In January 2021, Croatia launched its digital nomad visa, opening the doorways for distant staff to spend longer on this stunning nation. It’s no shock that the digital nomad group rejoiced; I definitely did. You see, Croatia is beautiful, and there are such a lot of experiences to take pleasure in; it’s no marvel so many individuals are researching the perfect cities in Croatia for digital nomads.
As a distant employee in Croatia, you’ll be spoiled for alternative each single day. Superb meals, pleasant locals, beautiful pure sights, and loads of historical past. Oh, and the seashores – don’t forget in regards to 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 residing 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 the perfect spots to go to as a digital nomad. I can let you know now that there actually isn’t a nasty option to be made right here, it’s extra in regards to the space that calls out to you most.
Finest Cities in Croatia for Digital Nomads
Whenever you first have a look at a map of Croatia, you’re going to seek 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 nasty concept. Let’s discover ten of the perfect cities in Croatia the place digital nomads have it made.
1. Cut up
Definitely, Cut up is among the finest cities in Croatia for digital nomads; you received’t battle to fulfill different like-minded folks right here. The seashores are beautiful, and the final vibe across the metropolis is in some way chilled-out however vibrant on the similar time. It’s not missing in historical past and tradition both: strolling by way of Diocletian’s Palace on daily basis is kind of one thing.
I discovered the town to be fairly inexpensive however you do want to consider staying exterior 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 surroundings.
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 remember to discover it. Web in Cut up can also be prime quality (common obtain pace of 71.18 Mbps and add pace of 19.62 Mbps based on Speedtest) so it’s straightforward to maintain productiveness excessive.
2. Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is certainly a contender for the perfect metropolis in Croatia, however it may well get extraordinarily busy in the course of the summer season 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 a lot of the metropolis closes till the next summer season.
It’s a good suggestion to keep away from the Outdated City when searching for lodging and as an alternative go for the suburbs, akin to Babin Kuk and Lapad. You will discover a furnished condominium in considered one of these areas for round €530 ($570) monthly with utilities on high. Public transport into the Outdated City is simple and inexpensive.
As Dubrovnik is usually a touristic city, you’ll discover loads to see and do, together with the well-known metropolis partitions. There aren’t at the moment any coworking areas right here, however there are greater than sufficient cafes; Buzz Cafe & Bar was considered one of my favorites. I by no means had any points with the web in Dubrovnik both, making it the best place to work and sightsee in the course of the summer season.
3. Zagreb
Many digital nomads head to the capital, Zagreb, and it’s positively among the best 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 in the course of the summer season months.
You will discover a furnished condominium exterior of the town middle for round €450 ($480), and there are a lot of coworking areas to make use of; I visited Impression Hub a number of occasions and met quite a lot of different distant staff. The web in Zagreb can also be quick, with add and obtain speeds of 44.99 and 110.94 Mbps respectively.
There are lots 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 buying alternatives. You’ll discover a conventional really feel in lots of components 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
Lovely Zadar is among the finest cities in Croatia for digital nomads who wish to take pleasure in time by the ocean however with a metropolis vibe. I actually loved Zadar, and it’s an awesome place to community and collaborate with different DNs. The normal 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 provide quick web and inexpensive membership. The price of residing in Zadar is on par with Zagreb; I stayed within the Kolovare Seashore space and located lodging for round €450 ($470) monthly. It’s additionally straightforward to buy contemporary produce and cook dinner at house, which will certainly convey down your month-to-month payments.
Spending time having fun with the seaside and testing free sights such because the Sea Organ make Zadar a cheap alternative. Nightlife right here is laid-back, however there are many full of life 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 aspect of issues.
5. Hvar City
The island of Hvar is a well-liked spot for vacationers in the course of the summer season, however Hvar City itself is turning into a digital nomad hotspot. This port city provides 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.
If you happen to’re searching for the perfect coworking area in Croatia, you received’t discover it in Hvar City; they merely don’t exist at the moment. Nevertheless, there are some improbable cafes to work from—Kava37 was my go-to for improbable espresso and a productive area. 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.
Outdoors of the summer season months (Could to October) you’ll discover that life in Hvar City is quite a bit quieter and lots of locations shut. As long as you don’t thoughts a scarcity 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 yr spherical. Most distant staff select to remain in the course of the shoulder and summer season months solely, so lodging prices are decrease in the course of the winter.
6. Pula
The Istrian metropolis of Pula is a superb spot for a distant employee in Croatia. I spent quite a lot of time right here, and I actually loved the pure setting and laid-back vibe. There’s quite a lot of historical past to discover, together with Pula Enviornment, however my favourite exercise was the farmers market, with superb native produce on supply—it is a actual foodie’s metropolis.
The price of residing in Pula is corresponding 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 cozy chairs. You’ll discover many different distant staff utilizing cafes across the metropolis; they provide nice alternatives to fulfill different folks.
Pula is a perfect spot for nature and meals lovers and it’s straightforward to work from too. Web speeds are customary, 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 relax out.
7. Rijeka
Rijeka provides a beautiful 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 stunning seashores to take pleasure in 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 battle to seek out different distant staff to attach with. It’s potential to seek out an condominium away from the seaside for round €420 ($450), and there are a lot of nice worth metropolis middle Airbnbs to take a look at. Consuming out in Rijeka generally is a little expensive, so it’s a good suggestion to buy on the native markets and cook dinner your meals at house.
There are just a few coworking areas in Rijeka, with RiHub being the most well-liked. Not like Cut up which has many areas to work from, Rijeka provides extra of a restaurant vibe, however the web is robust and corresponding to different Croatian cities. If you happen to’re searching for an alternate spot to the bigger cities, akin to 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 gives 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 residing alternatives for distant staff. There are additionally loads of occasions that happen all year long, such because the Craft Beer Competition.
Osijek is fairly up-and-coming and there’s just one primary coworking area thus far, Bios Inkubator, however which means you’ll probably meet folks of different like-minded folks 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, akin to San Francisco Espresso Home.
Total, if you happen to’re searching 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 identified than a few of the different cities, it’s additionally extra inexpensive and also you’ll take pleasure in a extra genuine expertise.
9. Korčula
I spent quite a lot of time on Korčula island, and it’s someplace I’d like to return to. The laid-back vibe, the pleasant folks, and the island’s magnificence are simply off the dimensions. 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 if you’re carried out.
The most effective cities in Croatia supply numerous coworking alternatives and a quicker tempo of life, however I beloved Korčula’s easygoing pace. I discovered the island to be inexpensive, though it’s a vacationer space so if you happen to keep near the seaside, you’ll pay extra. There are lots of Airbnbs round, and I stayed in Medvinjak, which is a brief bus experience from the Outdated City.
There are just a few coworking areas accessible, together with Gradac Coworking, which I used just a few occasions. So far as the social factor is worried, nightlife in Korčula is no matter you need it to be, which is one thing I recognize. There are many beachside bars and eating places, golf equipment, and extra laid-back cocktail spots to socialize with new buddies.
10. Cavtat
Probably the most southern seaside resort in Croatia is Cavtat, which is situated round 20km away from bustling Dubrovnik. I beloved the calm vibe in Cavtat, and if you wish to be near Dubrovnik however aren’t eager on paying excessive rental costs, otherwise you wish to keep away from crowds, it is a nice alternative.
The seashores listed below are beautiful, and Žal is considered one of 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 Competition in July is a must-do. Cavtat can also be much more inexpensive than Dubrovnik, and yow will discover an condominium away from the seaside for round €500 ($540).
There aren’t any coworking areas in Cavtat at the moment, however there are tons of waterside cafes, akin to 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.
Finest Cities in Croatia for Digital Nomads: FAQs
Listed below are some solutions to essentially the most generally requested questions on the perfect cities in Croatia for digital nomads:
Croatia is thought for its beautiful seashores, historical past, tradition, and pleasant locals. Dubrovnik is considered one of its most well-known locations, made much more in order a filming website for Sport of Thrones.
The most effective time to go to Croatia is between April and October. That is the principle vacationer season when all the pieces is open and the climate is superb. Nevertheless, the winter months supply a extra conventional expertise for these searching for tradition and authenticity.
Sure! Croatia is 100% value visiting, and it’s turn into extraordinarily common over the previous couple of years. You received’t battle 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 yr. Nevertheless, this can’t at the moment be prolonged as soon as the yr is completed.
Other than the same old vacationer pickpocketing scams in massive cities, Croatia is a secure nation to go to. After all, it’s best to at all times use your widespread sense regardless of the place you’re, however normally, 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 yr. Extra data will be discovered right here.
Most expats select to reside on the coast, with Dubrovnik, Cut up, Zadar, and Rijeka common decisions. Nevertheless, Zagreb, the capital, can also be the place you can find a big expat group, particularly in the course of the winter months.
There are lots of high coworking areas in Croatia, however Hub385 in Zagreb, Smartspace in Cut up, and COIN Coworking in Zadar are all high 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 positively 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 stunning a part of the world and all it has to supply.
Now you understand the perfect cities in Croatia for digital nomads, your planning can start. Maybe you’ll select to maneuver round and spend time somewhere else, however no matter you select, you’ll discover that Croatia is greater than welcoming, extraordinarily stunning, and can offer you recollections like nowhere else.
