In January 2021, Croatia launched its digital nomad visa, opening the doorways for distant staff to spend longer on this lovely nation. It’s no shock that the digital nomad group rejoiced; I actually did. You see, Croatia is beautiful, and there are such a lot of experiences to get pleasure from; it’s no marvel so many individuals are researching one of the best cities in Croatia for digital nomads.
As a distant employee in Croatia, you’ll be spoiled for alternative each single day. Wonderful meals, pleasant locals, beautiful pure sights, and loads of historical past. Oh, and the seashores – don’t forget concerning the seashores. It’s additionally a reasonably inexpensive location in comparison with many different European cities, with nice coworking alternatives.
I spent a number of months dwelling in Croatia, primarily Cut up, Dubrovnik, and Korčula, however I moved round a good quantity. From my superb experiences, I’m fairly well-placed to advise you on one of the best spots to go to as a digital nomad. I can inform you now that there actually isn’t a foul option to be made right here, it’s extra concerning the space that calls out to you most.
Greatest Cities in Croatia for Digital Nomads
Whenever you first take a look at a map of Croatia, you’re going to search out your self in a dilemma—there are such a lot of locations to select from; however as I’ve talked about, the excellent news is that none of them are a foul concept. Let’s discover ten of one of the best cities in Croatia the place digital nomads have it made.
1. Cut up
Indubitably, Cut up is among the greatest cities in Croatia for digital nomads; you received’t wrestle to satisfy different like-minded individuals right here. The seashores are beautiful, and the overall vibe across the metropolis is by some means chilled-out however vibrant on the similar time. It’s not missing in historical past and tradition both: strolling via Diocletian’s Palace every single day is kind of one thing.
I discovered the town to be fairly inexpensive however you do want to consider staying outdoors the central reaches. There are a number of nice high quality coworking areas and loads of cafes to spend your working days. I significantly loved Smartspace as a spot for working and collaborating, with inexpensive passes and a cushty setting.
Nightlife in Cut up is a mix of laid-back and vibrant, so it doesn’t matter what form of night you’re after, you’ll be sure you discover it. Web in Cut up can be prime quality (common obtain pace of 71.18 Mbps and add pace of 19.62 Mbps in keeping with Speedtest) so it’s simple to maintain productiveness excessive.
2. Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is unquestionably a contender for one of the best metropolis in Croatia, however it may well get extraordinarily busy throughout the summer time months. For that motive, the shoulder months of April to June and September to October are nice occasions to go to. The winter months are calm and charming however you’ll discover many of the metropolis closes till the next summer time.
It’s a good suggestion to keep away from the Previous City when on the lookout for lodging and as an alternative go for the suburbs, reminiscent of Babin Kuk and Lapad. You’ll find a furnished house in one among these areas for round €530 ($570) per thirty days with utilities on prime. Public transport into the Previous City is simple and inexpensive.
As Dubrovnik is generally a touristic city, you’ll discover loads to see and do, together with the well-known metropolis partitions. There aren’t presently any coworking areas right here, however there are greater than sufficient cafes; Buzz Cafe & Bar was one among my favorites. I by no means had any points with the web in Dubrovnik both, making it the perfect place to work and sightsee throughout the summer time.
3. Zagreb
Many digital nomads head to the capital, Zagreb, and it’s undoubtedly top-of-the-line cities in Croatia for sightseeing and day-to-day life. You’ll discover a extra genuine vibe right here, away from the coastal seaside cities. It’s additionally an inexpensive base to journey from and see the remainder of the nation throughout the summer time months.
You’ll find a furnished house outdoors of the town middle for round €450 ($480), and there are various coworking areas to make use of; I visited Impression Hub a number of occasions and met numerous different distant staff. The web in Zagreb can be quick, with add and obtain speeds of 44.99 and 110.94 Mbps respectively.
There are a lot of superb locations to see round Zagreb, and Plitvice Lakes Nationwide Park is just two hours away. Town itself is vibrant, with nice nightlife and procuring alternatives. You’ll discover a conventional really feel in lots of elements of the town, and there are some nice eating places serving conventional Croatian meals, so you’ll be able to actually immerse your self within the tradition.
4. Zadar
Stunning Zadar is among the greatest cities in Croatia for digital nomads who need to get pleasure from time by the ocean however with a metropolis vibe. I actually loved Zadar, and it’s an excellent place to community and collaborate with different DNs. The standard vibe blends effectively with chilled-out nightlife and superb pure sights.
Zadar has some nice coworking areas, together with Code Hub and COIN Coworking, which supply quick web and inexpensive membership. The price of dwelling in Zadar is on par with Zagreb; I stayed within the Kolovare Seaside space and located lodging for round €450 ($470) per thirty days. It’s additionally simple to buy contemporary produce and prepare dinner at house, which will certainly deliver down your month-to-month payments.
Spending time having fun with the seaside and testing free sights such because the Sea Organ make Zadar an economical alternative. Nightlife right here is laid-back, however there are many energetic bars in the summertime months. For me, Zadar is a superb alternative of middle-ground; you’ll be able to go full touristic if you wish to, or you’ll be able to retreat to the extra conventional facet of issues.
5. Hvar City
The island of Hvar is a well-liked spot for vacationers throughout the summer time, however Hvar City itself is turning into a digital nomad hotspot. This port city gives a soothing island vibe however improbable nightlife everytime you need it. I met many different distant staff in Hvar City and it’s someplace I intend to return to.
When you’re on the lookout for one of the best coworking house in Croatia, you received’t discover it in Hvar City; they merely don’t exist presently. Nevertheless, there are some improbable cafes to work from—Kava37 was my go-to for improbable espresso and a productive house. I didn’t have any main issues with the web in Hvar City, however I did discover it was slightly slower than in Zadar and Cut up.
Exterior of the summer time months (Could to October) you’ll discover that life in Hvar City is rather a lot quieter and plenty of locations shut. As long as you don’t thoughts an absence of others, you’ll get to expertise a extra genuine lifestyle. Regardless of the quieter interval, common ferries over to Cut up can be found all 12 months spherical. Most distant staff select to remain throughout the shoulder and summer time months solely, so lodging prices are decrease throughout the winter.
6. Pula
The Istrian metropolis of Pula is a superb spot for a distant employee in Croatia. I spent numerous time right here, and I actually loved the pure setting and laid-back vibe. There’s numerous historical past to discover, together with Pula Area, however my favourite exercise was the farmers market, with superb native produce on provide—it is a actual foodie’s metropolis.
The price of dwelling in Pula is similar to the remainder of the nation, and there are many markets to buy contemporary meals. There aren’t any coworking spots in Pula to write down about but, however you’ll discover loads of appropriate cafes, together with Cafe Cinderella, which has super-fast web and comfy chairs. You’ll discover many different distant staff utilizing cafes across the metropolis; they provide nice alternatives to satisfy different individuals.
Pula is a perfect spot for nature and meals lovers and it’s simple to work from too. Web speeds are commonplace, at round 47.85 Mbps for downloads and uploads at 1924 Mbps – I by no means struggled with Wifi in Pula. I additionally discovered the extra pure environment fairly inspiring, and it’s a soothing spot to sit back out.
7. Rijeka
Rijeka gives an exquisite mixture of touristic enjoyable and genuine Croatian life. It’s a medium-sized metropolis that sits on the shores of the Adriatic, and there are some lovely seashores to get pleasure from and nice pure spots—Postojna Cave is a must-visit. Trsat Fortress is the crowning glory that offers a cultural and conventional really feel to the town.
The digital nomad life-style in Rijeka is fairly laid-back, however you received’t wrestle to search out different distant staff to attach with. It’s doable to search out an house away from the seaside for round €420 ($450), and there are various nice worth metropolis middle Airbnbs to take a look at. Consuming out in Rijeka generally is a little dear, so it’s a good suggestion to buy on the native markets and prepare dinner your meals at house.
There are just a few coworking areas in Rijeka, with RiHub being the preferred. Not like Cut up which has many areas to work from, Rijeka gives extra of a restaurant vibe, however the web is robust and similar to different Croatian cities. When you’re on the lookout for another spot to the bigger cities, reminiscent of Zagreb and Cut up, Rijeka is a superb alternative.
8. Osijek
Many digital nomads in Croatia are selecting to go to Osijek, a lesser-known metropolis that provides tradition and a extra conventional lifestyle. I visited Osijek as soon as throughout my time in Croatia, and I believed it was a captivating metropolis with inexpensive dwelling alternatives for distant staff. There are additionally loads of occasions that happen all year long, such because the Craft Beer Pageant.
Osijek is fairly up-and-coming and there’s just one essential coworking house to this point, Bios Inkubator, however meaning you’ll probably meet individuals of different like-minded individuals there. Nevertheless, the web within the metropolis is sweet, with obtain and add speeds of 66.19 and 29.04 Mbps respectively. You’ll additionally discover loads of nice cafes to work from, reminiscent of San Francisco Espresso Home.
Total, in the event you’re on the lookout for a spot to remain that’s off the vacationer route, Osijek is a superb alternative with a extra conventional vibe. As a result of it’s much less recognized than a number of the different cities, it’s additionally extra inexpensive and also you’ll get pleasure from a extra genuine expertise.
9. Korčula
I spent numerous time on Korčula island, and it’s someplace I’d like to return to. The laid-back vibe, the pleasant individuals, and the island’s magnificence are simply off the size. It’s additionally a spot the place many digital nomads head to, and it’s very easy to have productive days with alternatives to sightsee whenever you’re carried out.
The perfect cities in Croatia provide numerous coworking alternatives and a sooner tempo of life, however I cherished Korčula’s easygoing pace. I discovered the island to be inexpensive, though it’s a vacationer space so in the event you keep near the seaside, you’ll pay extra. There are a lot of Airbnbs round, and I stayed in Medvinjak, which is a brief bus experience from the Previous City.
There are just a few coworking areas out there, together with Gradac Coworking, which I used just a few occasions. So far as the social factor is anxious, nightlife in Korčula is no matter you need it to be, which is one thing I admire. There are many beachside bars and eating places, golf equipment, and extra laid-back cocktail spots to socialize with new pals.
10. Cavtat
Probably the most southern seaside resort in Croatia is Cavtat, which is positioned round 20km away from bustling Dubrovnik. I cherished the calm vibe in Cavtat, and if you wish to be near Dubrovnik however aren’t eager on paying excessive rental costs, otherwise you need to keep away from crowds, it is a nice alternative.
The seashores listed here are beautiful, and Žal is one among my favorites. I discovered Cavtat to be much more cultural than another resorts, with loads of small museums and occasions held all year long; the Summer time Pageant in July is a must-do. Cavtat can be much more inexpensive than Dubrovnik, and you could find an house away from the seaside for round €500 ($540).
There aren’t any coworking areas in Cavtat presently, however there are tons of waterside cafes, reminiscent of Caffe Bar Delfin. I by no means struggled with the web in Cavtat, and I discovered it a captivating place to remain for some time, with a small but thriving digital nomad scene.
Greatest Cities in Croatia for Digital Nomads: FAQs
Listed here are some solutions to essentially the most generally requested questions on one of the best cities in Croatia for digital nomads:
Croatia is thought for its beautiful seashores, historical past, tradition, and pleasant locals. Dubrovnik is one among its most well-known locations, made much more in order a filming website for Sport of Thrones.
The perfect time to go to Croatia is between April and October. That is the primary vacationer season when the whole lot is open and the climate is wonderful. Nevertheless, the winter months provide a extra conventional expertise for these looking for tradition and authenticity.
Sure! Croatia is 100% price visiting, and it’s change into extraordinarily well-liked over the previous couple of years. You received’t wrestle to pack your time with superb issues to see and do, and the seashores are breathtaking.
Croatia launched its digital nomad visa in January 2021, permitting digital nomads to work within the nation for as much as one 12 months. Nevertheless, this can’t presently be prolonged as soon as the 12 months is completed.
Other than the same old vacationer pickpocketing scams in giant cities, Croatia is a secure nation to go to. After all, it is best to all the time use your widespread sense irrespective of the place you’re, however usually, Croatia doesn’t have a high-risk label.
Sure, Croatia has a digital nomad visa which permits distant staff to remain for as much as one 12 months. Extra info will be discovered right here.
Most expats select to dwell on the coast, with Dubrovnik, Cut up, Zadar, and Rijeka well-liked decisions. Nevertheless, Zagreb, the capital, can be the place you will see that a big expat group, particularly throughout the winter months.
There are a lot of prime coworking areas in Croatia, however Hub385 in Zagreb, Smartspace in Cut up, and COIN Coworking in Zadar are all prime choices. Other than coworking areas, there are some nice cafes to spend just a few productive hours with nice espresso and snacks.
In Closing
Regardless of the place you select to go in Croatia, I’m certain you’ll have the very best expertise, simply as I did. It’s a rustic that undoubtedly has my coronary heart and with the brand new digital nomad visa in place, it’s now simpler than ever earlier than to work and discover this lovely a part of the world and all it has to supply.
Now you already know one of the best cities in Croatia for digital nomads, your planning can start. Maybe you’ll select to maneuver round and spend time in other places, however no matter you select, you’ll discover that Croatia is greater than welcoming, extraordinarily lovely, and can give you reminiscences like nowhere else.
