How travelers pay in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia: cards, cash and digital payments
Payment methods in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia are becoming increasingly digital, but travelers do not expect the same choice in all three markets. Cards are important for online bookings, cash is still present when paying on-site, and mobile wallets and domestic payment systems open up additional possibilities. Croatia and Slovenia operate in the European SEPA instant payment framework; Serbia has its own IPS system, and from May 2026, operational SEPA credit transfers in euros.
For travel agencies, airlines, hotels, and technology providers, the choice of payment methods affects the ease of booking, customer trust, and abandonment during payment. At the same time, it is not enough to have the same list of options for each market. This overview separates what is available in the payment infrastructure from what each hotel, carrier, or agency actually offers in its cash register.
How do passengers pay in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia?
For cross-border online sales, international cards form a practical basis. The differences are most noticeable in domestic banking and mobile solutions, point-of-sale payment, and the ability to pay for longer trips across multiple parts of the country. The availability of a particular option always depends on the bank, the payment processor, and the sales channel.
| Method | Croatia | Slovenia | Serbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cards and online reservations | Visa and Mastercard; common basis for online payment | Visa and Mastercard; an important channel for online payment | Visa and Mastercard; DinaCard for the appropriate domestic acceptance |
| Cash | Important in the sales point | Important in the sales point | Important in direct and agency sales |
| Mobile and local solutions | Apple Pay, Google Pay; among the domestic options are KEKS Pay and Aircash | Apple Pay, Google Pay; domestic Flik | Apple Pay, Google Pay; domestic IPS QR |
| Bank transfers | SEPA and SEPA instant in euros | SEPA and SEPA instant in euros | SEPA Credit Transfer in euros; domestic IPS in dinars |
| Flexible billing | Installment options depend on the card and the merchant. | Installments and BNPL depend on the provider's offer. | Instalments depend on the bank and merchant; agencies may also offer payment plans |
The table describes the available directions, not the shares of consumers, nor the guarantee that every retailer accepts every method.
Payment methods in Croatia
Visa and Mastercard are the natural starting point for airline tickets, hotels, and online arrangements. In its review of card transactions for 2025, the Croatian National Bank notes a continued growth in online and contactless payments. Cash remains important for expenses at the destination and in-store purchases; payment data at a physical point of sale should not be copied into online reservations.
Apple Pay and Google Pay shorten the card data entry on compatible devices, if supported by the card issuer and the payment page. KEKS Pay also offers payment in the web store, while Aircash has its own digital wallet and partner acceptance methods. For a travel company, these are options that should be evaluated based on the structure of domestic customers, rather than automatically equating them with international cards. Bank transfer remains useful for offers, group bookings, and deposits.
From October 2025, Croatian banks must enable the sending and receiving of national and cross-border SEPA instant transfers in euros, the HNB states. This opens up faster processing of direct payments, but the agency still needs to link the receipt of money confirmation with the rules for issuing a card or a booking confirmation. Classic installment payment by card is particularly relevant for more expensive arrangements, subject to the bank, card and merchant terms.
Payment methods in Slovenia
In Slovenia, cards play an important role in online travel purchases, while cash has not disappeared from physical sales points. However, the claim that cards are dominant everywhere conceals the difference between online bookings and spending at the destination. Bank transfers in euros, including SEPA instant, provide an additional option for direct billing of bills and deposits. The Bank of Slovenia confirmed full implementation of the euro area instant payment obligations as of October 9, 2025.
Alongside Apple Pay and Google Pay, Slovenia has Flik. Its provider supports payments to businesses both in stores and online. Agencies with many Slovenian customers should check whether Flik fits their booking and refund process. Instalment payments and buy now, pay later (BNPL) can make sense for higher-priced trips, but availability varies by merchant and finance provider.
Payment methods in Serbia
International cards are important for online reservations and incoming guests, and cash remains essential in in-person sales. DinaCard is a domestic card scheme: it can also be used to pay online at merchants that accept it. A tourist company targeting Serbian customers should check whether its card issuer supports DinaCard, rather than assuming that international card acceptance automatically includes it.
IPS of Narodna Banka Srbije enables instant payments in dinars through mobile banking, including scanning the IPS QR code at the point of sale and in online purchases. According to the NBS, in the first quarter of 2026, more than 10 million payments were made using the NBS IPS QR codes, with a total value exceeding 53 billion dinars. This shows the real use of the domestic channel, but does not indicate its share in the purchase of tourism services. Apple Pay and Google Pay are also available with a supported card and bank.
Serbia is included in the SEPA system: The SEPA payment scheme covers the geographical area on May 22, 2025, and the SEPA Credit Transfer for euro transfers is operational since May 5, 2026. The NBS and 18 commercial banks have started operating in this scheme. This is beneficial for cross-border payments between Serbian customers and travel companies in the SEPA area. Domestic IPS in dinars and cross-border SEPA credit transfer in euros are different services. The NBS is separately considering integration with the European TIPS infrastructure for SEPA instant; the operational SEPA Credit Transfer does not mean that all cross-border instant transfers are already available.
Cards or cash: where are the biggest differences?
The cards are widely useful for making remote reservations in all three countries, but cash remains relevant for direct billing and travel costs. The European Central Bank’s 2024 consumer behavior survey shows that cash still plays an important role in the euro area’s physical sales outlets. This is not a measure of the method of payment for airline tickets. In Serbia, domestic IPS and DinaCard add two features that international checkout often does not display. It is therefore most useful to separately measure online reservations, business sales, and checkout during the stay.
Mobile wallets and digital payments
Apple Pay and Google Pay are available in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia, but the customer must have a supported card, device and bank, and the merchant must accept the appropriate method. In the mobile booking process, they can eliminate some of the manual entry. PayPal may be an additional option for the international audience, but its availability on the market does not prove that most travelers use it or that every travel agency should offer it.
KEKS Pay and Aircash have the most direct local significance for Croatian customers, Flik for Slovenian, and IPS QR for Serbian. Their value should be verified through actual orders, fees, payment confirmation, and the refund process. Card-linked wallets and instant bank payments are not the same technical type of transaction.
Payment in installments and Buy Now, Pay Later
For package deals, long-distance travel, family bookings, and more expensive flights, the billing schedule can be just as important as the card choice. Traditional card instalments depend on the bank’s programme, card and merchant agreement. BNPL is a separate financial solution with its own terms of approval and repayment. An advance payment or deposit covers part of the price upfront, with the balance due by the agreed deadline. Agency-set instalments are the agency’s own sales and payment plan, with clear cancellation rules and due dates.
A fare hold or “book now, pay later” option may only hold a fare or seat temporarily. If it does not finance the purchase and split the price into repayments, it should not be called BNPL. Before offering either option, travel companies should check when a ticket must be issued, who bears the risk of non-payment and how refunds are handled.
What does all this mean for travel agencies and other tourism companies?
Card acceptance underpins online sales, but it will not prevent every abandoned booking. An agency selling across the three markets can start with international cards and mobile wallets, then test relevant local methods: KEKS Pay or Aircash for Croatian customers, Flik in Slovenia, and DinaCard and IPS in Serbia. Each option requires processor support, integration with the booking system, and a workable cancellation and refund process.
Hotels value deposits, payment upon arrival, and refunds after cancellation; airlines require quick authorization and card issuance; agencies reconcile partial payments with suppliers. In each country, clearly display the currency, final price, payment terms, cancellation conditions, and refund time. For larger reservations, offer a transparent billing plan if your business model allows for it. For cross-border sales, test the actual completion of the reservation by device, country, and payment method, not just the number of displayed options.
The broader context of margins and charges is discussed in the texts on this topic. how tourist agencies make money and about payment strategies of travel agencies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common payment method in Croatia?
It depends on the channel: cards are the foundation of many online reservations, while cash remains important in a physical point of sale. A percentage for all travel purchases would not accurately describe both situations.
What are the most common payment methods in Slovenia?
For online reservations, cards and bank transfers are important, along with supported mobile wallets and the local Flik. Cash is still relevant for direct payment.
Is cash still important in Serbia?
Yes, especially in direct sales. At the same time, cards, domestic IPS and other digital payment methods are available, so cash should not be presented as the only typical choice.
Can travelers use Apple Pay and Google Pay in Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia?
Yes, both services are available in these markets. For a specific purchase, a supported device, card, bank, and acceptance from the merchant are required.
How important is the installment payment when traveling?
Instalments can help with higher-priced packages and family trips. Their usefulness depends on the price, customer group, financing terms and clear due dates. Card instalments, BNPL and payment schedules set by an agency are different arrangements.
What payment methods should travel agencies offer?
Cards and simple mobile checkout form the initial foundation. Bank transfers, relevant local methods, and clearly defined deposits or installments are added according to the market, the type of product, and the data on completed reservations.
Is Serbia in the SEPA system?
Yes. SEPA Credit Transfer entered the SEPA scheme in May 2025, and SEPA Credit Transfer in euros is operational as of May 5, 2026, with the participation of the NBS and 18 commercial banks. This should not be confused with the domestic IPS in dinars or with the future, separate cross-border SEPA instant connectivity.
Sources
Croatian National Bank, Payment cards and card transactions – 2025.; CNB, instant payments; Bank of Slovenia, instant payments; NBS, the start of SEPA payments; NBS, explanation of the SEPA status; NBS, IPS QR in the first quarter of 2026.; ECB, SPACE 2024; Flik, payments for businesses; Apple, availability of Apple Pay.
