Croatia Information

Coastal Croatia

The Republic of Croatia is located on the Adriatic Sea in Central and Southeast Europe and shares borders with Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. Some of the best-known resort towns along the Dalmatian coast are Dubrovnik, Split, Porec and Trogir, all of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The capital of Croatia is Zagreb

Time Zone – Croatia lies in the GMT +1 zone. The zone changes to GMT +2 as of the last Saturday in March and lasts until the last Sunday in October.

Climate - Northern Croatia has a continental climate; central Croatia has a mountain climate of variable intensity. The winter temperatures range from -1 °C to – 30 °C in the mountain zone, from 0 °C to 5 °C in the continental area and from 5 °C to 10 °C on the coast. The summer temperatures range from 22 °C to 26 °C in the continental part of the country, from 15 °C to 20 °C in the mountain area and from 26 °C to 30 °C on the coast.

Population and Religion - 4.4 million. Croats make up most of the population. National minorities include Serbs, Bosnians, Italians, Hungarians, Albanians, Slovenians, Czechs and Slovaks. Predominant religions in Croatia are Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Islam, Judaism and Protestant.

Languages - The official language is Croatian although you will find English is also spoken by many Croats and often also Italian and German.

Currency - The Croatian currency is the Croatian kuna (abbreviation kn, international abbreviation HRK). The kuna consists of 100 lipa(lp).

Credit Cards - All major credit cards are widely accepted.

Banking Hours - Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, post offices and at most tourist agencies, hotels and camping grounds. Banking hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays banks are open until 1 p.m. In the larger cities some banks are also open on Sundays. ATMs are widely available.

Dubrovnik

Passport and Entry Requirements – Australian and NZ travellers must hold a valid passport and can stay without a visa for up to 90 days.

Australian Embassy
Centar Kaptol, 3rd floor
Nova Ves 11
10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Telephone: (385 1) 4891 200
Facsimile: (385 1) 4891 216
Email: AustEmb.Zagreb@dfat.gov.au
Opening hours of the Embassy (Monday to Friday): 8.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.

New Zealand Consulate
c/o Hrvatska matica iseljenika, Trg Stjepana Radica 3, P.P. 241 Postal Code:1000 Zagreb, Croatia
Phone:+385-1-6151382
Fax:+385-1-6151382
Email:nzealandconsulate@matis.hr

Health – No vaccinations required unless arriving from infected areas. Tick-borne encephalitis, a disease preventable with a three-shot vaccination series, is found throughout inland Croatia but is not prevalent along the coast.

Duty Free - Travellers are exempted from duty for the following goods:

200 pcs of cigarettes, or 100 pcs of cigarillos, or 50 pcs of cigars, or 250 g of tobacco
1 litre of strong alcohol drinks
2 litres of liqueur, or dessert-or sparking wines
2 litres of ordinary table wines
perfumes up to 50 g
250 ml of cologne

Voltage and Plugs - 220 V, 50Hz. Electric plugs have two cylindrical contacts or three contacts for devices that are grounded. If you need adapters or transformers, you will find them in larger stores or department stores.

Phone & Internet - The international calling code of Croatia is +385
Information on local and long distance telephone numbers: 988
Information on international telephone numbers: 902

ADSL is widely available and all cities have internet cafes.

Safety and Dress – Violent crime is rare and travellers are rarely singled out. Keep passports and valuables safe. There are no specific dress codes that apply in Croatia.

Tipping – Service charges are already included in your restaurant bill however, feel free to leave a tip – locals usually round the bill. Tour guides on excursions expect to be tipped and a tip of 15-20KN would be quite acceptable. Shop prices are fixed so there is no chance of bargaining however in street markets it is quite acceptable to barter.

Medical Services – Health facilities in Croatia are generally of a high standards. Some medicines are in short supply in public hospitals and clinics, however, the number of private medical and dental practitioners is substantial, and private pharmacies stock a variety of medicines not readily available through public health facilities. Croatian health care facilities, doctors, and hospitals usually expect immediate cash payment for health services and generally will not accept credit cards. Foreign tourists do not pay for medical services if the Health Care Convention was signed between Croatia and the country they come from.

Water - Tap water is safe to drink.

Alcohol - You must be 18 years or older to buy or consume alcohol.

Entertainment - Croatian culture absorbs the influences of ancient histories and civilizations and those of its European neighbours while also influenced by contemporary art and culture to produce a fascinating blend of traditions and the modern lifestyle.

Split

Shopping – Shopping is relatively well-priced and some items tax-free. Foreign citizens who spend more than 500 kuna are entitled to a VAT refund by handing to the customs authorities on departure from Croatia the filled in and stamped appropriate form “Tax cheque”.

Shops and department stores are open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or to 3 p.m. A smaller number of stores close between noon and 4 p.m. Many stores are also open on Sundays, especially in the summer, and a smaller number in the larger cities are open 24 hours a day. Public services and companies usually work from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Public Holidays, Celebrations & Festivals:

• January 1 – New Year’s Day
• January 6 – Epiphany
• Day after Easter – Easter Monday
• May 1 – Labor Day
• Corpus Christi – not a fixed holiday
• June 22 – Day of the Anti-Fascist Struggle
• June 25 – Statehood Day
• August 5 – Homeland Gratitude Day
• August 15 – Assumption
• October 8 – Independence Day
• November 1 – All Saints’ Day
• December 25-26 – Christmas holidays