Getting there & practical info

Here you will find the essentials for travelling to Istria and for your stay in Croatia. Prices, toll rates and rules change; you will find the current details from the official sources listed at the end.

By car

Most of our guests arrive by car. From Germany, Austria and Switzerland, all the usual routes to Istria lead through Slovenia:

• Via Salzburg and Villach: Tauern motorway, Karawanken tunnel, Ljubljana, then towards Koper or towards Rijeka.
• Via Graz and Maribor: Pyhrn motorway, border at Spielfeld, then on via Ljubljana as above.
• From Switzerland: either through Austria (Arlberg) or through Italy (Milan, Venice, Trieste). In Italy you pay motorway tolls at the toll booth.

Documents. Everyone travelling needs a valid ID card or passport, children included; for German children a children's passport that is still valid is also accepted. An expired ID or a driving licence does not replace it. For the car, your national driving licence and the vehicle registration document are enough.

Vignettes. In Austria and Slovenia you need a vignette for motorways and expressways. Slovenia only sells the digital e-vignette, which is linked to your number plate. From the 2027 vignette year, Austria also only sells the digital vignette. If you buy a two-month or annual vignette for Austria online, it is only valid from the 18th day after purchase; one-day and ten-day vignettes are valid immediately. Some sections, such as the Tauern and Karawanken tunnels, charge an additional section toll.

Tolls in Croatia. Croatian motorways charge tolls by distance. You pay at the toll booth in cash or by card. Most motorways are operated by HAC (Hrvatske autoceste); the "Istrian Y" (A8 and A9) is operated by BINA-Istra. An ENC device for the separate lane is only worth it if you drive often; on the Istrian Y you also need an account with BINA-Istra. Croatia plans to remove the toll booths and charge tolls by number plate camera or ENC, probably from 2027 on all motorways, including in Istria. You will then have to register your car before you drive. HAC has the current status.

Slovenia–Croatia border. Croatia has been part of the Schengen area since 1 January 2023; there are currently no regular border controls. Slovenia has, however, reintroduced checks at this border at times in recent years, and spot checks are always possible. Keep your ID documents to hand. For western Istria (Umag, Novigrad, Poreč) you cross on the motorway at Dragonja–Kaštel or at the smaller Sečovlje–Plovanija crossing near Umag. Towards Rijeka and eastern Istria the route crosses at Jelšane–Rupa. On Saturdays in high season, expect long waits; HAK shows current waiting times.

Učka tunnel. Between Rijeka and Istria the A8 runs through the Učka tunnel, which has a separate toll. If the tunnel is closed or congested, you can take the pass road over Učka; this takes longer.

Traffic rules in Croatia.

• Speed: Unless signs say otherwise, the limits are 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h outside towns, 110 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways. Drivers under 25 must drive more slowly outside towns.
• Alcohol: The limit is 0.5 per mille. Drivers under 25 must not have drunk any alcohol at all.
• Lights: From late October to late March, i.e. while winter time applies, drive with dipped headlights during the day too.
• In the car: A high-visibility vest, a warning triangle and a first-aid kit must be in the car, plus spare bulbs if your car does not have LED or xenon lights. Put the vest on before you get out after a breakdown outside a town.
• Mobile phone: While driving, only use your phone hands-free.
• Accident: If your car is visibly damaged after an accident, you need a police report to leave the country. So always call the police.

By plane

These airports are convenient for Istria. Driving times are approximate to the west coast of Istria and depend on your destination and traffic:

• Pula: in Istria itself, about 15 minutes to 1 hour.
• Rijeka (on the island of Krk): about 1 to 2 hours.
• Trieste: about 1 to 2 hours.
• Ljubljana: about 2 to 3 hours.
• Zagreb: about 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
• Venice: about 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

Many of our properties are inland or away from bus routes, so we recommend a hire car. If you pick up the car in Italy or Slovenia, ask the rental company whether you may drive it to Croatia and whether there is a fee.

By train and bus

There is no direct train from Germany, Austria or Switzerland to Istria. By train you can get to Ljubljana, Trieste or Rijeka and usually continue by bus from there. Within Istria a regional train runs from Pula via Pazin to Buzet, only a few times a day. From Slovenia you reach it by changing at Divača and Buzet; from Rijeka a bus runs to Lupoglav, where you change to the train. Long-distance buses run from many cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland directly to Istria, for example to Pula, Rovinj, Poreč or Umag.

Ferries

Ferries to the Croatian islands are mainly operated by Jadrolinija. From Istria you reach the island of Cres with the Brestova–Porozina ferry; the crossing takes about 20 minutes. In high season there can be long queues. Timetables and fares are available from Jadrolinija. From about May to October, fast passenger boats (no cars) also run between Venice and Umag, Poreč, Rovinj and Pula, and in high summer between Trieste and Poreč or Rovinj. Operators and timetables change from year to year.

On site

• Money: Croatia has used the euro since 2023. Cards are accepted almost everywhere. You will need cash at markets, in small restaurants and for the deposit and additional costs paid to the owner.
• Emergencies: The European emergency number 112 also works in Croatia. You can reach the police directly on 192, the fire brigade on 193, the ambulance on 194 and sea rescue on 195. The breakdown service of the Croatian Automobile Club HAK is on 1987.
• Phone and internet: With a contract from an EU country you call and use mobile data in Croatia on the same terms as at home. On ships your phone may connect to an expensive maritime network, so it is best to switch off roaming there. With a Swiss or UK contract, ask your provider about the costs.
• Pharmacies: Pharmacies are called "Ljekarna". In larger towns one pharmacy is always on duty.
• Doctors: With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you are treated by doctors and hospitals of the public health system; co-payments may apply. Private practices ask for cash. Travel health insurance is advisable; it also covers repatriation.
• Electricity: 230 volts, sockets as in Germany and Austria. For three-pin Swiss or UK plugs you need an adapter.
• Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
• Tipping: In restaurants, about 10 percent is usual if you were happy with the service.
• Tourist tax: The tourist tax is set by the municipality. Each property lists under "Additional costs" how much it is, from what age it applies and whether you pay it when booking or on site.
• Arrival and departure: Your accommodation is usually ready from 4 pm on the day of arrival; on the day of departure please leave by 10 am. Contact the owner one or two days beforehand and hand over your ID documents on arrival so that you can be registered. More under How to book.
• Waste: Each municipality has its own rules for separating waste. There are usually containers for paper, packaging, glass and general waste. Your host will tell you where they are.
• Customs: Croatia is in the EU. Goods for your own use are duty-free when you travel from another EU country; guide quantities apply to alcohol and tobacco. Customs may carry out spot checks at EU borders too.
• Dogs: Your dog needs an EU pet passport, a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination; at least 21 days must have passed since the first vaccination. As the first vaccination is given at twelve weeks at the earliest, puppies can travel from about 15 weeks of age. Dogs are not allowed on many beaches, but there are dedicated dog beaches. Whether your dog may come along is stated for each property.

Animals in the sea and on land

Dangerous encounters are rare. A few simple rules will prepare you well:

• Sea urchins: They sit on rocks along rocky shores. Water shoes protect you. If you do step on one, pull the spines out with tweezers; if pieces remain or the spot becomes inflamed, see a doctor.
• Jellyfish: In the Adriatic they only appear in larger numbers in some years. After contact, rinse the skin with seawater, not fresh water, and remove any remains without bare hands, for example with a card. Warmth helps afterwards.
• Weever fish: This small fish buries itself in shallow sandy ground; its sting is very painful. Soak the spot for at least 30 minutes in water as hot as you can comfortably bear, and see a doctor.
• Snakes: The nose-horned viper, a venomous snake, lives in the karst and on dry, stony slopes. It avoids people. When hiking, wear sturdy shoes and long trousers and do not reach into stone walls or under stones. After a bite: stay calm, keep the body part still, call 112. Do not apply a tourniquet, suck out the venom or cut the wound.
• Ticks: There are ticks in woods and meadows inland; in northern Croatia they can transmit tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Wear long clothing and check yourself after outings. Ask your doctor whether a vaccination makes sense.
• Mosquitoes: In summer mosquitoes also bite during the day, especially the tiger mosquito. Repellent and fly screens help; mosquitoes can occasionally transmit diseases such as West Nile fever.

Safety

• General: Croatia is a safe country to travel in; violent crime is rare. The usual precautions apply, as anywhere.
• Theft: In season, pickpocketing occurs in old towns, at harbours and on beaches. Do not leave anything visible in the car or valuables unattended on the beach. Do not sleep overnight at motorway rest areas.
• Wildfires: Summers are dry and fire spreads quickly. Open fires and barbecues are only allowed in permitted places, for example on your accommodation's barbecue if the owner allows it. Never throw away cigarettes. Anyone who causes a fire faces heavy fines. If you see fire or smoke, call 193 or 112 and follow the fire brigade's instructions.
• Swimming: Many beaches are rocky; only jump into the water where you know the depth. In strong winds such as the bora or jugo the sea becomes rough and currents can occur. With offshore wind, air mattresses and small boats drift out to sea quickly.
• Heat: Summers are often very hot. Never leave children or animals in a parked car.

Official sources

• German Federal Foreign Office, travel advice for Croatia: auswaertiges-amt.de
• Croatian Automobile Club HAK, traffic and border waiting times: hak.hr
• Tolls on Croatian motorways: hac.hr and for the Istrian Y bina-istra.com
• Vignette Austria: asfinag.at, vignette Slovenia: evinjeta.dars.si
• German customs, travel within the EU: zoll.de
• Ferries: jadrolinija.hr
• Train, bus and boat to Istria, timetables: istra.hr