The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has updated its Croatia Travel Advice Page. On June 9, the government updated its guidance to add information on large gatherings, including music festivals and soccer games. British travelling to Croatia are advised to read all the advice from our guide.
The guide's safety and security page contains advice on several topics, including protecting yourself and your belongings, transportation risks, and participating in outdoor activities.
The guidance for the large gathering states that they should take care of them near the soccer stadium on a game day and leave the area immediately if they feel uncomfortable.
The advice is, “In Croatia, including sporting events, large gatherings and public events are overwhelmingly safe and peaceful. However, there are regular cases of violence among football fans around matches.”
Therefore, it is essential to be careful. “There are times when you play, especially around the 'Derby' games, you need to pay attention near the soccer stadium. Avoid large crowds, follow local news reports and follow instructions from the police. If you find it uncomfortable, leave the area immediately. ”
There is also a section dedicated to the musical festival. “Many music festivals are held in Croatia every year. Follow the advice of police and local governments when participating in events and take care of your valuables when participating in festivals and large concerts. Find ways to enjoy the festival safely on the Festival Travel Checklist.”
The festival's travel checklist is fully available online, but includes several steps to help music fans stay safe.
For example, it is best to fill out the last page of your passport with emergency contacts, create a backup plan to access important information such as flight details, and have enough money to pay unexpected costs in case your main payment method fails.
Visitors should know that in some Croatian town centres, people can issue spot fines for behaviour that are deemed inappropriate. This includes:
Drinking alcohol, using drugs in public space sleeping in public space sleeping in public space, using shirtless towns and wearing swimsuit clothes vomiting
Additionally, people may be fined 4,000 euros for public order disorders, such as combat, drunken behavior, disrespect or insulting police officers.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added: “Illegal drugs, including cannabis, are subject to severe penalties. Carrying cannabis for personal use is decriminalized, but if found in you or your apartment, you are sometimes asked to pay a heavy fine.
“Long prisons and fines should be expected for owning, using or smuggling illegal drugs, such as when passing through airports. Croatian airports have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, which is also used to scan passenger luggage.”
