Can You Drink the Water in Croatia?
Last updated on February 7th, 2023 at 10:04 am
So you’re planning a trip to Croatia and you need to know: Can you drink the water in Croatia?
This is a valid question, as many countries around the world do not have the privilege of having clean drinking water on tap. When you travel to places in South America, Asia, and even parts of Europe, you will often need to be mindful of the water you drink. Sometimes, it is recommended that you only drink bottled water, and if that’s not possible, you should filter your water with something like a LifeStraw.
Knowing whether or not the tap water is safe to drink can really impact your trip. To ensure you are fully prepared for your trip to Croatia (and that you stay hydrated while visiting), this article will answer everything you need to know about drinking water in Croatia.
I’ve also included a frequently asked questions section at the end of this post to make sure you get all of the answers you need.
Can You Drink Tap Water in Croatia Overview
The short and sweet answer to the question: Is it safe to drink tap water in Croatia? Yes! You can drink Croatian water knowing that it is completely safe to consume.
According to UNESCO’s data from 2014, Croatia was confirmed to have one of the biggest water reserves in the European Union, ranking 5th in Europe and 42nd in the world for abundant water resources. This may come as a surprise considering Croatia is relatively small in size, yet this water-rich nation gets 96% of its water from groundwater.
Croatia has a long history of safe drinking water. The water supply system, developed and maintained by Hrvatske Vode (the official Croatian Water Supply Company) has deemed tap water safe to drink in most of the country. Don’t worry though, the Croatian Institute of Public Health Department for Water Safety monitors tap water quality on a regular basis. If something unusual arises and water becomes unsafe to drink, local residents are informed immediately.
Croatia Water Sources: Where Does Clean Drinking Water Come From?
Croatia is dotted with numerous deep water springs that provide fresh drinking water to residents all over the country. The most notable springs are Sveta Jana, Sveti Rok, Janino Vrelo, and several springs in the Lipik Area. Many of these springs are also where most well-known Croatian water brands fill up their bottles. Some popular brands you will come across during your visit to Croatia include Jana, Jamnica, Kala, Studena, and Studenac.
Fun fact: Jana Water, Croatia’s most widely consumed bottled water brand, was awarded the Best Water in the World in 2019!
Southern Croatia is home to the largest and most impressive karst spring, Cetina River Spring (Izvor Cetine), also known as the “Eye of the Earth.” The crystal clear water from this spring brings up ice cold groundwater, and is the source of the Cetina River that flows all the way to the village of Omiš, providing clean drinking water to the Dalmatia region.
The Jadro River supplies high quality water to the cities of Split, Trogir, Solin and Kaštela. Drinking water in Dubrovnik is also of excellent quality and is supplied from the Ombla River, just 5 kilometers away from the ancient city.
Lika County (where you’ll find Plitvice Lakes National Park) has the richest water reserves in the entire country. The environmental pollution in this region is extremely low, which makes the water drinkable and incredibly pure.
Zagreb, Croatia’s capital city, gets its water from a number of different groundwater reserves. The water is collected from 7 water collection sites from 30 wells mainly from Mala Mlaka, Petruševec, Sašnak, and Strmec. While the tap water in Zagreb is safe to drink, it is worth noting that it has a very high concentration of minerals, which makes the water hard. It is quite common for locals to use decalcifiers regularly to keep appliances and faucets clean.
You may be wondering about the Croatian islands – where does their drinking water come from? Let’s have a look.
Can You Drink Water in Croatia: The Islands
Croatia’s inhabited islands are supplied clean drinking water in three different ways. Some islands in Croatia have their own water sources and infrastructure for distributing water around the island. Islands closer to the coast receive water from the mainland via underground pipe systems. Islands that are further out are often supplied by water carriers. In a few rare cases, distant islands get their clean drinking water from desalination plants.
When visiting Croatia’s beaches and islands, it is important to remember to always bring adequate water with you. Many beaches like Pasjaca Beach near Dubrovnik, and even some of the best beaches on Hvar, do not have facilities where you can purchase water.
Local Tip: Depending on how long you plan to be at the beach (and what the temperature is outside) you may want to take multiple bottles of water with you. Put one small bottle (or more) in the freezer overnight so that it is frozen solid in the morning. Get a large, 1.5 liter bottle and fill it with fresh, cold water for immediate thirst quenching. As the second, smaller bottle, melts during the day, use it to refill the large one for ice cold water on the beach! 😉
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you drink the tap water in Split?
Yes. The tap water in Split is exceptionally clean as it comes from the Jadro Spring, a water source located in the Dinaric Alps above the city. This spring also served as the water supply for the ancient Roman Emperor’s home, Diocletian’s Palace (around which modern-day Split is built). Visiting Split? Check out this itinerary for 3 Days in Split.
Can you drink water out of the tap in Dubrovnik?
Yes! The water in Dubrovnik is safe to drink out of the tap. You can even refill your bottle with public water in the Old Town at Onofrio’s Fountain – one of the coolest places to fill up.
Can you drink tap water in Pula Croatia?
Like the rest of the country, if you are traveling in Istria or visiting Pula, rest assured that the tap water is safe to drink.
Is it safe to drink water in Zagreb?
When staying in Zagreb, you can be confident that the tap water is 100% safe to drink.
Can you drink tap water in Croatia islands?
Yes. Croatia’s inhabited islands receive clean drinking water, so you’ll be happy to know that you can drink tap water on Croatia’s islands with no issues.
Is tap water OK in Croatia?
This is a super common question: Can I drink the water in Croatia? You should know that Croatia’s drinking water is high in quality thanks to the numerous spring water sources throughout the country. So yes, tap water is OK to drink in Croatia.
Can you drink the tap water in Croatia 2022?
Absolutely! Nothing has changed in regards to tap water cleanliness in Croatia, so you can stay hydrated and safely drink the tap water whatever year you visit.
Can you drink boiled water in Croatia?
You can if you are making tea or coffee. Otherwise, there is no need to boil tap water in Croatia as the water from the faucet is safe to drink.
Does Croatia have the cleanest water?
Croatia has some of the cleanest drinking water in Europe. You may have also heard that Croatia has exceptionally clean swimming water too, making it easy to spot sharks in Croatia.
Can Brits drink Croatian water?
Brits, and anyone else, can safely drink Croatian water when they visit the country.
Can Americans drink Croatian water?
Yes, Americans should know that it is completely safe to drink the water in Croatia.
The Verdict: Can You Drink the Tap Water in Croatia?
Water is the essence of life, and luckily, Croatia’s tap water is right up there with the best water in Europe. Croatian tap water is clean, cold, refreshing, flavorful, and most of all, healthy. So whether you are swimming in the Adriatic Sea or filling up your water bottle from the tap, you can be 100% certain that the water is top quality.
Croatia can get super hot in the summertime, so make sure you stay hydrated and drink plenty of water no matter what activities you have planned!
Want to travel Croatia but need help planning your trip? Get a custom Croatia itinerary here.
