The border between Croatia and Hungary is a predominantly flat, open frontier largely traced by the course of the Drava River. It marks a transition from the rolling hills of southern Hungary to the fertile agricultural plains of Slavonia in eastern Croatia. As Hungary is a full member of the Schengen Area and Croatia is not (for land borders, pending full implementation), this is an external Schengen border where you will encounter full passport and customs controls. There are about seven major road crossings connecting the two countries. The busiest by far is the Goričan-Letenye crossing on the main E65/E71 motorway, which connects Zagreb and Budapest and carries a significant volume of tourist and commercial traffic.
Other key crossings include those at Terezino Polje and Donji Miholjac. The region is known for its thermal spas on both sides of the border and a shared history under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This legacy can still be seen in the architecture of many towns and cities in both southern Hungary and Croatia’s Slavonia region. Be prepared for potential queues, especially during the summer holiday season when many European tourists are heading south to the Croatian coast.