What You Need to Know About Driving in Croatia
Driving in Croatia will definitely take your breath away with it’s stunning coastline views but so will driving so close to the cliffs! Besides that, it’s pretty easy and very similar to driving here in the US.
WHAT SIDE OF THE ROAD DO THEY DRIVE ON
The most asked question. But don’t worry, most of Europe drives on the right side of the road with the steering wheel on the left just like the U.S. and that includes Croatia.
WHAT DO YOU NEED
You just need a valid US driver’s license. It’s advisable to have an international driving permit but it is not required and I didn’t have any issues with this.
WHERE TO RENT A CAR
There are so many places you can rent a car in Croatia. You can use third party brokers to compare the best prices like DiscoverCars.com or Rentalcars.com. However, I like to book direct and the company I saw come up the most through my research as reputable was Sixt Croatia. So that’s what I used and I had a great experience. My car was extremely nice and what I call sporty chic! As always, check the fine print and policies on cancellation and insurance before booking your rental.
WHAT ARE THE ROADS LIKE
The roads are well-maintained and in excellent condition. If you are driving from Split to Dubrovnik like I did, driving on curvy roads so close to the cliffs with NO guardrails was terrifying for me (pic above for reference). And just know, cars and motorcycles will pass you on the two-lane road, even if you are going the speed limit. Every time a car passed me on these crazy roads, it made me even more anxious. I think it’s key to remember that they live there and are used to those roads and I’m not. My tip is to drive slow if you have. I did. But it’s also not a bad idea to brush up on road signs and speed limits before you go - here’s a website.
THERE ARE TOLLS
Some of the motorways are subject to tolls. You can pay in cash (Croatian Kuna or Euros) or with your credit card.
GAS STATIONS
Okay gas stations work a little bit differently here. You will fill up your tank and then go inside to pay. You don’t pay at the pump. There will also be attendants at the ready so don’t be afraid to ask for help!
WHERE TO PARK
Parking is a bit difficult in Croatia as a lot of the major cities have no car zones or it’s hard to find a spot in general. I found it’s best to park outside of the city walls especially in Dubrovnik or Split and then walk or take an Uber. For Split, I booked a parking spot beforehand through my accommodation and then walked to my hotel and saw the city by foot. For Dubrovnik, I booked a spot here ahead of time and then took an Uber (it was about $7) to the city walls and walked to my hotel. There are no cars allowed within the city walls in Dubrovnik and it’s very walkable.
Overall, I found driving in Croatia to be relatively easy. There’s not much difference between driving there and driving here besides what is mentioned above. A little nerve-wracking driving so close to those cliffs but I powered through and tried to enjoy the views. You can do it too!
