If you are looking for a map of Croatia – or more – you are at the right place! It might seem old school, but I still think that the best way to experience any country truly is by having a solid map in your hands.
Croatia has a unique, “dragon-like” shape that wraps around Bosnia and Herzegovina, making navigation deceptive. Distances on a screen often look shorter than they are in reality due to the rugged coastline and mountain ranges.
I’ve put together this article to share the maps I use, my personal experiences traveling around Croatia, and a few extra details I’ve discovered along the way.
And in case you need extra help, check out my top 10 days in Croatia itinerary or go instead for an all-inclusive stay at one of the top all inclusive resorts in Croatia.
But back to today’s topic, this Croatia map article was created to provide you with the appropriate travel map and help you plan your travel in Croatia.
Things will be a bit different based on the means of transportation you choose to get to Croatia (car, bus, train, plane or ferry from Italy).
But, no matter how good a map is, you might still have to end up asking the locals (farmers, restaurant owners, postman, policeman) for directions. Locals will be glad to help you, and this part has its own charm!
Now let’s get started with a general map of the country that you can see below:
Informative map of Croatia
To supply you with as much information as possible about Croatia I have added some maps that will help you understand the primary territorial subdivisions of the Republic of Croatia.
On the above map you can notice the principal cities in Croatia, starting from Zagreb (Croatia’s capital), Split, the second largest Croatian city and the unofficial capital of Dalmatia.
Dalmatia is subdivided in three areas – the Northern Dalmatia (Zadar is the capital), Central Dalmatia (Split city) and Southern Dalmatia (Dubrovnik as the capital). If you’re interested in this area alone, I have published a map of Dalmatia to help.
On the north, there is the Istria peninsula (Pula is the unofficial capital) and the Kvarner area (Rijeka is the biggest Croatian port in the area). On the Eastern side, we have Slavonija (the fertile plain) with Osijek as the capital.
Below you also have a road map of Croatia, listing the important highways in the country – you will see that they are high quality roads, offering great connections between all areas here.
If you are planning to visit Croatia from Italy, you will find this ferry map below very comprehensive to have a picture of all the connections from Ancona, Pescara, Venice, Bari to Dubrovnik:
The only connection that has been cancelled is the ferry along the coast from Rijeka to Dubrovnik and back but hopefully it will be brought back in the following years as it was a pretty popular one.
The above map of the Croatia National Parks will be of a great help for all the travelers looking for amazing natural beauties of the country and the main attractions that you must visit if you get here.
Seven of these impressive national parks are situated directly on or in the vicinity of the coast, while the eighth National Park, Plitvice Lakes, is less than 200 km from the coast.
A Quick Note on Currency & The Pelješac Bridge Update [Updated]
The road infrastructure in Croatia is excellent, and now the A1 Highway (Dalmatina) connects Zagreb to the south and is one of the most scenic drives in Europe. However, the most important update for anyone driving to Dubrovnik involves the borders.
In the past, driving to Dubrovnik required crossing the “Neum Corridor” – a small strip of coast belonging to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This meant two border checks, potential visa issues, and summer traffic jams.
Fortunately, today that is no longer the case.
As of the last few years, the Pelješac Bridge connects the Croatian mainland directly to the Pelješac peninsula, allowing you to bypass Bosnia entirely.
It is a seamless, toll-free drive that keeps you within Croatian territory all the way to the southern tip. Make sure your GPS is set to route you via the bridge (Pelješki most) rather than through Neum.
As far as currency goes, Croatia joined the Eurozone in 2023, so it uses the Euro. While credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, from restaurants to supermarkets, I always keep cash on me. Small cafes, souvenir stands, and rural shops often still prefer physical money.
Tolls: Croatia’s highways are toll-based. The system has moved largely toward cashless payments. You can pay with a credit card or an ENC device (electronic toll tag). Avoid the “Cash” lanes if they still exist (if you can play by card), as the card lanes move much faster.
If you’re coming from a neighboring country, keep in mind that Croatia is now part of the Schengen Area, which means that crossing the border from Slovenia and Hungary is a breeze.
Wrapping up
That is the lay of the land for 2026. The maps and updates above should save you from the common pitfalls that older guides miss – especially regarding the bridge to Dubrovnik and the ferry schedules.
If you need additional help navigating the country or if you’d like additional maps in this article, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below.
You are great
Thank you for your nice words!