More and more guests from China are coming to Dalmatia, and the questions are always similar: is the visa difficult? Are there direct flights? Can I pay with Alipay? Can I hire a car? Here are our answers. Where something is certain we say so, and where it isn't, we say that too.
Visa: a Schengen visa
Croatia joined the Schengen area on 1 January 2023. Chinese passport holders need a Schengen visa (type C for short tourist stays).
- Which country to apply to: if you're only visiting Croatia, or spending the longest time there, apply to Croatia. For multi-country trips the "main destination" rule applies; if that's unclear, apply to the first Schengen country you enter.
- Where to apply: the Croatian embassy is in Beijing, and visa application centres in several Chinese cities accept applications. Check the visa centre's website for current cities and appointments.
- Processing time: usually up to 15 days after the embassy receives the application, longer (30 to 60 days) if documents are missing or in special cases. Apply early for summer.
- Passport: issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least three months after the visa expires.
- Insurance: travel medical insurance covering the Schengen area is mandatory.
After you book one of our villas you receive a formal booking confirmation, which works as proof of accommodation. If the visa centre needs a different format in English, just let us know.
Also worth knowing: since October 2025 the Schengen area has been phasing in the EES entry/exit system. Non-EU travellers have fingerprints and a facial image taken on first entry, so the first border check can take longer. Leave generous time for connections.
Flights: Beijing to Zagreb
Since 4 September 2026, Air China has flown Beijing–Bucharest–Zagreb three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It's Croatia's first scheduled link to Beijing.
From Zagreb to Split you can take a domestic flight or drive about four hours on the A1 motorway. The other common option is to connect via a European or Middle Eastern hub straight to Split Airport (SPU), which is only five to ten minutes from our villas. Most flights to Split operate in summer.
Payments: bring Visa or Mastercard
Croatia uses the euro. Supermarkets, restaurants and petrol stations generally take Visa and Mastercard, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
UnionPay, Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted only by a few merchants, so don't rely on them. With us you can pay for the villa with Alipay if you pay the full amount when booking (arrival within roughly the next three months); for later arrivals with a deposit and an automatic balance payment we take card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Unfortunately we can't offer WeChat Pay. Bring two Visa or Mastercard cards and a little cash in euros for markets, sunbeds and tips. More in Money in Croatia.
When you book direct on our website you pay by credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The price shown is the final price, with cleaning, electricity, pool heating and tourist tax included.
Internet and phones
In Croatia, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Gmail and the rest work normally, and so does WeChat. The villas have Starlink internet with Wi-Fi in the house and garden. For mobile data, use international roaming or a European eSIM.
We talk to guests mainly by WhatsApp and email, in English, German or Croatian. We don't speak Chinese, but translation apps work perfectly well, and we usually reply within minutes.
Driving: check the licence first
China is not a party to the 1949 or 1968 international road traffic conventions, so there is no international driving permit for Chinese licences. Whether a rental company accepts a Chinese licence, and which translation it wants, varies.
Our advice:
- Before booking, get written confirmation that the rental company accepts a Chinese licence and which translation it needs
- Check that the insurance is valid when you drive on a Chinese licence
- If you can't get a clear answer, don't drive: Uber works well here, we can arrange an airport transfer, and local tour operators run day trips
More on renting in Car hire and parking around Split.
Other practical details
- Time difference: Croatia is six hours behind Beijing in summer, seven in winter.
- Power: 230 V with European two-pin plugs (type C/F). Chinese plugs need an adapter.
- Emergency number: 112, as everywhere in the EU.
- Safety: Dalmatia is generally very safe, and walking through an old town in the evening is normal. As in any tourist city, keep an eye on your belongings in crowds.
What to do once you're here
Many of our Chinese guests most want to see Plitvice Lakes, Dubrovnik and the Game of Thrones locations. From our villas:
- The Game of Thrones locations are close by: filming locations around Kaštela
- Split old town for half a day or a day: Split in a day
- Plitvice is about 2.5 to 3.5 hours each way, so we suggest a night nearby; Krka National Park is about an hour away
- Food, shopping and daily life: Staying in a villa: a guide for Chinese families
All three villas have five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and sleep up to ten, which suits families travelling with grandparents: Villa Just be Alive, Villa Just be Light and Villa Just be Happy.
