- Emergency number
- 112
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: travelladies.app, whereskatienow.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Croatia has no dedicated, government-mandated comprehensive sex-education curriculum, and contraception is not distributed for free — plan to budget for gynecologist visits and pharmacy costs.
- Pharmacies in Croatia (ljekarna) are the only outlets allowed to sell prescription medicine — drugstores like DM or Müller only carry supplements, so don't expect to find the pill or emergency contraception there.
- If you need a first prescription for the pill or an IUD as a visitor, you'll need to see a gynecologist (private clinics are the fastest route for non-residents) since Croatian pharmacies require an electronic prescription (e-recept) from a doctor registered in the system.
- The morning-after pill can be bought without a prescription at most pharmacies, but occasionally a pharmacist may decline to dispense it on personal/religious grounds — if that happens, simply try another pharmacy nearby.
- For an immediate safety threat, dial 112; for confidential emotional and practical support as a crime victim, the free national line 116 006 operates in English as well as Croatian.
- Croatia's abortion law dates to 1978 and sets an on-request limit of 10 weeks from conception — clinics generally calculate this as up to about 10-12 weeks from your last period, so don't assume the higher number applies without checking with the provider.
- Conscientious objection by individual doctors is legally protected in Croatia and has in some regions made scheduling a procedure slower or required going to a specific hospital — if you need this service in Zadar, contact Opća bolnica Zadar directly and early rather than assuming any listed doctor will perform it.
- Legal terminations happen only in licensed hospitals, not at the small private gynecology offices listed here — those private ordinacije are useful for routine exams, prescriptions, ultrasounds, and general OBGYN care but not for the abortion procedure itself.
- If you have an EHIC/GHIC or Croatian health insurance, medically-indicated abortion is free; without qualifying insurance expect to pay out of pocket, and confirm the current fee directly with the hospital before your appointment.
- For English-language service, call ahead — Zadar's private gynecology practices and the hospital's outpatient line are used to serving both locals and the large seasonal international population, but confirm English fluency when booking.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Catcalling and men honking from cars toward women is something some female visitors report experiencing in Zadar, though it's described as occasional rather than constant, and otherwise it's rated as a very safe place for women to travel alone and go out at night. More broadly for Croatia, street harassment is generally described as rare compared with other Mediterranean destinations, with locals seen as reserved rather than overtly forward.
Walking Alone at Night
Solo female visitors commonly describe feeling safe walking around Zadar even after dark, including along the seafront promenade and Old Town, which stay busy with tourists and locals out for dinner or the sunset until 10-11pm. The advice that follows is still to avoid quiet parks, alleys, poorly lit side streets, and remote or isolated areas (including beaches) once the crowds thin out late at night.
Taxis and Ride-hailing
Licensed ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt are available in Croatia and are generally recommended over hailing a traditional street taxi, since they lock in the fare transparently before the ride. Overcharging by some taxi drivers, especially picking up near transport hubs, is a documented scam pattern in Croatia (one female traveler reported being quoted an inflated rate by a taxi driver in Zadar specifically), so agreeing on a price in advance or sticking to a licensed/metered taxi with a visible pricing table is advised if an app isn't used.
Practical Precautions
Common advice for women in Croatia includes staying alert in crowded areas (where pickpocketing is the more common petty-crime risk), keeping an eye on your drink in bars and clubs, avoiding poorly lit or isolated streets late at night, and using reputable transport to get home rather than wandering remote areas after dark.
Zadar's General Reputation Among Solo Female Travelers
Several travelers who visited multiple Croatian cities describe Zadar specifically as feeling among the calmest and most relaxed, with a compact, walkable old town, a friendlier small-town feel than Split or Dubrovnik, and far less of a heavy nightlife/party scene that can otherwise draw unwanted attention late at night.
Abortion Law And OB-GYN
Abortion Law
- Minors
- Girls under 16 require parental/guardian authorization; unmarried minors 16 and older may need a special commission decision in certain circumstances.
- Legal Status
- Legal with abortion time limit
- Cost Estimate
- €235
- Abortion Time Limit
- Abortion on request is permitted up to 10 weeks of pregnancy as counted from conception under Croatia's 1978 law, which in practical medical dating (counted from the first day of the last menstrual period, as used by clinics) translates to roughly 10-12 weeks LMP.
- Beyond Limit Access
- Termination after the on-request limit is only permitted for medical necessity (danger to the woman's life/health), fetal impairment, or in cases of rape/incest, and requires approval by a Commission of First Instance made up of a gynaecologist, another physician, and a social worker or nurse.
- Abortion Pill Access
- Mifepristone (branded Mifegyne) was approved in Croatia in 2019 and can be used up to the 10-week limit; it requires a doctor's prescription and is dispensed through pharmacies, not self-sourced.
- Providers And Objection
- Abortions can only be performed by a physician in a hospital with an obstetrics/gynaecology department or another authorized facility, and doctors have a legal right of conscientious objection, which has in practice made access inconsistent in some regions and hospitals.
- Where Performed In Croatia
- Legal abortions in Croatia are performed only in licensed public or private hospitals with a gynaecology/obstetrics department — not at outpatient private ordinacije (gynecology offices) — so in Zadar this would be handled through Opća bolnica Zadar (Zadar General Hospital).
- Cost Context
- Abortion is free for residents and those with Croatian health insurance when performed for medical reasons; otherwise (elective, no qualifying insurance) it typically costs approximately
- Cost Estimate Note
- Figure is a midpoint of a commonly cited €200–270 range for elective abortion for patients without qualifying Croatian insurance; actual price depends on the hospital and procedure type (medical vs. surgical).
OB-GYN Options In Zadar
Zadar City Center / Hospital Campus
- Name
- Opća bolnica Zadar – Služba za ginekologiju i opstetriciju (Zadar General Hospital, Gynecology & Obstetrics Department)
- Type
- Public hospital department
- Contact
- Outpatient scheduling by phone, weekdays 12:00–15:00: (023) 505-150. Bring a referral (uputnica) and health card if you have Croatian insurance.
- Notes
- The main public OBGYN provider in Zadar, with an outpatient gynecology polyclinic (Poliklinika službe za ginekologiju i opstetriciju) for exams and ultrasound, plus an inpatient maternity/gynecology ward.
Privatna Ginekološka Ordinacija Ilva Marić
- Type
- Private gynecology practice
- Location
- Polačišće 2, Zadar
- Notes
- Private OBGYN office offering exams, ultrasound, and general gynecological care; patient reviews describe the doctor as thorough and attentive.
Ginekološka Ordinacija Dr. Dinko Kulišić
- Type
- Private gynecology practice
- Location
- Zadar
- Notes
- Private practice offering gynecological exams, pregnancy monitoring, and ultrasound.
Ginekološka Ordinacija Dr. I. Vlatković
- Type
- Private gynecology practice
- Location
- Zadar
- Notes
- Established in 2003 and described on its own site as one of the more modernly equipped private gynecology practices in Zadar.
Pupillam – Ginekologija
- Type
- Private polyclinic (gynecology department)
- Location
- Zadar
- Notes
- Private polyclinic offering gynecological consultations, ultrasound, and related women's health diagnostics as part of a multi-specialty clinic.
Assault Resources
Emergency Services (Police/Medical)
- Phone
- 112
- Scope
- national
- Availability
- 24/7
- Description
- General EU-wide emergency number for Croatia; use for immediate danger, to report an assault, or to request an ambulance.
National Call Centre for Victims and Witnesses of Crime (116 006)
- Phone
- 116 006
- Scope
- national
- Availability
- 24/7
- Description
- Free, anonymous national helpline for victims and witnesses of crime, including gender-based and sexual violence, offering information, emotional support and referrals in Croatian and English.
Zadar Victim and Witness Support Department (Ministry of Justice)
- Phone
- 023 203 640
- podrska-svjedocima@pravosudje.hr
- Scope
- local (Zadar)
- Address
- Borelli 9, 23000 Zadar
- Description
- Local branch of the state court-support service that assists crime victims and witnesses, including sexual assault survivors, through the reporting and judicial process.
Udruga Duga Zadar (SOS Zadar)
- Phone
- 023 332 059
- duga.zd@zd.t-com.hr
- Scope
- local (Zadar)
- Address
- Ivana Gundulića 2d, Zadar
- Description
- Local Zadar association providing counselling and an emergency shelter for victims of domestic and gender-based violence, with dedicated SOS mobile lines.
- Note On Hours
- In-person counseling Mon/Wed/Fri 18:00–20:00; SOS mobile lines listed operate outside those hours
SOS Lines
- 095 529 2416
- 095 524 5166
- 098 819 757
Women's Help Now (ŽEnska Pomoć Sada)
- Phone Croatia
- 0800 655 222
- Phone International
- +385 1 4658 389
- zenskapomocsada@gmail.com
- Scope
- national
- Availability
- 24/7
- Description
- National emergency hotline for women and children who are victims of domestic and gender-based violence.
The Women's Room (ŽEnska Soba), Zagreb
- Phone
- +385 1 6119 174
- zenska.soba@zenskasoba.hr
- Scope
- national (specialist sexual-assault line, based in Zagreb)
- Description
- Croatia's main specialist support service for female survivors of sexual assault; phone/email support usable remotely from anywhere in Croatia, including Zadar, though the physical office is in Zagreb.
B.a.B.e. (Be Active, Be Emancipated)
- Phone
- 0800 200 144
- Phone Alt
- +385 1 4611 351
- babe@babe.hr
- Scope
- national
- Description
- Free legal aid and guidance for victims of violence navigating the Croatian judicial process.
Contraception Access
- Regulatory Framework Note
- Prescription-required methods (pill, IUD, implant) are fully legal and regulated and require a licensed gynecologist; emergency contraception is fully legal and regulated and sold directly over-the-counter in pharmacies (with an age restriction), so pricing is included per Rule 5.
IUD
- Access
- Insertion must be performed by a gynecologist after an in-person exam; available through public or private gynecological practices in Zadar.
- Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Cost Note
- The hormonal IUD is provided free under Croatian state health insurance only for specific medical indications (e.g. anemia from heavy periods, thickened endometrium); otherwise it is paid out-of-pocket, and no exact price could be confirmed specifically for Zadar clinics.
Implant
- Access
- Available in principle through a gynecologist in the same way as the IUD, but reliable Zadar-specific availability and pricing data could not be confirmed via search.
- Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Cost Note
- No confirmed pricing found — treat as unverified for this city.
Birth Control Pill
- Access
- Requires a prescription from a gynecologist (public or private); pharmacies in Zadar (marked 'Ljekarna') dispense against the electronic e-recept.
- Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Cost Per Month
- €13
Typical monthly out-of-pocket range is roughly 10.50–16 EUR depending on brand; figure shown is the midpoint. Croatian state insurance does not cover the pill outright, though supplementary (dopunsko) insurance may cover part of the cost for locally insured residents.
Emergency Contraception
- Access
- Sold directly over-the-counter at pharmacies without a prescription for women over 16 (levonorgestrel brand Escapelle) and without prescription generally for ulipristal acetate (ellaOne), following Croatia's 2015 policy change; look for a green 'Ljekarna' sign — Zadar's old-town and city-center pharmacies stock it.
- Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Reimbursement
- Not covered by Croatian state health insurance — paid out of pocket in all cases.
- Age Restriction
- A prescription is required for users under 18 for the ulipristal-acetate (ellaOne) type.
- Cost Note
- No verified specific price for Zadar pharmacies was found at the time of research; do not assume a figure.
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this women's health & safety research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Zadar
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.