Last Updated: April 2025 after a city break to Zagreb for Easter, and a two night stay near Dubrovnik in September 2024 as part of a road trip to Montenegro.
Number of trips to Croatia: 5 – Croatia is one of our favourite countries to visit in Europe!
Five days before our weeks annual leave in July 2023 we decided to book a last minute trip to Croatia. Paul and I had been to Croatia twice before and absolutely love the country. We had visited Dubrovnik on a long weekend with friends in 2015 and also been on another ten day trip taking in Pula, Rovinj, Split and Hvar in 2013. Croatia is a stunning country, filled with turquoise sea views and houses with orange roof tops that glisten in the sun. It’s easy to see how it’s becoming more and more popular for tourism especially with it being cheaper than neighbouring Italy (although that may not be the case now for Dubrovnik which is much pricier and more popular than when we first visited).
I was diagnosed as coeliac for all my trips to Croatia but my first visits were a long time before my blogging days so between that and closures from the pandemic I didn’t really have any up to date recommendations for myself for my 2023 trip. Therefore this guide is from that road trip including some places we had on our gluten free list but didn’t visit, so it is more of a highlights reel and list of my research as I didn’t stay long in cities this time with some additional tips and photographs from my previous visits thrown in. It has also since been updated from my travels in 2024 and 2025.
Having been to Croatia before, and wanting to visit Plitvice National Park we hired a car for this holiday and we stuck to the mainland of Croatia driving from Dubrovnik to Pula taking in the highlights – an itinerary that I wouldn’t recommend on our timescale without previous stays in Dubrovnik and Split. Due to this, this country guide has been split up by destination so that you can refer to where you are going.
Before getting into it, I thought I would link to Valamar Hotels first who state on their website that they can cater for gluten free and seem to have some excellent trip advisor reviews. They have various hotels in the country, so do try and check the reviews for the accommodation that you are interested in but they seem to be a great place to start when researching options in Croatia. Since writing this post on Croatia I have stayed at Valamar Tirena in Dubrovnik so my review is listed below.
Dubrovnik
We originally weren’t planning on visiting Dubrovnik on this holiday beyond the airport, so I did no research for the city. However, after an early morning flight and being busy from work we decided to have an easier first day of mooching around somewhere we had been before. We strolled around Dubrovnik, Paul went in the sea whilst I dipped my feet in and we got a delicious seafood lunch.
I used the Find me gluten free app as I visited Dubrovnik with no planning at all. This led us to Konoba Saint Blase as an option in the heart of Dubrovnik. As soon as I had shown my gluten free translation card they wanted me to have pasta and I could choose from bolognaise, a creamy pasta or seafood. I opted for the seafood pasta and it was delicious and absolutely packed full of prawns, mussels and calamari. They also confirmed they use fresh water and cook it all fresh.
Paul also really enjoyed his lunch of calamari and greek salad. His looked to be naturally gluten free so with a bit more perseverance it may be possible to have other dishes. This may also be needed as recent Find Me Gluten Free Reviews suggest they frequently run out of gluten free pasta so definitely research some back up options, or have a translation card and some perseverance to order a gluten free alternative.
Igra Gluten Free Street Food 100% GF
I wasn’t aware of any dedicated gluten free restaurants in Dubrovnik but after coming home and posting about the country a follower tagged this restaurant in the comments which looks like a newly opened 100% gluten free restaurant. It opens in the mornings for breakfast and lunch, and then again in the evenings so looks to be a must visit spot for any coeliac heading to the city but it seems to close for winter periods so do check if you are travelling out of season.
From checking the more recent reviews I saw some restaurants that are rated much more highly now on the app than Konoba Saint Blaise and I have this saved for my next trip to Dubrovnik – Pizzeria Mamma Mia that has many high ratings for gluten free pasta and pizza, and the reviews suggest that gluten free items are prepared in a separate kitchen but I couldn’t find any mention of this online. Mex Cantina Bona Fide also seems to be highly rated for some Mexican cuisine.
Sightseeing
On our long weekend trip to Croatia in 2015 we rode the cable car for views over Dubrovnik and it’s definitely a must do on a first trip! This time we got our views over Dubrovnik when we left the city by car.
We also did a buggy tour with friends that we would recommend (but check it’s covered in your insurance!) it was loads of fun but we ended up covered in orange sand and made good use of our sunglasses, and wet wipes!
Three Island Day Trip
In 2015 we went on a day trip from Dubrovnik by boat to three islands – Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan. I can’t recall which tour operator we used, but we had a lovely day out at sea with a freshly cooked fish lunch and I would recommend doing something similar especially if you’re only visiting on a city break.
Where to stay: Dubrovnik
On our trip with friends we stayed at The Hilton in Dubrovnik. This time we stayed further out on the coast as we had a car at Hotel Uvala. We would definitely return to this area and loved spending the morning exploring the seafront although I wouldn’t go out of my way to return to this particular hotel or go there for gluten free options.
Valamar Tirena Hotel
In September 2024 we decided to do a road trip through Montenegro but it was actually easier for us to get return flights to Dubrovnik for this trip. As a result of this we had two nights at the end of the stay that we decided to use to relax before going back to work. We didn’t need to stay or sightsee in Dubrovnik itself having been before so it gave us a chance to stay at a Valamar resort hotel that I had been really keen to try. There are several hotels just outside of Dubrovnik (you can travel into the city to sightsee from them).
We opted for the four star Tirena hotel for two nights and found ourselves arriving in torrential rain! Luckily our full day there brightened up enough to allow half a day by the pool with a book and cocktail but we did look up things to do in the rain in Dubrovnik as an emergency plan too!
We had two evening meals at the hotel buffet, something I’m not that keen on as a coeliac. However, I was excited to try giving the gluten free status of the hotel chain. I found the evening staff ok when I asked about gluten free options, and one member of staff walked me around the buffet for what was gluten free and asked me if I wanted anything freshly made such as pasta. Therefore for this meal I had a gluten free carbonara but there was quite a wait for the meal to be made and I just don’t find this way of dining that enjoyable. The staff were helpful though and advised me that I could order gluten free pancakes and ask the staff for help at breakfast too.
The experience at breakfast was awful, it was really busy and the staff could not have been less interested in helping me. The only thing they told me was pointing out the gluten free basket containing wrapped bread and muffins (which was fine for day one and empty the second day!) They didn’t want to explain anything at the menu and didn’t offer me anything at all. When I followed it up by asking about gluten free pancakes they basically said I shouldn’t have been offered that and that there would be too long a wait. They pretty much huffed out loud when I said we were in no rush and to take their time and made it very clear that this was an inconvenience to them.
Therefore, my experience of this hotel is that whilst they do have some gluten free provisions available as advertised online the experience was not enjoyable or value for money in any way and I found it hard work to find out what I could have. I also saw some gluten free pizza boxes on a shelf at breakfast when I was about to check out that I hadn’t seen before and was never offered. However, there are many Valamar hotels so I would perhaps still try another one in Croatia given that as a starting point what they had was obviously better than no options at all and my disappointing experience I would say was down to the staff serving me. Therefore, that does not mean it would be the same again or at other hotels but sadly it was my personal experience that neither Paul or I would hurry back for.
Hvar
We stayed on Hvar in 2013 at Hotel Podstina, and loved our time on the island. I don’t have any photos of food as it was prior to my blog but I did take a photo of my cocktail and the sea – priorities at the time!
I don’t have any up to date recommendations, but Dalmatio is highly recommended on Find Me Gluten Free due to having a coeliac owner and it would be my first stop if I ever returned to Hvar. Korcula island is next for me on the bucket list for Croatia, I really want to stay on this Island!
KrKa National Park
We spent an afternoon exploring Krka National Park, and it was worth the stop (Plitvice Lakes is the one though if you don’t have time to see both).
I didn’t see any gluten free food options in the park, not even in the icecream/ice lolly options so travel prepared! There were signs for gluten free and vegan drinks but when I asked about them I was told it was a new sign and they weren’t stocked yet! (Fingers crossed they now are!)
Lošinj
On this trip we wanted the last couple of nights to be a bit more chilled having driven from Dubrovnik up to Plitvice Lakes over four days. We needed a location between Plitvice Lakes and Pula where we were flying home from and if we had more time I would have loved to stay at Vitality Hotel Puna as it has coeliac accreditation. However, it just wasn’t possible for the couple of days that we had due to its island location so in the end we decided to stay in beautiful Opatija on the sea.
Opatija
Opatija is a beautiful location but not one for the gluten free bucket list. One of the restaurants we visited originally stated they couldn’t do anything at all for me being coeliac but with some perseverance I got a naturally gluten free dish of tuna steak and sweet potato. It’s not a restaurant I’d recommend but many restaurants in Croatia offer seafood and dishes that you could ask to be prepared safely if needed as long as you guide them through the necessary protocols. This is where confidence in ordering naturally gluten free dishes and what cross contact measures that the restaurant needs to take is so helpful for confidently travelling beyond a great restaurant list and it’s definitely a very helpful part of the required strategy for eating out gluten free whilst travelling in Croatia.
The other night we ended up sitting down to eat in what must be one of the fanciest restaurants in the area, and it cost us €50pp but for that we had scallops to start, and seafood or steak for the main with wine and beer. A fancy meal and expensive compared to other prices we paid in Croatia but pretty good for fine dining and they were excellent in helping me with gluten free options considering it was an unplanned visit.
Osijek
In the very North East of Croatia, the small town of Osijek has a dedicated gluten free pizzeria, Pizzeria Loresa. The owner is coeliac and if we had explored this region of Croatia I would definitely have visited this restaurant – it’s useful to know about if you’re road tripping Croatia from Zagreb, or continuing your travels on into Hungary.
Plitvice Lakes
Plitvice National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site and it really is spectacular. A National park which you can stroll along wooden board walks taking in all the turquoise blue lakes and waterfalls. We absolutely loved our morning here.
Due to the high temperatures and wanting to beat the crowds, we arrived at 7:15am which was the best decision. By lunch time we had completed walk C talking in the upper and lower lakes, before the midday sun hit or peak crowds when tours start reaching the national park from cities like Split and Zagreb. 100% stay near the park if you can or set off super early as it really is worth it visiting early.
Where to Stay: Plitvice Miric Inn
The night before our visit to Plitvice Lakes we stayed at a simple guest house which was perfect for what we needed. A clean double en-suite room cost us £40 and it was near the entrance to the National Park. We didn’t eat here but they were advertising gluten free and vegan options with advance notice so could be an option for an evening meal if you check their cross contamination processes. The owners were lovely and we would really recommend staying here.
Air B n B: Wooden House Vita Natura
We found a lovely air b n b for the day of our visit to the National Park, one in the middle of nowhere with sun loungers and a fire heated hot tub. This wooden chalet style accommodation made for a super relaxing afternoon after visiting Plitvice Lakes and they let us check in early so we could head there straight from the National Park. We had food with us to self cater here.
For our evening meal, we opted for one of our go to travel meals that’s easy to find and simple to prepare – gluten free pasta with pesto and a caprese salad. We also got a watermelon for the afternoon in the sun!
Pula
We visited Pula in 2013 before heading onto beautiful Rovinj. We loved stopping in Pula for lunch and to visit the amphitheatre. For this trip we flew home from Pula, and had time for a quick revisit before heading to the airport but sadly didn’t have time to stop for lunch. If I did I would probably have tried out Jupiter for gluten free pizza which has a lot of reviews on Find Me Gluten Free but many claim that it gets very busy and service is slow so we didn’t have time to chance it.
Where to Stay: Hotel Amfiteater
We didn’t stay in Pula but this hotel would have been my first choice if I had with gluten free choices and knowledge clearly advertised on their website.
Rijeka
When we visited Croatia in 2013 we took a ferry from Rijeka to Split to make our way from the North to the Islands and we had time to visit Trsat Castle and have lunch and a wander. This time we made a stop in Rijeka to have a quick lunch which meant I could seek out the gluten free cafe Rica.
I would only visit Rijeka for lunch passing through on the way to or from Istria, or to catch a ferry to the Islands as it is a port city if you have a limited amount of time to explore Croatia.
Found thanks to the awesome 100% Gluten Free resource by Celiac MD we stopped at Rica for lunch. I had a pizza slice and Paul had the cheese Burek. I also ordered two iced coffees and a custard slice and it came to just £9.
The custard slice was huge, but topped with marshmallow it was fantastically light and we enjoyed every mouthful. This Kremsnita is a Croatian dessert that I was so grateful to be able to try and I highly recommend a stop in Rijeka just to visit the cafe!
Rovinj
I don’t have any food or drink recommendations (other than make the most of the abundance of truffle!) as we visited Rovinj in 2013 but it should be on your Croatian itinerary as it’s so beautiful! I have fond memories of wandering around Rovinj and taking in the sunset with cocktails sitting on the rocks.
Split
On this trip to Croatia we stayed overnight in Split at Marvie Hotel which has a fabulous restaurant for gluten free. The next day we visited Kupalište Trstenik pebble beach for a couple of hours before heading into Split for lunch.
In the centre of Split, we had a takeaway lunch from Salt gluten free house before heading onto Krka National Park as Split was so hot and busy!
The restaurant for Marvie Hotel had so many options for gluten free, the menu was full of GFs. How do you decide when you have so much choice?!
In the end we shared the taste of Dalmatia starter platter of prosciutto, cheese, walnuts, olives and gluten free bread.
The star of the show though was the handmade truffle ravioli main course which was really spectacular, and not just because I could order ravioli in a restaurant. It tasted unreal (although pretty rich from the truffle!)
I still squeezed in a dessert of panacotta though whilst so many options were available! I would have ordered cheesecake though if I could have managed something a bit heavier!
This hotel is also listed in Laura’s guide to All Inclusive holidays here due to its gluten free options despite offering rooms on a half board rather than all inclusive basis. The hotel wasn’t located in the old town or directly on the beach or sea but it did have a small roof top pool and spa so it was great for an overnight stay but not where I would personally choose to stay for a weeks sun holiday.
The restaurant was fab though, but we booked the room on a bed and breakfast basis and paid for the meal separately despite half board being an option as I saw many reviews saying that you don’t get many options on a half board basis and for our overnight stay our room and meal together didn’t cost us any more than the half board one night stay.
The following morning we had breakfast and they said to ask for gluten free options. I was offered toast and pancakes and something else but I can’t really remember as I stopped at pancakes! They were a must and so good topped with maple syrup but do make sure you’re not in a hurry as they took quite a while to be made.
I also received a wonderful email recently where a follower emailed me to say that they had decided to stay at this hotel after reading my blog and that they had a fantastic week of meals and felt really reassured by the Head Chef Martin Grubisa understanding their needs as he is coeliac himself. It makes it all so worthwhile when someone takes the time to personally email you their experience based on your recommendations and to learn that they enjoyed 28 meals at this hotel from the gluten free options available. What an endorsement to return for a longer stay!
Salt Gluten Free House – 100% Gluten Free
The online menu showed options for pizza, sandwiches, salads and burgers. Whilst that’s fantastic for me, having limited naturally gluten free options is actually off putting for me to visit as I would never want my friends and family to have to eat gluten free bread as one of their meals on holiday.
We decided in the end that I would head there for a quick lunch on the go whilst Paul picked up a sandwich from a bakery which worked well. Salt is a takeaway with no tables to sit in and eat anyway but you could eat at the park nearby.
I ordered a salami pizza sandwich, which I imagined to be a sandwich with tomato, cheese and salami but it was actually made with pizza dough and no sauce. I was offered ketchup or Mayo but I didn’t fancy either. Served hot it was a great option for something on the go though.
I also ordered a cup of chocolate icecream whilst I was waiting in the heat of Split!
Split was so hot and busy that we didn’t stay long having visited before. I would recommend going off season, or staying in the city to try and get some time in the city without the cruise trip day trippers. Tula, writer of Pretty Planet was in Split whilst we were in Croatia though and if your trip is to Split she has some great posts for things to do.
On our trip in 2013 we went canyoning for the day, and amazingly this was my idea. I hate being underwater so I have no idea how I signed us up for this. I’m glad to say I’ve done it and would check it out if you’re looking for adventure or canyoning in perfectly clear water on your trip.
Zadar
We visited Zadar briefly in 2013 and didn’t revisit on this trip so I don’t have any recent recommendations.
I would definitely have visited this bar if we have gone back to Zadar. It’s listed in a few places as being 100% gluten free but it isn’t very clear what the menu is as it focuses on the bar (possibly not serving food at the moment so be careful before driving out of your way to head here).
Food and Wine Pomalo that was a 100% gluten free recommendation has unfortunately permanently closed.
Zagreb
We were planning to visit Zagreb in 2023 but in the end skipped it to have more time to relax in Plitvice and Opatija since it was a holiday as well as a road trip! We instead returned for a short break in April 2025 over the week leading up to Easter. This was a great time to visit for Easter themed decorations and flowers everywhere. So many locals were buying flowers from the local markets and walking through the city with their paper wrapped bouquets or tulips was amazing to see.
Kata Brunch Bar (2 locations) – 100% gluten free
I visited Kata brunch bar for something on the go and they had a counter full of sandwiches, Burek, quiche and cakes. It was a pretty small place though so getting something to takeaway and eat in a park is the best idea in my opinion.
I opted for the burek – a cheese filled pastry that was rather large – for a savoury option to take out whilst Paul picked up a pastry from a normal bakery nearby.
Melt – Gelato and Brunch Bar – 100% gluten free
Melt ended up being near our restaurant on the first night, so we visited for some dessert as it was open until late. They didn’t have many options at this time but they had gelato and they still had some banana bread left that Paul had. I enjoyed the gelato and Paul liked the banana bread although it was a pretty thick slice making it slightly on the dry and dense side compared to some.
We really liked Melt though especially as a coffee shop so decided to head back for coffees and brunch on the Saturday morning before flying home especially as it was a dedicated gluten free establishment which I always much prefer on travel days. I had also eyed up the raspberry pancakes and was super excited to return. Sadly though they had a really long queue outside when we went so had to go elsewhere! Therefore, I strongly advise booking if it’s possible or making sure you visit with plenty of time!
Vis a vis by Vincek – 100% Gluten Free Bakery – 100% gluten free
This bakery was definitely on my list to visit! Who doesn’t love a 100% gluten free bakery? It is also in a really convenient central location which is a novelty in itself!
We visited twice – the first time we had coffee and a slice of the kremsnita. I absolutely love this custard slice that can be found across Croatia and Slovenia. Whilst I did enjoy this one, I found the slice too big, and actually had less flavour than the slice that I had in Rijeka that I preferred.
I also bought an Easter biscuit that was the decorated to take home with me for the Easter weekend. I really liked this soft biscuit, that was a lightly spiced flavour – kind of like gingerbread but really subtle.
As we couldn’t visit Melt on the Saturday morning, we returned to Vis a Vis for convenience and a 100% gluten-free option. I decided to have a slice of carrot cake with my coffee. This cake was thoroughly enjoyed for Easter, although the cake itself was slightly dense, but the lime icing was incredible and zingy. I also randomly bought a tapioca stick that turned out to basically be a cheesy tapioca bread, like pao de queso and I regretted not buying more of them.
We only went to Vis a Vis for coffee and cake on one day, and for something to takeaway to eat in the park the next. I would have loved to have had time to sit in and eat off their cafe menu which had much more choice including štrukli and crepes. Plan ahead with plenty of time if you wish to do this as they don’t have many tables.
Arepas are becoming more and more popular around the World and with that brings a gluten free option on the go for many cities. I had this option saved but sadly didn’t make it. Reviews online suggest that it is mostly gluten free and it is also centrally located for ease. They are also open late if you need some casual food late at night on arrival into the city.
Bistro Fetiš – 100% gluten free
Also open from the morning until late was the dedicated gluten option Bistro Fetiš that we sadly didn’t make it to.
Figa Garden – 100% gluten free
Zagreb really spoils you for a choice of dedicated gluten free coffee shops and bakeries!
We ate dinner at Market one night, and it had gluten free options marked but it’s a really small menu. There was initially a concern as the gluten free risotto had sold out by the time we visited but the chef was able to offer me the steak salad as a main or the sea bream. I’m not sure if the fish dish was naturally gluten free and just not labelled as gluten free on the menu or if it had to be adapted but I really enjoyed this simple and fresh dish of fish and potatoes. Paul had a fantastic meal of crispy cheese gnocchi that I was very jealous of! It was reasonably priced and I washed my fish down with a glass of local wine.
I had this restaurant saved as they have gluten free cevapi and it’s so great to eat local cuisine during a trip. They do state that they can not guarantee cross contamination on their website but they have good reviews on Find Me Gluten Free so I was keen to try them out to see how I found it and if the warning was more of a disclaimer than a sign that that they were not safe.
Bez Glutena
Translating to ‘Gluten Free’ this gluten free store looks to be a must visit in Zagreb! Sadly they were closed at weekends and I didn’t make it in time.
Another gluten free store in Zagreb that’s worth checking out if you have the time.
Where to stay in Zagreb: Esplanade Hotel
As a five star historic Hotel, it may not be one for budget travellers but for those looking for a luxury stay then the Esplanade Hotel and it’s restaurants in Zagreb were fantastic for a weekend trip to the city. The prices were reasonable for the style of hotel though especially when booked in advance and we paid £130 a night for our stay in a superior room which was really good value for such a hotel. Our room included a bottle of wine for our stay and the rooms give you access to the hotel sauna too.
I first discovered this hotel due to its coeliac accreditation, resulting in there being gluten-free options in their two restaurants, and on their bar menu. This made it much easier to eat, although both restaurants are very high end with one of them being a Michelin star experience.
Esplanade 1925
On arrival, we chose to have lunch at that hotel bar and I was really excited to be able to order the local dish which was a specialty at the hotel and they also did a gluten-free version of it. Štrukli, a cheese filled pastry covered and baked in cream can be found across Zagreb and it was a total novelty to be able to find this so easily. I really enjoyed being able to have this for lunch, and that it was only a €1 surcharge for the dish to be gluten-free.
Le Bistro Esplanade
We decided to eat at Le Bistro Esplanade, and even though this was classed as the more casual restaurant when we checked it was still a fancy restaurant by our standards. It was expensive for Croatia, coming to €150 for the two of us with us both having a soup starter, main, dessert, a glass of wine, some water and tip. We could easily have spent more with more drinks or a different starter. However, this was the treat meal for Paul’s birthday whilst we were away and the food was incredible. We both agreed every course was fantastic, and totally worth it. This restaurant should definitely be on your Zagreb bucket list.
I was offered some Schar gluten free crackers in lieu of the bread basket that allowed me to have the salty, herby, cottage cheese dip that was so good!
Starters were expensive but were things that you wouldn’t expect to be cheap – think steak tartare and lobster. We decided to have the soup which was a less expensive option at €8 and whilst I was gambling on the flavour of celery and fennel being good it was a risk worth taking as it was fantastic, and I really enjoyed the smoked salmon lollipop it was served with as well. I’m not sure I’d have guessed the flavour of the soup and I don’t know how to describe it – it was perhaps more of a mushroomy flavour than the description suggested but it was great nonetheless and I was served it with some gluten free bread too.
For a main course I choose the duck confit with a side of mashed potatoes, and the duck was served with leeks, artichoke and apple purée. I really enjoyed this dish, but Paul who ordered the steak that came with chestnut and honey cream and salted beetroot said his meal was outstanding and the best steak he had in a long time whilst he savoured absolutely every bite.
The restaurant also has a set menu for lunch that I believe changes daily that also offers a more affordable way to dine here.
If you are planning to go here make sure you reserve a table in advance as we couldn’t get into the restaurant on the first night of our stay despite being hotel guests. There was a concert being held at the hotel that may have affected the availability for that night but booking ahead is advised based on our experience. Luckily we then made a reservation for our second night but would have missed out on an overnight stay in Zagreb.
Zinfandel’s
The food was so good at Le Bistro Esplanade that I’m sure if you splurge on a Michelin Star meal at the other restaurant in the hotel, Zinfandels that you would have an incredible experience.
Gluten Free at the Hotel Esplanade Zagreb
I had a wonderful time at the Grand Hotel Esplanade, it was a beautiful five star hotel with a fantastic bar and restaurants for a relaxing stay for Paul’s birthday. I really wanted to stay here, it was great value for the standard of the hotel and they have BOKA gluten free accreditation as listed on their website.
However, despite the food being amazing I wouldn’t say it’s a stress free as this would all lead you to believe if you are coeliac. For gluten free dining then it’s amazing and gluten free is all labelled on the menus and online. However, I had a really hard time trying to clarify that their gluten free options were definitely safe for those with coeliac verbally or when taking my orders and to a certain extent relied on their certification and website listing more than I ever would normally.
I made it clear on my reservation when booking the hotel and restaurants and was always just told to let staff know when I placed my order. Staff were helpful to a certain extent, but even with a translation card or the menu any questions I asked were always answered that it was gluten free and not to worry, but nothing actually clearly answered their processes beyond the website listing. I always ordered the gluten free options, used the Equal Eats card and followed up with staff but just to manage expectations of what my experience was if you decide to book the hotel. Food also didn’t come out labelled in any way as gluten free and I relied on rechecking again with staff. I had no issues and wasn’t sick, but I thought that I would be more reassured at times than I was that my food was definitely safe considering their accreditation and how proud they seem to be of this online. From the staff and menus alone if I had just walked into any of the restaurants with no research I wouldn’t have been confident to order here with coeliac (as someone who can’t speak Croatian – of course the experience may be different for those who can have a deeper conversation with staff about the options and processes).
Due to this I also didn’t end up trying out their amazing looking breakfast options and instead visited dedicated gluten free cafes to ensure that my food was totally safe before a day of sightseeing and before my flight home which is a shame given how amazing the dinner was.
Sightseeing in Zagreb
As somewhere less touristy than many major Capital cities and less touristy than either Dubrovnik or Split, Zagreb needs less time for sightseeing but the parks in the sunshine were an amazing place to be. The city was really pretty for Spring and Easter, with plenty of flowers and decorations but many of the buildings were sadly under construction.
During our visit the Cathedral of Zagreb was under scaffolding but I was aware of this as this has been a long term thing but Saint Marks Church was also blocked off and the view blocked by porter cabins, many buildings were covered in construction and there were many cranes around the city. The funicular was also not operational for our visit.
Do however make sure you visit Lotrščak Tower in time for the canon being fired at midday, walk the Tunel Grič (access from Mesnička entrance as Ilica was also closed off) and the Chocolate Museum was a highlight (the samples are all gluten free).
Tips for Croatia and beyond
- In Europe it’s easy when travelling by car to cross into neighbouring countries. If you have time for a longer trip, it’s really easy to add on a visit to Slovenia (Ljubljana and Lake Bled are beautiful) especially if you are visiting Zagreb and the north of Croatia. Gluten Free in Slovenia Guide.
- You can also visit Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina or perhaps make it a longer road trip travelling onto Sarajevo or even Belgrade. Gluten Free in Mostar.
- Whilst it’s easy to drive into other countries in the EU bordering Croatia, crossing into Bosnia and Herzegovina to visit Mostar requires border control checks. It also adds on a €50 surcharge to your rental car costs. What we didn’t realise though was that driving between Croatia and Split, not going via the islands, will require you to cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina and back again as there is 12 miles of coastline that is Bosnia and not Croatia. There was also a surcharge if you planned to drive to the islands.
- Travelling south from Dubrovnik is also an option, taking you into Montenegro which is also a beautiful country and the bay of Kotor is highly recommended too. Gluten Free in Montenegro.
- If you cross into Trieste in Italy, you can also order yourself a gluten free McDonalds that comes with a burger in a bun and not just fries (but I don’t rate the Italian McDonald’s due to the buns being microwaved in plastic bags so they go a bit soggy).
- If you do cross into Trieste then gluten free croissants from Pasticceria da Ily are firmly on my gluten free bucket list.
- In Croatia you can eat McDonalds fries if you’re stuck and a couple of items off the menu. The McDonald’s menu is always excellent for highlighting allergens. Use Chrome to open the link and it will translate automatically for you
- Take a translation card, it’s needed in some restaurants to explain cross contamination. I used the Equal Eats Croatian card that was gifted to me but they’re really useful and highlight cross contact far better than many of the free ones found online.
- We found it to be extremely hot and busy in July, and would try to avoid this time of year next time. We preferred our trips in Spring and September, but we aren’t huge fans of heat or crowds. We actually travelled between destinations in the middle of the day to be able to escape the midday sun during our July road trip with some air conditioning in the car, and allowing us to sightsee in the mornings and late afternoon
- Pack or buy mosquito spray!
- Pack pool shoes for the pebbly beaches, they’re so useful in Croatia
- My instagram posts for Croatia can be found using the hashtag #thesightseeingcoeliaccroatia
Other Gluten Free Resources for Croatia
- Gluten Free Croatia Travel Guide
- Croatia Travel Guide – Coeliac U.K.
- Gluten Free in Split, Croatia
- Gluten Free in Europe: The Ultimate Travel Planning Resource
- Gluten Free Beer in Croatia
Overall thoughts on travelling in Croatia
There is so much less information online for travelling in Europe gluten free once you leave Western Europe or large cities but they have been some of my favourite travel adventures and Croatia is definitely doable with some preplanning. I would highly recommend taking some gluten free bread, pasta if you’re cooking and some snacks. The largest supermarkets had these options but you need to be really organised to buy them when you see them, or plan naturally gluten free meals whilst self catering. I found go free cornflakes pretty much everywhere but if they aren’t for you then consider packing an alternative. I found limited bread options and rarely saw pasta compared to its availability at home.
On road trips we tend to have cereal, yoghurts and fruit for breakfast and then make packed lunches/picnics for lunches. I usually choose to take the warburtons soft squares when travelling as they can be eaten without toasting them and tend to hold up pretty well in luggage! I also take a couple of packets of tuna jacket toppings for an emergency as they don’t need to be kept refrigerated or need lots of extras. I found in Croatia that many of the packs of salami and meats were labelled as gluten free too so making up sandwiches was pretty easy.
We normally eat out in the cities with more gluten free options and self cater when in National Parks/Mountains etc. This worked well for us in Croatia and in every city I found a 100% gluten free or excellent gluten free restaurant or hotel to break up cooking for ourselves.
Croatia is so beautiful that coeliac really should not be a reason for not visiting. Have you visited Croatia? Leave your favourite gluten free restaurants and travel tips in the comments below, and if you’re yet to visit –
Happy Travels, with no gluten!
Note: Writing a gluten free travel blog is a passion project of mine but the website has an annual subscription cost so it actually costs me money to run. If you find my guides helpful please consider buying me a virtual coffee through my kofi link to help me run this free resource for gluten free travel. Thank you!
The Sightseeing Coeliac 