Dog-Friendly Croatia: Travelling to Croatia with a Dog

By The Hoomans
April 15, 2024

Croatia is a beautiful country situated in southeastern Europe and bordered by the Adriatic Sea, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia. We have a vacation home in Umag, a town located in the northwestern coast of Istria. Our dog, Pedro, loves visiting Croatia because it is a very dog-friendly country, with many beaches allowing dogs.

Best Time of Year to Visit Croatia with Your Dog

As Croatia is very dog-friendly, it’s an ideal country to visit year-round. Many restaurants allow dogs on their patios and inside. Having said that you want to make sure that you plan ahead as some regions of Croatia may have more restrictions. Winters in the coastal region of Croatia tend to be mild, with average high temperatures around 50°F (10°C), perfect for walking and exploring with your dog. Croatia gets very hot and crowded during the summer months, especially in July and August. We strongly discourage travelling with a dog during the peak summer season.

Travelling to Croatia with a Dog

Croatia is a great place to bring your dog! We’ve travelled to Croatia with our dog many times by car and have never had any issues.

On January 1, 2023 Croatia joined the Schengen Area so there are no longer borders between Croatia and the rest of the European Union. This makes travelling with a dog and the required documentation far less complicated.

Travelling to Croatia by Train with a Dog

We have never taken the train with our dog in Croatia as it is far more practical to drive from Italy. Croatia’s national rail network is run by Hrvatske željeznice (HZ).

Their pet policy states that smaller dogs up to 30 cm of height, must be kept in their transport box and/or are allowed to sit on your lap. Larger dogs over 30 cm of height must be muzzled and kept on a short leash. Larger dogs also require a train ticket. If you are reserving a sleeping coach, you must reserve a private coach and ensure that your dog does not sleep on the bed.

Important Notes:

If part of your route is serviced by both train and bus, ensure that you understand all the rules and regulations. The pet policy in Croatia states that only small dogs are allowed in their transport container on buses.

Travelling to Croatia by Ferry with a Dog

The ferry is a great transportation option to get from Italy to Croatia. There are multiple ferry lines that are dog-friendly and service different routes throughout Italy and Croatia.

Travelling with a Dog from Italy to Croatia by Ferry

Croatia is a stunning country located in southeastern Europe and bordered by the Adriatic Sea. If you are already visiting Italy and wish to continue

Travelling with a Dog from a Country Outside the European Union (EU) - Non EU Residents

Animal Health Certificate

If you are travelling to Italy with your dog from a country outside the European Union, such as the UK, USA, or Canada, you must ensure you obtain an Animal Health Certificate documenting your dog’s microchip and vaccinations from your country of departure. The Animal Health Certificate must issued by an official State vet in the country of departure not more than 10 days before your dog arrives in the European Union (EU).

If you are planning to be away for an extended period, ensure that you check the validity of the Animal Health Certificate, especially if travelling to other countries. If your dog’s rabies vaccination expires during your journey, it is necessary to get a booster shot before obtaining the Animal Health Certificate. The rabies vaccination must remain valid for the entire duration of your trip.

Microchipping

The microchip should comply with the ISO standard 11784.

Vaccinations

Rabies Vaccination

A rabies vaccination is mandatory for travelling with your dog to Croatia and throughout the European Union (EU). You need to make sure that your dog is vaccinated against rabies at least 3 weeks before your scheduled travel time. You don’t have to wait for the full 21 days if your pet has had yearly booster shots. Your dog needs to get a rabies vaccination every 12 months in Europe. If they have a 3-year vaccination, you will need to get them a rabies booster if the vaccination is older than a year.

Important Notes:

Please note that according to EU regulations, a rabies vaccination is not considered valid unless the animal is properly identified at the time of vaccination. In other words, it is essential that the microchip is implanted before the rabies vaccine is administered to ensure that your pet is identified prior to vaccination. A rabies vaccine given before microchip insertion is invalid.

Tapeworm (Echinococcus) Treatment

A tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment is not required to travel with your dog to Croatia.

For more information see:

Arriving from a High-Risk Rabies Country

If you are travelling from or plan to travel to a country that is considered by the European Union to be a high-risk rabies country, your dog will need to have a rabies titer test, in addition to the requirements mentioned above. Please see the post below and plan accordingly!

Rabies Titer Test: Travelling Through Europe with a Dog

If you’re planning a trip to Europe or relocating with your dog, it’s important to plan ahead to ensure they have all the required documentation

Travelling with a Dog from a Country within the European Union - EU Residents

If you are a resident of the European Union (EU) and plan to travel with your dog within the EU, you may think it’s unnecessary to bring your dog’s documents as you won’t be crossing any borders. However, it’s still an EU requirement to ensure that your dog has up-to-date travel documents and meets all necessary requirements.

EU Pet Passport

The easiest way to travel through Europe with your dog is with an EU pet passport. EU Pet Passports can only be issued by an authorized veterinarian in the EU and you and your dog must be a residents of the EU. If you dog has an EU Pet Passport and is Microchipped and current on their rabies vaccination, then you are all set and have everything you need to travel to Croatia with your dog.