Is wild camping allowed in Croatia?

No, in Croatia, wild camping, also known as boondocking, dry camping, or dispersed camping, is officially not allowed. In the more rural areas, however, it is mostly tolerated.

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Written by: Sonja

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Last researched: 2024

Particularly, in tourist areas, on the coast, and in national parks, the ban on wild camping is regularly enforced. In the worst case, penalties of up to 400 € can be imposed. In contrast to other countries, camping on private property is also forbidden.

Especially inland, away from tourist areas, the ban is not strictly controlled. The residents and police often turn a blind eye, and tolerate camping for one night or ask you to leave the area, without a fine.

If you want to camp inland, you should be very careful, as there are still areas with unexploded mines. This is especially true for:

The surroundings of Velebit
The surroundings of Zadar
Areas marked with ribbons or warning signs

In these areas, you should only walk on the existing paths.

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You can find the perfect pitch to set up your camp with the Caravanya App

Tips and tricks for wild camping in Croatia

From the coast with a fresh breeze and blue water that invites you to swim to the beautiful green forests that you can best explore on a short hike Croatia has everything to offer. Wild camping is forbidden on the coast and in tourist areas, but inland you have a good chance to find a nice place and spend a night in nature without any problems. We have put together a few tips for you to consider on your trip.

Travelling with a dog
If you want to travel to Croatia with your faithful companion, there are a few things you should bear in mind

Your dog needs an EU pet passport
It must have a valid rabies vaccination
Your dog must be chipped
Bathing is only permitted on designated dog beaches
All dogs must be kept on a lead
If your dog is categorised as a fighting dog, it must wear a muzzle
The dog breeds Terrier, Bull and their hybrids are not allowed to enter the country

Parking
Most car parks are subject to charges, even if some of them are poorly signposted and therefore difficult to recognise. You should also keep your car park ticket. In recent years, car owners have often received parking tickets after travelling despite having paid the fees. The parking ticket saves you having to pay a ticket.

Payment
In the cities it is no problem to pay with a credit card, but in rural areas the situation is somewhat different. You should therefore always have some cash with you when travelling. Incidentally, you have been paying in euros in Croatia since 2023. Changing money is therefore no longer necessary.

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10 interesting, bizarre and funny facts about Croatia

Most people know that Nikola Tesla came from Croatia and, especially in recent years, more and more people have heard of Dubrovnik as the filming location for one of the world's most popular series. But does Croatia have anything to do with the White House? We have compiled the answer to this question and seven other interesting facts for you here.

Fact #1 - 101 Dalmatians
The Dalmatian dog breed comes from Croatia. More precisely from the region of Dalmatia, which is where they got their name.

Fact #2 - Natural wonders
Almost 10 per cent of Croatia consists of nature parks, national parks and nature reserves. So you can explore a lot.

Fact #3 - Pure sunshine
Southern Croatia has an average of 2670 hours of sunshine per year. That's more sunshine than Sydney in Australia.

Fact #4 - On the move
The "Golden Horn" beach consists of many pebbles and changes its shape depending on the current and wind.

Fact #5 - The White House
The White House is known worldwide. The stones with which it was built come from the Croatian island of Brač.

Fact #6 - Sea of islands
Croatia has 1,246 islands, of which only 47 are permanently inhabited. The largest islands are Cres, Krk and Brač

Fact #7 - Smallest city in the world
The town of Hum holds the title of "smallest town in the world". Between 20 and 30 people live in this town.

Fact #8 - Tie
Croats invented the tie, which used to be part of the uniforms of the Croatian army.

Everything you need to know for your trip

Equipment

Warning triangle Yes, two pieces
Safety vest Yes, one per occupant
First aid kit Yes
Replacement lamp set Yes, except Xenon / LED
Spare tyre / repair set No
Fire extinguisher Yes
Tow rope No
Tear rope for all trailers No

Driving

Do I need a vignette, or are there tolls? Yes
Right hand trafficTo avoid dazzling other road users, you need to readjust or mask your headlights if they have asymmetrical light and are right-hand drive
Is it compulsory to drive with lights on during the day? Yes, with special requirements
Daylight obligation special features: From the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March, you must drive with daytime running lights or dipped headlights during the day.

Information

Is the tap water potable? Yes
Socket type: C+F
Energency numbers: 112
Currency: Euro
Official Languages: Croatian
Country licence plate code: HR

Average prices, in €

Price coffee rounded: 1.50
Price beer rounded: 2.50

Entry conditions for animals

You need a valid EU pet passport in which your animal is clearly identified (microchip or tattoo), as well as a rabies vaccination valid on entry. The rabies vaccination must be at least 21 days old, but not older than 6 months. Yes
If your entry is from a non-EU country with a reduced rabies status, you must have a rabies antibody test carried out approximately four weeks before you enter the country and have it entered on your EU pet passport. Yes
Your dog must be treated for tapeworms 24 to 120 hours before entry. No
In addition to a valid EU pet passport with all the required entries, you also need an official veterinary health certificate (max. 10 days old). No
The import of fighting dogs or breeds classified as dangerous is not permitted. No

We try our best to keep the information up to date. Even so, we can always make mistakes. Have you found an error? Send us an email to moc.aynavarac@ofni!

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