Money in Croatia: Euros, Cards, Cash and ATMs

Quick Money Guide for Croatia

• Official currency: Euro (€), currency code EUR

• Best payment method: A combination of card and cash

• Most widely accepted cards: Visa and Mastercard

• ATMs: Widely available in cities and established tourist areas

• Important conversion tip: Always choose to be charged in euros

• Old Croatian kuna: No longer accepted for payment

• Cash for remote areas: Withdraw before visiting small islands or rural locations with limited banking services

What Currency Is Used in Croatia?

The official currency of Croatia is the euro. Croatia adopted it on 1 January 2023, replacing the Croatian kuna and joining the euro area.

One euro is divided into 100 cents. The banknotes most frequently used for everyday purchases are €5, €10, €20 and €50. Coins are available in denominations from 1 cent to €2.

Euro banknotes and coins issued by any euro-area country are valid in Croatia. It does not matter whether a coin carries a Croatian, Italian, Slovenian, German or another national design.

Travellers can read more about the change in the guide to Croatia’s entry into the Eurozone and Schengen Area. The European Commission also provides official information about Croatia’s adoption of the euro.

Keep Smaller Euro Notes Available

Although larger euro banknotes are legal tender, a small café, market stall, bakery or kiosk may not have enough change for a €100 or €200 note. Notes of €5, €10, €20 and €50 are more practical for everyday spending.

Coins can also be useful for public toilets, lockers, small purchases and some parking machines. Payment options vary, so check the information displayed before parking.

Should You Carry Cash in Croatia?

There is no need to carry the entire holiday budget in cash. However, relying on a card alone can cause problems in smaller or more remote locations.

Cash may be useful for:

• farmers’ and fish markets;

• small bakeries, cafés, kiosks and family-run businesses;

• beach facilities and seasonal stalls;

• some local transport tickets;

• parking machines and public toilets;

• tips;

• small boat services or excursions;

• rural villages and locations outside the main tourist centres;

• quieter parts of the Croatian islands.

Card and ATM access is generally easy in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Zadar, Pula and other major destinations. Facilities can be less convenient in remote inland areas and away from the main settlements on smaller islands.

Before taking a ferry to a quieter island or travelling into a national park or rural region, check whether the accommodation, restaurant or activity provider accepts cards. Withdraw enough cash for expected small expenses, but avoid carrying an unnecessarily large amount.

Paying by Card in Croatia

Debit and credit cards are accepted by many hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, petrol stations, car rental companies and larger attractions. Visa and Mastercard generally have the broadest acceptance.

American Express, Diners Club and other card networks may be accepted less consistently, particularly by smaller businesses. Check before ordering or making a purchase if one of these is the only card available.

Contactless payments are common, and many terminals also support mobile wallets. A terminal can still request a PIN even for a relatively small contactless transaction, so remember the PIN and carry the physical card as a backup.

More detailed guidance is available in the article about using credit and debit cards in Croatia.

Check Before Relying on a Card

Card acceptance should never be assumed solely because a business appears on a booking platform or map. Equipment may be temporarily unavailable, a small business may accept only certain cards, or an accommodation provider may use bank transfer or cash under its booking conditions.

Before arriving, confirm the payment method for:

• privately booked accommodation;

• boat trips and private transfers;

• small restaurants away from tourist centres;

• deposits and security holds;

• activities paid for directly to a local operator.

Using ATMs in Croatia

ATMs are called bankomati in Croatian. They are widely available in cities, towns, airports, ferry ports, shopping centres and popular coastal resorts.

In smaller villages and on less-developed islands, ATMs may be limited or located only in the main settlement. Seasonal demand can also lead to queues or temporarily empty machines.

Choose an ATM Carefully

Whenever possible, use an ATM physically attached to an established bank branch. This can make it easier to get assistance if the machine retains the card or a transaction fails.

Independent ATMs are common in tourist centres, but their fees and conversion offers can vary. Being in a convenient location does not mean an ATM offers the lowest total cost.

Before confirming a withdrawal, check:

• the ATM operator’s fee;

• the exchange rate or conversion offer;

• the amount that will be debited;

• your own bank’s foreign withdrawal fee;

• your card’s daily withdrawal limit.

An ATM should display its own fee before the transaction is completed. Cancel the withdrawal if the fee or conversion terms are not acceptable.

A bank-owned ATM can also charge customers of other banks, so the bank logo alone does not guarantee a fee-free withdrawal.

Balance Fees and Cash Security

If a card issuer charges a fixed fee for every withdrawal, several small withdrawals may become expensive. One moderately sized withdrawal can be more economical, but carrying excessive cash creates an unnecessary security risk.

The right balance depends on the card provider, itinerary and access to ATMs. Check withdrawal fees and limits before departure rather than discovering them at the machine.

Always Choose Euros at ATMs and Card Terminals

An ATM or payment terminal may offer to convert the transaction into the currency of the traveller’s home account. This is known as dynamic currency conversion, or DCC.

The screen may ask whether to:

• pay in euros or in the home currency;

• accept or decline conversion;

• continue with or without conversion;

• use a guaranteed exchange rate.

The safer default is to select EUR, euros, decline conversion or continue without conversion. This allows the card issuer or card network to perform the currency conversion according to the card’s terms.

Selecting the home currency means the ATM operator or merchant’s conversion provider sets the rate. That rate can include a separate markup. The converted amount may look more familiar, but familiarity does not make it less expensive.

After paying, check that the receipt shows the transaction in euros. The official Mastercard currency converter explains that Mastercard’s conversion rate does not apply when conversion is performed by the merchant or ATM operator.

Choosing euros does not remove any foreign transaction fee charged by the card issuer. Travellers with accounts in pounds, dollars, Swiss francs or another non-euro currency should check their card terms before travelling.

ATM and Card Fees

Two different providers can charge for the same ATM withdrawal:

• the Croatian ATM operator;

• the bank or company that issued the card.

A card issuer may also apply a foreign exchange margin when the account is not denominated in euros.

For cards and accounts based in the EU, euro payments and withdrawals are subject to EU cross-border payment rules. However, these rules do not make every ATM withdrawal free and do not prevent currency conversion charges. The Your Europe payment guide explains the applicable payment and card-fee rules.

Before travelling, check the card provider’s:

• ATM withdrawal fee;

• foreign transaction fee;

• currency conversion margin;

• daily withdrawal limit;

• fraud and travel-security settings.

Exchanging Foreign Currency in Croatia

Travellers arriving with a non-euro currency can exchange money at banks and authorised exchange offices. An exchange office is called a mjenjačnica.

Before exchanging cash, compare the amount of euros that will actually be received rather than looking only at the advertised rate. Ask whether a commission or service fee applies and request a receipt.

Exchange rates at airports, hotels, transport terminals and highly visited locations may prioritise convenience. Do not assume that the first available office offers the most competitive total conversion.

The European Central Bank’s euro reference rates can help with a general comparison. These rates are published for information and are not the same as the commercial rate offered by a bank, card issuer, ATM or exchange office.

Avoid exchanging money with unlicensed individuals, and do not exchange foreign currency into Croatian kuna. Kuna can no longer be used for purchases.

Traveller’s cheques should not be relied upon as a practical payment method in Croatia.

Can You Still Use or Exchange Croatian Kuna?

Croatian kuna banknotes and coins are no longer legal tender and cannot be used in shops, restaurants, hotels or other businesses.

The former fixed conversion rate was:

€1 = HRK 7.53450

The Croatian National Bank exchanges kuna banknotes for euros free of charge and without a time limit. Kuna banknotes can no longer be exchanged at ordinary commercial banks, post offices or exchange offices.

The deadline for exchanging kuna coins expired on 31 December 2025. Kuna coins are therefore no longer exchangeable.

Anyone who still has kuna banknotes should check the current location, opening hours and procedure on the Croatian National Bank’s official cash-replacement page before visiting or sending banknotes by post.

Do not accept kuna as change or payment during a trip. All current prices and transactions should be in euros.

Hotel and Car Rental Deposits

Hotels and car rental companies may place a temporary pre-authorisation or security hold on a payment card. This is not always an immediate charge, but it reduces the card’s available balance or credit limit until the hold is released.

Before agreeing, ask:

• how much will be blocked;

• whether a credit card is required;

• whether a debit card is accepted;

• when the hold should be released;

• which costs the deposit may cover.

A debit-card hold can restrict access to money needed for the rest of the trip. Keep enough available funds on another card or account, particularly when renting a car or staying at several hotels.

Retain the rental agreement, hotel bill and final payment receipt until the deposit has been released.

Tipping and Paying the Bill

Tipping in Croatia is appreciated but not compulsory. In cafés, rounding up is common, while restaurant guests may leave a larger tip when service has been good.

If paying by card, ask whether a tip can be added before the transaction is processed. Cash is often the simplest option for leaving a tip directly.

The separate guide to tipping in Croatia covers restaurants, cafés, hotels, taxis, guides and boat crews in more detail.

Always review the amount on the terminal before entering a PIN or approving a contactless payment. Keep the receipt until the transaction appears correctly in the banking app or statement.

Carrying Large Amounts of Cash

Travellers entering or leaving the European Union with €10,000 or more in cash, or the equivalent covered by the EU definition of cash, must submit a declaration to customs authorities.

This is particularly relevant when entering Croatia from a non-EU country such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro or Serbia, or when leaving Croatia for a destination outside the EU.

There are no single EU-wide rules governing every journey with cash between EU countries, so national requirements in the countries of departure, transit and arrival should also be checked.

The official EU guidance on travelling with cash explains the declaration threshold and what is included in the definition of cash.

Keeping Money and Cards Safe

Croatia is generally straightforward for everyday payments, but normal travel precautions remain important.

• Bring at least two payment cards and store them separately.

• Carry only the cash needed for the day.

• Use banking-app notifications for card transactions.

• Shield the keypad when entering a PIN.

• Check the ATM card slot before inserting a card.

• Do not accept help from strangers while using an ATM.

• Avoid handing a card to someone who takes it out of sight.

• Save the card issuer’s emergency contact details separately from the card.

• Report a lost or stolen card to the issuer immediately.

• Review transactions regularly and report unfamiliar payments without delay.

If an ATM retains a card, contact the bank named on the machine and the card issuer. An ATM attached to an open bank branch may offer the quickest route to assistance.

Common Money Mistakes to Avoid in Croatia

Bringing Croatian Kuna

Kuna is no longer accepted. Bring euros or withdraw euros after arrival.

Accepting Automatic Currency Conversion

Choose euros at ATMs and card terminals unless the displayed conversion has been carefully compared with the card issuer’s total cost.

Assuming Every Business Accepts Cards

Confirm payment options before visiting a remote restaurant, private accommodation, boat operator or small island business.

Using the First ATM Without Checking the Fee

Read the complete ATM screen and cancel if the operator fee or conversion rate is unsuitable.

Travelling With Only One Card

A card can be lost, retained, damaged or temporarily blocked. Keep a second card in a separate secure place.

Money Checklist Before Travelling to Croatia

• Bring euro cash or plan a first withdrawal from a suitable ATM.

• Check card and ATM fees with the issuer.

• Confirm that the card can be used internationally.

• Know the PIN for each physical card.

• Bring a backup card from a separate account if possible.

• Activate transaction notifications.

• Keep small euro notes and coins for minor expenses.

• Confirm payment terms for accommodation, car rental and activities.

• Withdraw cash before visiting remote areas with limited ATM access.

• Always select euros when offered a choice of transaction currency.

Frequently Asked Questions About Money in Croatia

Does Croatia use the euro or the kuna?

Croatia uses the euro. The kuna is no longer legal tender and cannot be used for payments.

Can cards be used everywhere in Croatia?

Cards are commonly accepted in cities and popular tourist destinations, but some small businesses, markets and remote locations may require cash. Carry both a card and a modest cash reserve.

Which currency should be selected at a Croatian ATM?

Select euros or continue without the ATM’s conversion. Choosing the home currency activates dynamic currency conversion, under which the ATM operator sets the exchange rate.

Can old Croatian kuna still be exchanged?

Kuna banknotes can be exchanged at the Croatian National Bank without a time limit. Kuna coins are no longer exchangeable because the deadline expired on 31 December 2025.

How much cash can be brought into Croatia?

When entering or leaving the EU with €10,000 or more in cash, or its equivalent under the EU definition, a customs declaration is required. Rules for travel between EU countries should be checked separately.

Final Money Advice for Croatia

For most trips, the most practical arrangement is one primary card, one separately stored backup card and enough euro cash for small or unexpected expenses.

Use bank-attached ATMs where possible, review every displayed fee, choose euros rather than the home currency and confirm payment options before travelling to remote villages or smaller islands. These simple steps help prevent unnecessary conversion costs and payment problems during a stay in Croatia.