Best Short-Term, Prepaid Cell Phone Plans for Croatia Travel

Prepaid plans in Croatia

Here I’ll walk you through the top providers in Croatia and their short term, prepaid plans that you can sign up for once you get over here, which will save you big. 

Compared to the U.S.A. and Canada, Croatian phone bills are extremely inexpensive, so take advantage and say goodbye to roaming and long distance fees from back home!

(Example: Get 250 mins of talk + 2GB of data for only 3 EUR!)

As I said, since long distance and roaming fees can get costly, it's best to pick up a new sim card and prepaid plan right in Croatia once you land. It’s super quick and easy (you can buy the card & plan at the airport or any little kiosk around town, and below I’ll explicitly outline the plans and how to activate them with step by step instructions).

First and foremost, a quick tip before you read through the plans!

The best piece of advice I can give is to buy a flat (or larger) data package, then use “WhatsApp” which is an amazing communication app, where you can easily call or text others for free, using only your data (as long as they have the app, too!). 

​If you’re coming to Croatia but still aren’t sure about the best options for cell phone plans while traveling, you’ve come to the right spot! 

This way, you can communicate with your friends and family back home, as well as local guides or drivers here in Croatia, with only a little bit of data (goodbye roaming and long distance fees!)

You can just tell your family and friends to download the app before you leave, and then once you’re here, you can video chat, call, or text them as much as you want using WhatsApp! 

It’s how I’ve been communicating with everyone back home for years, and it works great! I also use it to text my friends here locally, too. In my opinion, it’s the best and easiest way. Most people in Croatia use the app, so you’ll be able to get in touch with any of your guides or drivers through this app as well. 

Here are the 3 telecommunications companies in Croatia:

• Tele 2
• T-mobile 
• A1 

Now I’ll go into the best options from these providers:

​TELE 2

Price

TELE 2 has a great monthly combo for about 9 EUR.  It’s called “Cheapest Surf & Call” starter pack. ​​

Printscreen from website https://www.tele2.hr/

You get 10 GB of data, 200 minutes towards all Croatian networks and an extra 1.35 EUR on your account (which typically covers the connection fee for your calls, which is 0.05 Euro cents per phone call). 

You have 30 days to use the above mins and data, but you can always top up if you run short before the end of 30 days (10 GB of data for 55 kn / 7 EUR, and 100 mins for 15 kn / 2 EUR). 

Here’s a link to their website, where you find up to date info about pricing: ​

​
​Where to buy?

You can buy the Tele2 "Cheapest Surf & Call" starter pack at almost any convenience store, post office, airport, gas station and of course at any Tele2 shop.


Activation

Your SIM will be automatically activated when you make your first call, text or connect to the internet. 

If you don’t like the Cheapest Surf & Call, here are a few other options that might suit you better:

- 2GB and 200 mins and/or SMS – keyword: 2GB200 = price: 55 kn / 7 EUR
- 2GB and 1000 mins and/or SMS – keyword: 2GB1000 = price: 65 kn / 9 EUR
- 6GB and 200 mins and/or SMS – keyword: 6GB200 = price: 75 kn / 10 EUR
- 6GB and 1000 mins and/or SMS – keyword: 6GB1000, price: 85 kn / 11 EUR
- Flat data and 1000 mins and/or SMS – keyword: BEZBROJGB1000, price: 199 kn / 27 EUR

The above options can be activated by sending an SMS with the corresponding keyword listed above, to 13888. 


International Rates for Calling

Tele 2 has 4 interesting one-time packages for international calls if you’re really not into using an app like WhatsApp. Here they are listed below:

International minutes Europe 50
International minutes Europe 100
International minutes Europe 250
International minutes Europe + World 50

The activation of these packages is pretty simple. You just have to send a text message with the keyword of the chosen package to the number 13992.

International minutes packages Europe 50, 100 and 250 can be used for calls from Croatia to the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania , Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

International minutes packages Europe + World 50 can be used for calls from Croatia to the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania , Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
+
Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Montenegro, Chile, Philippines, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, Qatar, China, Colombia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldova, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Serbia, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam

​BONBON (T-Mobile)

Bonbon is a member of the T-mobile family. This is a nice cell phone option because it’s very flexible. It allows you to top up separately in minutes, sms and data, as well as choose weekly or monthly packages.

Bonbon SIM card

​
Here’s an example of a plan where you only need a few mins of talk, and lots of data, but you don’t need SMS.

Total Cost: 80 KN (11 EUR) = (3 EUR) for 100 minutes of talk + (8 EUR)  for 7GB of internet

Another interesting option from BonBon is their weekly package deal they have going on, where you get 250 mins of talk + 2GB of data for only 3 EUR! Tell me where you can find something like that in North America!

Here’s a link to their website, where you find up to date info about pricing: 

Here are the pictures which will give you the full picture of prices and combinations:

Bonbon packages & combinations

​International Rates

Compared to Tele 2, BonBon doesn’t have a special package for international calling or texting. If you want to call abroad the price is defined by zones where you are calling.  There are zones from 0-4 and the price for each zone is different, and this isn’t cheap. 

Here are the prices for each zone:

​
Keep in mind, if you call for 2 seconds the provider will charge you the same as if you talked for 1 whole minute.

The cost of sending MMS abroad is 0.88 kn.

Here is the list of the countries divided by zones:

Zone 0

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Åland Islands, France, Gibraltar, Mayotte, Réunion, Martinique, French Guiana, Guadeloupe & Sv. Martin, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Madeira, Azores, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Vatican, Spain, Canary, Ceuta, Melilla, Sweden, United Kingdom


Zone 1

Andorra, Monaco, San Marino

Zone 2

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Zone 3

Albania, Belarus, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine

Zone 4 

Other countries

If you travel with Bonbon in other EU countries there is no extra roaming charge so you can use your phone with the same charge like in Croatia, however, there are some restrictions regarding usage of the internet. 

The provider does not allow you to use all your data from your package for free, outside of Croatia (I’m assuming they do this to avoid having neighboring countries taking advantage of this package?). So for example if you take a weekly package with flat internet you can use 4.4GB and after that the provider will charge you extra 0,03 kn/MB if you’re outside of Croatia (within an EU country).

Activation - how to activate Bonbon, and where to buy it!

First, buy a SIM card. You can buy them at almost every convenience store, post office, airport or gas station. The cards usually cost 20 KN and you can use that amount towards your package or combination. 

You can top up the card with more money at any convenience store or supermarket. You can pay with cash or card, and the cashier will give you a receipt voucher that will have the following code to enter: * 123 * 14-digit code # and then press the “call” button on your phone, and voila! You’re all topped up and you’re ready to add the package of your choice!


Packages and Combinations

Once you top up your phone, it’s time to activate a package or combination that suits you best. 

I will try to explain in a couple of steps how to activate a weekly package (which might be the most convenient for visitors). This one’s a bit more complicated to set up, so just follow these steps below:

1 . To activate minutes for talking, press *121# and then press the call key then you'll get this:

2 . Then type only number 1. - Aktivacija paketa (Eng. Activation of the package) and press send.

3. After that you will be asked which premade combination or separately Minutes, SMS or Data

4. If you choose number 2. - Razgovori (Talk) press send, and then choose 4. Jedini tjedni (eng.Only weekly)

5. then type DA(yes) and send

After that if you want to choose to include the internet/data in your package the procedure goes from the beginning.

1 .To activate certain Internet/Data press *121# and then press the call key ​

2 . Then type only number 1. - Aktivacija paketa (Eng. Activation of the package) and press send.

3. Type number 3. - Internet and press send

4. Then you can choose type 5. Jedini tjedni (eng. Only weekly-2GB) or 6. Tjedni flat (eng. Weekly flat) and press send

5. then type DA(yes) and send

---

​TOMATO (A1)

Tomato is part of the A1 telecommunications company and has very reasonable rates and some good deals! ​

Price

Tomato is nice and simple and they base their tariffs on units, which means if you buy 1000 units for example, you can spend them on calls, texts or data however you please, and it’s calculated like this:

1 unit = 1 min of talk OR 1 SMS OR 1 MB. 

For the prepaid option, there are 3 choices: 

1. Small tariff - 1000 units = 40 kn / 5.50 EUR 
2. Medium tariff - 5000 units = 60 kn / 8 EUR 
3. Large tariff - 8000 units 80 kn / 11 EUR

*It is important to note that Tomato charges a call connection fee 0,29KN/call towards all networks in Croatia so you will have to have some extra credit on your phone. 

If you want to avoid this call connection fee, you can pay a premium price up front, as follows:

1. Small tariff + - 1000 units = 60 kn / 8 EUR 
2. Medium tariff + - 5000 units = 80 kn / 11 EUR 
3. Large tariff + - 8000 units = 100 kn / 14 EUR

If you end up going through all of your units, and don’t buy more, they will charge you 0.49 kn for each min, text or mb. 

Here’s a link to their website, where you find up to date info about pricing: 

Activation 

Where to buy?

You can buy Tomato Sim cards in almost any convenience store, post office,airport, gas station and of course at any Tomato or A1 shop. When you buy the voucher, you’ll just have to enter *103* 14-digit code # and then press the call button. 

To activate one of the tariffs you just have to send an SMS with the corresponding keyword, to the number: 13435.

Here are the keywords, in correspondence with their tariffs:
 

1. “M” for the small tariff
2. “M+” for the small tariff with no calling connection fee
3. “S” for medium tariff
4. “S+” for the medium tariff with no calling connection fee
5. “V” for the large tariff
6. “V+” for the large tariff with no calling connection fee

As soon as you activate the tariff, you’ll receive a notification via sms. From that point on, you’ll have 30 days to use all of your units before they expire. 

Additional units

If you run out of your units before the 30 days are up, don’t worry! You can always add on some extra units as follows: ​

For example if you want to add on flat internet, Tomato has the option of 5 days unlimited data usage. To activate that option, just send an SMS to the number 13435 with the word “FLAT”

That sums up the best options for short term, prepaid cell phone plans for when you travel in Croatia!We hope you found this post useful. 

Again, our best advice is to buy a good data package, download WhatsApp, and communicate with your family, friends, and locals here in Croatia, through the app. 

Keep in mind that telecommunication companies change their prices and deals every so often, so double check on their websites beforehand, or send us an email and we can check for you :) 


Quick tip!

You can verify that you’ve loaded money onto your phone by dialing the following, according to provider:

BONBON - dail *100# then the call button.

TELE 2 - dial *130# then the call button.

TOMATO - dial *101# then the call button.
​

Ivan Cosic
Royal Croatian Tours - Specializing in custom made, luxury trips throughout Croatia. We offer exclusive experiences all over the country, and we’re passionate about providing you exceptional service that goes above and beyond for your tailor made vacation! 

Send us an email or give us a call to start planning today!

If you’re interested in reading a few of our other posts about Croatia:

• 25 Strange Things Croatians Do (And Would Never Do)!
• Croatian Culture, Etiquette & Social Norms: A Complete Guide!
• My Kids Don't Speak English: Raising Bilinguals is Tough!
• 15 Places in Croatia You've Probably Never Heard Of!
• 50 Insanely Spectacular Photos of Croatia: Start Packing!
• Croatia’s Best 20 Beaches: Sandy, Pebbly & Hidden Gems​
• Is Croatia Safe? Read Our 20 Useful Safety Tips for Tourists
• 5 Reasons Croatian Grannies are Cuter than Kittens
• 8 Reasons You Should Never Swim in the Adriatic
• Top 10 Day Trips From Zagreb, Within 1hr Drive
• ​Croatian Money: KN or EURO, Exchanging $, and Daily Costs
• How I Learned to Speak Croatian as an Adult (in 7 Steps)
• Driving in Croatia (A Helpful Guide With Practical Tips)
• 38 Local Tips & Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Croatia
• Travel to Croatia With a Toddler or Baby (From Experience!)
• Tipping in Croatia: A Complete Guide With Suggested Amounts!