This European vacation spot is one in all my favourite locations on the planet, and when you go to, I feel you’ll agree – I beloved my time as a digital nomad in Croatia. Not solely is it a lovely place, but it surely’s a prime spot for digital nomads. The world is filled with hubs for distant employees these days, however for me, Croatia stands out head and shoulders above the remainder for thus many causes.
Having spent many months in Croatia, I consider it’s someplace everybody ought to dwell and work in at the least as soon as. I can actually say that I by no means as soon as acquired bored, I met so many great folks, and the meals! Oh, don’t get me began on the meals – it’s fairly unimaginable.
What I’m attempting to say is that in the event you’re on the fence about whether or not or not you must head to Croatia for a number of months, or perhaps a 12 months, go for it. You’ll be able to select from numerous cities and cities, transfer round as a lot as you want, and make reminiscences on the go. It’s a win-win.
Prime Causes Why Croatia is a Digital Nomad’s Dream Vacation spot
There are numerous international locations to select from as a digital nomad today, so why Croatia? I’ve put collectively my prime ten explanation why I consider that Croatia is a digital nomad’s dream vacation spot. By the top, I hope you’ll be urgent the ‘e-book’ button in your flight.
1. Wonderful Meals
Meals superb meals certainly! Croatian delicacies is extraordinarily contemporary, seasonal, and really hearty. In fact, you’ll discover many worldwide menus irrespective of the place you go, but it surely’s at all times cheaper and extra genuine to strive native dishes wherever potential.
I’m not normally the most important risotto fan, however I really like black risotto in Croatia; it simply hits in a different way one way or the other. Burek can be a must-try, in addition to regionally sourced truffles, gregada (a conventional fish stew), and pag cheese particularly. So far as drinks go, be courageous and take a look at rakia with pals—simply be warned; it’s extraordinarily robust!
Consuming native meals will prevent loads of cash throughout your keep. Touristic resorts, particularly in locations like Dubrovnik, will set you again a big quantity, however in the event you head to the place the locals go, you’ll take pleasure in your meals a lot extra and maintain money in your pocket within the course of. You may additionally strive studying the best way to cook dinner Croatian fare and that may educate you a brand new talent and prevent cash on the similar time.
2. Unbelievable WiFi Connectivity
As a digital nomad, the web is extraordinarily essential. For essentially the most half, you may’t work with out it, so you should know that you simply’re going to have the ability to join simply and that you simply’ll have high-quality service accessible. Throughout my time in Croatia, I by no means struggled with the web as soon as, even once I was touring round.
Based on Speedtest, Croatia’s common add and obtain speeds are 29.23 Mbps and 71.65 Mbps respectively. In massive cities, cities, and resorts, nearly all bars, eating places, lodges, and cafes have WiFi you should utilize. You may as well use an eSIM, resembling Airalo, or buy an everyday SIM card and use your knowledge as a hotspot.
I used each cafes and coworking areas round Croatia and carried out video calls and heavy web work with ease. I by no means had an issue and managed to be super-productive typically. Even the extra rural areas and islands didn’t pose main points, so the web shouldn’t be a priority for you.
3. Straightforward to Meet Different Digital Nomads and Locals
Since Croatia launched its digital nomad visa (extra on that shortly), the nation has grow to be an actual hub for distant employees. As such, you gained’t wrestle to fulfill different like-minded folks from everywhere in the world. Most coworking areas and lodges additionally prepare social evenings, the place you may make new pals, community, and socialize to your coronary heart’s content material.
I discovered the locals in Croatia to be extraordinarily pleasant and really welcoming. In massive cities and cities, many individuals converse English effectively sufficient, and even when they don’t, Google Translate is your pal. It helps to study a number of phrases of the language if potential, however I felt like I used to be struggling to speak.
The preferred digital nomad hotspots are Dubrovnik, Cut up, the capital metropolis of Zagreb, Zadar, Hvar City, and my private favourite, Korčula. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply you may’t journey round and keep in different places in the event you discover someplace that calls out to you. I discussed the top quality of the web within the final level, and that extends typically throughout Croatia, so you actually do have the liberty to go wherever you need.
4. Gorgeous Seashores
I really like a superb seaside, and I discovered loads throughout my time in Croatia. With 1777.3km/1104.4 miles of shoreline, you’ve acquired quite a bit to select from! Copacabana Seashore in Dubrovnik is a superb start line, however don’t be afraid to journey to barely off-the-beaten-track to seek out some beautiful, secluded coves to chill out.
Golden Horn on Brač Island is like one thing out of a seaside dream, and Bacvice Seashore in Cut up is someplace I spent a number of time. All of this makes it simple to sit back out once you’ve completed work for the day or on a valuable time off. There are additionally loads of boat journeys you may take which present you the shoreline from a distinct viewpoint.
When you’re into seashores particularly, it’s a good suggestion to base your self someplace near the coast, resembling Zadar or Cut up. Dubrovnik is an incredible spot, but it surely’s extraordinarily busy in the course of the summer time months, to the purpose the place you may barely transfer. I’d personally select to dip out and in of the town in the course of the hottest months and go to in the course of the shoulder seasons as an alternative.
5. Straightforward to Journey Round and Discover
Croatia is full of many issues to see and do, and once you’re staying for an prolonged period of time, you’re free to go out and discover. The excellent news is that it’s fairly simple to take action, with many organized journeys, a fantastic public transport community, and easy-to-follow roads. Even in the event you’re not tremendous adventurous, you gained’t discover it troublesome to get round.
Plitvice Lakes Nationwide Park is someplace that basically blew my thoughts, together with the attractive Krka Waterfalls. These are two locations which are fairly simple to achieve you probably have a time off and belief me once I say you’ll replenish your digital camera with wonderful images. In fact, trying out the Dubrovnik metropolis partitions must also be in your to-do listing.
In Cut up, you’ll discover the wonderful Diocletian’s Palace, and in the event you’re a Sport of Thrones fan, you’ll discover a number of of the filming areas dotted round Dubrovnik and Cut up. Moreover, there are lots of lovely Croatian islands to take a look at, all of which have their very own allure. Put merely, your days off shall be full of wonderful sightseeing alternatives and tedium gained’t be a problem.
6. Comparatively Low Value of Dwelling
Whereas costs have elevated over the previous couple of years, as they’ve internationally, the price of residing in Croatia continues to be comparatively low once you examine it to different main European cities. There are numerous methods you may look to chop prices right here and there, and I discovered cooking at dwelling or consuming in conventional eating places to be huge cash savers.
When you’re trying to hire an house, you’ll discover that costs are larger in the event you attempt to keep within the heart of a metropolis or near the ocean, however venturing somewhat additional again will yield financial savings. As an illustration, the typical worth of a furnished house in Cut up is round €538/$577, with utilities on prime. That’s cheaper than another European cities, resembling Barcelona, the place you’re taking a look at costs round €850/$912.
In fact, in the event you attempt to dwell such as you’re on trip, you’ll discover that your cash goes quite a bit quicker. Nevertheless, in the event you’re cautious, and actually immerse your self in common, native life, your money will last more, and also you’ll expertise a lot extra in consequence.
7. You’ll be able to Immerse Your self within the Tradition
The beauty of Croatia is that you simply get the perfect of each worlds. You’ll be able to throw your self into the touristic enjoyable that’s accessible in all main cities, cities, and resorts in the summertime months, or you may go down the genuine, native route, and expertise the tradition. It’s simple to expertise either side of the place relying in your preferences.
Croatian tradition is wealthy and various, and as I discussed earlier, the locals are tremendous pleasant. It’s enjoyable to study concerning the regional variations between areas, and in the event you enterprise over to the islands, you’ll discover a wholly completely different lifestyle. From one place to a different, each area has its personal particular quirks which are actually enjoyable to discover.
For me, experiencing the tradition of a brand new location is what makes journey so enriching, and I by no means discovered it arduous to dwell an genuine life in Croatia. In truth, I’d say it’s one of many best locations to expertise the traditions and customs the nation is legendary for. It’s an enormous cause for me desirous to return!
8. Digital Nomad Visas are Straightforward to Get hold of
In January 2021, Croatia launched its devoted digital nomad visa, which opened the doorways in additional methods than one for distant employees to spend extra time on this lovely nation.
The excellent news is that this visa is comparatively simple to use for so long as you might have all the mandatory documentation. Briefly, it permits freelancers and distant enterprise homeowners from overseas international locations to remain for as much as one 12 months, so long as their enterprise is registered exterior of Croatia.
It’s additionally potential to carry your partner and/or youngsters over with you as a part of the household reunification course of. The visa lasts for a 12 months and can’t be renewed after that point, nevertheless, you may look ahead to six months after which reapply once more. Throughout this time, you don’t need to always keep at your registered deal with; you may journey across the nation and solely need to replace your deal with in the event you don’t intend to return to your authentic location.
You’ll be able to test all needed documentation right here, and you may apply when you arrive in Croatia or earlier than you plan to journey. When you apply beforehand, I’d suggest making use of on-line a few months beforehand, so you might have time to obtain your visa with none stress.
SEE ALSO: Croatia Digital Nomad Visa: Learn how to Apply & Necessities
9. Numerous Coworking Areas & Laptop computer-Pleasant Cafes
One factor about working remotely in Croatia stood out for me, and that’s the sheer variety of locations to work from. When you’re not a fan of sitting in your house and dealing, you’ll discover many coworking areas and laptop computer-friendly cafes dotted round. I labored from each, and I’ve to say that cafes are my favourite; there’s one thing enjoyable about getting your work accomplished, absorbing the ambiance, and getting your caffeine repair on the similar time.
Cut up and Zagreb have the biggest variety of coworking spots total, however you’ll discover them in all main cities, cities, and resorts. Croatia additionally has a really lively cafe scene, so that you gained’t wrestle to discover a snug espresso store to remain for a number of hours, so long as you buy meals and drinks proportionate to the period of time you spend there.
Many coworking areas additionally manage social evenings, they usually’re nice locations to community too. I discovered most coworking areas in Croatia to be fairly laid-back and artistic, and by no means ‘stuffy’ or too office-like. You’ll must pay to work from a coworking spot however you’ll additionally get loads of further extras, resembling free refreshments, a shared kitchen, snug chairs, and extra.
SEE ALSO: 10 Greatest Espresso Outlets & Cafes in Cut up (Laptop computer Pleasant!)
10. No Twin Taxation Points
The digital nomad visa in Croatia doesn’t impose any twin taxation guidelines, which implies you don’t must pay taxes within the nation whilst you’re residing and dealing there on this visa. In fact, you should keep it up paying tax wherever you’re initially registered to keep away from any issues on the finish of the tax 12 months.
This isn’t the case for all visas in main digital nomad hotspots so it’s a fantastic perk of selecting Croatia typically. I discovered the digital nomad visa to be very simple to use for and I didn’t expertise any issues with it throughout my keep. What’s extra, in the event you obtain your revenue in {dollars} (particularly), you’ll discover that you simply get much more in your cash, and the very fact you don’t must pay tax in Croatia helps much more.
In Closing
There’s no denying that Croatia is a brilliant lovely nation and it’s full of many issues to see and do. For me, so far as selecting a spot to remain and work from goes, it ticks all of the bins. Croatia actually does really feel like dwelling when you arrive; the locals are eager to embrace you as a part of their group, and so long as you decide to immersing your self within the tradition, you’ll study and achieve a lot throughout your keep.
With the brand new digital nomad visa in place, Croatia has all the things you possibly can presumably want as a distant employee. In fact, nowhere on the planet is ideal, however I didn’t encounter any main points in any respect throughout my time there. The largest challenge for me was attempting to determine what to do on my days off, as there was an excessive amount of to select from!
