Dalmatian Coast

Before you go

• In Croatia, camping outside campsites is prohibited by law and fines are high. This also applies in national parks, and according to a travel guide even a table, awning or barbecue counts as camping.
• Permitted alternatives are camper stops, fully equipped campsites and rural agro camps.
• Near Neum the coastal road crosses a short strip of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Pelješac Bridge allows a bypass. Carry a passport or ID card.
• Motorways are tolled by HAC. Check tariffs and payment options with the operator.

Planning

Dalmatia is a narrow belt of Croatian coast with four main cities from north to south: Zadar, Šibenik, Split and Dubrovnik. Offshore lie 79 islands, the largest being Brač, Pag and Hvar. The Croatian section of the Adriatic Highway (D8) is about 643 km long and runs from the Slovenian border to Montenegro. The Croatian national tourist board runs a camping portal with seven suggested routes of four to eight days.

Camping

Camping outside campsites is prohibited by law in Croatia and penalties are high. The ban also applies in national parks, and according to a travel guide even a table, awning or barbecue counts as camping. Permitted are camper stops with basic services, autocamps with full facilities and rural agro camps. The official camping portal lets you search for sites suited to motorhomes. According to the guide, motorway rest areas are for breaks only.

Getting around

Croatian motorways are toll roads operated by HAC. Tariffs change with the season, so check with the operator before the trip. The coastal road D8 passes through a short strip of Bosnia and Herzegovina near Neum, with border checks at each end. The Pelješac Bridge allows a bypass. Carry passport or ID, vehicle registration, driving licence and third-party liability insurance. Required equipment includes reflective vests, a warning triangle and a first-aid kit.

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