Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Croatia easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
I traveled through Istria and Dalmatia using my Amex and honestly had a hard time outside of major hotels. Even in a shopping mall in Zadar, only one out of four stores accepted it. It did work fine at airport duty-free and at a fancy winery in Motovun. But for cafes, bakeries, and local markets, it was useless. My Wise Visa card worked 100 percent of the time. If you're going to rely on card payments in Croatia, Visa or Mastercard is the way to go. Bring Amex if you want, but don’t count on it everywhere.Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Croatia easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
I used my Amex during a recent trip to Pula and Rijeka and had mixed results. Worked great at my hotel and one upscale restaurant but most mid-range places didn’t accept it. I even got a few eye rolls when I pulled it out at a small bar. Seems like the fees are higher for merchants, so they just avoid it. Visa and Mastercard worked without any hiccups everywhere, even at bus stations and ATMs. Best to use Amex for hotels and backup cards for the rest.
Been in Croatia for three weeks now and learned quickly that Amex isn’t widely accepted. Some higher-end places in Dubrovnik took it without a problem, like the Hilton and a seafood spot in Lapad. But when I tried to use it at a grocery store and two souvenir shops, it didn’t work. Most locals I talked to said Visa or Mastercard is the norm. I used my Revolut Mastercard for nearly every transaction after that and had zero problems. I wouldn’t rely on Amex for everyday purchases.
I tried using my Amex in several restaurants and shops in Zagreb and Split and kept getting told they don’t accept it. Big hotel chains and car rental places took it just fine, but most smaller places either didn’t have the option or just politely said no. Even one of the fancier places along the Riva in Split said they only take Visa and Mastercard. I eventually just switched to my Chase Visa for everything and had no more issues. If Amex is your only card, definitely get a backup.
Same Euronet ATM accepted both Visa and UnionPay. Reliable spot in the center of Sutivan town. It accepts Amex too I saw on the screen
Erste Bank ATM worked well with my Visa card. No complaints. Not sure of Amex