Croatia, a gem on the Adriatic coast, is a tapestry of historic cities, crystal-clear waters, and idyllic islands. From the ancient walls of Dubrovnik to the Roman ruins of Split, and from the sun-drenched beaches of Hvar to the cascading waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes, Croatia offers a rich cultural and natural heritage. To navigate this beautiful country with ease, familiarizing yourself with the local currency and cash, ATMs in Croatia and and payment methods is essential. This guide will provide you with the financial knowledge needed to explore Croatia’s wonders with confidence, ensuring a journey filled with unforgettable memories.
Cash or card?
Card is widely accepted, but cash is still commonly used. Tourists use cards in hotels and restaurants but may need cash for smaller establishments, with an estimated 50-60% of transactions in cash.
Cash in Croatia for:
Food from local restaurants, especially in less touristy areas, Street shopping, Street food vendors, Many tour operators, especially local or small-scale ones, Entry fees for some national parks, museums, and historical sites, Local markets and bazaars, Tips and gratuities in many places, Tuk-tuks and local taxis (though some cities may have app-based services that accept cards), Small purchases, Public buses, Local trains (in some areas, ticket machines might not accept cards), Many hostels and budget hotels
Card for:
Tailoring services in major cities
Fancy sit-down restaurants in major tourist areas
Shopping in malls and branded stores in major cities
Expensive tour operators
Car rentals
Good looking coffee shops in major tourist areas
Spas in major tourist areas
Online bookings for hotels, flights, and tours
Upmarket hotels
Professional pre-paid taxi booking services (such as in larger cities)
Entry fees for major tourist attractions and theme parks in major tourist areas
So where to get cash in Croatia?
There are 3 main ways to get the cash in Croatia. They are:
ATMs, or
Currency exchange
Money Transfer & local pick-up
Where to find ATMs in Croatia?
With over 4,000 ATMs in Croatia, it’s generally easy to withdraw cash in cities and town centers. However, ATMs are not as prevalent on islands or in remote places. You’ll usually find them at major airports, central markets, and main tourist streets.
Popular banks with ATMs
The most popular ATMs in Croatia are:
Zagrebačka
PBZ
Addiko Bank
Erste Bank
OTP Bank
Raiffeisen
HPB
Agram Banka
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
Global ATM alliance: Global ATM Alliance is a partnership among many banks in the world to allow its customers to withdraw cash from all partner banks abroad without any ATM fee. Many banks in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin America are part of the Global ATM Alliance, including Bank of America, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and others. BUT, there is no local bank in Croatia part of this network. So don’t rely on this.
Where to find currency exchanges?
You can exchange cash in Croatia at:
Authorised currency exchange centres: Found in tourist areas, local brands are preferred for exchanging. Verify their licence to confirm they are authorised.
Banks: Easily convert your currency to Euro at bank branches, especially for currencies like US dollars, Pounds, Japanese Yen, Thai Baht, and Singapore dollars. Expect a commission fee of 0.5% to 2% per transaction.
Hotels and airports: Currency exchange services are available, but rates may not be the best. Some larger hotels may offer rates comparable to banks.
Tips:
Avoid exchanging at airports due to poor rates.
Stay away from the black market to prevent scams.
Use new notes for better rates or lower fees.
For US dollars, larger bills typically yield higher rates.
Accepted currencies:
Croatia mainly accepts its local currency Euros (EUR or €). Note denominations are € 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500. Other currencies are not usually accepted.
US Dollar: You can use US Dollars for pretty much nothing.
Pound: Not accepted
Know the ATMs in Croatia
Foreign debit and credit cards usage
Absolutely, ATMs in Croatia accept foreign cards without any hassle.
Types of cards at ATMs
ATMs in Croatia will mainly accept Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, Plus, Maestro, Amex and Diners cards. Some also accept Amex cards. Don’t expect ATMs in Greece to usually accept JCB, UnionPay, Discover or RuPay cards.
Types of cards to swipe
Swiping is generally seamless with Visa and Mastercard, though Amex and alternative card types might only be welcome at a select number of places.
Opening hours
ATMs are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in most cases. While standalone ATMs can be accessed at any hour, those inside banks typically open from 9 am to 3 pm.
Workings and functionalities of the ATMs
Croatia’s ATMs won’t feel foreign to travelers, with a modern design consistent with international norms. Just remember that some ATMs might capture your card for the transaction’s duration—make sure to reclaim it.
ATM names
Words ATM or bankomat are widely used or signage has bank name without the word ATM
PIN type
ATMs in Croatia primarily accept 4-digit PINs. Some ATMs may accept longer PINs, but 4 digits are standard.
Also, many merchants used old machines which require a magnetic stripe on the card and not just a chip-and-pin card.
Language options
ATMs in Croatia default to Croatian and English, with some machines also providing French, German, and Spanish. Unclear on the language? Google Translate’s live camera function can be your ally, just remember to double-check for accuracy.
Know the foreign exchanges in Croatia
Foreign debit and credit cards usage
Currency exchanges prefer hard cash for exchange. Visa is accepted at many places, mastercard next. Please be mindful of the fees you will pay if you use your card at a currency exchange.
Opening hours
Hard cash is the standard for currency exchanges, with Visa accepted broadly and Mastercard following. Keep in mind, using your card may come with fees.
Languages to interact in
Staff at currency exchanges in Croatia can usually interact in 2 languages– Croatian and English
Exchange names
You’ll find currency exchange venues under names like ‘Currency Exchange’, ‘Forex’, or ‘Money Exchange’.
ATM withdrawal limit and ATM Fees
Withdrawal limit: ATMs typically restrict the withdrawal per transaction from €100 to €800, most common being €700.
ATM fees: Here’s the good news! In Croatia, the range of ATM fees goes from € 0 to € 5.48. Which means there are some ATM brands that charge absolutely no fees!
Ways to avoid high fees
Use fee-free ATMs in the country.
Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
For more in-depth insights and alternative methods, check out our detailed article, Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Avoid no-fee exchange offices at all costs to get cash in Croatia – If they say no fee, which means they account for their fee in the exchange rate. Nothing is ever free in currency exchanges
Avoid using credit and debit cards for direct transactions
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Croatia
Leverage the ATM Fee Saver mobile and web app to locate ATMs in Croatia that forego fees, plus currency exchange and money transfer locations. The app details fees for users with foreign cards and withdrawal limitations. It includes a calculator for exact fee calculations for withdrawals in Croatia. The app will navigate you to your chosen ATM and offers insights for 50 countries, including Croatia.
Cash in Croatia and safety
Carrying cash
In Croatia, it’s generally safe to carry cash, but avoid carrying unnecessary large amounts. To keep your cash safe:
Spread your cash across different pockets or wallets.
Consider using a safety belt or fanny pack.
Avoid showing a lot of cash in public.
Be discreet when paying.
Keep your wallet in your front pockets for better safety.
In crowded areas, secure your purses, wallets, and bags close to your body.
Safety at ATMs & currency exchanges
ATMs in Croatia are usually equipped with cameras and guards, and the crime rate is low. However, be cautious of pickpocketing and cover the PIN pad when using ATMs. Use ATMs inside bank branches for added security, regularly monitor your card transactions, avoid public Wi-Fi for banking, keep your card in sight during transactions, and carry a backup card. For more tips, read our articles on ATM safety while traveling abroad.
FAQs
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost?
Yes, 2 bank ATMs offer fee-free withdrawals in Croatia. However, these have very few branches so be prepared to pay some fees if you are looking for the banks with a larger ATM network in Croatia.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe accepted?
Absolutely yes! You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Croatia
Bitcoin ATMs
Yes, there are about 10 Bitcoin ATMs in Croatia.
Foreign banks’s presence in Croatia
Bank of America: Nope
Citbank: Not present
Barclays: Nope
HSBC: No
Standard Chartered: Nope
