This European vacation spot is one among my favourite locations on this planet, and when you go to, I feel you’ll agree – I liked my time as a digital nomad in Croatia. Not solely is it a fantastic place, nevertheless it’s a prime spot for digital nomads. The world is stuffed with hubs for distant employees these days, however for me, Croatia stands out head and shoulders above the remaining for therefore many causes.
Having spent many months in Croatia, I imagine it’s someplace everybody ought to stay and work in a minimum of as soon as. I can truthfully say that I by no means as soon as obtained bored, I met so many fantastic 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 if you happen to’re on the fence about whether or not or not it is best to head to Croatia for just a few months, or perhaps a yr, go for it. You possibly can 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 as of late, so why Croatia? I’ve put collectively my prime ten the explanation why I imagine that Croatia is a digital nomad’s dream vacation spot. By the top, I hope you’ll be urgent the ‘ebook’ button in your flight.
1. Superb Meals
Meals wonderful meals certainly! Croatian delicacies is extraordinarily recent, seasonal, and really hearty. In fact, you’ll discover many worldwide menus irrespective of the place you go, nevertheless it’s at all times cheaper and extra genuine to strive native dishes wherever potential.
I’m not normally the largest risotto fan, however I like black risotto in Croatia; it simply hits in a different way by some means. Burek can be a must-try, in addition to domestically sourced truffles, gregada (a standard fish stew), and pag cheese specifically. So far as drinks go, be courageous and take a look at rakia with pals—simply be warned; it’s extraordinarily sturdy!
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 if you happen to 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 can additionally strive studying how one can prepare dinner Croatian fare and that may train you a brand new talent and prevent cash on the similar time.
2. Improbable WiFi Connectivity
As a digital nomad, the web is extraordinarily vital. For probably the most half, you may’t work with out it, so it is advisable know that you just’re going to have the ability to join simply and that you just’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.
In response to Speedtest, Croatia’s common add and obtain speeds are 29.23 Mbps and 71.65 Mbps respectively. In massive cities, cities, and resorts, virtually all bars, eating places, resorts, and cafes have WiFi you should use. You may as well use an eSIM, equivalent to Airalo, or buy an everyday SIM card and use your information 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 generally. 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 turn out to be an actual hub for distant employees. As such, you gained’t battle to satisfy different like-minded folks from all around the world. Most coworking areas and resorts additionally organize 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 communicate English nicely sufficient, and even when they don’t, Google Translate is your good friend. It helps to study just a few phrases of the language if potential, however I felt like I used to be struggling to speak.
The most well-liked digital nomad hotspots are Dubrovnik, Cut up, the capital metropolis of Zagreb, Zadar, Hvar City, and my private favourite, Korčula. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply you may’t journey round and keep elsewhere if you happen to 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 like an excellent seashore, and I discovered loads throughout my time in Croatia. With 1777.3km/1104.4 miles of shoreline, you’ve obtained rather a lot to select from! Copacabana Seaside in Dubrovnik is a superb start line, however don’t be afraid to journey to barely off-the-beaten-track to seek out some gorgeous, secluded coves to chill out.
Golden Horn on Brač Island is like one thing out of a seashore dream, and Bacvice Seaside in Cut up is someplace I spent numerous time. All of this makes it simple to sit back out whenever you’ve completed work for the day or on a treasured time off. There are additionally loads of boat journeys you may take which present you the shoreline from a distinct viewpoint.
Should you’re into seashores specifically, it’s a good suggestion to base your self someplace near the coast, equivalent to Zadar or Cut up. Dubrovnik is an incredible spot, nevertheless it’s extraordinarily busy throughout the summer season months, to the purpose the place you may barely transfer. I’d personally select to dip out and in of the town throughout the hottest months and go to throughout the shoulder seasons as a substitute.
5. Straightforward to Journey Round and Discover
Croatia is full of many issues to see and do, and whenever 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 terrific public transport community, and easy-to-follow roads. Even if you happen to’re not tremendous adventurous, you gained’t discover it tough to get round.
Plitvice Lakes Nationwide Park is someplace that basically blew my thoughts, together with the gorgeous Krka Waterfalls. These are two locations which might be fairly simple to succeed in when you have a time off and belief me once I say you’ll replenish your digital camera with superb pictures. In fact, trying out the Dubrovnik metropolis partitions must also be in your to-do checklist.
In Cut up, you’ll discover the superb Diocletian’s Palace, and if you happen to’re a Recreation of Thrones fan, you’ll discover a number of of the filming places dotted round Dubrovnik and Cut up. Moreover, there are a lot of stunning Croatian islands to take a look at, all of which have their very own attraction. Put merely, your days off can be full of superb sightseeing alternatives and tedium gained’t be a problem.
6. Comparatively Low Price of Dwelling
Whereas costs have elevated over the previous few years, as they’ve the world over, the price of dwelling in Croatia remains to be comparatively low whenever you evaluate it to different main European cities. There are a lot of methods you may look to chop prices right here and there, and I discovered cooking at residence or consuming in conventional eating places to be huge cash savers.
Should you’re seeking to lease an condominium, you’ll discover that costs are larger if you happen to attempt to keep within the middle of a metropolis or near the ocean, however venturing just a little additional again will yield financial savings. As an illustration, the typical worth of a furnished condominium in Cut up is round €538/$577, with utilities on prime. That’s cheaper than another European cities, equivalent to Barcelona, the place you’re taking a look at costs round €850/$912.
In fact, if you happen to attempt to stay such as you’re on trip, you’ll discover that your cash goes rather a lot quicker. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re cautious, and really immerse your self in common, native life, your money will last more, and also you’ll expertise a lot extra in consequence.
7. You possibly can Immerse Your self within the Tradition
The wonderful thing about Croatia is that you just get the most effective of each worlds. You possibly can 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 in regards to the regional variations between areas, and if you happen to enterprise over to the islands, you’ll discover a completely totally different lifestyle. From one place to a different, each area has its personal particular quirks which might be really 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 exhausting to stay 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 motive for me eager to return!
8. Digital Nomad Visas are Straightforward to Receive
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 stunning nation.
The excellent news is that this visa is comparatively simple to use for so long as you have got all the mandatory documentation. Briefly, it permits freelancers and distant enterprise homeowners from overseas international locations to remain for as much as one yr, so long as their enterprise is registered exterior of Croatia.
It’s additionally potential to convey your partner and/or kids over with you as a part of the household reunification course of. The visa lasts for a yr and can’t be renewed after that point, nonetheless, you may look ahead to six months after which reapply once more. Throughout this time, you don’t must consistently keep at your registered handle; you may journey across the nation and solely must replace your handle if you happen to don’t intend to return to your unique location.
You possibly can verify all mandatory documentation right here, and you may apply when you arrive in Croatia or earlier than you plan to journey. Should you apply beforehand, I’d suggest making use of on-line a few months beforehand, so you have got time to obtain your visa with none stress.
SEE ALSO: Croatia Digital Nomad Visa: The best way 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. Should you’re not a fan of sitting in your condominium 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 carried out, absorbing the ambiance, and getting your caffeine repair on the similar time.
Cut up and Zagreb have the most important 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 battle to discover a snug espresso store to remain for just a few hours, so long as you buy meals and drinks proportionate to the period of time you spend there.
Many coworking areas additionally arrange social evenings, and so they’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 have to pay to work from a coworking spot however you’ll additionally get loads of extra extras, equivalent to free refreshments, a shared kitchen, snug chairs, and extra.
SEE ALSO: 10 Finest 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 have to pay taxes within the nation whilst you’re dwelling and dealing there on this visa. In fact, it is advisable stick with it paying tax wherever you’re initially registered to keep away from any issues on the finish of the tax yr.
This isn’t the case for all visas in main digital nomad hotspots so it’s a terrific perk of selecting Croatia generally. 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, if you happen to obtain your earnings in {dollars} (specifically), you’ll discover that you just get much more in your cash, and the very fact you don’t have to pay tax in Croatia helps much more.
In Closing
There’s no denying that Croatia is an excellent stunning 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 packing containers. Croatia actually does really feel like residence 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 every little thing you possibly can probably want as a distant employee. In fact, nowhere on this planet is ideal, however I didn’t encounter any main points in any respect throughout my time there. The most important challenge for me was attempting to resolve what to do on my days off, as there was an excessive amount of to select from!