We absolutely love Croatia! The country offers a blend of relaxed atmosphere, historic sites, nature spots and beautiful beaches. It used to be considered a quiet and budget destination but the spike of tourism and adoption of the Euro has caused the prices to soar.
We also visited Croatia in 2021, and we definitely could see the difference in prices. When speaking with locals, they explained how life had become less affordable. In touristy locations you can expect to spend more money than if you went to Spain or Greece. Discover how we recently explored Croatia on a budget when visiting Split and Trogir.
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Trogir
We stayed very close to the charming UNESCO-listed town of Trogir. It combines both medieval charm and island vibes. It’s a great place to spend a couple of hours exploring the old town and afterwards relaxing with a drink by the seafront.
It’s a very compact town making it ideal to wander around the cobbled streets and admire the architecture. We recommend seeing St. Lawrence Cathedral where you can climb to the top to see panoramic views of the town from the bell tower. Another spot you shouldn’t miss is Kamerlengo Fortress where you can watch the sunset from the top. There is also a small market near the bus station, it’s great to browse but be warned they might charge you tourist prices!
At the end of the day, we walked down the Trogir Promenade which was another highlight. We grabbed a drink there and enjoyed the seafront views, a perfect spot to relax after a busy day of exploring.
Split
Split is an in-demand place to experience ancient history and enjoy its vibrant atmosphere. During the peak season it can get very crowded, especially with tours and cruise ships being popular in Split. We therefore recommend getting there early in the morning to beat the crowds.
The main attraction in Split is The Diocletian’s Palace that is listed as a UNESCO heritage site and was built in the 4th century. It’s both a palace and fortress complex that served as a retirement residence of a former Roman emperor. We were very impressed with Peristil Square, at the centre of the Palace, and the ancient architecture surrounding it. Another highlight was wandering around the Palace basements, they are very well-preserved and walking through them feels like going back in time.
Another great spot to see is St. Domnius Cathedral. It was originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Diocletian and afterwards converted into a Christian place of worship. Entrance to the Cathedral costs £7 per person. You can also pay to go up to the bell tower for amazing views of the city, this costs a further £8 per person.
After exploring the charming old town of Split, we walked to Riva Promenade and stopped off for a drink. Split also has plenty of restaurants throughout, we recommend heading slightly out of the centre to find a more affordable option to help with exploring Croatia on a budget.
Affordable Accommodation
It’s common when planning a trip to Croatia to look for a hotel in the centre of the town you are visiting. However, we recommend Airbnb to look for apartments as it gives you more space and you can cook your own meals. This will definitely save you money as on average you can expect to spend around £150 per night for a hotel vs £90 for an Airbnb (shoulder season prices). We also recommend looking for accommodation which is slightly further away from the centre, you can find a higher standard at a better value.
Another alternative to overpriced hotels is staying on one of the many campsites in Croatia. That doesn’t mean you have to pack your tent!
We recently booked a static caravan with Eurocamp at Amadria Park Camping Trogir. We paid less than £70 in total per night for 3 adults. The accommodation was comfortable and clean, and we had a private outside area to sit in the evening. The site was located less than 10 minutes drive from the historical town of Trogir and 40 minutes away from the centre of Split. There was also a swimming pool and a private beach, making it a perfect place to relax after a busy day of exploring.
Eating on a Budget
When we visited Croatia in June 2025, we were shocked by how expensive restaurant prices were. In touristy destinations such as Split you can spend over £30 per meal per person. This can quickly add up when you’re eating out during your holiday and makes it hard to enjoy Croatia on a budget.
As we mentioned, booking accommodation with a kitchen is a great option to save money. We went to Konzum supermarket in Trogir to buy some groceries. Our shopping cost us less than £50 and we had enough food to cook breakfast and dinner for 3 days.
We wanted to save money on eating out, however that didn’t mean we totally missed out. Lunchtime menu deals are a great option offering a main meal, a side and a drink for an affordable price. We also recommend finding a place to dine that is slightly away from the centre of the old town. This way you can often get more authentic food at a better price.
Getting Around Croatia on a Budget
During our time we saw a lot of places offering day tours around Split, Trogir and Krka National Park. Sometimes a tour can be a good option to visit places, however in Croatia some of them can cost you over £70 per person, and you will always be surrounded by a crowd of people. There are definitely more affordable ways to travel independently.
Renting a car in Croatia is a great option if you want to visit a few places and move around at your own pace. You can expect to pay around £40 per day (including petrol).
Uber is also a great option to travel around and it’s much more affordable than traditional taxis. We used it for shorter journeys and paid £4-£6 for a 15 minute ride.
We recommend using public buses to get between towns. Bus Line 37 travels between Split and Trogir (stopping at the airport as well) and costs less than £2 per person one way. The journey takes around 50 minutes and it’s a great affordable way to travel to Split for the day.
We hope you enjoyed our little guide of how to spend your holiday in Croatia on a budget without missing out. Croatia is a great destination that doesn’t have to be as expensive as you first thought!
