Croatia - At a Glance

Official Name: Republic of Croatia / Republika Hrvatska
Language: The official language is Croatian. In areas of ethnic minorities, Serbian, Italian, Hungarian, and numerous other languages are spoken.
Area: At 56,542 km² (21,831 sq. miles), Croatia is about half as large as Iceland and over six times smaller than Finland.
Capital City: Zagreb with approx. 780,000 inhabitants.
Form of Government: Presidential Republic with Multiparty System
Independence: June 25, 1991
Memberships: CEI, FAO, IAEA, LO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, UNWTO, WHO, WTO, and others.
In October 2007, Croatia was selected for temporary membership in the UN Security Council. Entry into the European Union (EU) and acceptance into NATO are on the way.

Geographical Location: Croatia is assigned to southeastern Central Europe, but due to its Mediterranean influences is also counted as part of Southern Europe. Bordering neighbor states are Slovenia in the northwest, Hungary in the north, and Serbia in the east. The longest border is found in the southeast, where Croatia shares over 900 kilometers (559.2 miles) of borderland with Bosnia and Herzegovina. In contrast, its shortest border is in the South with Montenegro, is just 24 kilometers (14.9 miles) long. The west and south offer access to the Adriatic Sea.
Topographically, the abundant hills and mountains of Croatia are divided into three ecoregions: Lower Croatia and Pannonian Basin, an expansive, fertile plateau along with the Slavonic island mountains; the limestone plateaus and mountain ranges (Karst) of the inner area of the Dinarian Alps; and the coast of the Adriatic Sea with the Istrian and Dalmatian peninsulas as well as islands off the coast.
Coastal Length and Islands: The Croatian coastline extends for 5,835 km² (2,253 mi²) including the insular coasts. Of this, 1,777 km² (686.1 mi²) is located on the mainland and 4,085 km² on the islands. The number of islands is 1,185, of which 47 are inhabited.

Climate: The weather conditions in the country's interior are marked by a moderate continental climate, and at higher altitudes, highland climate. Conditions on the Adriatic Coast are distinguished by Mediterranean climate.
While hot, dry summers and mild winters dominate the coastal sunny regions, winters in the interior are cold and the summers are hot. The average temperatures in the coastal region range from 5-10°C (41-50°F) in winter up to 22-26°C (71.6°C-78.8°F) in summer. In the capital city of Zagreb, the average daytime temperatures average 27°C in July and 2°C in January. Most precipitation falls in the months of November and December.

Currency and Financial Institutions: The Croatian Kuna is used for payment. 1 Kuna (HRK) = 100 Lipa (lp). 1 Euro is equal to approximately 7.40 Kuna (as of January 2009). There are numerous possibilities for exchanging foreign currency such as banks - closed on Saturdays and Sundays - exchange offices, post offices, at most travel agencies, hotels, as well as in yacht ports and camping grounds. Fees are charged at exchange offices. International credit cards can be used throughout the country. Cash withdrawals are possible at most automated teller machines with an EC Master Card or credit card. Visa cards are not accepted by all banks.

Shopping prices are often displayed in Euros, but one must pay in the local Croatian currency, the Kuna.

Gratuities (tips) are very common. Satisfaction with restaurant service, for example, should be compensated by the guest as long as a service charge has not already been included. This means rounding the bill up. Taxi drivers and tour guides also expect to be tipped.

Should funds become tight or run out completely, a traveler has the possibility of authorising the transfer of funds from one's home country within a few hours. This absolutely requires contact with a trustworthy person in one's home country. Service providers in the area of "speedy money transfer" are Western Union and Deutsche Reisebank. The process for doing so can be explained by the respective financial institutions. You can find more information about this topic at the website of your home country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, State Department, etc.).

Time Zone: Central European Time (UTC +1). This is also valid during the summertime, thus there are no changes in standard time during the year.
Population and Population Groups: Croatia counts around 4.44 million inhabitants. The population structure is characterised by a multicultural mixture. Croats are most strongly represented at approx. 90%, followed by Serbs at 4.5%. The remaining 5.9% are divided among Bosnians, Hungarians, Slovenians, Czechs, Albanians, Italians, Romanians, Montenegrans, Macedonians, and Germans.

Health: There are no immunisations prescribed. However, immunisations against tetanus, diphtheria, and hepatitis A are recommended, and for stay of longer than 4 weeks, also against hepatitis B and rabies. In the past there have been cases of "bird flu", a highly pathogenic form of avian influenza.
Some regions have seasonally dependent transmission of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) through tick bites.
The health services of your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs can provide data sheets and advice on the topics of travel and heath. You should also be able to find essential information on avian influenza and any protective measures you may need to take.
In any case, you should consult a specialist prior to travel and address any concerns you may have about possible epidemiological developments or general health issues.

Safety Advice: In the aftermath of recent history and struggles until 1995, some regions still possess the potential for danger due to unexposed land mines.
The areas affected are East Slavonia (approx. 30 to 50 km [18.6 to 31.1 mi] before the border with Serbia and near the Hungarian border, primarily around Vukovar and Vinkovci); West Slavonia (the areas of Daruvar, Pakrac, and Virovitica); the western and southwestern border regions with Bosnia and Herzegovina (south of Sisak and Karlovac, east of Ogulin, Otacac, Gospic, the eastern city limits of Zadar and in the hinterlands of the coast between Senj and Split as well as in the mountains southeast of Dubrovnik).
More information on the topic of mine hazards can be found at the website of the Croatian Mine Information System "Portal Hrvatski centar za Razminiranje".

Duties: Croatian regulations are commensurate with EU standards.
Fundamentally, travelers are obligated to report all goods when entering or leaving the country. The customs officer generally requests travelers to make their declaration orally. When doing so, all goods carried should be named, including those which may potentially be classified as duty-free or not subject to declaration requirements.
This includes e.g. cameras and laptops, and other items of value which will be taken with you after your stay in the Republic of Croatia.

Prohibitions: Similar to other European countries, in October of 2008, Croatia passed a law which restricts the use of tobacco products. Smoking in health and educational establishments is forbidden. On April 1, 2009, a smoking ban takes effect which prohibits smoking in all public establishments, including bars, cafes, and restaurants.

Traffic: Automobile documentation: when entering Croatia, a driver's licence, vehicle registration certificate, and green insurance card are required for the automobile. Boat licences and sailing permits are also recognised.
It is also recommended that you drive with your lights on during the day. According the new law in June of 2008 regarding Safety in Street Traffic, the allowable Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level is 0.5%. Exceptions to this are occupational drivers and young people up to 24 years of age, for whom the acceptable level is 0.0%.

Tourism: Whether cultural-historical architectural works, natural landscapes, or the splendor of beaches and islands, Croatia is distinguished by a multitude of places worth seething and appealing attractions, making it a sought-after travel destination for decades.
Forays into tourism were made in the 90s, and today tourism has secured its position and takes a leading role in the service sector. Its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 20% in 2007. This has also been reflected in reports by the international media. Croatia has been decorated as a holiday destination - it was selected as "Golden Travel Destination of the Year 2005" by French tourism workers, and was named "Destination of the Year 2006" by the American magazine National Geographic.

Transportation: Croatia possesses a well-developed transport network which can be used by travelers within the country to pursue various routes. It belongs to one of the most rapidly developing economic sectors in Croatia. Projects in the area of highway expansion are crucial to this. Croatia has over 27,000 km (16,777 mi) of road networks at its disposal. For most highways, a toll is charged. Important travel connections lead from Zagreb to Rijeka and Split. Of particular significance is the coastal street along the Croatian Adria.
The most significant airports for international tourism lie in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Split. Available airlines destinations in the inland include, among others, Rijeka, Osijek, Brac, Pula, Zadar, and Losinj. Additionally, the rail / train and bus networks as well as ship and ferry traffic are also worthy of mention. The motorbus network connects all corners of the country and commands regular international connections.
Seaports are found in Rijeka, Split, Zadar, Pula, Šibenik, Ploče and Dubrovnik, among others. In addition to international and special lines such as those which go to Bari, Ancona, and Venice, there are numerous smaller ferry lines which travel between the Croatian islands.

Communication and Contact

Good travel preparation also includes a compilation of important country-specific and general addresses and emergency numbers.

Telephone: Telephone cards are required for all public telephone booths; these are purchasable in post offices, at newspaper stands, and in hotels.
Emergency Numbers: Police 92, Accident Rescue 94, Search and Sea Disaster Rescue 9155. Common number for all cases of emergency 112, automobile break-down 987 (when calling from abroad or via cell phone dial 00385 1 987.
Other Numbers: General Information 981, Domestic Telephone Directory 988, International Telephone Directory 902, Croatian Auto Club (HAK) 00385 1 4640 800.

Cellular Mobile Telephony: The telecommunications market has been in a state of constant development since the mid-90s, primarily with regard to cellular phone networks. The number of cellular phone contracts has already surpassed the country's population. In 2007, there were 5.035 million contract holders.

For users of prepaid customers there are some roaming restrictions. Prepaid cards are sold by various resellers who offer special rates for international use. For a longer stay in Croatia, it is also worthwhile to purchase a local prepaid card - no contractual requirements, credit for making calls and recharging as well as the same personal telephone number in your host country.

Internet: There are internet cafes all over the country, predominantly in Zagreb and larger cities. Broadband internet is not yet available to all parts of the country, but is constantly being upgraded.
Hours of Operation: Most businesses are open from Monday to Friday, from 7:00 (am) to 20:00 (8:00pm), Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 (am) to 14:00 (2:00pm). In the summer months, especially in the larger cities and tourist centers, longer hours of operation are common. Post offices and banks are open on Monday to Friday from 7:00 (am) to 13:00 (1:00pm), and also on Sundays in larger cities.