About Croatia

Useful information

Are you planning a trip to Croatia? 
If so, you may find some of the following information useful.

 ABOUT CROATIA

The Croatian national territory totals 56.594 km2 with 31.479 km2 of coastal waters for sailing, swimming and diving. 
Croatia occupies the largest area of the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea which, as a part of the Mediterranean Sea, penetrates deep into the European continent. The narrow Dinara Mountain Range separates the country’s Mediterranean region from its central European continental section, which spans from the easterly edges of the Alps in the north west to the shores of the Danube in the East, encompassing the southern part of the fertile Pannonian lowlands.
And if the beauty of such landscapes weren’t enough, here’s a refreshing piece of news: tap water is drinkable across all of Croatia. 

 CLIMATE

Croatia enjoys three different climates: The coast has a pleasant Mediterranean climate with a high number of days of sunshine per year. Summers are hot and dry and winters are mild and wet. Temperatures drop slightly as you move inland, where the climate is continental and moderate. Once you climb above 1,200 m, you’ll be greeted with fresh mountain air and temperatures around 13 ºC in the summer months.

 

CURRENCY

Croatia hopes to join the euro in 2019, but until then the national currency is the kuna, with one kuna equal to 100 lipas. You can exchange money at any of the country’s banks, bureaux de change, post offices and at almost all travel agents, hotels and campsites. The majority of establishments and ATMs will also accept credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners, etc.

 

FREE WIFI

Gone are the days when going away meant going completely off the. Thanks to Croatia’s 300 free WiFi hotpsots, keeping up with family, friends and what’s going on back home has never been easier.

 

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Your trip to Croatia doesn’t mean visa headaches either. In most cases, the only form of ID required is a valid passport. And if you’re an EU citizen, you can also use your national ID card. Croatian customs regulations are almost entirely in harmony with EU standards.

 

INFO ON TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

For more information, please reach any of our diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad or visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia.

http://www.mvep.hr/en/consular-information/travel-information/

 

INFO ON CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Customs regulations in the Republic of Croatia are almost entirely harmonised with EU regulations and standards, however the value of non-commercial items that are brought into the country for personal use and exempt from tax duty or PDV (VAT) is limited to 1,000 HRK (kuna).

Foreign and local currency and cheques may be freely brought in and out of the country by both foreign and Croatian citizens with foreign residences, however transfers of 10,000 euros or more must be declared to a customs official. Valuable professional equipment and other technical devices must also be declared to a customs official when crossing the border.

VAT is refunded to anyone without a permanent or temporary residence in Croatia on individual goods purchased in the country for amounts in excess of 740.00 HRK (Kuna), upon the presentation of a Tax Free Form verified by a customs official during the export of the purchased goods, up to three months from the day of purchase. Foreign nationals must claim tax refunds within six months of the issue of the receipt.

For additional information, please contact the Croatian Customs Administration: www.carina.gov.hr

 

PETS

Pets are welcome in Croatia! If you wish to bring your four-legged
friend with you to Croatia.the only requirement is that they pass a straightforward examination before entering the country.

 

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

1 January – New Year’s Day

6 January – Epiphany

Easter Sunday & Easter Monday

1 May – Labor Day

Corpus Christi

22 June – Anti-Fascist Resistance Day

25 June – Statehood Day

5 August – Victory Day and National Thanksgiving Day

15 August – Assumption Day

8 October – Independence Day

1 November – All Saints’ Day

25-26 December – Christmas Holidays

 

SHOPS AND PUBLIC SERVICES WORKING HOURS
Most shops are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on weekdays and until 2 or 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, during the summer season even longer. Public services and business offices work from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

 

POST OFFICES AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Post offices are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, in smaller centers from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.; some offices work a double shift. In most towns and tourist centers, on-duty post offices are open on Saturdays and Sundays. Stamps and phone cards, that are used for all public telephones, can be purchased from post offices and drug stores. For international calls, that can be made directly from public telephones, dial 00, then the country code followed by the telephone number.

 

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
International country code for Croatia: 385

Ambulance: 194

Fire Department: 193

Police: 192

Roadside vehicle assistance: 1987

National Search and Rescue Center: 195

A single country number for all emergency situations: 112

General information: 18981

Information for international numbers: 11802

Weather forecast and road conditions: 060 520 520

Croatian Automobile Club (HAK): +385 1 4640 800

Croatian angels: +385 62 999 999

 

POWER SUPPLY AND TAP WATER
220 V, 50 Hz Power outlets in Croatia are the Continental two-pin type. Tap water is potable in all parts of Croatia.

 

RADIO NEWS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES DURING THE TOURIST SEASON
Croatian Radio broadcasts on several frequencies in foreign languages designed for tourists in Croatia. A daily program at 8:05 pm. is broadcasted on Channel One of the Croatian Radio in English. On Channel Two of the Croatian Radio, along with regular news, HAK provides reports on road conditions in English, German and Italian and, several times each day, information for sailors. Every hour on the hour there are also news and reports on road conditions directly from the studios of the Third Program of Bavarian Radio, the Third Program of Austrian Radio, RAI Uno and British Virgin Radio. Radio Prague broadcasts a news program at 9 pm.

*** Source: www.croatia.hr