Best SIM Cards In Croatia
Trying to figure out which telecom company offers the best SIM card deals for tourists can feel quite overwhelming. To help you with this task, today I’m going to go over the best SIM prepaid card options available in Croatia.
In this article, I will give you a general overview of the different options offered by the main mobile providers in Croatia so you can decide for yourself which is the best Croatian prepaid SIM card for your trip. I’ll also share the option we use on all our international trips.
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SIM card options available in Croatia
Croatia has 3 major telecom companies through which you can pick up a prepaid SIM card: Hrvatski Telekom, A1, and Telemach.
Let’s start by going over the SIM card options they have for tourists.
Hrvatski Telekom SIM card options for tourists
Hrvatski Telekom is the local T-Mobile branch in Croatia. They have the widest and fastest 4G and 5G coverage in the whole of Croatia (they’ve even won awards for it). So, getting a SIM card from Hrvatski Telekom is a great option for travelers who will be working remotely or exploring the lesser-known areas of the country.
Hrvatski Telekom has some great options for prepaid SIM cards in Croatia for tourists:
- For only € 10, you can get an unlimited data package for 10 days.
- For € 20, you can get 120 GB of mobile data valid for 90 days.
You can check more information on Hrvatski Telekom’s official website.
Both plans have 5G connection and will be automatically renovated at the end of the validity period if you have a minimum amount of credits on your account, but you can also top it up separately if you need. Top up can be done online or at a T-Centar, petrol station, post office, newsstand, or supermarket.
All prepaid SIM card options offered by Hrvatski Telekom are eSIMs, so you can buy them online and install them easily on your phone before your trip.
One thing that is important to note is that despite Croatia being in the EU, your tourist SIM card with Hrvatski Telekom will only work inside Croatia – it won’t grant you free data roaming across the rest of the EU. So if you plan on traveling to other destinations in Europe within the same trip, you may want to consider another option (continue reading to check our tip).
A1 SIM card options for tourists
Next up we have A1, which is also a major player in the telecom market boasting over 24 million customers throughout Europe. They have excellent network coverage throughout the country, but overall Hrvatski Telekom still takes the top spot in terms of coverage.
A1 offers one prepaid SIM card option for Croatia dedicated to tourists. This package offers 5G speeds provided that your phone has 5G capabilities.
For just € 7,90, you can get access to a tourist package that lasts for 10 days, with unlimited mobile data. Where A1 differs from Hrvatski Telekom is that it also offers up to 100 minutes/SMS messages to local Croatian numbers.
You can top up your A1 account online through the A1 app and the company’s webpage. Recharge your balance at physical locations including ATMs, post offices, A1 stores, and petrol stations.
Unfortunately, the prepaid SIM card for Croatia from A1 also doesn’t offer EU roaming – it will only work within Croatia. If you need more information, check the A1 website directly.
Telemach SIM card options for tourists
Telemach is the third major company operating in Croatia. They are a large telecom company operating throughout the whole of Southeastern Europe.
The coverage offered by Telemach was often considered the worst among all three providers because they didn’t have coverage in Croatia’s rural areas. However, as of 2023, Telemach’s 5G coverage now extends across the whole country, putting all three providers at a similar level.
Telemach has two prepaid SIM card packages available to tourists in Croatia:
- NET2GO PLUS – this prepaid SIM card offers users unlimited data and 200 minutes of local calls for 10 days. It costs €9.95.
- SIM2GO – coming in at €9.95 too, this Croatian tourist SIM is valid for 30 days. In terms of data, this SIM offers 100 GB for a duration of 30 days and 200 minutes of local calls.
There’s no information on whether Telemach offers 4G or 5G on their site. However, I did contact their customer service team who informed me that their SIMs are not 5G enabled. So, you’ll only have 4G speeds with a Telemach Croatia SIM card for tourists.
Top-ups can be done by texting various codes listed on their website. You can also top-up through the app, or using vouchers brought online, in Telemach stores, newsstands, supermarkets, post offices, and petrol stations.
Once again, Telemach tourist SIM cards only offer coverage for Croatia – outside of Croatia they won’t work. Read more on Telemach’s official website.
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Which is the best Croatia SIM card for tourists?
For a trip of 10 days or less
The best prepaid SIM card in Croatia for short trips is the one offered by A1. It costs only € 7,90 and gives you unlimited data with 5G speed. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Additionally, A1’s package also gives 100 free minutes of calls and texts to local numbers. Even though I never use calls at home, they can come in handy when traveling, especially if you will be renting apartments via AirBnb or Booking. Having the possibility of calling your host can be extremely helpful.
For a trip of longer than 10 days
For a trip longer than 10 days to Croatia, my recommendation does change.
In this case, Hrvatski Telekom’s 2nd package is the best deal for anyone who wants a prepaid SIM card for their Croatia trip. For only € 20, you will get 120 GB of data for 90 days, which is a very good value.
The fact that Hrvatski Telekom is offering eSIMs just shows how ahead of the curve they are! I honestly think this is the best SIM card option for anyone staying long-term in Croatia, like digital nomads or slow travelers.
However, I only recommend this package if you will be staying only in Croatia. If you will be visiting other countries within the same trip, you may want to consider other options that have better international coverage. See my recommendation below.
Best SIM card for traveling to Croatia and other European countries
If you will be visiting multiple European countries within the same trip, instead of buying a SIM card for each destination, you may want to consider picking up an eSIM instead.
With an eSIM, you can easily get EU-wide coverage or you can select the exact countries you will be visiting and tailor a plan exactly to your needs.
Our favorite eSIM providers are Airalo and Nomad. We have used their mobile plans in multiple countries and have always had great experience.
Read also: Best SIM card for traveling the Balkans
What is the best SIM card for Croatia and Slovenia?
It depends on which country you will be visiting first. If Slovenia will be your first destination, you can buy a Slovenian prepaid SIM card with EU coverage such as the HoT plan, and use it for both destinations.
However, if you will be visiting Croatia first, the best option would be to buy an eSIM because the Croatian prepaid SIM card options do not offer EU coverage. In this case, get a quote with Airalo or Nomad to avoid the hassle of having to buy a SIM card in every country.
Read also: The best SIM cards for Slovenia
What is the best SIM card for Croatia and Montenegro?
Since Montenegro is not part of the EU, most local prepaid SIM cards will not offer the option of data coverage in both countries.
In this case, the best choice is to get the Eurolink from Airalo which gives you access over 42 countries in Europe, including Croatia, Montenegro, and most Balkan destinations.
Read also: The best SIM cards in Montenegro
Where to buy prepaid SIM cards in Croatia?
SIM cards are widely available all over Croatia, so you should have no trouble finding them.
Here are the places you can buy prepaid SIM cards from each of Croatia’s main telecom companies:
- Hrvatski Telekom – You can buy a Hrvatski Telekom SIM card at T-Centars, Tisak (convenience store), iNovine (newsstands), and post offices. Since Hrvatski Telekom switched to eSIMs recently, you can also just buy them online before your trip and save the hassle of looking for a physical SIM card when you land.
- A1 – You can buy A1’s SIM cards in A1 stores, newsstands, petrol stations, supermarkets, convenience stores and post offices. You can also order your A1 SIM online here.
- Telemach – Like the other two mobile providers, you can buy a Telemach SIM from all the usual stores including Telemach Shops, newsstands, supermarkets, post offices, and petrol stations. There’s currently no option to order a Telemach SIM online, even though you can buy top up vouchers on their website.
It’s worth noting you should be able to buy a SIM card at all major Croatian airports upon arrival. Just head for the nearest convenience store in the airport (probably a Tisak).
I’ve done this multiple times when visiting Croatia. Just make sure you don’t fall for the overpriced international mobile plans they sometimes offer.
FAQ – Popular questions about tourist SIM cards in Croatia
Do I need a SIM card in Croatia?
If you currently have a non-EU SIM card, I would highly recommend buying a SIM card while in Croatia to make sure you stay connected during your trip.
Having a SIM card in a foreign country always makes life immeasurably easier. It allows you to navigate, translate, and keep in contact with people while you are outside of your accommodation.
Which mobile network is best in Croatia?
In terms of coverage and speed, Hrvatski Telekom is the best mobile network in Croatia. They’ve won multiple awards over the past several years for their speed and coverage.
How much does a SIM card cost in Croatia?
If you pick up a prepaid SIM card for Croatia from one of the country’s three main providers, expect to pay between € 7.90 and € 20.
Another option is to buy an eSIM online. Get a quote online with Airalo or Nomad.
Can I buy a SIM card at Zagreb airport?
Yes, you can pick up a SIM card from all 3 of Croatia’s major mobile networks at Zagreb airport’s Tisak convenience store, in the airport’s arrival hall.
Is Croatia included in EU roaming?
Yes, Croatia is part of the EU roaming area! This means if you already have an EU SIM card, you need not worry about buying a Croatian SIM card.
However, please keep in mind that the prepaid SIM cards for Croatia listed above will only work inside Croatia – they won’t work outside the country! If you will be visiting other destinations within the same trip, I recommend getting an eSIM with Airalo or Nomad instead.
What is the T-mobile tourist SIM card in Croatia?
If you are looking for a T-mobile tourist SIM card, then you need to get the Hrvatski Telekom SIM card in Croatia. Hrvatski Telekom is the Croatian branch of T-mobile.
I know how tricky it can be to choose the right option of SIM card for your trip. Researching these things online can be quite overwhelming, especially when checking the local provider’s websites in local languages.
I hope this guide has helped you decide on the best SIM card for your trip to Croatia.
Check our other SIM card guides
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Croatia, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Croatia on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
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