Hungary and Croatia closer than ever: what’s new for Croatian tourism in 2026

Croatia’s 2026 tourism season is starting with strong momentum, and Hungarian travellers are playing an increasingly visible role in that early growth. At a press event held in Budapest on 29 April at the Kimpton BEM Budapest hotel, Ivana Herceg, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board’s representation in Hungary, presented fresh figures up to 25 April and outlined what Croatian tourism is prioritising this year. The Međimurje (Muraköz) region and the city of Čakovec (Csáktornya) also used the occasion to showcase new developments beyond the Adriatic coast.

For international readers, the context matters: Hungary and Croatia are neighbouring countries, connected by road and rail links and long-standing historical and cultural ties. That closeness makes Croatian tourism an easy choice not only for classic seaside holidays but also for shorter breaks, city trips, and “slow travel” in lesser-known inland regions.

A strong year-to-date start for Croatia in 2026

According to figures recorded in Croatia’s eVisitor system up to 25 April, the country registered 2 million tourist arrivals and 5.5 million overnight stays in the first four months of 2026. That represents a 4% increase in arrivals and a 2% increase in overnight stays compared with the same period in 2025.

The most popular destinations listed in the presentation included Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split and Rovinj, while the leading source markets were Germany, Slovenia and Austria.

Hungary’s role in Croatian tourism is growing, and it’s about more than the coast

The Hungarian market is performing particularly strongly in the same period. Up to 25 April, 39,000 Hungarian tourists visited Croatia and generated 110,000 overnight stays. That equals +8% growth in arrivals and +12% growth in overnight stays year-on-year, a trajectory that the organisers suggested could point towards a record-setting year overall.

Herceg highlighted that the results reflect continued investment in promotion and efforts to improve accessibility—an important message for a market where travellers often decide based on convenience, travel time, and predictable transport options.

Where Hungarian travellers go in Croatia

Based on the breakdown shared at the event, the Kvarner region leads Hungarian overnight stays (32,000), followed by Istria (26,000). Zadar County is third (11,500), with Split-Dalmatia County (10,000) and Šibenik-Knin County (5,500) rounding out the top five.

Looking at arrivals, the most popular places included Zagreb, Opatija, Rovinj, Crikvenica and Umag. The average stay was 2.8 nights, broadly similar to last year—suggesting that Croatia is being used not only for long summer holidays but also for shorter, repeat visits.

More direct flights from Budapest to Zadar and Dubrovnik

A key practical update of Croatian tourism in 2026 is expanded direct, scheduled air connectivity from Budapest—especially useful for travellers who want to skip long drives, plan quick long weekends, or combine beach time with city sightseeing.

The summer season schedule presented includes:

• Wizz Air Budapest–Zadar: 5x weekly (Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun), 2 June – 30 September
• Wizz Air Budapest–Dubrovnik: 3x weekly (Tue, Fri, Sun), 2 June – 29 September
• Ryanair Budapest–Zadar: 4x weekly (Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun), 9 June – 19 September
• Ryanair Budapest–Dubrovnik: 4x weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun), 7 June – 18 September

For foreigners living in Hungary—or visiting Budapest—this is part of a wider Central European reality: multiple Croatian gateways are within easy reach, which makes Croatia a natural option for spontaneous trips, shoulder-season travel, and multi-stop itineraries that mix inland regions with the Adriatic.

Related article: Ryanair takes on Wizz Air on popular Croatian route with new summer flights from Budapest!

Croatia’s ambassador Andrlić: tourism in a “new period”, with a human dimension

The event also featured remarks from Mladen Andrlić, the country’s Ambassador to Hungary, who framed Croatian tourism as strategically important in what he described as a “new period” with an incoming government. He underlined that Hungary and Croatia’s proximity creates a “range of opportunities”, and he specifically pointed to non-coastal areas close to the border as places Hungarians readily understand and feel connected to.

Andrlić also referenced the Three Seas Initiative Summit held in Dubrovnik, attended by Croatia’s president. He described it as a high-level political and economic forum where Central and Eastern European countries coordinate on strategic cooperation—adding that the approach is “not only political” but “human as well”, signalling the value of people-to-people connections alongside formal partnerships.

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“Find Your Pomalo” and the push for authentic local hosting

Croatia’s tourism messaging this year includes the “Find Your Pomalo” campaign, inviting visitors to embrace a slower, more relaxed Mediterranean rhythm—less rushing, more time spent in place.

Alongside that, organisers highlighted a new Local Host quality label and certification system intended to recognise accommodation providers and services that represent authentic Croatian hospitality and local values, supporting more experience-led and sustainability-minded travel choices.

Inland highlights: Međimurje and Čakovec step into the spotlight

Beyond the coast, Međimurje (Muraköz) was presented as Croatia’s first “green destination”, with an emphasis on sustainable tourism practices and heritage-based development. The region reportedly counts 83 tangible and intangible heritage elements, including 19 nationally protected items, and currently offers 47 renovated heritage sites open to visitors. Two major projects were also discussed: transforming the Feštetić Castle into a modern visitor experience centre and restoring the Hirschler Palace into a dedicated visitor centre connected to local folk song heritage, with a combined value stated at EUR 12 million, alongside further investment attraction mentioned in the presentation.

Čakovec (Csáktornya)—located about 90 km from Zagreb, near both the Hungarian and Slovenian borders—was promoted as a culturally rich stop in northern Croatia, known as the birthplace of Nikola IV Zrinski (Miklós Zrínyi). One of its flagship events is the Porcijunkulovo festival, scheduled for 29 July to 2 August 2026.

Why this matters for international readers in Hungary

Taken together, the message from Budapest was clear: Croatian tourism in 2026 is not just about peak-season beach travel. It is about easier access (including flights), stronger regional storytelling, and capitalising on the reality that Hungary and Croatia are close neighbours with overlapping cultural familiarity. For expats and visitors in Hungary, that translates into a simple advantage: Croatia can be a practical, varied destination—whether you are chasing the Adriatic, exploring historic cities, or discovering greener inland regions that are only a short hop away.