extra cost savings, try to travel during mid-week (for example, a Tuesday to Tuesday holiday). You can often also make savings by booking a holiday that’s not a standard 7- or 14-night duration. I’ve just seen an 8-night stay that was cheaper than a 7-night one! (That sounds crazy, but it’s true!)
Benefits of a Package Holiday to Croatia
If you scroll down further on this page, you’ll see I talk about putting together your own holiday to Croatia. And that’s largely what Visit Croatia is for – presenting advice for independent travellers to plan their own trips.
So why would I recommend a package holiday? Well, it’s certainly an easy way of putting together a holiday. Just plug in the destination, enter your dates, type in your credit card details and (almost) away you go – you’ve got everything you need for a week (or two) in the sun. Flights, accommodation, transfers, some meals (or all) and even excursions have all been sorted out for you. That’s ideal for people who don’t want to think too hard about putting together a holiday…something that’s certainly attractive when we’re all so busy these days with our lives.
Perhaps you don’t want to do too much research about a holiday – you just want to look at some pictures, decide on a room type and make a decision.
Other benefits come from booking the holiday. You can easily compare prices of different hotels (and other accommodation types), departure airports, and destinations when making your decision.
You can also very easily use the package holiday companies’ websites to narrow down your holiday type – whether you’re booking a holiday as a couple or for a family.
Jet2 Holidays
Visit Croatia is a big fan of Jet2 Holidays…and I promise I’m not being paid to say that! Take a look at my Jet2 Holidays review of a family holiday to a hotel close to Sibenik. It wasn’t just the destination and accommodation offered that made the holiday; the actual booking process made a big difference where I could easily compare prices for different departure dates and add in any extras (or take them off) that I wanted. Free child places are also certainly a big draw!
Jet2 Holidays presently offers holidays to the Dubrovnik Riviera (17 resorts here), which essentially means Dubrovnik itself and the other little towns and villages nearby, and locations in central Dalmatia (20 resorts here) – in and near Split. From summer 2025, they will also be offering holidays to Istria, from a selection of 9 resorts here.
I like the look of 7 nights at the Hvar Places Hotel by Valamar (departing 27th June) for £2,338 total for two adults. This hotel is part of Jet2 Holidays’ Vibe collection – places that are perfectly located for going out and having a bit of fun. And with this hotel “new for 2024”, you can be one of the first guests to stay there.
If you’re holidaying with kids, take a look at 7 nights at the Amadria Park Apartments Trogir (departing Saturday 27th July – in the summer holidays) for £2,604 for two adults and two children. Or if you can travel on Tuesday 30th July, the price drops to £2,265 for all four of you.
At the moment, Jet2 Holidays is offering a saving of £200 on all summer holidays, plus an extra £10 per person if you have a myJet2 account. They’re also Which magazine’s travel brand of the year for 2024!
Note: all prices above are based on departures from London Stansted. Please don’t hate me, non-London people!
TUI
TUI is often a name that holidaymakers turn to when they’re booking a package holiday and with the vast destination network and a trusted brand, it’s easy to see why.
TUI offers holidays to Istria, the Split region (including islands) and the Dubrovnik region (also including islands) – and city breaks to Zagreb too.
If you can pack your suitcase quickly to go off on holiday in the next week or so, there are definitely some good deals to be had. 7 nights at the Rubin Sunny Hotel By Valamar in Porec in Istria (departing 25th June) can be had for just £1,196 in total for two adults – that’s on a half board basis.
For families? There are plenty of options in Istria at resorts such as Porec, but what about 7 nights at the relatively new Grand Hotel View on the island of Brac for £3,376 in total for 2 adults and 2 children? That’s for a departure on Thursday 15th August with return flights with Easyjet from London Gatwick.
TUI are currently running a number of promotions including savings of up to £250 on holidays and an extra £10 off if you use their app.
Easyjet Holidays
“Cheap holidays” proclaims Easyjet Holidays’ own website when you look them up. And, as with the above companies, they also offer holidays to Istria and the Split and Dubrovnik regions.
One of the cheapest holidays I could find for 2 adults in the next few weeks was 7 nights at the 4-star Hotel Mimosa – Lido Palace in Rabac in Istria for £1,346 in total. That’s for a departure on Friday 28th June from London Gatwick to Pula. This same holiday costs £1,248 for 7 nights if departing from Bristol on Thursday 27th June.
Families might want to take a look at 7 nights at the Royal Palm in Dubrovnik for £3,698 for 2 adults and 2 children, departing on Tuesday 30th July from Bristol. That’s not a bad price for a luxury king suite in a five-star hotel; in fact, this price includes a saving of £218 off the full price.
Royal Palm Dubrovnik (Credit: Royal Palm Hotels & Resorts)
Adventure holidays and specialist holidays
Maybe you’re after a package holiday but anything but the norm – no lying on a beach sunbathing day in and day you for you!
Take a look at our Tour Operators page which lists all sorts of companies offering holidays to Croatia – including travel for solos, coach and rail travel, green travel, kayaking, hiking and horseback riding, walking holidays, swimming adventures and more.
Sailing holidays
Do you know what Croatia’s got lots of? Islands. Which means it has a relatively long coastline and rather calm waters. All in all, it is ideal for sailing which, in turn, is an ideal way of exploring Croatia’s islands.
Check out our Sailing Holidays in Croatia page. As well as some tips, you’ll find details of companies that offer sailing package holidays in Croatia.
A DIY Holiday?
No, not a holiday that involves you packing a hammer, a screwdriver and a cordless drill.
Seeing as Visit Croatia has all the advice for you to put together your own holiday (and if you can’t find any answer, I’m here to help you!), you may well find that putting together yourself – in other words, a do it yourself holiday – is actually preferable to you.
We’ve got all the answers for how to plan your own holiday to Croatia, from finding flights, accommodation, transfers, tours and more.
You may well find that you make a slight cost saving in putting together your own holiday. Or you may find that by putting together your own holiday, you really will get the perfect holiday to Croatia; whether it’s a specific destination, departure point, activity or other thing that’s making it perfect.
I hope you’re able to book a wonderful holiday to Croatia this summer!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/package-holidays-to-croatia.jpg533800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-06-17 12:42:052024-06-18 12:51:59Best Package Holidays to Croatia 2024
Much has been made in the UK press over the last few days about travellers having problems with their passports when travelling to the EU. Could this be an issue when you’re travelling to Croatia? And what, specifically, are the UK passport requirements for Croatia? We will reveal all on this page.
UK Passport Requirements for Croatia
Croatia is of course part of the EU and is also now part of the Schengen Zone. As such, Croatia’s passport requirements fall in line with the requirements for the rest of the EU.
There are two very important requirements:
Your passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years
Your passport must be valid for three months after your departure date from Croatia
Let’s take a look at these two requirements in more detail.
Ten-year passport issuance rule
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The confusion on the first part – that your passport might have been issued more than 10 years ago – lies in the fact that when UK passports were previously renewed (before October 2018) any unused months on your old passport would be added to your new passport. At a maximum, your passport could be (or could have been) valid for ten years and nine months.
From October 2018, all new adult passports that are issued are valid for exactly 10 years. So if your passport has been issued or renewed since then, you don’t need to worry.
Do note that your passport CAN be valid for more than 10 years – that in itself is not the problem. If your passport was issued on 1st May 2015 and is valid for 10 years and 4 months, you can use it to travel to Croatia as it HAS been issued within the last 10 years.
Three months left on your passport
This one’s a little more straightforward. You need to have three months left on your passport AFTER your departure date from Croatia.
What about passports from other countries?
If you are NOT an EU citizen
Generally, few other countries issue passports that are valid for more than 10 years. So if you hold a passport from another country, you are unlikely to fall foul of this “ten-year rule”. But please check your passport dates anyway, to be on the safe side.
If you ARE an EU citizen
Well then, lucky you! None of these rules apply to you. And in actual fact, you don’t even need a passport to travel to Croatia – you can travel with your personal ID card.
So what should I do?
Please check your passport’s issuance and expiry dates now! Like, right now – go and get your passport and check the dates inside it. Should there be a problem, you hopefully will have enough time before your travels to rectify the problem. Which would involve renewing your passport – and if you’re travelling soon(ish), you might need a fast-track renewal.
Do not leave checking your passport for the day before you travel, or on the way to the airport! As the recent press coverage has shown, travellers are being turned away from boarding their flights. Don’t be that disappointed traveller that gets turned away!
Even if you haven’t booked a holiday yet, it would be a good idea to check your passport anyway now. Because although your passport may be fine for travel now, by the time you go on holiday (let’s say you’re planning an August getaway) that might not be the case. And now you have plenty of time to renew your passport.
Do I need a visa for Croatia?
UK passport holders do NOT need a visa for Croatia. Citizens of countries such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and others also do not need a visa to visit Croatia. Check on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
UK travellers will need to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver when this comes into effect. It is expected to start in mid-2025.
