Planning your trip to Croatia and flying to Zagreb and wondering if you can buy a tourist sim card at the airport? Don't let slow overseas data roaming plans or high roaming charges ruin your Croatia holiday.
This is a complete guide with everything you need to know before buying a sim card at Zagreb Airport in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per February 2025, my recommendation, a YouTube video of my arrival, the best eSIMs for Croatia, information about EU data roaming and more.
In the past I always used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected.
Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide on how to buy a tourist sim card in Croatia and a comparison of the best eSIMs for Croatia in 2025.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for Croatia
- Croatia sim cards and EU data roaming
- Zagreb Airport
- Where to buy a sim card at Zagreb Airport
- Prices Croatia sim cards Zagreb Airport in 2025
- Best sim card at Zagreb Airport in 2025
- Best eSIMs for Croatia
Some links in this guide about the buying a sim card at Zagreb Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using tan affiliate links I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Hrvatski Telekom prepaid sim card at Zagreb Airport. For around $10 USD you get unlimited internet for a couple days.
It is very easy to get a sim card on arrival, but keep in mind that tourist sim cards are physical prepaid sim cards, no eSIMs, and are only valid in Croatia, there is no EU data roaming included.
Buying a prepaid sim card in Croatia takes a little effort so for those travelers that rather are online as soon as the plane lands Traveltomtom recommends eSIMs. There are already eSIMs for Croatia for just $1 USD.
A Jetpac eSIM for Croatia with 10 GB data is only $13 USD, but there are many more eSIM plans available. Find them all in my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Croatia in 2025.
Are you traveling to more countries on your trip to Europe and your phone is not eSIM compatible then check out Traveltomtom's review and comparison of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2025. These sim cards can be ordered online and will be delivered to your home address before your trip to Croatia.
Why buying a sim card for Croatia
First of all to save money on high roaming charges. Why waste money when operators keep on charging a stupid amount of $10 USD a day for internet abroad. And even worse, they reduce your data speed!
Getting an eSIM for Croatia or buying a prepaid sim card at Zagreb Airport is easy, fast and cheap and will eventually save you a lot of money.
Yes, your hotel or Airbnb provides free WiFi and so do restaurants and bars in popular tourist destinations in Croatia. In fact the free public WiFi is pretty good in Croatia, but... as soon as you go off the beaten path for example when on a road trip, into the national parks, visiting waterfalls, on a ferry, sailing boat, out on the streets in Dubrovnik, etc. there is NO WiFi.
Being disconnected for a bit is awesome, but also highly inconvenient when traveling. What about ordering a taxi through an app, finding directions on Google Maps or searching for a restaurant nearby with good reviews, finding your friends in a city, etc. Just like in normal life, being connected with data on your phone when traveling to Croatia makes things so much easier and more convenient.
Being connected to the internet is part of our lives and it makes visiting Zagreb so much easier and therefore the first thing I do when planning my next trip abroad is finding the best tourist sim card for my next destination.
As Traveltomtom is on a journey to travel to every country in the world I use on average about 40 to 50 prepaid sim cards and eSIMs per year to stay connected and that is how Traveltomtom became the ultimate specialist in sim cards for tourists.
As I like to document all my travel tips you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: Milan, Geneva, Venice, Budapest, New York JFK Airport, Istanbul, Dubai, London, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Malaysia, Egypt, South Africa, Philippines, Vietnam, Egypt and many more.
So if you are planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM advice for your destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
Croatia sim cards and EU data roaming
Although Croatia is an EU country and officially part of Schengen there is no free EU roaming included in Croatia prepaid sim cards for tourists. Data on Croatia tourist sim cards is only valid in Croatia which is a bummer for people traveling onwards to other countries in Europe.
In case Croatia is your first stop on your Europe trip this is bad news, but don't worry.
Are you traveling around Europe then look into my guide for the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2025. If you want to know more about EU data roaming then check out my guide for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe in 2025.
Zagreb Airport
Zagreb Airport (ZAG) is a new and beautiful airport and super easy to navigate. There aren't that many intercontinental flights that arrive here, most of the arriving flights come from within Europe. Zagreb Airport is very small and there is only one Arrival Hall.
Getting lost at Zagreb International Airport (ZAG) is impossible!
Where to buy a sim card at Zagreb Airport
When you walk out into the Arrival Hall you will see that everything is very easy going at Zagreb Airport. There are only some car rental companies, a Nero coffee shop, an exchange office, an information center and a little convenience store.
The convenience store is called Tisak and this is where you can buy prepaid sim cards for traveling in Croatia.
In case the Tisak shop in the Arrival Hall is closed or they are sold out for tourist sim cards then head upstairs. The escalators will bring you to the Departure Hall where you will see another Tisak Media shop that sells the exact same products and of course prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Prices Croatia sim cards Zagreb Airport in 2025
All prices and info are updated in February 2025. Prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.95 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.05 USD.
At the Tisak convenience store at Zagreb Airport they sell prepaid sim cards from all 3 mobile internet providers in Croatia: Hrvatski Telekom, A1 and Telemach.
Prices for prepaid sim cards at Zagreb Airport are the same as in all of Croatia. No tourist prices, so it does not matter if you buy your sim card for Croatia in a phone store in the city center of Zagreb or in the Tisak convenience store at Zagreb Airport.
The difference is that when buying a sim card at Zagreb Airport you will need to fix the settings yourself, but with most phones the sim cards are plug and play. There is obviously much more service in an official retail store of one of the internet providers.
As of February 2025 it is not possible to get an eSIM at Zagreb Airport, there are only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists available.
Telemach
- 10 GB data + 200 minutes + €1.33 credit for 30 days = €9.95 EUR - $10.5 USD
- Unlimited data for 10 days = €9.95 EUR - $10.5 USD
The Telemach prepaid sim card is only valid in Croatia and NOT in the EU. There is NO EU data roaming with the above Telemach prepaid sim cards.
A1
- Unlimited data + 100 minutes/sms valid for 10 days = €10 EUR - $10.5 USD
All of the credit on A1 prepaid sim cards for tourists is only valid in Croatia and NOT in the EU. There is NO EU data roaming available.
Hrvatski Telekom (T-Mobile)
- Unlimited data for 10 days = €11.49 EUR - $12 USD
The Hrvatski Telekom prepaid sim cards are only valid in Croatia. There is no EU data roaming included.
Best sim card at Zagreb Airport in 2025
The conclusion for buying a sim card at Zagreb Airport is the same as my conclusion in my guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in Croatia.
All the mobile internet providers offer pretty much the same tourist sim cards. The big difference is the mobile data network coverage around the country.
As part of my research it came out that Hrvatski Telekom has the most extensive network coverage in Croatia and therefor a Hrvatski Telekom sim card is the best sim card at Zagreb Airport.
But if your phone is eSIM compatible you can already be online as soon as the plane lands.
Best eSIMs for Croatia
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Croatia in 2025 is an eSIM. You arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a phone store and swapping physical prepaid sim cards.
You order an eSIM for Croatia on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have an eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Zagreb it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
For more info check out my complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Croatia in 2025.
Here are some recommendations.
Jetpac
Jetpac quickly made name in the eSIM world by not only offering very affordable eSIM solutions, but also by adding a couple benefits for travelers who order an eSIM via Jetpac. Check out our extensive Jetpac eSIM review with all pros and cons.
Check out the Jetpac eSIM plans for Croatia in 2025:
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $17 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $39 USD
Click here to order a Jetpac eSIM for Croatia.
Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the promo code: TOMTOM10 at check out!
The Jetpac Croatia eSIMs are valid in all of Europe and are data-only. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. Jetpac eSIMs operate on the 4G/5G networks of Telemach and A1. 5G is supported.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue.
Here are the Airalo eSIM plans for Croatia for 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $7 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for Croatia via Airalo.
The above eSIMs for Croatia from Cronet are data-only and calling and texting is not supported. The Cronet eSIMs operate on the 4G/5G network of Telemach and A1 Croatia.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a very reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using SimOptions for ordering your Croatia eSIM. Read here our honest SimOptions Review.
Why using SimOptions? They offer eSIMs including calling and texting in all of Europe.
These eSIMs support incoming and outgoing calls/sms as they come with a phone number.
Bouygues Telecom
- 15 GB data-only for 15 days = $15.90 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $32.90 USD
- 60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $39.90 USD
Orange Holiday Europe
- 12 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 30 minutes international for 14 days = $28.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 120 minutes international for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 70 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 120 minutes international for 28 days = $55.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international eSIM for Croatia via SimOptions.
If you download the SimOptions app and use the coupon code TOM10 you get an extra 10% discount on all SimOptions eSIMs.
These eSIMs are valid all over Europe and they include free EU data roaming. The best thing about these eSIMs for Croatia is that they also include unlimited calling and texting.
Before ordering an eSIM for Croatia make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible otherwise an eSIM won't work on your phone.
For many more eSIM plans check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Croatia in 2025.
Order a prepaid sim card for Croatia online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Croatia online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Zagreb with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Zagreb, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Croatia:
- 15 GB data-only for 15 days = $15.90 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $51.90 USD
Click here to order an international prepaid sim cards for Croatia via SimOptions.
Traveltomtom recommends these physical prepaid sim cards and has used the physical sim card of Bouygues Telecom many times in the past. But as I said nowadays I always use eSIMs for Europe when visiting Croatia.
Here is a last reminder that if your phone is eSIM compatible you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks by ordering an eSIM for Croatia.
Vlog about buying a tourist sim card at Zagreb Airport
Here is my YouTube video of what it looks like arriving at Zagreb Airport and buying a sim card for tourists.
How to get from Zagreb Airport to Zagreb city center
Apart from an expensive taxi you can also take the bus to Zagreb from ZAG airport. There are two different busses, a local one and a direct tourist bus. The local bus leaves every 35 minutes from the main street, about 3 minutes walk away from the airport and costs €1 EUR/USD. It is cheap but takes a while to get into the city and only drives till Kvaternikov Square.
There is also Uber and Bolt in Zagreb and getting to the city center will cost you around €30 EUR ($31 USD) depending on the time of the day.
Much cheaper is the direct tourist bus that leaves every 30 minutes just outside the arrivals hall. This bus costs €5 EUR ($5.5 USD) and goes directly to the central bus station in Zagreb.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying a sim card for traveling in Croatia at Zagreb Airport were helpful. In case you have any additional questions please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out. Also with Croatia travel tips.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of February 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Zagreb!