Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What is it like to shop for food in Croatia and what grocery stores are there? During our many trips to the country, we have shopped several times in Croatian grocery stores – not least when we have traveled by camper and cooked our own food.

In the larger grocery stores you will find most of what you need, but of course there are also differences compared to Sweden. Here we share our experiences, give tips on regular grocery stores and tell you about Croatian products that can be fun to look out for.

What is it like to shop for food in Croatia?

Going into grocery stores when you travel is actually a pretty fun way to get to know a country. The shelves reveal both what people eat on a daily basis and what flavors and ingredients are typical of the country. And of course, sometimes you stand there with a package in your hand and have absolutely no idea what it contains.

We have shopped for food many times during our travels in Croatia, not least when we traveled by camper and cooked a lot of food ourselves. In larger grocery stores you will find most of what you need, while smaller stores may of course have a more limited selection.

At the same time, it's the differences from home that are fun. Here, there are long shelves of ajvar and pickled peppers, local cheeses and charcuterie, and products that we might not have thought of buying at home.

Local foods to look out for

Paprika, paprika, paprika! It was one of the things we reacted to during our first longer stays in Croatia. Paprika spice could be sold in huge bags, the shelves of ajvar and pickled paprika seemed to never end, and paprika flavor appeared on everything from chips to various meat products.

Ajvar is still one of the products we like to buy when we travel in Croatia. The classic condiment is made primarily from roasted peppers and is suitable for grilled meat, sausages or as a side dish for other dishes.

Other Croatian products to look out for are local olive oils, cheeses and charcuterie. The air-dried ham prosciutto is a classic, and depending on where in the country you are, you can find different regional specialties.

The wine selection can also be exciting. Croatia has a long tradition of wine production and in grocery stores you will often find Croatian wines from different parts of the country.

READ MORE: Croatian Food – 25 Classic Dishes You Must Try

What can be difficult to understand in Croatian grocery stores?

One of the challenges of shopping for food abroad is, of course, the language. It's not always easy to determine what's in a can or package when you don't recognize the words.

We have experienced this not least on the dairy shelves. Is that cream, yogurt, crème fraiche, cream cheese or something else entirely? Nowadays, of course, it is much easier to quickly translate a label with your mobile phone, but a little detective work may still be required.

Meat can also be tricky because cuts and the way they are presented can be different from what we are used to at home.

And then the opposite happens: you suddenly find Swedish text on a package in the middle of Croatia, and then you are immediately surprised...

Meat, fish and fresh produce

Larger grocery stores usually have a good selection of fruit, vegetables, meat and other fresh produce. The range varies between stores and between different parts of the country.

When we travel by motorhome, we find it extra fun to shop for things we can cook ourselves. For example, we like to cook fish, and it's always exciting to peek into the fish counter.

Also take the opportunity to look for different local ingredients. Croatia spans areas with quite different food traditions, and the offerings on the Adriatic coast can therefore differ quite a bit from what you find further inland.

Grocery shopping with a campervan in Croatia

When traveling by motorhome, grocery shopping becomes a pretty important part of everyday life. We tend to make larger purchases when we pass through a larger town and then supplement as we go.

Larger supermarkets are often easier to reach by motorhome as there may be adequate parking spaces. In historic city centres and smaller coastal towns the situation may be the opposite – the streets may be narrow and the parking spaces small.

One tip is to take the opportunity to shop in bulk when you find an easily accessible store with good parking. Then smaller local stores and markets can provide supplements and those more fun holiday purchases.

Markets and local grocery stores

Supermarkets are convenient, but if you want to discover more of the local food culture, it is also nice to visit markets and smaller grocery stores.

At markets you can find fruit and vegetables, and sometimes cheese, charcuterie, olive oil and other local products. What is available varies of course depending on the location and season.

We like this combination: shopping for practical things in bulk at the grocery store and then keeping our eyes open for local products as we travel further.

Groceries to bring home from Croatia

The grocery store can also be a great place to look for edible souvenirs. Instead of just another gadget, you can come home with something that reminds you of the flavors of your trip. Here are some suggestions:

• Ajvar and other paprika products
• Croatian olive oil
• Honey, marmalade and other local delicacies
• Croatian wine

Which foods you are allowed to bring across the border depends of course on where you are travelling to, so check current import regulations if you are unsure.