eSIM and SIM cards in Croatia

The networks

• Hrvatski Telekom, A1 and Telemach cover the country. HT has the best reach on the islands and along the coast.
• A tourist prepaid SIM runs about EUR 10 to EUR 20 for 20 GB to 100 GB over 30 days.
• EU roaming is included, which matters because a Croatian trip often involves a hop to Bosnia or Montenegro. Those are not in the EU, so roaming there is charged separately and can be expensive.
• eSIM is supported by all three networks and by Saily.

Buying one

• You need your passport. Prepaid SIMs are registered.
• Operator shops in every town, plus Tisak kiosks, the small newsstands on street corners, sell SIMs and top-ups.
• Airport counters exist at Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik but cost a few euros more than a shop in town.

Coverage

• 4G and 5G along the whole coast and on the inhabited islands.
• The Dinaric mountains and inland national parks have gaps. Plitvice and Paklenica are fine at the entrances and thin on the trails.
• On a ferry you will lose signal in the middle of a long crossing and pick it up near each island.
• Watch out for accidental roaming. On the southern Dalmatian coast your phone can latch onto a Bosnian or Montenegrin mast. Turn off automatic network selection if you are near those borders.