How To Plan a Motorhome Trip To Croatia

If you’re looking for a European getaway that offers pristine beaches, warm seas, history, culture and some of the continent’s most vibrant cities, then a motorhome trip to Croatia should be at the top of your list.

 

Where is Croatia?

Croatia sits at the crossroads of central and south-eastern Europe, with a long coastline along the Adriatic Sea that shares a maritime border with Italy. It’s roughly the same size as Ireland, so shouldn’t be too much trouble to navigate in a motorhome, and borders Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the south-east, Serbia to the east, Hungary to the north-east, and Slovenia to the north-west, meaning there are a number of neighbouring nations you can easily visit once you’ve finished travelling around Croatia.

 

Camping in Croatia

There are no shortage of sites to stay on during a camping Croatia holiday, and most are well-equipped with electric hook-ups and service blocks, along with a host of other facilities and activities – Croatian coastline camping sites often come equipped with their own private beach.

 

Here are some Croatian campsites you might want to consider:

 

• Camping Kamp Omisalj – A modern 5-star campsite situated on the north-western coast of the island of Krk, close to the bridge and the town of Omisalj. The campsite offers sunny, fully equipped plots and toilet facilities alongside a restaurant, shop, swimming pool, mini golf course, playground, entertainment and multifunctional sports field.
• Camping Stella Maris – After having a complete renovation in 2018, this campsite sits in a very attractive location and offers modern outdoor swimming pools and sports grounds. Equally ideal for an active holiday or a quiet, relaxing getaway, the site also houses a new restaurant and reception area, as well as improved and marked-out pitches.
• Campsite Galeb – Set alongside a beautiful beach along the Dalmatian coast, and against a backdrop of some of the country’s most dramatic cliffs and mountains, this popular site offers all the comfort, shade and amenities you’ll need. It provides a great base for some of the region’s best outdoor pursuits and the city of Split.

 

Croatia camping holidays vary in price, depending upon the part of the country you’re visiting, the time of year and the size of your pitch, but for one equipped with electricity and water, you can typically expect to pay around 35 to 50 euros in high season, or as little as 15 euros in low season.

 If you want to go camping somewhere closer to home, read our article on camping in Anglesey.

How to travel around Croatia

Accessible by air, sea and land, you can take your motorhome directly from your driveway to your campsite, so long as you don’t mind driving the 1,500-miles before your Croatian camping holiday begins – although the journey is always part of the holiday when travelling by motorhome.

 

Alternatively, you could fly into one of Croatia’s international airports and hire a motorhome when you get there.

 

Whichever route you choose, you’ll find a country that is made for exploration and boasts no fewer than eight national parks, each of which provide an ideal base for your motorhome or caravan.

 

As one of the most newly-created countries in Europe – Croatia was founded in 1991 – it should come as no surprise to find that a lot of work has gone into the national infrastructure, particularly over the last decade, and so you should find most places of interest are easily accessible by road.

 

The motorway system links the main cities of Zagreb, Pula, Rijeka, Zadar and Split along the coast, but if you’re planning on travelling to Dubrovnik, the motorway system ends at Ploce, which is about 60 miles north. If you want to drive inland to Varazdin, you’ll find this city also has excellent motorway links.

 

As with most, if not all, European countries, you should expect to encounter toll roads along the way. On bridges, tunnels and shorter stretches of motorway, Croatia operates an open-toll system, whereby payment is made as you enter, while a closed-toll system, whereby you are given a toll card on entering and pay as you exit, is in effect on larger motorways.

 

When embarking on a motorhome trip around Croatia, it’s definitely worth taking the time to head out along the smaller coastal roads, most of which are toll-free, to marvel at the scenic sea views and stunning landscapes of the Dalmatian Coast.

 

It’s also worth making a note of the speed limits in Croatia – in urban areas, the speed limit is between 45kmh and 50kmh (25-30mph), while outside of these areas its 80kmh (50mph). On roads that are used exclusively by motor vehicles (meaning no cyclists – something else to watch out for) the speed limit is 100kmh (62mph), and on motorways you can drive up to 130kmh (80mph).

 

You might also need to consider that any alcohol consumption is completely prohibited for drivers – officially the blood alcohol limit is 0% for drivers aged under 25 and 0.5% for drivers over that age, but it’s safest not to drink at all if you’re driving.

 

You should also be aware that children aged under 12 must not sit in the front seat, and those aged between two and five must be seated in a suitable child seat.

 

Dipped headlights should be used during daylight hours between the end of October and the end of March, and headlights should always be used at night and times when visibility is less than 100 metres.

 

You should also be mindful that school buses always have right of way when leaving a stop, and vehicles entering a roundabout have right of way as do all forms of public transport and school buses.

 

If you’re travelling around Croatia between November and March, your motorhome needs to be fitted with winter tyres. And a reflective jacket must be kept in the car at all times, and needs to be worn if you are in an accident.

You’ll need to keep your driver’s licence, registration documents and insurance documents with you at all times while driving, and also carry your passport for identification.

 

What to do if you’re involved in an accident

Croatians, like the rest of mainland Europe, drive on the right hand side of the road and over take on the left – so remember this and be vigilant when driving, especially around junctions and roundabouts.

 

If you are involved in an accident, pull over to the side of the road, if possible, and put on your reflective jacket before calling the emergency services on 112 (obviously, call the emergency services first if anyone is injured or in danger). If you need emergency road help with advice in English you can call 987.

Once the emergency services have dealt with the accident, you should then call your insurance company.

 

Getting covered for your motorhome trip around Croatia

If you’re planning on touring Croatia in a motorhome, it’s important to make sure you’re fully covered, whether on the road or on the campsite, bearing in mind you’ll need extra European insurance and breakdown cover.

 

To find the right motorhome  policy to suit your needs, give our insurance experts a call on 0208 9840 666 – our unrivalled choice of policies is what helps 93% of our customers rate our service as ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with a customer satisfaction score of 9.7 out of 10.*

*June 2019”