Croatia in Summer 2021

Visiting Croatia in Summer 2021

Note: Many of the websites relating to coronavirus no longer exist, so we have removed some of the links on this page

Here, we’ll bring together the latest information – updated regularly – about visiting Croatia in summer 2021, with flight and holiday news, travel and local restrictions (and the lifting of these) and more.

Croatia in summer 2021

Travel Restrictions in Summer 2021

There are two parts to this story – restrictions on foreign travel by your own country, and restrictions in place for Croatia.

For example, as it stands for the UK, holidays abroad should be allowed from 17th May. (See Covid: When can I go on holiday in the UK or travel abroad?, BBC News, 23rd February 2021) But it is unknown at the moment what and if any kind of quarantine will be required when returning to the UK.

Latest update The UK’s green and amber lists have been combined into one “safe list” as of 4am on Monday 4th October. Croatia is on this safe list, meaning fully vaccinated travellers do not need a test to re-enter the UK and do not need to self-quarantine for 10 days. See the full list of rules on the Foreign Office website.

Updated The latest UK travel update on 26th August saw Croatia remain on the green list, which is great news! Do note, however, that neighbouring Montenegro is on the red list from 4am, Monday 30th August – if you travel to Montenegro and then return to the UK you will need to enter paid hotel quarantine for 10 days.

Updated Announced on 14th July and coming into effect at 4am on 19th July, Croatia has been be placed on England’s travel green list! This means that all travellers returning from Croatia to England do not need to quarantine for 10 days.

Updated From 19th July, fully vaccinated travellers from England (and children under 18 years of age) will not need to quarantine when returning from amber list countries, which Croatia still is. However, covid tests before and after returning to England will be required.

Updated As it stands on 24th June, Croatia remains on the UK amber travel list.

Updated As it stands on 8th June, Croatia remains on the UK amber travel list. There appears to be little movement week by week with new countries making it on to the green list.

Updated The UK is indeed allowing people to travel abroad for holidays from 17th May. The UK has also announced which countries are on its green light travel list…and Croatia is not presently one of them. That means that anyone travelling to Croatia for a holiday would need to self-isolate for 10 days at home on their return. (It is possible to “test to release” on day 5 of your return.)

Updated The UK is now suggesting that people can think about booking summer holidays. The earliest date that people could travel abroad is the 17th May. There is to be a traffic light system with countries designed as green, amber and red; the different colours indicate what UK travellers will need to do (not isolate, isolate at home, or isolate in a hotel) upon returning home. The first list of countries and the ‘traffic light’ that they will be is to be announced on 10th May.

Border Entry Regulations for Croatia

New regulations on entering Croatia were introduced as of 1st April.

LATEST UPDATE Visiting Croatia as a traveller from the UK, Cyprus, Russia or India

In effect from 26th July, ALL travellers (even if they are double-vaccinated) from these four countries must present proof of a negative PCR test taken in the previous 72 hours before entry into Croatia, or a negative rapid antigen test taken in the previous 48 hours before entry. This is due to the worsening epidemiological situation in those countries. As of 1st October, this is no longer valid. Please see Double vaccinated UK travellers to Croatia no longer need a negative test.

Additionally, as of 1st July, EU citizens/those travelling from the EU can enter Croatia with an EU Digital Covid Certificate.

For EU/EEA nationals and non-EU nationals if they are travelling from the EU/EEA who do not have an EU Digital Covid Certificate yet AND for third-country nationals, you must have one of the following:

  • a negative PCR test undertaken in the previous 72 hours or a rapid antigen test undertaken in the previous 48 hours (at the point of entry); if you are using a rapid antigen test, it must be one recognised by the EU, and the test name and manufacturer must be visible, and the test must be conducted by a healthcare facility/laboratory and signed or confirmed by a doctor
  • a vaccination certificate not older than 365 days showing you have received the second dose of a vaccine more than 14 days before entry into Croatia (or a vaccination certificate not older than 365 days showing you have received a single dose – in the case of single-dose vaccines – more than 14 days before entry into Croatia)
  • a certificate showing you have recovered from covid AND you have had one dose of a covid vaccine in the eight months since recovering; your vaccine dose must have been administered in the previous 12 months before arrival in Croatia
  • a certificate showing you have previously been infected with covid and had a positive PCR or rapid antigen test result in the previous 365 days only (and valid from on the 11th day after your positive test result)
  • if you are travelling from the EU, a vaccination certificate showing you have received the first dose of the Pfizer, Moderna or Gamaleya vaccine, on the basis of which you can enter Croatia in the period of 22 to 42 days from receiving the vaccine, or 22 to 84 days from receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine
  • if you don’t have one of the above, you must obtain a PCR or rapid antigen test immediately after arriving in Croatia (at your own expense) and to isolate until you obtain a negative test result – if do not do this, you must isolate for 10 days
  • Children under the age of 12 who are travelling accompanied by a parent or guardian are exempt from having to provide a negative test result (or to self isolate) providing their parent or guardian adheres to above entry regulations

Third-country nationals (which UK citizens now are!) can visit if you are:

  • travelling for tourist reasons and have confirmation of a paid accommodation booking in a hotel, camp, private renter or rented vessel and other forms of tourist accommodation
  • HOWEVER, please note that this paid accommodation booking proof requirement now no longer exists for travellers from the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Heregovina, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macao, Montenegro, Moldova, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, USA

Travellers from South Africa and Zanzibar (Tanzania) must show proof of a negative PCR test undertaken in the previous 48 hours AND must also isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Croatia. (The isolation period can be shortened if a PCR test – at your own expense – is taken on day 7 at an authorised testing facility.)

As of 1st October, travellers from Brazil no longer need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Croatia. However, ALL travellers – regardless of vaccination status – from Brazil need to show a negative PCR test (taken in the previous 72 hours) or a negative rapid antigen test (taken in the previous 48 hours) to enter Croatia.

Updated A meeting between the Croatian Minister of Tourism and Sports, Nikolina Brnjac, and the British Ambassador to Croatia, Andrew Dalgleish, saw Ms Brnjac state that Croatia “would be ready to receive tourists from the UK as soon as epidemiological rules in their home country allow it”. (See: When can I visit Croatia? Latest news as the country promises to welcome Britons by May, Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2021) This would suggest UK citizens could visit Croatia from 17th May.

Will any kind of ‘vaccination passport’ be in place for Croatia? There has not been any firm confirmation on this either way, but it is thought that Croatia is reluctant to introduce this. (Again, to encourage holidaymakers to visit.)

Updated The EU – of which Croatia is, of course, a member – looks set to introduce digital travel certificates for its citizens this summer. The UK is still considering whether or not to do the same.

Local Restrictions in Croatia

As of 28th May, new regulations have come into effect in Croatia. You can read about these on our Croatia Travel Restrictions 2021 page.

Covid Test Centres in Croatia

Should you need to obtain a PCR or rapid antigen test when in Croatia, you can see a list of test centres on the Koronavirus website. This website details the locations of test centres all over the country, including in towns and cities such as Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Pula, Rovinj and Dubrovnik. The page also shows how to book these test and how much they cost.

Test centres in Croatia:

The KoronaTestiranje website shows a map of testing centres all over Croatia, along with contact and booking details and prices.

Flights to Croatia Summer 2021

The vast majority of flights from the UK & Ireland to Croatia that usually operate each year are planned to do so again for summer 2021. The start of the operating timetable for some routes has been pushed back – e.g. instead of flights starting at the end of March/early April, they will do so in May/June. This is to be expected, really, as foreign travel in spring and Easter time – normally a popular time of year to go away – is not yet permitted. (Foreign travel from the UK is expected to be allowed from 17th May.)

Updated As of the week beginning 9th August almost all flights scheduled to operate this summer from the UK & Ireland to Croatia have commenced. For the full timetable, see our Flights to Croatia from the UK & Ireland page.

Updated Delta has also announced a brand transatlantic route for summer 2021, from New York-JFK Airport to Dubrovnik. The route will start on 2nd July, operating four times a week (on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). With United’s flights below, this now means Dubrovnik will be connected to New York with 7 flights a week this summer!

Updated United has announced a brand new transatlantic route for summer 2021, from New York-Newark Airport direct to Dubrovnik. Flights will commence on 8th July, operating three times a week (on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays) until 3rd October.

Updated Ryanair has announced new routes for summer 2021 – from Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh to Zadar. (They will also have a new, daily route from London Stansted to Zagreb from 1st September.)

There are also plenty of flights operating from elsewhere in Europe to Croatia in summer 2021. See our Getting to Zagreb, Getting to Split, Getting to Dubrovnik, Getting to Istria, Getting to the Kvarner Riviera and Getting to North Dalmatia pages for more details.

For flights from further afield…there’s bad news, unfortunately. Although more and more transcontinental routes direct to Croatia – from the Middle East, Asia and North America – emerged, pre-pandemic, the majority have been cancelled for 2021. We hope to see them resume in future.

Croatia Travel Updates

Here is some information related to travelling to or in Croatia that visitors may find helpful for summer 2021.

Updated Jadrolinija will continue to operate its popular coastal catamaran (Split – Bol – Hvar – Korcula – Dubrovnik) until 20th September 2021.

Updated Kapetan Luka is the new operator of the Pula – Unije – Susak – Mali Losinj – Ilovik – Silba – Zadar line (taking over from Catamaran Line).

Updated Kapetan Luka has also cancelled their Split – Hvar – Korcula route for 2021.

Updated Kapetan Luka‘s second coastal catamaran, sailing Split – Bol – Makarska – Korcula – Sobra – Dubrovnik, has been cancelled for 2021.

Updated The start of Jadrolinija‘s international route from Ancona to Zadar has been postponed until 21st July.

Updated Kapetan Luka‘s other coastal catamaran travelling Split – Bol – Makarska – Korcula – Sobra – Dubrovnik will start operating from 5th July.

Updated Jadrolinija‘s coastal catamaran that sails Split – Bol – Hvar – Korcula – Dubrovnik will start operating from 25th June.

Updated Kapetan Luka‘s popular coastal catamaran travelling Split – Milna – Hvar – Korcula – Pomena – Dubrovnik is now due to start operating on 15th May 2021 instead of from early April.

Updated Croatia is to subsidise (by 50%) the cost of covid tests for tourists and those who need to get tested once in the country. Additionally, in Zagreb, special testing centres have been set up for visitors – you can find more info on the Zagreb Tourist Board website.

Updated Jadrolinija has announced that passengers can make changes to their tickets on international sailings (Ancona – Zadar, Ancona – Split and Bari – Dubrovnik) for free up to one day before the sailing date. Tickets can be rebooked onto another sailing within the next 12 months.

Updated Jadrolinija has also announced that those who purchase tickets on certain car ferry lines now WILL have a guaranteed reservation at a particular time – even in summer. (Previously, a ticket did not guarantee a sailing time on the date booked, and travellers still needed to queue up at the port several hours beforehand.) You can see the full list of lines this applies to on Jadrolinija’s website; in summer, you do still need to be at the port 60 minutes prior to departure.

Booking Holidays to Croatia for Summer 2021

Many tour operators and holiday companies seem to be operating “full steam ahead” when it comes to selling holidays for summer 2021 – for Croatia, and elsewhere! That’s understandable from their perspective, but we would always advise making sure you have comprehensive travel insurance in place should you need to re-arrange or cancel your holiday. (Either due to illness or due to changes in rules on travelling.)

Travelling to Neighbouring Countries from Croatia

Please check the entry requirements of countries such as Bosnia & Hercegovina or Montenegro if you plan on making day trips (or longer stays) into them from Croatia. Do note, however, that as of 4am on 30th August 2021, Montenegro is on the UK’s red list.

Other Info

If you’re visiting Croatia in summer 2021 from the UK, make sure you check out our advice on Visiting Croatia Post Brexit to see what changes there now are seeing as the UK has left the EU!

Happy travels for 2021, everyone, and do keep safe!