How to do Croatia on a budget

Cheap places to stay in Croatia

Croatia’s gleaming old towns are immensely popular with tourists and are generally the most expensive places to eat, drink and stay. While these walled cities are a must-visit, it’s worth exploring accommodation options outside their ancient boundaries.

Take a bus ride from Dubrovnik’s Old Town and you’ll find much cheaper accommodation in areas such as Zaton, while the Babin Kuk district northwest of the centre is a good option if proximity to restaurants and bars is high on your list of priorities. Zaton Holiday Resort’s sprawling complex has fantastic entertainment for the whole family with four-person apartments from around €85 (£73.50) a night, while you can pick up a spacious double room at Hotel Ivka from as little as €59 (£51). Wherever you choose to stay in Dubrovnik, it’s easy to access the centre via bus, while ride-sharing apps are cheap if you want to stay out late.

In Split, Diocletian’s Palace forms about half of the old town – look at options outside this area to find cheaper deals. By taking a five-minute walk along the gorgeous Riva, you can shave a lot of money off the cost of your accommodation. Villa Varos is a great place to start, with simple, cosy rooms starting from €50 (£43) a night.

Accommodation generally becomes cheaper the further north you travel. If you’re working to a tight budget, Zadar has a fantastic hostel scene. Boutique Hostel Forum and Downtown Boutique Hostel are popular picks within the heart of the old town where you can often snap up a great bed and breakfast deal.

Island-hopping is a favourite activity in Croatia, and this is where it pays to be savvy with your accommodation plans. Shop around in advance to find the best value deals on each island you’re planning to stay on and opt for somewhere central as public transport can be limited. Three-star Fontana Resort on Hvar has rooms starting from €59 (£51) or you’ll find plenty of cheap self-catering apartments around Brač’s main ferry ports.

Cheap eats in Croatia

Restaurants in Croatia can vary from traditional konobas situated on backstreets, all polished wood and hearty food, to high-end Italian joints in the trendy old town areas, so expect prices to vary significantly. Here’s how to eat out on the cheap.

Konoba cuisine

For a taste of authentic Croatia, order mixed grill or seafood at a family-run konoba. These traditional eateries can be found all over Croatia, and are significantly cheaper than restaurants catering to tourists.

In Trogir, Konoba Fortin is a firm favourite, with a warm family-run vibe and a menu packed with low-cost Croatian delights.

Good-value seafood is the star of the show at the Michelin-recommended Konoba Fetivi in Split, which is run by a family who have been in the neighbourhood for 300 years – it doesn’t get much more traditional than that! You can feast on a prawn risotto for less than €20 (£17).

Elsewhere, Stomorica is one of the oldest konobas in Zadar, having plated up sardines for generations. Now, guests enjoy a wider selection of seafood dishes in a charming, canary yellow courtyard. Expect fish dishes around the €19 mark (£16.50).

International dining in Dubrovnik

As you’d expect, Dubrovnik is packed to the brim with fabulous dining experiences – both local and international – but here you have to look a little harder to find budget options.

One restaurant that couples delicious pizzas with affordable prices is Oliva Pizzeria, which you’ll find in a pretty back alley near the centre of Dubrovnik’s old town. Prices start from €15/£13 for a margherita.

GreenGarden Burger Bar is another good pick, serving up hearty meals in its pretty 19th-century garden from around €17 (£14.50). Or try the tiny Barba – a seafood-lovers’ haven. Here, friendly staff serve up highly-affordable traditional Dalmatian cuisine in Dubrovnik’s old town.

Street food

When you’re travelling on a tight budget, it’s often best to avoid the extra expense of a sit-down lunch or dinner. Fortunately, Croatia has plenty of popular takeaways and street food vendors where you can purchase mouthwatering food for very little money.

A night out in Zadar is not complete without a late-night trip to student favourite, Crazy Pizza. A jumbo pizza here costs from just €16 (£14), or you can buy a massive slice for only €4/£3.50. Not only is the food here extremely cheap, making it perfect for travellers on a budget, but it’s plentiful and delicious.

At Take Away Dubrovnik, you’ll find tasty treats from burgers and wraps to kebabs and ćevapi at surprisingly low prices for the old town (think less than €12/£10.30). Meanwhile, Old House Street Food in Split plates up a menu of hearty burgers to eat on the go.

Free and cheap things to do in Croatia

There are so many things to experience in Croatia that it’s hard to pick out the highlights. But it’s easy to pack in plenty – even on a budget.

Old towns

A visit to Dubrovnik’s old town should be top of any traveller’s itinerary, yet this is easily the most expensive place in the country, so careful planning is essential. Walking the city’s ancient walls will set you back a hefty €40 (£34.50). If it’s not on the bucket list, swap the tour for exploring the labyrinthine backstreets on your own – you’ll find just as many photo opportunities and it’s free.

While Dubrovnik is certainly Croatia’s star attraction, there are plenty of slightly quieter but equally pretty old towns to explore in Croatia, including Split, Trogir, Zadar, Hvar and Korčula.

Local bars

Croatia is famous for its lively bars, which are often set against charming old town scenery or the glittering backdrops of the Dalmatian Coast. If you opt for local beers such as Karlovačko or Ožujsko, you can enjoy these nightspots on a tight budget.

Incredibly popular with locals, Dubrovnik’s Buzz Bar is known as one of the cheapest establishments in the old town. Serving craft beers, wines and cocktails, it’s situated on a busy street ideal for people-watching with a tipple.

Elsewhere, in the heart of the magnificent Diocletian’s Palace, Split’s famous Charlie’s Bar is a hit with the backpacker crowd thanks to its super cheap prices, live music, and bouncing atmosphere. Expect G&T’s for around €7 (£6) and draught beer from €4.30 (£3.70).

Sightseeing and beaches

Many of Croatia’s highlights can be cheap to explore – though you’re more likely to sightsee for less in the low season.

Plitvice Lakes National Park boasts endless aquamarine lakes and fairytale waterfalls. If you’re visiting in the off-season, tickets start at just €10/£8.60 for adults, rising to €40/£34.50 in the summer months. Entrance includes free bus transport throughout the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the most famous sights in Zadar is completely free. As the sun goes down, visitors gather to listen to the waves play the city’s iconic Sea Organ. Zadar’s Roman ruins are another free site worth visiting in this city.

The islands also boast a range of glorious pebble-and-sand beaches perfect for a low-cost day out, with Brač’s pin-up Zlatni Rat (‘Golden Horn’) the most famous. Bring your own picnic and snorkel and you needn’t spend a single penny.

How to get around Croatia on a budget

Croatia is a relatively small country, and it’s possible to drive from Dubrovnik, in the south, to the northern capital of Zagreb in just eight hours. As a result, car hire is a great way to explore Croatia. 

It’s not the thriftiest of options if you’re going the whole hog, with the car rental, insurance, petrol and green card to drive through Bosnia and Herzegovina all to be paid for, but it is an incredible way to see the country if you can stretch to it. If you’re just staying around Dubrovnik, you can find fantastic deals from the airport, with prices starting at just £3.44 a day.

Don’t need your own set of wheels? The bus is the next best option for exploring the country. Buses are usually modern, comfortable and inexpensive, and – unlike the train line – keep largely to the coast road. Ticket prices vary depending on the route. The 30-minute journey between Split and Trogir, for example, costs €5 (£4.30).

If you’re venturing up to Zagreb, you could also make use of the train network, which will get you to your destination more quickly. Tickets between Zagreb and Split start from €15/£13.

When island-hopping, opt for ferries over fast boats. Not only are ferries safer and more frequent, but they’re also much cheaper than the speed boats you’ll see idling at the harbours.

Insider tips

• If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, there are plenty of campsites all over Croatia that offer a much cheaper alternative to staying at large hotels.
• Wherever possible, opt for accommodation with free transfers and free bike rental. Both features are common in Croatia, and will save you a significant amount of cash when it comes to getting around. Even if they’re not advertised as part of your deal, it’s worth asking.
• Croatian food can be a bit heavy. If you want to experience the culture while cutting the cost – and the calories! – stock up on a few bottles of the famous Brač olive oil, some crusty bread and Croatian wine, find a picturesque location and enjoy a delicious picnic.
• Students can often get a good deal on their food, drink, transport and accommodation in Croatia simply by flashing their student card – if you have one, ensure you take it with you so you don’t miss out.
• If you’re travelling in a group on a shoestring budget, privately-owned apartments will almost always be the cheapest accommodation option.

*All prices correct as of 14 August 2025. Cost of living data taken from numbeo.com.