Coronavirus is clearly not going away anywhere in the world anytime soon. While Croatia experienced a brief relief from COVID-19, it’s back with a vengeance.

It is vital that we all participate in preventing the spread of the virus and protecting the most vulnerable among us by social distancing, wearing face masks and keeping our hands clean more than we would have prior to the virus. It’s a new world, guys.

To ensure you are prepared, stock up on face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer. In this guide, we cover all the places where you can purchase this personal protective equipment within Croatia. We also include where you can pick up a mask for free in the city of Zagreb.

#1 Protective face masks (Maske za lice)

When buying protective masks, you can choose between 4 types of masks:

• Surgical one-use masks called “medicinske/kirurške maske”
  • Used to protect others from respiratory droplets
• Reusable anti-viral masks
  • Contain copper oxide with antiviral and antibacterial properties
• Reusable cloth masks called “maske kućne/domaće izrade”
  • Used to slow down the flow of breath or the transfer of respiratory droplets
• FFP2/FFP3 masks called “filtrirajuće polumaske s ventilom i bez ventila”
  • Used for protection from solid and liquid aerosol particles in healthcare facilities

You can get more information about the types of masks and their usage in this guide from HZJZ. All of them can be bought in person and online. Below is a list of all the places you can purchase face masks.

Physical stores

Face masks can be bought at:

• BIPA stores – View locations
• DM stores – View locations
• KONZUM stores – View locations
• Narodne Novine – View locations
• New Yorker (usually located within shopping malls) – View locations
• Pharmacies (called “ljekarna”)
• Tommy stores – View locations
• Supermarkets

Anti-viral masks that destroy the COVID-19 virus are now available at pharmacies in Croatia. The price is 40 kuna per mask. These masks look like classical surgical masks but they contain copper oxide with antiviral and antibacterial properties. These masks can be re-used until they are physically destroyed or sprinkled with water. They can be worn up to 3 hours at a time. After that, they must be put on a flat surface for 40 minutes to destroy the virus.

Web shops

Below is a list of web shops when you can purchase face masks:

• AboutYou – Reusable cotton masks
• Bazzar.hr – Surgical one-use masks, cloth masks, FFP2 masks
• Biofarm.hr – Reusable cotton mask
• Delmerion.hr – Reusable masks made of spandex and polyester
• Diadema.hr – Reusable cotton masks
• Ethereal – Reusable cotton masks
• Git.hr – Reusable cotton masks (including Croatian checks!)
• Hajduk – Because of course Hajduk is selling a face mask (they also sell these other ridiculous things)
• Medikor – Surgical one-use masks, reusable cotton masks
• MTČ – Reusable cotton masks
• Pamux – Reusable cotton masks
• Revenant Rags – Reusable masks made of recycled materials
• Shipgratis.hr – Surgical one-use masks, cloth masks, FFP2 masks
• Varteks.com – Reusable cotton masks

Free masks in Zagreb

Free masks from the city of Zagreb

The city of Zagreb gives out free protective masks to its citizens with a limit of 2 masks per citizen.

Protective masks can be picked up between 8:00 and 20:00 at the local neighborhood boards within Zagreb, called “mjesni odbor”. You must provide a osobna or resident card that shows your address.

Below is a list of the mjesni odbor in Zagreb. Click on your neighborhood to find a sub list of local boards with their respective office where you can pick up masks.

• • Brezovica
  • Črnomerec
  • Donja Dubrava
  • Donji grad
  • Gornja Dubrava
  • Gornji grad – Medveščak
  • Maksimir
  • Novi Zagreb – istok
  • Novi Zagreb – zapad
  • Peščenica – Žitnjak
  • Podsljeme
  • Podsused – Vrapče
  • Sesvete
  • Stenjevec
  • Trešnjevka – jug
  • Trešnjevka – sjever
  • Trnje

Free masks from the Croatian Red Cross

Users of the public transit can get a free mask from the Croatian Red Cross. You must provide valid transport ticket for Zagreb’s public transport to get a mask. Locations include:

• Ilica 223
• Siget 18a

Free masks from Dobri Dom

Users of the public kitchen “Dobri dom” can receive 2 free protective masks during lunch time (from 11:00 to 13.30) at these addresses:

• Alfirevićeva 6, Zagreb
• Branimirova 35, Zagreb
• Cerska 3, Zagreb

#2 Protective and plastic gloves

Protective gloves can be purchased both in person and online.

Physical stores

Protective gloves can be purchased at:

• BIPA stores – View locations
• DM stores – View locations
• Interspar and Spar stores – View locations
• Pharmacies (ljekarna)
• Supermarkets
• Tommy stores – View locations

Web shops

Here are some web shops where you can buy protective gloves:

• Apis Market
• Bazzar.hr
• Ostani Zdrav
• Schachermayer

#3 Hand sanitizer

Hand sanitizers can be purchased both in person and online, pretty much at any retail shop. It’s usually in a big display at the front when you enter.

Physical stores

Hand sanitizers can be purchased pretty much everywhere these days, but here are some specific stores where you can find it:

• All supermarkets
• BIPA stores – View locations
• DM stores – View locations
• KONZUM stores – View locations
• Pharmacies (called “ljekarna”)
• Ribola stores – View locations
• Tommy stores – View locations

Web shops

Below is a list of sites where you can purchase hand sanitizer online:

• Bazzar.hr
• Bioterra.hr
• Biovitalis.hr
• ekupi.hr
• Medivita

Taking care of yourself doesn’t just protect yourself, it protects others around you. Make sure you have all of these items on hand and that you use them when appropriate.

More COVID-19 resources for people in Croatia

We have prepared a complete guide to coronavirus in Croatia in case you or someone you know thinks they may be infected. It includes all the resources for both short-stay tourists and long-term residents.

If you are a foreigner stuck in Croatia due to coronavirus, we have a useful guide on how to handle reporting your extended stay to the police.

For residents of Croatia, we have a guide on all of the tax relief and economic measures implemented by the government due to COVID-19 epidemic. View this guide here. We update it every week with fresh information. If you need help applying for a program, just contact us.