June 1, 2020 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for flights to Croatia with updates from Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, Pula, Zadar, Rijeka.

Croatian Aviation reports that German national airline Lufthansa has announced flights to a number of European destinations, and among others, the company will launch flights to Dubrovnik and Pula.

From June 20, the company will fly from Frankfurt to Pula and Dubrovnik, only once a week, for now.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

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The Frankfurt - Dubrovnik line is being reintroduced (from June 20), once a week in June, every Saturday. It will operate an A320neo aircraft with a capacity of 180 passengers.

The Frankfurt - Pula line is being reintroduced (from June 20), once a week in June, every Saturday. There will be a slightly smaller aircraft (100 passengers) on this route - the Embraer190.

Lufthansa is not currently planning flights to the region from Munich, but will gradually add flights from Frankfurt. Lines to other airports in Croatia are expected to be introduced in July.

Croatian Aviation adds that Croatia Airlines is launching another domestic route. Along with Dubrovnik and Split, from June 8, the line Zagreb - Zadar - Pula will be in traffic.

The route normally operates twice a day in the summer flight schedule, but the domestic national airline is now reintroducing it with one daily flight between the mentioned cities.

From June 8, the line will operate daily, in the evening, with departure from Zagreb at 9 pm and arrival in Pula at 11 pm. Of course, this line, just like before, has a stopover in Zadar. The return flight from Pula departs at 6 am for Zadar, from where the DashQ400 plane continues its journey to Zagreb, where it should land at 07:40 am.

Passengers from Pula and Zadar will be able to continue their journey to Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Zurich and Frankfurt with minimal time in Zagreb. In the opposite direction, from the mentioned cities to Pula and Zadar via Zagreb, the waiting time between flights is long and demotivating for passengers.

Latvian national carrier Air Baltic has made operational changes to its seasonal routes to Croatia. Namely, Croatian Aviation reports that the long-term seasonal line Riga - Rijeka, which mainly operated twice a week, this year will operate only once a week from July 29 to September 16.

Air Baltic also announced the introduction of the Vilnius-Rijeka route, which was originally scheduled to operate twice a week, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Riga - Split line will operate once a week from June 29, and the second weekly flight will be introduced from July 31. The original plan of this airline was to fly on the line Riga - Split three times a week, but the number of weekly departures was reduced in accordance with demand.

The Riga - Dubrovnik line will operate twice a week from July 27, there has been no reduction in capacity and weekly departures on this line, but the start of traffic has been postponed until the very end of July.

The Vilnius - Dubrovnik line, which was supposed to operate for the first time this year (just like the Vilnius - Rijeka line), has been completely canceled for this summer season. The two-week flight on this line was originally planned.

This airline will complete the entire summer flight schedule with a unified fleet in order to reduce operating costs, so A220 aircraft are expected on all routes to Croatia, which have a capacity of 145 passengers in the fleet of this carrier.

Finally, Transavia, the low-budget subsidiary of the Air France group - KLM, announced the re-launch of certain lines from France to destinations in Croatia.

Croatian Aviation reports that from June 29, Transavia will launch a total of four routes to the airports in Dubrovnik, Split and Pula.

The Nantes - Dubrovnik line is being reintroduced with two weeks of departure (Wednesdays and Saturdays). The company currently plans to maintain that number of rotations through July as well.

The Paris Orly - Dubrovnik line is being reintroduced, three times a week (Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays). The number of weekly flights is expected to increase to a total of four in July.

The Paris Orly - Split line is reintroduced, three times a week (Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays). The company intends to increase the number of flights to as many as six a week in July.

The Paris Orly - Pula line is also being introduced, twice a week, and it is likely that this number of flights will be maintained in July.

Transavia has B737 aircraft in the fleet, versions 700 and 800, with a capacity of 149 and 189 seats.

As Morski writes on the 31st of May, 2020, according to the recommendations provided by the magazine intended for the world's business elite, Ceoworld, the five luxury destinations this year which are the most attractive for the holidays of the rich and famous are Los Cabos in Mexico, Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, Aspen in Colorado, St. Moritz in Switzerland and Croatia's very own premier island of Hvar.

According to the New York portal for the business elite, Hvar is in exclusive company with the Mexican ''Aquarium of the World'', a private island rented by British billionaire Richard Branson and two exclusive winter resorts, which obviously remain attractive even outside of the ski season, according to a report from tportal.

In describing the island of Hvar, the portal which enjoys millions of views each and every month doesn't skip on the use of any superlatives.

There are ''natural fields'' (by which we can guess that the writer is referring to the parcelisation of the Stari Grad plain (Starogradsko polje) from back during Greek times, which is now under the protection of UNESCO), ''some of the best red wines in Europe'', medieval art, a surreal landscape, seafood specialties, in short - one of those special hiding places for the chosen ones.

In addition, there are some sensational photos of the beach provided, but not of any beaches on Hvar, instead the nearby island of Brac's famous Zlatni rat (Golden horn) beach is shown. We can only hope that Hvar's neighbours over on Brac won't be irritated.

Since the elite come to Croatia's premier island of Hvar isolated on their expensive yachts anyway, this summer, due to the need for extra caution in the coronavirus era, it could really be an interesting destination, but Ceoworld doesn't mention anything about the possible conditions and the protocol of arrival given the ongoing and unfolding coronavirus pandemic.

If you'd like to know more about the conditions for travelling to Croatia, make sure to stay up to date with our updates and our dedicated coronavirus section.

You can join our Total Croatia Travel Info group (you will need to download the Viber app) here for the latest updates and news.

May 31, 2020 - There is a LOT of confusion and misinformation about travel requirements to Croatia at the moment, and it hurting the tourism industry. It is possible to fix, one email at a time. 

This is a year for first time experiences. 

Yesterday, I wrote to a newspaper about an article correction for the first time in English (I tried last year in Croatia - unsuccessfully -  with Slobodna Dalmacija after some naughty local official tried - and continues to try - to slander me, but that's another story). 

The email was to the digital editor of The Irish Times, whose email was on their website. 

Here is what I wrote. 

Hi Paddy, 

May 31, 2020 - Accurate travel info is hard to find at the moment, but the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community is answering many tourists' questions - such as 'can you drive from Holland to Croatia?' A Dutch national speaks. 

Driving across Europe to Croatia? Is it even possible? It seems that it is. I am very grateful to Dutch national Enrico from the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community for sharing his experiences. In his own words:

Just to inform people from Holland. I am a Dutch national with a Dutch passport. Yesterday we (my girlfriend and I) travelled from Holland to the south of Germany by car without any problem. We stayed in a hotel near the Austrian border. Today we travelled from the South of Germany to Austria, Slovenia and Croatia without any problem.

Our passports were checked on all borders. 

At the Austrian border, we told them that we were in transit to Croatia and we showed the document on which we declared to use Austria only for transit. No problem, have a safe drive they told us. At the Slovenian border, they asked us why we were entering Slovenia. On transit to Croatia...where is your proof of booking? We showed them our reservation. Ok, have a good drive. 

At the Croatian border, I showed them the document, which I received by e-mail when I filled in all info on the website at home just before we left.  They scanned my passport and automatically the details of my trip were on her screen. Oke, have a nice stay. 

So, without any problems, we arrived in Croatia for a vacation for two weeks in Opatija. Thanks to the people on This forum. THANK YOU ALL.

Thank you too, Enrico - I am sure this will be very useful for many people. Now relax and enjoy gorgeous Opatija. If you are looking for things to do, here are 25 things to know about Opatija. 

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

July 1 update: Please follow Can Americans Visit Croatia after July 1, 2020 EU Border Update to find the latest info.

European Union isn’t likely to blacklist U.S. travelers (Washington Post June 22)

EU May Bar American Travelers as It Reopens Borders, Citing Failures on Virus (New York Times June 22)

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

June 23 update: Please follow Can Americans Visit Croatia Now? Rules, Tips and Exceptions to find the latest info.

May 31, 2020 - One of the most frequently asked questions I am being asked at the moment - when will Americans and Australians be allowed to visit Croatia? The short answer? Come tomorrow! Read on for the longer explanation...

Twelve days ago, TCN started the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community in an attempt to provide some clear information about the current travel situation to Croatia. 

It has been quite a ride... 

One thing that became immediately clear is that there is a LOT of confusion out there, and there were several topics that featured again and again. 

When will Americans be allowed to visit Croatia?

When will Australians be allowed to visit Croatia?

I have learned a LOT from the Viber community in the last 12 days, including how badly Croatia is communicating the simplest information. 

So here is my answer to the question of when Americans, Australians and other non-EU residents can visit Croatia. The info is actually rather simple. 

At time of writing (please note that corona can change things in an instant), FROM June 15, all Internal EU/EEA borders are expected to be fully open on June 15 (31 countries EU + UK + Norway + Switzerland + Iceland). Croatia has already opened its borders to 10 EU countries. No announcement has yet been made regarding external EU borders, but a date of July 15 is expected. Europe Travel: EU Borders May Stay Shut After June 15 Due To Covid (Forbes). 

BEFORE June 15, EU external borders are closed to all but returning nationals and special cases. IF, however, you are a non-EU national currently inside the EU who can visit Croatia in normal times, AND you can get to the Croatian border AND have proof of paid accommodation, you will be allowed entry. 

And it really is as simple - or as complicated - as that. 

Please note that 

1. Things can change in an instant due to corona. 

2. I hold no official office, and so you are best to confirm all with the Croatian authorities here. 

Looking for the latest travel info to Croatia? Follow the TCN daily update.

Flying to Croatia anytime soon? We strongly suggest you print out the IATA guidelines. You can learn more about why, and all the other documents you should carry with you when traveling, in the link. 

Do you have a question about travelling to Croatia? Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community, currently the only place answering Croatian travel questions in real time (you will need to download the Viber app).

For the latest relevant travel info articles, click here.

May 31, 2020 - Great news for British tourists wanting to visit Croatia this summer - work is ongoing to establish an air bridge from the UK to Croatia, with no self-isolation requirement on return. 

TCN recently launched a Viber community called Total Croatia Travel INFO in an attempt to bring more clarity to the current chaotic travel information. The response has been outstanding, with community members contributing their own experiences, which has enabled us  to build a clearer picture for all. You can join the community here and get your questions answered in real time (you will need to download the Viber app).

Some of the contributions are public in the group, and some come by private message from the UK.

Like this one.

Just now live on BBC Breakfast Siman Calder of Independent Newspaper said he Has spoken to Croatian minister of tourism and he has said British Tourists are welcome as long as they have booked accommodation, and are negotiating with UK government to launch an airbridge between Croatia and UK which would mean on return to UK there would be no need to isolate for 14 days.

We will see what more we can find out about this breaking news and update this article as soon as we do. If you have any useful and verifiable travel information for Croatia, then please join the community and share. 

Croatian Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli called me a couple of days ago and invited me to a meeting with him in his office on Wednesday. So I will use the opportunity to try and get as much information. 

Sky News report on plans for air bridges (June 2)

For the latest travel info, this is the TCN Croatian travel update. 

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community for the latest news from Croatia. 

For the latest and most relevant travel info articles, click here. 

May 30, 2020 - The lack of clear travel advice from the Croatian authorities is leading to misleading headlines in the European media, which is affecting the tourist sector which is 20% of GDP in a good year. 

The most interesting mini-project I started this year - with the considerable help of Kresimir Macan and two of his interns from Manjgura - was to start the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community, a project that is way outside my comfort zone. 

But what a great and useful resource it has become in just 10 days. Community participation from its members all over the world is helping build a picture of both what the real travel situation is in Croatia, as well as the perception of being able to travel to Croatia. 

I don't blame the European media for not getting things completely right, as it is incredibly difficult to have accurate information in such fast-changing times when the authorities are so reluctant to present information transparently, but there is some dangerous misinformation, as well as some inaccurate reporting going on. 

Here are three examples that I have been sent to the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community. 

Perhaps the most worrying example was from the BBC, which stated that visitors need to produce a negative COVID-19 test. This is currently NOT the case. You do NOT require a test to enter or leave Croatia, and there is NO self-isolation/quarantine requirement. Our Viber community is slowly building a resource of links to the official pages of other countries so that tourists can find out what happens when they return home. You can get info for some links here, and if you would like to send the link for your country, we will happily add it. 

Our community member was kind enough to recommend TCN as the best source of information. You can see our comprehensive Croatian travel update here (updated daily).

Last night, The Irish Times published an article about travel to Croatia and Greece.

"Croatia and Greece have announced that they will be opening their countries to some foreign visitors for the tourist season, but Irish holidaymakers will not be allowed."

This was the opening sentence. I can understand why the journalist wrote this, but it is actually not true. Irish tourists CAN come. 

It was the same in Belgium, according to this article, sent in by another community member. 

The reason that these articles were written, and the reason these journalists are saying Irish and Belgian tourists cannot come is a direct result of the very poor communication from the Croatian tourism authorities. 

What changed on May 28 was that Croatia opened its borders fully - and without conditions - to 10 countries with a good corona record. Citizens of Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, and Germany can now enter Croatia without restriction.

Before that decision (and still true today), people from EU countries were allowed to come if they could prove ownership of property in Croatia, proof of paid accommodation or proof of a business meeting. 

There is an important technical distinction which has obviously not been picked up by the European media. Croatia is open for tourism for those 10 countries. It is technically not open for tourism until June 15 for the rest (assuming things go well with the virus), BUT you can come on holiday. The difference is that you will enter not as a tourist, but as someone engaged in an economic activity (spending money in the hotel). 

So while it is technically correct to say that Croatia is not open for tourists from Ireland and Belgium, it is very misleading, as tourists can come under the umbrella of economic activity. A very Balkan solution. 

The Irish Times also gives the impression that Irish tourists will not be allowed to Croatia this summer. That is also misleading, as everything will open up on June 15 IF the corona situation is at an acceptable level in Ireland. 

If you have any more examples of misleading information being published in European media, please email link to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject European Media. Or why not join our vibrant Viber community (you will need to download the app)? 

May 30, 2020 - Two planes from Frankfurt have arrived at Split Airport, bringing 200 German tourists to the coastal Dalmatian city.

Dalmacija Danas reports that on Thursday, the Croatian government decided that Croatia would open its borders to citizens of 10 countries that, like Croatia, are estimated to have a favorable epidemiological situation. This applies to citizens of Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany.

With the decision made, passengers from these ten countries will not have to prove the reason for their entry into the Republic of Croatia. However, epidemiological control is still necessary, reports HRT.

After domestic air traffic, international air traffic was re-established. Two planes from Frankfurt with about 200 passengers landed at Split Airport.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

In recent years, due to record results and good business, Split Airport has invested HRK 500 million in the building of the new terminal.

"In June, there will be 180 flights in international traffic and 80 in domestic, and 30,000 passengers are expected," said Pero Bilas, Deputy Director of Split Airport.

Which is ten times less than last June, but optimism is not lacking.

Split Airport had direct flights from 25 countries around the world. They are aiming for that record even in this most difficult tourist season.

Upon entering the Republic of Croatia, their entry will be recorded with the collection of additional data (destination, mobile phone number and e-mail address), due to the possible need to contact for epidemiological reasons.

Therefore, in order to reduce congestion at border crossings and shorten the waiting time for crossing the state border, it is recommended that foreign citizens submit their data in advance via the website entercroatia.mup.hr.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, May 29, 2020 - A Croatian Member of the European Parliament and Deputy Leader of the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) Valter Flego on Friday reacted to a decision by Austria not to include Croatia among safe countries for its citizens to travel to, saying that this was un-European and discriminatory.

"Our country is among those countries in Europe and the world with the best epidemiological situation. Each day we are drawing closer to being corona-free however, it is not on the list of safe countries where Austrian citizens may spend their annual vacation as of mid-June, which I consider to be incomprehensible," said Flego.

He considers that the Austrian government's decision "is simply not in the European spirit - it is discriminatory and in no way solidary and it is illogical."

On the one hand, he underscored, the European Commission is proposing a record large budget to bail out the European economy and on the other hand member states are sabotaging each other and putting up obstacles.

"We must not allow politicking about the tourism season. We know where politics belongs and where not," said the Croatian MEP

Flego together with two Slovenian MEPs Irena Joveva and Klement Gorselj sent a letter to the European Commission and they expect an urgent response from the EC President Ursula von der Leyen. They also sent a copy of the correspondence to Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic and Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli.

May 30, 2020 - There is still much confusion about current entry requirements to Croatia. Why you cannot come and stay at your Croatian partner's home until June 15.

One of the many recurring questions I am seeing regarding travel to Croatia right now is whether or not a foreigner can come and stay with their Croatian partner in their partner's home. If Croatia is open for tourism and tourists of EU countries can cross the border and stay in hotels and Airbnb private accommodation, it would make sense that you could enter Croatia and stay at your partner's place. 

Except you can't. 

At least until June 15, when the EU plans to open. 

Because technically Croatia is NOT open for tourism until June 15, apart from 10 countries named on May 28. To explain more, here is an answer I provided in the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.  

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

George is a regular visitor to Croatia and wants to be with his unmarried Croatian partner and family, staying in their family home where he is a regular and popular guest. He is a UK citizen. I will get the ministry to confirm when they join the community, but this is my opinion (please note it is only my opinion). George is a regular visitor to Croatia and wants to be with his unmarried Croatian partner and family, staying in their family home where he is a regular and popular guest. He is a UK citizen. I will get the ministry to confirm when they join the community, but this is my opinion (please note it is only my opinion). 

George wants to travel on June 7. Currently, he will not be allowed to do so because he does not have proof of paid accommodation, documentation saying he is a family member by marriage, or a business invitation. Here is the important distinction which confused me for a while. 

While Croatia is saying it is open for tourism, technically it isn't until after June 15, apart from the 10 countries mentioned yesterday -  Citizens of Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, and Germany can now enter Croatia without restriction.

Other EU nationals (inc UK) can enter IF they have an economic reason to come to - business meeting or paid tourism accommodation. The paid accomm is a technical workaround so that tourism can start, but it MUST come with the paid accommodation to justify the economic criteria. 

So in George's case, he could come if he had paid accommodation proven, but not if he doesn't, as he has no legal family ties, and staying with his partner's family is not an economic activity. 

Could he book one night Airbnb? That would bring him entry, and then move to his partner's place and wait until June 15 and all borders open? Possibly, but not sure how the authorities would react. And then there is the added complication that UK might go into lockdown due to bad corona situation. 

So what's the answer to George's question. The short answer is I don't know, but I hope the long explanation as to how I still don't know gives a little more clarity to others.

For more recent travel articles related to the current situation, follow our dedicated Croatia Travel Update section. 

ARTICLE UPDATE WITH IMPORTANT READER FEEDBACK

FYI: The situation does differ though for foreign nationals who cohabitate with a Croatian national outside of Croatia (like in my case, Canada).

As per the reply from UZG COVID: “your unmarried spouse must present a Canadian document on cohabitation” to be allowed entry into the country prior to June 15.