A post by a Slovenian tourist about high drink prices on Croatia’s Adriatic coast has triggered an online debate, with many questioning whether the popular summer destination has become too expensive.
The discussion erupted on Reddit after a user shared a receipt from the town of Vodice showing a charge of nearly €10 for two soft drinks at a café. “Nothing fancy, just an average place in Vodice. Two sodas, €10. Is this normal?” the user wrote. “Sure, people will still flock to Croatia, but €10 for two drinks?”
The post quickly gained traction, sparking dozens of responses from users across the region. Some criticized the high prices as exploitative. “Unfortunately, you have to check the price list before ordering anything by the sea,” one user warned. Another called it “a legitimate scam.”
Others argued that Croatia is not alone in its pricing. “It’s the same in central Ljubljana — €3.50 for the same drink,” one Slovenian user noted. Some commenters urged travelers to consider alternative destinations such as Greece, Italy, or Egypt, while others defended Croatia, saying not all areas are overpriced.
“Not all of Croatia is this expensive,” one user wrote. “Just check the menu before you order.”
Frustration with rising costs on the coast has become a recurring theme during the summer season in recent years, especially among tourists from neighboring countries. Suggestions for avoiding steep prices included crossing the border into Italy for groceries, packing drinks from home, or simply boycotting overpriced establishments.
“Stop ordering at these bars — that’s how you push prices down,” one commenter suggested. “Croatians are a bit stubborn, it might take them a while to realize pricing is the issue.”
Still, others saw little alternative. “Slovenians only consider the Croatian coast as their sea,” a user wrote. “As long as they keep coming in droves, it’ll stay this way.”
Despite complaints, some users concluded that as long as access to Croatia’s beaches remains free, it is still a relatively affordable destination — for now.