Flying into Zagreb Croatia during COVID
Everything You Need to Know
Croatia Airlines:
I flew in via Frankfurt with Croatia airlines, because there are NO direct flights from the US. Now, if you’re an American Citizen, you can’t enter the Schengen Area, but you CAN pass through the airports- as long as you don’t pass through customs. The best way to do this is to make sure you have a connecting ticket- not two separate flights (unfortunately this popular travel hack for cheap flights won’t work now!)
Because of the short distances flying through Europe and because so few people are traveling, the plane you’ll end up on will most likely be small. And I mean SMALL. Don’t think you’re going to fit anything bigger than a personal item in the cabin. Luckily, Croatia Airlines seemed plenty happy to check our bags free at the gate and we could pick them up as soon as we got off the plane.
Unlike almost all American Carriers, there was absolutely NO social distancing on the flight, but almost everyone was wearing their masks properly- the last time you’ll see that.
Customs:
All the usual rules apply:
Have 6+ months validity on your passport
Have proof of accommodation (They only asked me for the place I was staying in Zagreb)
Have proof of an onward flight- for US citizens, <90 days after your arrival date
Don’t try to bring in any raw foods- fruits, veg, dairy, meat (weird, but if they catch you it’s a headache)
And now for the COVID Rules:
Unless you want to risk being denied entry into Croatia, be asked to quarantine for 7 days and then take a COVID test, or quarantine for 14 days, I suggest you bring a Negative COVID test with you. If you’re an American you have 2 options:
Option 1: The easiest and cheapest
Arrive into Croatia with a negative COVID PCR test result no older than 48 hours. This can be hard copy or digital- if it’s digital they’ll have you email it to them right at customs.
Unfortunately, this option requires being able to get your hands on a COVID PCR test with results guaranteed in 24 hours (I really don’t suggest you gamble with having no results before you get on your flight) and in many places in the US, this just isn’t possible. But thankfully, there’s a second option:
Option 2: For when you’ll do anything to get out of the US
You arrive in Croatia with a negative COVID PCR test that’s more than 48 hours old. (They don’t have a time limit but mine was 6 days old and they let me in. I wouldn’t risk anything older than 7 days).
At customs, you’ll probably get a LOT of questions, be asked to show everything above, AND you must show proof of PRIVATE accommodation (a hotel room or whole Airbnb are acceptable) for 5-7 days from your arrival. you’ll get a self-isolation order until you can get your COVID results back.
Self-Isolation Order
Really, It’s not as bad as it sounds.
Here’s what that self-isolation order means:
You cannot take public transport or taxis into your accommodation. You MUST have a private car. There are plenty of car rental agencies in Zagreb to choose from- more on that later.
Your must go DIRECTLY to the testing site or your accommodation and STAY there until you get your results.
You aren’t allowed to go outside for leisure or even to get food
Once you get your results, you must contact an epidemiologist to remove you from self-isolation surveillance.
And here’s how I dealt with that:
I booked a private car through a car rental- because I am under 24 and only drive automatic, this was EXPENSIVE
Pro tip: make sure you only buy rental car insurance through the company you’re renting from- otherwise your deposit can double or triple!
I drove straight from the airport to the testing facility and got tested
I then got lost because I had no internet and had to drive around Zagreb until I found a parking garage near Wi-Fi
Got to my accommodation
Had to move my car to a different garage and walk back to my accommodation
Ate pasta that my Airbnb host had left in the cabinet for supper
Got my COVID results the next morning, sent a very kind email to the epidemiologist who got back to me within the hour, and was free!
If you’re going to go this route, here are a few tips:
If you’re under 24, be ready to dish out BIG bucks for your rental car. Especially if you only drive automatic. Especially because there’s a 600 Euro deposit.
If you can get your hands on a SIM card at the airport, do it. Zagreb is really hard to drive around without Google maps- thanks to the abundance of one-way streets and streets that seemingly randomly turn into tram-only or pedestrian-only roads.
USE THE AIRPORT WIFI I repeat USE THE AIRPORT WIFI to set up a route on google maps either to your accommodation (if there’s parking), the PUBLIC parking garage closest to your accommodation, or to the testing site and THEN one of the above. Don’t do what I did- which was set a route only to the testing site and then ended up horribly lost.
Croatia has a few food delivery apps: Wolt and Glovo – download these at the airport so you don’t have to eat plain pasta like I did.
How to Get Tested in Zagreb:
There is 1 testing site in Zagreb that will allow you to do a private (you pay) test:
Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health.
It’s in the North of Zagreb and a really easy drive from the airport.
They test 8:00-14:00 (8AM-2PM) Mon-Fri and 8:00-12:00 Sat & Sun
The test is 698 Kuna, or about $100 USD and you usually get your results in 24 hours.
When you get your results, you can contact them via phone (if you got your hands on that SIM card) at +385914696444 or by email at epidemiologija@stampar.hr.
Once you get the confirmation from the epidemiologist, you’re free!
Arriving in Zagreb: Things to Know
If you don’t have to isolate, you can take the bus or a taxi from the airport. The bus route is longer and a bit confusing but only costs around 15 kuna. Taxis are a bit more expensive, but probably worth it to avoid the headache
Grab a map and a (free!) guidebook or two from the tourist stand in Zagreb airport. The map is a lifesaver if you can’t get internet.
If you stay in the center of Zagreb, it’s a very walkable city
You’ll see locals crossing the streets wherever- cutting in front of cars, etc. Proceed with caution, the drivers are as crazy as the pedestrians.
The best place to exchange money is in downtown Zagreb- there are places with good rates and no commissions.
There’s free Wi-Fi around Bon-Jelac square! (Wi-fi is called Grad Zagreb)
There’s a mall called Centar Cvjetni right off of Bon-Jelac square which is a great one-stop shop. There’s an overpriced but convenient parking garage (around 2 Euro/hr), a currency exchange, supermarket, and drug store all on the lower level.
If you exit the mall on ground level, you end up in a small square with a T-mobile at the corner where you can get a SIM card.
Planning on Traveling to Croatia Soon? Have any questions? Drop them below!
US Embassy in Croatia COVID-19 Information Page
Republic of Croatia COVID-19 Entry Page
