Which eSIM is best for Croatia? It depends on your trip. If you stay in Croatia, a Croatia data plan sized to your stay is the simplest choice. If you also visit Slovenia, Italy or Hungary, a Europe plan covers them with one eSIM. If you take a day trip to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kotor in Montenegro, pick Europe Unlimited, because those two countries are outside the EU. And if you need a phone number for calls and texts, pick a Bouygues Telecom plan with a French +33 number. This guide compares the eSIMs for Croatia sold on SimOptions, using the current plan details on our Croatia eSIM page.
Short on time? Here are three plans for three typical trips: a week in Croatia, two weeks on the coast, and two weeks with a phone number.
Croatia 10GB (data only, 7 days) · Croatia 20GB (data only, 15 days) · Travel Basic+ (French +33 number, 15 days, 46 countries) · See all eSIMs for Croatia
Compare eSIMs for Croatia
SimOptions sells four kinds of prepaid eSIMs that work in Croatia. Here is how they compare.
Croatia data plans (1 GB to 100 GB)
- Data and days: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, 20 GB for 15 days, 50 GB for 30 days, 60 GB for 90 days and 100 GB for 180 days.
- Countries: Croatia only. They don't work in Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.
- Phone number: no. Data only.
- Speed: 4G and 5G.
- Top-ups: available.
Europe data plans (1 GB to 50 GB)
- Data and days: Europe 1GB to 50GB, from 3 to 30 days.
- Countries: 34, including Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary and Austria. Not Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.
- Phone number: no. Data only.
- Speed: 4G/LTE.
- Top-ups: available.
Europe Unlimited (7 or 14 days)
- Data and days: unlimited data for 7 or 14 days.
- Countries: 54, including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia and Albania.
- Phone number: no. Data only.
- Speed: 4G/LTE.
- Top-ups: available.
Bouygues Telecom Europe plans (15 GB to 120 GB)
- Data and days: Travel Basic 15 GB and Travel Basic+ 20 GB for 15 days, My European eSIM 30 GB, 60 GB or 120 GB for 30 days.
- Countries: 46, including Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary and the UK. Not Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.
- Phone number: Travel Basic+ and My European eSIM come with a French +33 number and unlimited calls and SMS within Europe. Travel Basic is data only.
- Speed: 5G where available.
- Top-ups: not available, so pick enough data and days for your trip.
Every plan is prepaid with no contract. You get your eSIM by email as a QR code. Once it's installed, it activates automatically when you arrive in a covered country, so you don't need to activate it in France first. If you don't use it within a year of buying it, it expires.
Which eSIM is best for your Croatia trip?
Most trips to Croatia follow the coast: Istria, Zadar, Split, the islands and Dubrovnik, often with a day at Plitvice Lakes or Krka National Park. Start with how long you stay, then ask yourself two questions: do you cross into other countries, and do you need a phone number?
City break or short trip (up to a week): Croatia 3GB, 5GB or 10GB
For a long weekend in Dubrovnik or a week in Split with day trips, a small Croatia plan covers maps, messages, ferry and bus times and browsing. The 3 GB plan lasts 3 days, the 5 GB and 10 GB plans last 7 days. If you run low, you can top up.
Two weeks on the coast: Croatia 20GB or Travel Basic
For a two-week holiday, you have two data-only options with 15 days of validity.
- Croatia 20GB gives you 20 GB on 4G and 5G in Croatia, and you can top it up.
- Travel Basic from Bouygues Telecom gives you 15 GB on 5G in 46 countries. It's the better fit if your trip also takes you to Slovenia, Italy or elsewhere in the EU. It can't be topped up.
A month or a long stay: Croatia 50GB, 60GB or 100GB
Staying the whole summer, sailing for weeks or working remotely from the coast? Croatia 50GB lasts 30 days. Croatia 60GB lasts 90 days and Croatia 100GB lasts 180 days, so you don't need a new eSIM every month. All three can be topped up.
Island hopping and ferries: any Croatia plan works
Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Vis and the other islands are part of Croatia, so every Croatia plan, Europe plan and Bouygues Telecom plan covers them. You don't need a special island plan. Ferries and catamarans leave from Split, Zadar, Dubrovnik and other ports, so keep a little data for timetables and tickets.
Out at sea, your phone can lose the land network for part of the crossing. Under EU rules, you shouldn't pay extra on a ship as long as you're connected to a land-based mobile network. If the ship connects you by satellite instead, EU roaming rules no longer apply and you can be charged more (Your Europe: Mobile roaming costs). To be safe, keep data roaming off on your home line on board.
Day trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro: Europe Unlimited
From Dubrovnik and Split, many travelers take a day trip to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina or to Kotor in Montenegro. Neither country is in the EU, and here is what that means for your eSIM:
- Croatia plans work in Croatia only.
- Europe 1GB to 50GB and the Bouygues Telecom plans don't list Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.
- Europe Unlimited 7 Days and 14 Days list Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, plus Serbia, Slovenia and Albania. Of the plans on our Croatia and Europe pages, it's the only one that covers all of them with one eSIM.
Already have a Croatia plan? Your phone can store more than one eSIM, so you can add a small plan from our Bosnia and Herzegovina eSIM page or Montenegro eSIM page just for the day. Our guide to the best eSIMs for Montenegro covers longer stays there.
Driving between Split and Dubrovnik? The main coastal road used to cross a short strip of Bosnian coast at Neum, with border checks. Since 2022, the Pelješac Bridge lets you drive to Dubrovnik without leaving Croatia (Euronews: Croatia links divided region with new bridge). If you still go through Neum, or travel close to the border, your phone can connect to a Bosnian network. With a Croatia plan, that leg isn't covered, so turn off data roaming on your home line to avoid charges.
A road trip with Slovenia, Italy or Hungary: a Europe plan
Many travelers drive into Croatia from Ljubljana, Trieste or Budapest, or combine Istria with Lake Bled. A Croatia plan stops working at the border. A Europe plan or a Bouygues Telecom plan works across these countries with one eSIM, so you don't switch plans at each crossing.
Europe Unlimited 7 Days and 14 Days (data only, also cover Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia) · Europe 20GB (data only, 15 days, covers Slovenia, Italy and Hungary, not Bosnia or Montenegro) · See all eSIMs for Europe
Our guides to the best eSIM for Europe and how to use an eSIM in Europe explain how one eSIM works across borders.
You need a phone number: Travel Basic+ or My European eSIM
The Croatia and Europe data plans have no phone number. You can still call and text with WhatsApp, FaceTime or iMessage, see how to make calls with a data-only eSIM. If an apartment host, a boat skipper or a car rental desk needs to call or text you on a normal number, the Bouygues Telecom plans give you a French +33 number with unlimited calls and SMS within Europe, Croatian numbers included:
- Travel Basic+: 20 GB for 15 days.
- My European eSIM 30GB: 30 GB for 30 days.
- My European eSIM 60GB: 60 GB for 30 days.
- My European eSIM 120GB: 120 GB for 30 days.
The plan details list calls and SMS within Europe only, not to the US, Canada or other countries outside Europe. Remember that these plans don't cover Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro. Our guide to Europe eSIMs with a phone number explains when you really need one.
eSIMs from Croatian carriers
Croatia has three mobile networks: Hrvatski Telekom, A1 and Telemach. Hrvatski Telekom sells a prepaid eSIM for visitors on its website, with internet options for a few days up to three months, and sends the QR code by email. Telemach says its eSIM is available on all its subscription plans but not yet for prepaid users (Telemach: eSIM, in Croatian). A local line makes sense if you stay for months or need a Croatian +385 number. Our list of eSIM providers in Croatia shows more options.
How much data do you need in Croatia?
It depends on how you use your phone. Wi-Fi at your apartment or hotel helps a lot. As a rough guide:
- 3 to 5 days: 1 GB to 5 GB for maps, messages and some browsing.
- 7 to 15 days: 10 GB to 20 GB, enough for social media, beach photos and some video calls.
- 15 to 30 days: 20 GB to 50 GB, or more if you stream or work online.
Planning to share your connection with a laptop or a friend's phone? Hotspot (tethering) uses data fast, so go a size up. Our guide to choosing an eSIM data plan has more tips.
Do you need a travel eSIM for Croatia?
Your phone plan is from the EU: it works in Croatia like at home
Croatia is in the EU. Under the EU's "roam like at home" rules, you can use a plan from another EU country in Croatia at domestic prices, within your carrier's fair use limits. The rules also cover Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Moldova and Ukraine, and no other countries (Your Europe: Mobile roaming costs). So if your plan is from Germany, Austria or Italy, it works in Croatia like at home. A travel eSIM still helps if your plan has a small data allowance abroad.
Roam like at home doesn't cover Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro. In February 2026, the European Commission proposed talks to bring the Western Balkans into roam like at home, but it only applies once agreements are in place (European Commission: Roam like at home for the Western Balkans). Until then, check your carrier's prices before a day trip to Mostar or Kotor.
You're coming from the US, the UK, Canada or Australia
Roam like at home doesn't apply to plans from outside the EU and the countries listed above, and that includes UK plans. Your carrier sets its own roaming prices in Croatia, so check them before you go. A travel eSIM gives you data at a fixed prepaid price, while your home SIM stays on your phone for texts and security codes. Our guide on how to avoid roaming charges has more tips.
Is your phone compatible?
Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Dial *#06#: if you see an EID number, your phone supports eSIM. On iPhone, eSIM works on the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM). For Android phones, see our guide to checking eSIM compatibility. If you bought your phone from a carrier, ask it to unlock the phone before you travel.
How to set up your eSIM for Croatia
- Buy your plan and get your QR code by email.
- Install it at home on Wi-Fi before you fly. Step-by-step help: how to install an eSIM and Apple's guide to setting up eSIM on iPhone.
- Label the line "Croatia" or "Travel" so you can tell it apart from your home line.
- When you land, the eSIM connects automatically. Choose it as your line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Cellular Data and pick the travel eSIM (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM).
- Turn off data roaming on your home line, so it can't use data abroad.
No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating walks you through the fixes.
FAQs
What is the best eSIM for Croatia?
It depends on your trip. For a week in Croatia, Croatia 5GB or 10GB. For two weeks, Croatia 20GB, or Travel Basic if you also visit other EU countries. For a long stay, Croatia 60GB or 100GB. For day trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro, Europe Unlimited. If you need a phone number, Travel Basic+ or My European eSIM from Bouygues Telecom.
Which eSIM works in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro?
Europe Unlimited, for 7 or 14 days. Of the plans on our Croatia and Europe pages, it's the only one that lists all three countries. The Croatia plans, the Europe 1GB to 50GB plans and the Bouygues Telecom plans don't cover Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.
Does my EU phone plan work in Croatia?
Yes. Croatia is in the EU, so with roam like at home you use your plan at domestic prices, within your carrier's fair use limits. It doesn't cover Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.
Does a Croatia eSIM work on the islands and ferries?
Yes, the islands are part of Croatia, so every plan that covers Croatia works there. At sea, the signal can drop for part of the crossing.
What is the cheapest eSIM for Croatia?
The smallest plan, Croatia 1GB for 3 days, is the cheapest one on our Croatia eSIM page. For a longer trip, pick the plan that matches your days and data, so you don't pay for more than you use.
Is there an eSIM for Croatia with unlimited data?
Yes. Europe Unlimited gives you unlimited data in 54 countries, Croatia included, for 7 or 14 days. The Croatia plans have fixed data, up to 100 GB.
Can I get a Croatian phone number with a travel eSIM?
Not with the SimOptions plans. The Croatia plans are data only. Travel Basic+ and My European eSIM come with a French +33 number that you can use to call and text Croatian numbers. For a +385 number, you need a line from a Croatian carrier.
Can I top up my Croatia eSIM?
The Croatia, Europe and Europe Unlimited plans can be topped up. The Bouygues Telecom plans can't, so choose enough data and days before you go.
Can I keep my own number and WhatsApp?
Yes. On a dual SIM phone, your home line stays on next to the travel eSIM. WhatsApp keeps your usual number and works over the eSIM's data.
