It’s important to work out a budget for your travels when you’re heading to a new destination – it’s a good idea to have a clear understanding of your main expenses before you leave home, but it’s also vital to know the extra costs you can expect along the way!
A very common question we get asked is how expensive Croatia is and what prices visitors can expect to pay. Prices vary a lot throughout the country depending on the popularity of the location you wish to visit, however you’ll find an average guide on what you can expect to pay for essential items such as food, drinks and accommodation below.
Table of contentsAccommodation Costs:
Croatia boasts a variety of accommodation options to choose from, ranging from quaint Airbnbs to low cost youth hostels, high end boutique hotels, yachts, and everything in between. Croatia has a distinct high and low tourist season, meaning that the price of accommodation is heavily dependent on the time of year you’re planning on travelling.
Hostels
Hostels are a great low cost option for travellers, particularly backpackers and solo travellers looking to meet like-minded people. There are plenty of youth hostels to choose from in Croatia, common in popular hot spots such as Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. We recommend using a comparison website such as Hostelworld, where you can choose your hostel based on user reviews and filter options to suit your requirements. You should be able to find a bed in a dorm room for as little as €10 per night throughout the low season.
Private Accommodation
Private accommodation provides the perfect option for families or groups of friends that would like to self-cater throughout their stay. Using star and user ratings to guide you, private accommodation can cost anywhere from under €50 per night for a private room in an apartment, under €100 per night for an apartment for two, or upwards of €250 per night for a luxury villa stay. Private accommodation provides good value for money, however prices will vary depending on where you’re private accommodation is located, the time of year you’re travelling and the size of your group!
Hotels
Hotels are available throughout Croatia and as always, you can find hotel accommodation on both the budget and luxury end of the scale. Travelling in April (low season) will allow you to book a 4-star hotel for between €40 and €80 per night, whereas the same hotel in July or August (high season) can cost you between €80 and €150 per night. Those looking for luxurious hotel stays can pay anywhere from €250 - €500 per night for high-end hotel accommodation.
Whatever your accommodation style and budget is, Croatia has you covered!
Eating Out:
As with most tourist destinations, the cost of eating out depends on the location of the restaurant and the quality of the cuisine. Croatia is well known for everything from pizza and pasta to seafood specialities, ensuring there is something to cater to every taste and budget, making Croatia a popular choice with families.
Below is an average guide to what prices to expect when eating out in Croatia.
| Item | HRK (kn) | EURO (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Donut | 2kn | €0.50 |
| Ice cream | 10kn | 1€ |
| Pizza | 45kn | €6 |
| Salad | 25kn | €3 |
| Local Meal | 100kn | €13 |
Restaurants
Croatian restaurants cater to both budget conscious travellers and those looking for fine dining experiences. You’ll find the restaurants that line the waterfront and have impressive views are often the most expensive, as you are paying a premium for the (stunning!) view! If you’re looking for a budget or family friendly meal, head towards the hidden alleyways and restaurants located off the main Riva. If fine dining is more your style, you can find many award winning and Michelin star restaurants staking their claim to fame with mouthwatering dishes throughout the country, offering a more luxurious dining experience.
Our Insider Tip: You can always find good value for money in Croatia by using review websites, such as TripAdvisor, to find new restaurants and bars in the area that you’re staying in. For the best quality and value cuisine, watch where the lines are forming and explore the cobblestone streets to find the busiest and most exciting new places.
Takeaway
Lovers of pizza will rejoice in Croatia! The most popular takeaway is certainly pizza sold by the slice, closely followed by Croatian specialties such as burek (a decadent pastry staple filled with mince or cheese and spinach) or cevapi (skinless sausages served in a fresh bun with onion and ajvar; a delicious pepper based condiment). Depending on your location, you should be able to pick up a large slice of pizza for around 20 kunas (€2.5)!
Drinking Out
Croatia is well known for its cafe culture and nightlife, offering visitors bustling cafe bars for morning coffees with a view, corner stores for grabbing a soft drink or an array of bars and nightclubs to choose from, depending on your mood!
Below you’ll find the average price of drinks in Croatia.
| Item | HRK (kn) | EURO (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Coke | 10kn | €1 |
| Beer | 20kn | €3 |
| Local Wine (glass) | 45kn | €6 |
| Champagne (bottle) | 500kn | €67 |
Our Insider Tip: You can always find good value for money in Croatia by watching out for Happy Hour! This is a normal practice in most Croatian bars at some point during the day, with an hour or two reserved for offering a selection of drinks at discounted rates!
Sail Croatia Trip Costs
When booking your Sail Croatia cruise, you’ll need to account for extra expenses such as flights to Croatia & travel insurance– and then there will be optional extras like excursions and drinks onboard your ship. Extra expenses will vary depending on your requirements and therefore it is difficult to specify the exact amount of money that you can spend per day; however as a general rule, we suggest that you budget between €25 – €30 per day, as your accommodation, transport and some meals are already covered. This amount will adequately provide you with additional meals, drinks and optional entrances at some notable destinations.
Drinks
All of our ships offer fully-stocked bars and have a wide range of refreshing cocktails for those hot summer days lazing about on the top deck. Unless you have specific dietary requirements, you cannot bring food or drink onboard the boat and you will need to purchase drinks from the ship’s bar.
Below is an example of Sail Croatia drink prices which you can expect on our range of ships & cruises.
| Drink Type | Size | Cost In Euros (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Quality white wine | 200ml | €5 |
| Quality white wine | 750ml (bottle) | €23 |
| Quality red wine | 200ml | €4 |
| Quality red wine | 750ml (bottle) | €23 |
| Extra quality white wine | 200ml | €6 |
| Extra quality white wine | 750ml (bottle) | €36 |
| Extra quality red wine | 200ml | €7 |
| Extra quality red wine | 750ml (bottle) | €34 |
| Sparkling wine | 750ml (bottle) | €27 |
| Cider | 330ml | €4 |
| Red Bull can | 250ml | €4 |
| Cocktails | Standard | €7 |
| Cocktails | 1 litre | €17 |
| Draught Beer | 330ml | €3 |
| Draught Beer | 500ml | €4 |
| Vodka | 30ml | €3 |
| Whiskey | 30ml | €4 |
| Rum | 30ml | €3 |
| Gin | 30ml | €3 |
| Mineral water | 500ml | €2 |
| Mineral water | 1.5 litres | €3 |
| Soft Drink | 330ml | €2 |
| Tea | Cup | €2 |
| Coffee | Cup | €2 |
Please note: Prices are based on Navigator, Explorer and Active cruises and are an estimate only. Each ship will have varying price lists and menu options. Up to date prices and menu items will be available onboard and can be checked with your crew once you join your Sail Croatia cruise.
Meals
Two meals are included daily on a Sail Croatia Cruise, including a buffet breakfast and 3-course dinner. Guests joining an Explorer or Elegance Croatia Cruise will also take part in an included Local Village Dinner, and exclusive to our Elegance Cruise is the highly regarded Captains Dinner. All other evenings are free for guests to explore the local dining options and indulge in the delicious Dalmatian cuisine on offer. Depending on your budget, you can allocate anywhere between €10 for a pizza and €50 for a seafood dinner complete with a bottle of wine.
Excursions
There are a variety of excursions available for guests to participate in during their cruise, providing cultural, adrenaline inducing or relaxing experiences for every type of traveller. The price of excursions ranges from 90 Kunas (€12) for a Historical Walking Tour of Dubrovnik to 500 Kunas (€66) to fly through the Cetina Valley on a Zip Lining excursion.
Prices in Croatia FAQ’s
Croatia is more expensive than some of its neighboring Balkan countries, however compared to much of Western Europe it is seen as an affordable tourist destination. Like a lot of Mediterranean countries, Croatia can be more expensive in tourist hotspots and along the coast in areas such as Split and Dubrovnik.
The cost of beer in Croatia depends on where you’re purchasing it from! Half a litre of beer in a bar will cost you between 20 and 25 kunas (3 - 4 Euros).
As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia, Dubrovnik is one of the most expensive Croatian cities. Like all good tourist hotspots, you’ll still be able to find affordable options for food, drinks and accommodation in Dubrovnik, you just need to know where to look! Joining a Sail Croatia Cruise that visits Dubrovnik is a great way to save on accomodation costs whilst still enjoying the sights and sounds of this fascinating city!
We have a couple of tips on how to make your budget go further, allowing you to explore more of beautiful Croatia!
- Plan out your must-do activities before you arrive. This will allow you to include them in your budget and not overspend when you arrive!
- Plan the destinations you want to visit ahead of time
- Book accommodation that is located close to your must-do and must-see activities! This will allow you to save on transport costs and truly experience the destination.
- Book a cruise! With your accommodation, transport and some meals already included and prepaid, you’ll have more money to spend on exploring before and after your trip!
- Save some budget for fun, spontaneous activities! Always make sure you have a safety net of funds with you to cover additional drinks, food or a souvenir or two!
