Croatia is a stunning part of the world, home to ancient villages like Motovun – which named as one of the most beautiful places in Europe – as well as striking natural spectacles like the Plitvice Lakes (one of our favourite national parks in the world), but its beauty isn’t the only reason it’s such a popular travel destination.
Cities along the coast have historically been magnets for partying, but now, the coastal hub of Split could soon implement drinking restrictions.
A proposal to ban the late-night sale of alcohol in parts of Split with dense clusters of clubs, bars and all-night shops has been submitted by city councillors. If implemented, it looks like that between the hours of 8pm and 6am, no booze will be sold.
However, this doesn’t apply to licensed venues – instead, the restrictions will only be enforced on grocery stores and liquor shops.
It’s thought that the restriction could be in place as soon as this summer, and if it’s successful, Mayor Tomislav Šuta said it could be expanded to encompass other neighbourhoods.
‘In previous years, Split may have leaned into a ‘party destination’ image,’ says CEO of luxury villa rental agency VIP Holiday Booker Darijo Šarić. ‘However, Croatian tourism is now actively rebranding to move away from that reputation, focusing instead on our rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and family-friendly environment.’
This sentiment was mirrored in Hvar in early 2025, when we reported that the island was attempting to shed its party reputation in favour of more family-friendly tourism by implementing a noise cap of 85 decibels, which, according to euronews, has been maintained for the upcoming summer season after a recent vote.
That being said, Split doesn’t want to completely re-brand itself. Šarić added that the proposal instead aims to ‘move drunken behaviour and alcohol consumption away from public streets and into appropriate venues’, and encourage visitors to drink more responsibly. They have no interest in ‘stopping the fun’.
Croatia’s restrictions on badly-behaved tourists
Mayor Tomislav Šuta told Croatian press that ‘situations arise that impair the safety and quality of the life of tenants’, and much like the majority of tourism restrictions on which we report, the goal seems to be to ensure a good balance between the livelihood of locals and the visitor experience.
In Split, Dubrovnik, and many other town centres, you could face a fine of up to €700 for inappropriate behaviour such as drinking or taking drugs, urinating or vomiting in public spaces, as well as walking around in nothing but swimwear or with no shirt on.
If you commit a ‘public order disturbance’ – which includes fighting, hurling verbal abuse, or displaying drunken behaviour’ – that could set you back up to €4,000.
Headed to Spain this summer? Various restrictions on tourism behaviour have been implemented there, too, so have a read of our guide on Spain’s tourism bans.
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