If you are planning a vacation or a business trip to Croatia in 2026, you should understand the schedule of Sunday trading in advance. According to Croatian law, shops are mostly closed on Sundays, but each seller can independently choose up to 16 working Sundays per year. The rest of the restrictions do not apply to gas stations, retail outlets at railway stations, airports, ports and ferries, as well as in hotels, hospitals, museums and other tourist facilities - there visitors are served as usual.
How the Sunday trading law works
The norm was introduced in 2023 to balance the interests of businesses and the right of retail workers to a guaranteed day off. A shop can open on Sunday only with the consent of local authorities, and the annual limit of 16 Sundays is strict. Sellers usually choose dates with the highest demand: Easter, public holidays and the peak of the tourist season. The schedule on such days is most often from 10:00 to 18:00 or until 20:00.
In small towns and villages, it is almost impossible to find an open supermarket on an ordinary Sunday. In Zagreb, Split, Rijeka or Dubrovnik, there are more chances, but even large retailers are forced to meet the common limit, so it is not worth counting on the uninterrupted operation of hypermarkets.
Calendar of shopping Sundays in Croatia for 2026
According to our guide, in 2026, it is officially allowed to work on the following Sundays in Croatia:
- January 4, March 1, March 29 (Easter), May 3;
- May 31, June 21, July 5 (Statehood Day), July 19;
- August 2, August 16 (Great Assumption), September 6, October 4;
- November 1 (All Saints' Day), December 6, December 13 and December 20.
We have collected a complete interactive list with a breakdown by specific cities on the page shopping Sundays in Croatia 2026. Each retailer chooses their own schedule independently, so before the trip, it is still advisable to check the opening hours of the specific supermarket where you plan to shop.
Where to buy essentials on a "closed" Sunday
Even when trading is officially stopped, options remain. Throughout the country, the following are open:
- gas stations with mini-markets and fresh coffee;
- shops at railway and bus stations;
- retail outlets at airports, ports and ferries;
- hotel bars, restaurants and souvenir shops;
- pharmacies in hospitals, museum cafes and facilities in tourist clusters.
If you are traveling with children or have a limited supply of food, the best solution is to make a shopping list on Saturday. Practical tips on logistics, gas stations, toll roads and safe routes are collected in our guide for drivers.
How official holidays affect shop operations
Holidays in Croatia are a separate story: on Christmas, Easter, Statehood Day (July 5) or All Saints' Day (November 1), most shops are closed regardless of whether the date falls on a Sunday or a weekday. Some retailers combine a public holiday with a neighboring "shopping Sunday" to make the most of the annual limit. The exact dates of public holidays in Croatia and other European countries can be easily checked in our holiday calendar.
If your route passes through several countries, be sure to also check the general page shopping Sundays in Europe. The rules differ significantly: in Poland, most Sundays are closed, in Germany only railway stations and gas stations are open, and in Hungary or the Czech Republic, shops are open almost always.
Summary for travelers
Croatia remains a country where Sunday is predominantly a day off for retail workers, and locals appreciate this tradition. Tourists just need to remember two rules: do your shopping in advance on weekdays or Saturdays, and turn to gas stations or tourist facilities if something is needed on the spot. Then no surprise with closed supermarket doors will spoil your vacation on the Adriatic coast.