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Croatia eSIM in 2026: plans, local SIMs and the islands

Do you need an eSIM for Croatia? Dated plan prices from Airalo and Croatia's three networks, which tourist plans you can buy before you fly, why they stop at the border, and what to know near Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

By Nomad's Travel Guides. Published .

Researched from official and operator sources and fact-checked before publishing. Prices and rules change, so each one is dated where it appears.

This post contains affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Staying connected in Croatia is simple, but the best option depends on where your SIM is from. This guide compares an eSIM bought before you fly with a Croatian tourist plan, explains why local plans stop at the border, and covers islands, ferries and the borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Every price is dated and sourced.

Planning a route? Start with our Croatia country guide and the Zagreb city guide.

Do you need an eSIM in Croatia?

If your SIM is from an EU or EEA country, probably not. Croatia is in the EU, so "Roam like at home" applies: calls, texts and data cost what they cost at home. The European Commission's Your Europe service says the regime also covers Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway "as well as in Moldova and Ukraine" (Your Europe, checked 21 October 2026).

Two catches: your operator may set a fair-use limit on roaming data, and may charge extra if, over 4 months, you spend more time and roam more abroad than at home (Your Europe). Our Bulgaria eSIM guide explains EU roaming in more detail.

If your SIM is from outside the zone (UK, US, Canada, Australia and others), plan ahead. "Other countries are not covered by this regime", Your Europe says, though many operators extend similar offers. A data eSIM or a local tourist plan is the practical choice.

Networks and coverage

Croatia has three mobile networks:

  • Hrvatski Telekom (HT, brand: Telekom).
  • A1 Hrvatska (A1).
  • Telemach Hrvatska (Telemach).

What Airalo's labels mean. Airalo's Croatia plan lists Telemach and A1 (both 5G), and its plan text says it "Operates on the Telemach and A1 networks in Croatia" (Airalo plan page, as of 21 October 2026). It does not list Hrvatski Telekom.

Islands. Airalo's plan notes say it "Covers the mainland and the Adriatic islands (Hvar, Brac, Korcula and the Dubrovnik area)." The operators publish interactive maps: Hrvatski Telekom, A1 and Telemach. HT notes its map is based on a computer model and real coverage can differ. We found no written operator claim about Plitvice Lakes or the road there, so we do not rank the networks. Before the Zagreb to Plitvice day trip, check the route on your network's map and download offline maps.

Ferries. EU roaming rules apply on a ship only while your phone uses a land-based network, such as in a harbour; over satellite, "EU rules no longer apply" and prices are not capped (Your Europe). If in doubt on board, use flight mode.

eSIM vs a local prepaid SIM

ID rules. We found no HAKOM (regulator) statement on ID for prepaid SIMs. A1 and Telemach sell tourist SIMs at newsstands, petrol stations, supermarkets and post offices (A1, Telemach), with no ID step on the product pages. HT's terms let prepaid users register (foreigners with a passport) but do not say it is required (HT, in Croatian). We did not go through checkout, so we cannot confirm what online orders ask for.

Unlike in Hungary, local tourist plans stop at the border. HT's terms say its tourist options are "not available abroad (roaming)" (HT terms, valid from 23 June 2026). A1's 10-day option "is not available when roaming abroad" (A1 terms), and Telemach lists roaming as not included (Telemach).

Local prices as of 21 October 2026, in euro (EUR). USD figures are our approximate conversion at the European Central Bank rate that day (EUR 1 = USD 1.1234).

OptionWhat you getPriceNotes
HT eSIM for 3 daysUnlimited data, 100 local minEUR 11.00 (about USD 12.36)Online, auto-renews
HT eSIM for 10 daysUnlimited data, 100 local min; "Pay 1, get 2"EUR 15.00 (about USD 16.85)Online, auto-renews
HT eSIM for 90 days120 GB, 100 local minEUR 25.00 (about USD 28.09)Online
A1 1+1 FreeTwo SIMs or eSIMs, each 10 days unlimited 5G, 100 min/SMSEUR 14.90 (about USD 16.74)Online or shops
A1 3 days eSIMUnlimited 5G, 100 min/SMSEUR 10.90 (about USD 12.25)Online
A1 30 days eSIMUnlimited 5G, 100 min/SMSEUR 29.00 (about USD 32.58)Online
A1 120 GB120 GB, 90 daysEUR 25.00 (about USD 28.09)SIM or eSIM
Telemach NET2GO PLUSUnlimited data, 200 local min, 10 daysEUR 14.90 (about USD 16.74)Physical SIM, shops and kiosks
Telemach SIM2GO10 GB, 200 local min, EUR 1.33 credit, 30 daysEUR 9.95 (about USD 11.18)Physical SIM, shops and kiosks

Telemach's plan card shows SIM2GO as "10 + 90 GB", its FAQ as 10 GB; we use 10 GB. HT's and A1's 1+1 offers give two lines for one price, not extra data for one phone. Prices change often.

Price per GB. The 120 GB plans from HT and A1 work out at about USD 0.23 per GB; Airalo's fixed plans below run from USD 0.70 to USD 4.00. For 10 days, all three networks sell unlimited data for EUR 14.90 to 15.00 (about USD 16.74 to 16.85), well under Airalo's 10-day unlimited plan (USD 28.50), and HT's and A1's can be ordered as eSIMs before you fly.

Where to buy. Split Airport says SIM cards are sold at the Tisak store on the ground floor of the North (main) terminal, open 06:00 to 22:00 (Split Airport). Zagreb Airport's shop list names no phone operator and does not mention SIM cards (Zagreb Airport, in Croatian). Dubrovnik Airport's shop and service pages do not mention SIM cards (Dubrovnik Airport, in Croatian).

Airalo plans for Croatia

Airalo's Croatia eSIM is data-only and covers Croatia only. Prices below are as shown on Airalo's Croatia plans (opens Airalo in a new tab) on 21 October 2026. The page showed USD; your currency may differ.

DataValidityPrice (USD)Per GB
1 GB3 days4.004.00
3 GB3 days7.002.33
3 GB7 days7.502.50
5 GB7 days9.501.90
10 GB7 days15.501.55
5 GB15 days10.002.00
10 GB15 days16.001.60
20 GB15 days24.501.23
5 GB30 days10.502.10
10 GB30 days17.001.70
20 GB30 days25.501.28
50 GB30 days35.000.70

Airalo also lists "Unlimited" plans: 3 days USD 9.50, 5 days USD 18.50, 7 days USD 24.50, 10 days USD 28.50, 15 days USD 38.50 and 30 days USD 58.50. Speed drops to 1 Mbps after 3 GB of use per day.

What the numbers say:

  • 10 GB for 30 days costs USD 17.00, only USD 1.50 more than 10 GB for 7 days: the safer buy if your dates might change.
  • Is a regional plan cheaper? With one neighbour, it can be. Airalo's Europe plan (41 countries, including Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro) costs USD 28.00 for 10 GB over 15 days. Two country plans at 10 GB each cost more: Croatia plus Slovenia USD 34.50, plus Bosnia and Herzegovina USD 36.00, plus Montenegro USD 37.00. The regional plan wins if one shared 10 GB is enough.
  • Hotspot: the plan details do not mention tethering. Airalo's help centre says it works "as long as it is supported by your device and the network" (Airalo Help Center, "Can I use tethering (Personal Hotspot)?").
  • Top-ups: Airalo says the eSIM is "Rechargeable online with no expiry".

Setting it up

Before you fly

  1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your home carrier.
  2. Buy and install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. For Airalo's Croatia plan, validity starts when the eSIM connects to a network in Croatia, not when you install it (Airalo's Croatia plans (opens Airalo in a new tab)).
  3. Save the QR code or installation details offline in case you need to reinstall.

At Zagreb Airport (Franjo Tuđman)

  1. Switch mobile data to the Croatia eSIM line.
  2. Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line. Airalo lists this as required on iOS and Android.
  3. If something does not work, use the free "Zagreb_Airport_Free" Wi-Fi (Zagreb Airport, in Croatian).

What to turn off

  • Data roaming on your home SIM, unless you are on an EU/EEA plan that includes it.
  • Automatic data switching between lines (iPhone: "Allow Cellular Data Switching"; Android phones have similar settings). It can quietly use your home SIM.
  • Near the borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro (the Dubrovnik area borders both), your phone may join a non-EU network. HAKOM recommends switching to manual network selection and choosing your operator's network to avoid unnecessary costs (HAKOM, in Croatian).

Getting from the airport into the city is covered in our Zagreb guide.

Money: euro since 2023

Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, replacing the kuna (European Commission), so all prices above are in euro.

"Pay in EUR or in your currency?" On a non-euro card, choose EUR. Your Europe says paying in your home currency is "often" more expensive and "you always have the right to say no and make the payment in the local currency" (Your Europe, last checked 27 January 2026).

Cash. Dubrovnik Airport notes that Croatia still has places that take only cash, such as remote islands and small restaurants in hidden coves (Dubrovnik Airport, in Croatian).

Quick answers

Can I make calls or send SMS? Not with Airalo, which is data-only. HT's and A1's tourist plans include 100 local minutes, and Telemach's include 200, for calls within Croatia.

Will I keep WhatsApp? Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your registered number, not to the line carrying your data. Keep your home SIM in for verification codes.

How do I top up? Airalo tops up in its app. HT's tourist options renew automatically if your balance covers the fee; A1 (EUR 12.90 for 10 days) and Telemach (EUR 7.96 for NET2GO PLUS) renew by SMS (A1, Telemach).

Coming from Budapest? Airalo's Hungary plan does not work in Croatia; see our Hungary eSIM guide.

Going on to Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro? Airalo's Croatia plan and the Croatian tourist plans do not work there. Slovenia is in the EU, so an EU/EEA SIM roams at home rates. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are not in the "Roam like at home" zone: check your operator's prices, or buy a country or regional plan.

Sources

Checked on 21 October 2026.

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