Is Croatia Dog Friendly? – Accommodation & Beaches

Croatia is a fantastic European country to visit with a dog. We found plenty of dog-friendly places to stay and pet-friendly bars and restaurants across most of the country. We found the locals welcoming to Henry, and there were many other people out and about with dogs.

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We have visited Croatia with a dog many times and found it to be great. We have stayed for extended periods and visited many inland and coastal places. On our visits, we visited some fantastic tourist attractions. Those that didn’t allow dogs meant we had to utilise our pet-friendly accommodation.

Is Croatia Dog Friendly?

Travelling to Croatian islands with a larger dog requires planning. On our 2024 journey, the available catamaran would not accept Henry at 13 kg, so we had to arrange a costly taxi. Current Jadrolinija rules allow larger dogs on ferries and in designated boxes on some catamarans, but reservations and additional fees may apply. Check the exact vessel and route before travelling.

We found Croatia to be a rather pet-friendly country. First, the Croatian trains are pet-friendly; however, you need a pet ticket. This is roughly half the fare. The ticket inspectors were, for the most part, friendly with the dog, with some even giving Henry attention. Sadly, many of the coach companies don’t allow dogs; however, some local buses do. To access the country with a dog, you need a European pet passport or similar documentation.

Pet-friendly accommodation is easy to find in Split, Rijeka, Pula, Trogir & Zagreb. Booking.com also had many options in the other destinations we researched. All the places we stayed in Croatia were very welcoming to the dog. Some apartments even gave him a few pillows to sleep on, which were nice. Some properties mention that extra fees are needed if staying with a dog.

Most bars and restaurants have outdoor seating, which is great for dogs; however, most we tried let Henry sit inside with us, too. From my observations, the only ones that do not welcome pet guests have a clear red “No Dogs” sign on the door. They also serve fantastic Croatian cuisine, which is usually delicious.

In terms of meeting other dogs, we found Croatia to be the best country so far. Most other dogs were well socialised and a pleasure for Henry to mix with. Pet shops were also easy to find throughout the country, and they offered high-quality food options. As a backup plan, DM stores usually supply a good range of gluten-free dog food.

Places To Visit in Croatia With a Dog

These are the places in Croatia that we enjoyed visiting with the dog. This includes inland and coastal cities and towns, as well as some in the Croatian countryside.

Zagreb

Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, is a fun place to visit with or without a dog. There are lots of things to do in Zagreb with your pet. We really enjoyed our visits with Henry and will return to see more. The city has many pet-friendly places to stay, from budget hostels to nice hotels.

Many bars and eateries in Zagreb welcome canine guests too. Those that are not usually have a no-dogs sign at the door.

Split

Split is a mission by train; however, it is the easiest way if you’re travelling with a dog. The city has many dog-friendly places to stay. Also, most bars and cafes welcome canine guests, unless they have the dreaded red sign. Sightseeing dog walks were special, including in Split’s old town, along the seafront, and in Marjan Forest Park.

Pula

Pula is a big city by the sea in the Istria region, and during our visit, we found it pretty dog-friendly. We found many pet-friendly places to stay. We tried three budget places in the city without issue, aside from the extra fees. Our favourite area was the town centre, as there was much more shade for Henry.

We dined out and enjoyed beers with Henry many times in the city and found people accommodating; he usually got water served before us. There were many dog-friendly beaches along the coast, as well as a variety of walking options. The old town is also a good place for walkies, and some attractions allow dogs, including the ancient amphitheatre.

Lošinj Island

Finding a dog-friendly place to stay on Lošinj Island was pretty straightforward with the pets-allowed filter on Booking.com. The two main places on the Island are Mali Lošinj and Veli Lošinj, both of which were great to visit with Henry. There are 270 days of sunshine in an average year; thus, bar or restaurant terraces are usually open and welcoming of dogs.

Many of the beaches on the island of Losinj are pet-friendly and great places to meet other dogs. There are also bins to clean up after your pet and showers to rinse them off after some fun in the sea.

If your dog weighs under 8 kg, you can take the Jadrolinija Ferry. However, Henry weighs 13 kg, so on our 2024 trip, we were shocked to find we had to take a taxi to the island.

Ogulin

Ogulin is a small town near lakes and mountains and is a good place to visit with a dog. We enjoyed a week in Ogulin and found many bars and restaurants pet-friendly. They were great places to hang out between walks in the local countryside.

Highlights included a long walk to the lake for a paddle and a visit to the local castle. Our pet-friendly accommodation was very nice, too, with a garden and a large kitchen.

Karlovac

Karlovac is a lovely city to visit, and it offers dog-friendly places to stay. Options include budget-friendly apartments and hotels. Karlovac also has dog-friendly bars and restaurants, including many with outside seating.

Karlovac is a nice place to visit not far from the capital. It has lots of parks, and four rivers pass through the city. There are beaches on the rivers which are great for a paddle. Not all of these are dog-friendly; however, water-loving pets can find somewhere to cool down near the touristy areas.

Rijeka

Rijeka is a somewhat dog-friendly place to visit. It is the third-largest city in Croatia and thus has options for pet-friendly places to stay, restaurants, and bars. Rijeka is also the gateway to the Croatian islands. Some of the ferry options to the islands are also partially pet-friendly. This is a great hub for travelling with small dogs under 8 kg.

Rijeka is a big city and a nice place to visit with a dog. The city centre is pleasant for sightseeing and offers some interesting sights. They also have a few beaches on the Adriatic coast, including some where dogs are allowed.

We found it easy to find dog-friendly accommodation in Rijeka, including some magnificent apartments. The city is rather hilly, so arriving with heavy luggage can be a tough walk. Rijeka also offers plenty of suitable bars and restaurants. This includes the fantastic Bistro Mornar, which serves some fantastic seafood.

Cres Island

Cres is a beautiful island in Croatia, and its main town, Cres, is a picturesque place to visit. There are also plenty to do, including nice dog walks and beaches where dogs are allowed. Most of the bars and restaurants we visited in Cres allowed dogs in their outdoor seating areas, and some even inside.

The town centre was dog heaven, with great walkies and a chance to meet other dogs. Some beaches in Cres also allow dogs, which is great if your dog enjoys playing in the water.

Finding pet-friendly accommodation on Cres Island was pretty straightforward. You’ll find plenty of options, including apartments and hotels.

Osijek

Osijek is a fantastic place for dog walks, especially in the parks and along the River Drava. Finding accommodation in Osijek was pretty straightforward on Booking.com. There were plenty of options, including hotels and apartments. We chose an apartment between the main attractions and the train station.

Most of the cafes and restaurants in Osijek were pet-friendly, and we also saw many other people out with dogs.

Fuzine

Fuzine is a rather dog-friendly place to visit, and all the restaurants and cafe-bars were welcoming. They all have bowls of water, and they have made Henry welcome in each one. Finding dog-friendly accommodation here was pretty straightforward too. The area is also good for long walks, including around the lake and in the forest.

Travel To Croatia With a Dog

Croatia is part of the Balkan region of Europe and has some interesting neighbours. It borders Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. You can reach Croatia by train from Hungary and Slovenia, and many major cities are on the rail network. Trains or cars are the main options for getting around with a dog, as the major coach operators are sadly not dog-friendly.

So, Is Croatia Dog Friendly?

Croatia is pretty dog-friendly and a great place to visit with dogs. There are a few limitations, including the buses, but we found it fine to get around by train. We found dining out with Henry pretty straightforward, with no refusals. We also found suitable pet-friendly places to stay.