General information about our location

Geographical position and surface

Croatia extends from the furthest eastern edges of the Alps in the north-west to the Pannonian lowlands and the banks of the Danube in the east; its central region is covered by the Dinara mountain range, and its southern parts extend to the coast of the Adriatic Sea. The mainland covers 56 594 km2; surface area of territorial waters totals 31 067 km2.

Capital and population

Zagreb (779 145 inhabitants), the economic, traffic, cultural and academic center of the country. 4 437 460 inhabitants; composition of population: the majority of the population are Croats; national minorities are Serbs, Slovenes, Hungarians, Bosnians, Italians, Czechs and others. Multi-party parliamentary republic.

Coastline and highest peak

5 835.3 km, of which 4 058 km comprise the coastlines of islands, solitary rocks and reefs. Number of islands, solitary rocks and reefs: 1 185; the largest islands are Cres and Krk; there are 47 inhabited islands. Highest peak: Dinara: 1 831 m above sea level.

Climate

Croatia has three climate zones; the prevailing climate in the country’s interior is moderately rainy; on the highest peaks, a forest climate with snow falls, while the areas along the Adriatic coast have a pleasantly mild Mediterranean climate with a large number of sunny days; summers are dry and hot, winters mild and wet with significant precipitations.

Average temperatures in the interior: January -2°C to 0°C, somewhat lower at the highest altitudes; August – about 20°C and about 12°C on the highest peaks. Average temperature in the littoral: January – 5°C to 9°C, August – 22°C to 25°C; sea temperature in winter: 2°C; in summer, about 25°C.

Currency

Kuna (1 Kuna = 100 Lipa). There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Lipa coins; 1, 2, 5 and 25 Kuna coins and 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 Kuna banknotes.

Foreign currencies can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices, post offices, travel agencies, hotels, camps, marinas; cheques can be cashed in banks.

Electricity and water

Our guests should note that power outlets in Croatia are the Continental two-pin type and that a socket adapter is therefore required. Voltage of city power grid is 220V, frequency 50Hz.
Tap water is potable throughout Croatia.

The telephone code and time zone

The telephone code for Croatia is +385. GMT plus one hour in winter and GMT plus two in summer.

Travel documentation

A valid passport or some other identification document recognized by international agreement; for certain countries a personal identity card is sufficient (i.e. a document which testifies to the identity and citizenship of the bearer). For more information: Diplomatic consulates of the Republic of Croatia abroad or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Customs regulations

Customs regulations of the Republic of Croatia are harmonized with the standards of E. U. member states, but the value of objects of non-commercial character for personal use allowed to be brought into the country without tax duty or PDV (VAT) is limited to 300 Kuna. The permitted amount of meat and milk products which can be brought in without special veterinary inspection, as well as honey, is limited to 1 kg, while the amount of wine is limited to 5 liters. Foreign and local currency may be freely taken in and out of the country; local currency up to an amount of 15 000 Kuna, but any amount brought in our taken out of the country (whether foreign currency or Kuna) in an amount exceeding a value of 40 000 Kuna, must be declared to the customs officers.

More valuable professional and technical equipment must be declared at the border. A non-resident can freely bring in and take out cheques in Kuna. Refund of tax when leaving the country is made to foreign nationals for individual goods purchased in Croatia for amounts in excess of 500 Kuna, on presentation of a “Tax-cheque” form. This form is provided on request by a sales assistant, when items are purchased. Information: Republic of Croatia Customs Administration.

Purchase tax

Tourists making purchases in Croatia (apart from petroleum derivatives) which exceed 500 Kuna per receipt may reclaim VAT (“PDV”). At point of purchase the sales person will provide on request a form PDV-P, which should be filled out and stamped, on the spot. On leaving Croatia the receipt must be verified by the Croatian Customs service.

A PDV refund in Kuna can be obtained within six months, either at the same shop where the goods were purchased (in which case the tax is refunded immediately), or by posting the verified receipt back to the shop, together with the account number into which the refund should be paid. In this case the refund is dealt with within 15 days of receipt of the claim.

Medical services

There are hospitals and clinics located in all the larger towns and cities, while smaller centers have dispensaries and chemist’s. Foreign visitors are not obliged to pay for medical services if a convention on Social Security has been signed between Croatia and visitors country of origin, i. e. if they have in their possession a certificate stipulated by such a convention confirming their right to health care. Health care (including transport) is used for emergency cases in the manner and according to regulations valid for Croatian citizens covered by Social Security, with the costs of health care being participated in, in the same way (participation and administrative duty).

Persons coming from countries with which no such convention has been signed bear the costs of health services rendered personally.

National holidays

1 January – New Year’s Day;
6 January – Epiphany; Easter Sunday & Easter Monday;
1 May – Labour Day;
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.

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. Some shops work a split-shift system: from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and again from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Many shops stay open until 10 p.m., even on Sundays, especially in summer, while certain shops in the larger cities are open for business 24 hours a day. Public services and business offices work from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

Post and telecommunications

Post offices are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, in smaller centres from 7 a. m. until 2 p.m.; some offices work a split shift. In most towns and tourist centers, on-duty post offices are open on Saturdays and Sundays until 9 p.m.

Postage stamps may also be purchased from newspaper and tobacco kiosks Phone cards are used in all public telephones and may be purchased from post offices and from newspaper and tobacco kiosks.

Environmental protection

Check that you have undertaken all the necessary measures to prevent fire! Do not throw burning objects or inflammable objects into the environment! If you notice a fire, please alert other persons in your surroundings; immediately inform the fire service on telephone number 93 or 112; attempt to extinguish the fire before the arrival of the fire brigade, but do not place yourself or others in danger!

Observe the signs forbidding the lighting of fires! Take care that your parked vehicles do not obstruct fire-fighting approaches and access roads. In case of accidental environmental contamination on land, report it to the National Information Center.

Preventions

Check that you have undertaken all the necessary measures to prevent fire! Do not throw burning objects or inflammable objects into the environment! If you notice a fire, please alert other persons in your surroundings; immediately inform the fire service on telephone number 93 or 112; attempt to extinguish the fire before the arrival of the fire brigade, but do not place yourself or others in danger!

Observe the signs forbidding the lighting of fires! Take care that your parked vehicles do not obstruct fire-fighting approaches and access roads.

Call 112 in the following cases:

• if you need urgent or vital medical assistance;
• for assistance of fire fighting services;
• for assistance of mountain rescue services;
• for urgent or vital veterinary assistance.

If you notice:

• fire
• leakage of hazardous material, pollution of drinking water, springs, streams, rivers or sea

Search and rescue:
In the event of accident on land or at sea, call 112 (number for all emergency situations), and in the event of accident at sea call 112 or 9155 (National Center for search and rescue at sea).

Important telephone numbers

International country code for Croatia: +385
Police: 192
Fire Brigade: 193
Ambulance: 194
Roadside vehicle assistance: 987 (when calling from abroad or by mobile phone, call +385 1 987)
National Search and Rescue Center: 9155
A single countrywide number for all emergency situations: 112
General information: 981
Information local and intercity numbers: 988
Information international numbers: 902
Weather forecast and road conditions: +385 60 520 520
Croatian Automobile Club (HAK): +385 1 46 40 800, Internet: www.hak.hr; e-mail: info@hak.hr

Radio and other news

Croatian Radio broadcasts on several frequencies programs in foreign languages designed for tourists in Croatia. A daily program is broadcast at 20:05 h on channel one, in English in a duration of up to 10 min. On channel two of 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. In the summer season, on channel two of Croatian Radio (98.5 Mhz), in addition to the regular news in the Croatian language there will also be a broadcast on road conditions in the English, German and Italian languages by HAK.

During the same period there will also be broadcasts every hour on the hour; news and reports on the condition of the roads are broadcast directly from the studios of: the Third Program of Austrian Radio, RAI Uno, British Virgin Radio, Radio Prague and the International program of Croatian Radio – Voice of Croatia.

Once each day during the summer Radio Prague reporters inform their colleagues via regional radio stations: Radio Split, Radio Dubrovnik and Radio Rijeka.