Croatia

The climate of Croatia is diverse. The continental part has a generally temperate continental climate, but with summers that are often very hot (average temperature: January -10°C to 5°C; August 19°C to 39°C), while mountainous areas at their highest elevation have a colder, alpine-like climate, and have the most precipitation. The coastal part has a Mediterranean climate which is on average warmer, but also more even throughout the year, and not normally marked by prolonged extreme heat (average temperature: January 6°C to 11°C; August 21°C to 39°C). This is because the temperature changes are moderated by the Adriatic sea. Still, the area is not immune to heatwaves which may cause wildfires to erupt; they are managed by firefighters and rarely cause significant damage to communities. Mediated by the local topography, specific seaside areas experience a dry and cool wind forcefully descending from the mountains, called bura; it can adequately be summed up as unpleasant (upon direct exposure), however it has a positive corollary in that it brings in high-quality mountain air. Dalmatia in particular has exceptionally high annual sun, especially on the islands, with 2700 hours of sunlight per year on the record.

Croatia's geography is diverse with flat agricultural plains along the Hungarian border (Central European area), low mountains and highlands near the Adriatic coastline, and islands. There are 1,246 islands; the largest ones are Krk and Cres. The highest point is Dinara at 1,830 m.

In ancient times, what is now Croatia was part of the regions of Illyria and Dalmatia. This region came under Roman control and became a province known as Illyricum from 27 BC. In the 5th century, Rome was declining and the Ostrogoths seized an opportunity to rule the area for a short period. The Avars arrived soon after, incorporating the land into the Avar Khaganate.

In the early 7th century the Croats came and defeated the Avars, and formed two duchies: Croatia and Pannonia. The establishment of the Trpimirović Dynasty ca 850 strengthened the Dalmatian Croat Duchy, which together with the Pannonian principality became a kingdom in 925 under King Tomislav. The independent Croatian kingdom lasted until 1102 when Croatia, after a series of dynastic struggles entered into a personal union with Hungary, with a Hungarian king ruling over both countries. In 1526, after the Battle of Mohács, in which Hungary suffered a catastrophic defeat against the Ottoman Turks, Croatia severed its relationship with Hungary and its parliament (Sabor) voted to form a new personal union with the Habsburg Monarchy. Croatia remained an autonomous kingdom within the Habsburg state (and later Austria-Hungary) until the empire's dissolution following its defeat in World War I.

In 1918, a short-lived State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (carved out of south Slavic parts of Austria-Hungary) joined the Kingdom of Serbia to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. The new state was unitarist in character, erasing all historical borders within its new territorial division, which resulted in a strong movement for more autonomy for Croatia. This was achieved in 1939, only days before the start of World War II, when Croatia was granted broad autonomy within Yugoslavia as Banovina of Croatia. When Axis powers Germany and Italy invaded Yugoslavia in 1941, the state was dissolved, parts of it annexed to Germany and Italy, and puppet governments installed in Croatia.

During the war, a strong resistance movement was formed, led by communist leader Josip Broz "Tito" (whose father was a Croat), which gained broad popular support. The Ustaše, which were Croat ultranationalists, collaborated with the Nazis and formed the Independent State of Croatia — a puppet state in all but name. Modelled on Nazi Nuremberg laws, the NDH in April 1941 passed legislation against “non-Aryan” Jews and Roma, and later committing genocide on them and the Serbs. The Jasenovac concentration camp was founded in 1941 on the initiative by the governing Ustaše regime, and other concentration camps followed. Throughout the NDH's existence, more than 30,000 Jews (more than three-quarters of the pre-war Jewish population) and 200,000 Serbs were murdered by the Ustaše.

By early 1945, the Ustaše withdrew towards Zagreb with German and Cossack troops. They were overpowered and the advance of Tito's Partisan forces, joined by the Soviet Red Army, caused a mass retreat of the Ustaše towards Austria. The British Army, however, refused them entry and turned them over to the Partisan forces, starting the Bleiburg repatriations. Although NDH (1941–1945) was part of Croatia's history, current Constitution of Croatia does not officially recognise the Independent State of Croatia as the historical or legitimate predecessor state of the current Croatian republic.

After the end of World War II, the Constitution of 1946 made the People's Republic of Croatia and the People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina two of the six constituent republics of the new Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Communist Yugoslavia was formed with Tito becoming "president for life". Tito ruled with a strong hand, using political repression and secret police to quell any separatist sentiments, with the official motto of the new country being "Brotherhood and Union". Still, Yugoslavia didn't belong to the Warsaw Pact, and broke off political ties with the USSR in 1948. It was by far the most open socialist country in Europe, and its citizens enjoyed more civil liberties and a higher living standard than the rest of the Communist bloc.

After Tito's death in 1980, the weakening of political repression led to a period of political instability. Faced with the rise of nationalist sentiment and the fall of communism in eastern Europe in 1989 and 1990, the first free elections were held in Yugoslavia in almost 45 years. In January 1990, the Communist Party fragmented along national lines, with the Croatian and Slovenian delegations demanding a looser federation, while the Serbian side, headed by Slobodan Milošević, opposed this leading to a rise in inter-ethnic tensions. In late April and early May 1990, the first multi-party elections were held in Croatia, with Franjo Tuđman's win and constitutional changes in 1990 transforming the Socialist Republic of Croatia into the Republic of Croatia. Nationalist Serbs in Croatia boycotted the Croatian legislature and seized control of Serb-inhabited territory, setting up road blocks and voting for those areas to become autonomous. The Serb "autonomous oblasts" would soon become increasingly intent on achieving independence from Croatia. This led to open war in Croatia and later in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and by mid-1991, the Croatian War of Independence had already started.

Croatia was first recognised as an independent state on 26 June 1991 by Slovenia, which declared its own independence on the same day as Croatia. But by 29 June, the Croatian and Slovenian authorities agreed to a three-month moratorium on the independence declaration, in an effort to ease tensions. On 8 October 1991, the Croatian Parliament severed all remaining ties declaring their independence from Yugoslavia. Serb-controlled areas of Croatia were part of the three "Serb Autonomous Oblasts" later known as the Republic of Serbian Krajina, bulk of which would not be under Croatian control until 1995.

Croatian independence was internationally recognised in January 1992, when both the European Economic Community and the United Nations granted Croatia diplomatic recognition, and the country was accepted into the United Nations shortly thereafter. The war ended four years later, in 1995, with a decisive Croatian victory in Operation Storm. Present day borders of Croatia were established when the remaining Serb-held areas of eastern Slavonia were restored to Croatia pursuant to the Erdut Agreement of November 1995, with the process concluded in January 1998. The anniversary of Operation Storm is celebrated as Thanksgiving Day in Croatia every August 5.

After a period of accelerated economic growth in the late 1990s and 2000s Croatia joined NATO in 2009 and the European Union in 2013. In 2023, Croatia became part of the Schengen Agreement and adopted the euro as the official currency. Croatia today is a functioning liberal democracy, with a free market system and a robust welfare state.

January 1: New Year's Day

January 6: Epiphany

Easter (according to the Gregorian calendar)

Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter)

May 1: International Workers' Day

June 22: Anti-Fascist Struggle Day

June 25: Statehood Day

August 5: Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders

August 15: Assumption of Mary

October 8: Independence Day

December 25: Christmas

Explore Croatia

Croatia is a member of the Schengen Agreement. See Travelling around the Schengen Area for more information on how the scheme works, what countries are members and what the requirements are for your nationality. In summary:

There are normally no immigration controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty; there may be such controls temporarily, such as in connection with important events and various crises.

The operators may carry out identity checks before passengers board international flights, ferries or trains, even between Schengen countries.

Citizens of the EEA countries and Switzerland do not need visas to travel in the Schengen area, and may stay up to 90 days with no requirements other than having a valid ID card or passport. See European Union#EEA citizens.

Normal visas granted by any Schengen member are valid in all countries that have signed and implemented the treaty (with exceptions for some overseas territories). The granting country may offer additional rights (such as longer stays or right to work) that apply only locally.

More information about visa exemptions and the visa application procedure is available at the website of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs [1].

Croatia has international airports in (descending in importance):

Zagreb (ZAG IATA) as the capital city is the hub for Croatia Airlines, with conventional-carrier flights to the other major cities of Europe, plus Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Dubai and Doha.

Dubrovnik (DBV IATA) largely serve the tourist trade, with many seasonal flights across Europe. They're rather quiet in winter after the daily flight to Zagreb has departed.

Split (SPU IATA), Zadar (ZAD IATA), Pula (PUY IATA), Rijeka (RJK IATA) and Osijek (OSI IATA). See also individual city pages "Get in".

Airports in neighbouring countries are sometimes a better option. These include Ljubljana, Graz, Trieste and Venice Marco Polo.

Conversely, Dubrovnik is sometimes used as an airport for Montenegro.

The rail network passenger lines are operated by Hrvatske Željeznice (HŽ) Putnički Prijevoz (PP). They connect all major Croatian cities, except Dubrovnik (you can take a train to Split then take one of the frequent buses or the more scenic ferry to Dubrovnik, the train station is at the pier). There are direct lines from Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia. There are indirect lines from almost all other European countries.

From neighbouring countries, there are EuroCity, InterCity and EuroNight rail services:

From Germany: One night train per dayː Munich–Salzburg–Ljubljana–Zagreb (tickets & timetable online at https://tickets.oebb.at/en)

From Austria: One daily EC train from Vienna, additional seasonal overnight trains (tickets & timetable online at https://tickets.oebb.at/en)

From Hungary: Two daily EC trains and additional seasonal overnight trains (tickets & timetable online at https://jegy.mav.hu/)

From Switzerlandː One night train per dayː Zurich–Zagreb (tickets & timetable online at https://tickets.oebb.at/en)

From Slovakia and Czech Republicː Seasonal overnight trains from RegioJet and ZSSK

Ploče is on Bosnia's rail network, but has no onward connections to the rest of the Croatian rail network.

No direct trains operate between Zagreb, Belgrade and Sarajevo.

To enter Croatia, a driver's license, an automobile registration card and vehicle insurance documents are required. If you need roadside assistance, you should dial 1987. The following speeds are permitted:

50 km/h – within built-up areas

90 km/h – outside built-up areas

110 km/h – on major motor routes

130 km/h – on motorways

80 km/h – for motor vehicles with a caravan trailer

80 km/h – for buses and buses with a light trailer

When driving in the rain, you should adjust speed to conditions on wet roads. Driving with headlights is not obligatory during the day (during Daylight Savings Time; it is obligatory during winter months). Use of mobile phones while driving is not permitted. Maximum permitted amount of alcohol in blood is 0.05% (matching neighbouring Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina) although this has varied and was down to 0% until that was found to not be tenable in the country. Use of seat belts is obligatory.

Hrvatski Auto Klub is the Croatian Automobile Club dedicated to assisting drivers and promoting greater traffic security. Its site offers minute-by-minute updates, status of national traffic, weather, numerous maps and webcams all over Croatia. Content is available in Croatian, English, German and Italian.

Once you're in the country, Croatia has a reliable and cheap bus network.

If you are coming from Italy there are two buses daily from Venice leaving at 11:00 and 13:45 going to Istria, with a final stop in Pula. These are operated by different bus companies, but you can buy tickets for both buses at the ATVO bus office at the Venice bus station. The office is in the bus station, but located outside on the ground level across from where all the buses park. Both buses pick up at spot b15. It is roughly a 5-hour bus ride, with stops in Trieste and Rovinj. You can also pick up the bus at the bus station in Mestre, 15 minutes after the scheduled bus leaves Venice. Coming in from Trieste, Italy is popular among Europeans, for Trieste is a Ryanair destination. There are multiple daily bus lines from Trieste to Croatian cities operated by the Arriva Croatia bus company. You cross the Italian-Slovenian border first, and then the Slovenian-Croatian border, but they are very close to one another.

Dubrovnik and Split are the main destinations of international buses from Bosnia and Hercegovina or Montenegro, with daily buses travelling to cities such as Sarajevo, Mostar and Kotor (some lines such as Split-Mostar operate every few hours). Seasonal lines also extend through to Skopje from Dubrovnik. Border formalities on the buses are extremely efficient, and do not involve leaving the bus (previous services from Dubrovnik to Kotor involved changing buses at the Croatian border).

Osijek is a large bus hub for international travel to Hungary, Serbia and Bosnia in addition to its local buses, and the station is located conveniently next to the railway station. Many buses heading from Zagreb north into Hungary or Austria will pass through Varaždin.

From Germany you can travel to most Croatian larger cities with Arriva Croatia and Čazmatrans.

Ferries are cheap and go regularly between various places by the coast. Although not the fastest, they are probably the best way to see the beautiful Croatian islands of the Adriatic Sea.

Jadrolinija is the main Croatian passenger shipping line that maintains the largest number of regular international and domestic ferry and shipping lines. The following international lines are serviced by car ferries:

Rijeka–Zadar–Split–Hvar–Korčula–Dubrovnik–Bari

Split–Ancona–Split

Korčula–Hvar–Split–Ancona

Zadar–Ancona–Zadar

Zadar–Dugi otok–Ancona

Dubrovnik–Bari–Dubrovnik

Blue Line International also covers the international line Split–Ancona–Split

Venezia Lines has regular catamaran lines between Venice and the Croatian cities of Poreč, Pula, Rovinj and Rabac.

In theory one should not have to check-in if arriving by own boat from another Schengen country, but in practice it's needed for paying a vignette fee. This fee is valid per calendar year - so pretty low value for money if doing a New Year visit to Croatia. There is an official app NIS for sailors, though the usefulness is somehow limited. Note that if arriving to Croatia or leaving from Croatia from any non-Schengen country it's important not to do any shortcuts on the inside of any islands, the coast guard pays attention and gives high fines for that. Diesel for boats seems to be cheaper in Croatia than Italy and Greece.

National airline company Croatia Airlines connects major cities in Croatia to each other and foreign destinations. Due to the comparatively short distances and relatively high hassle of air travel–especially when you travel with luggage – domestic air travel is used mostly for getting to end points – e.g., Zagreb to Dubrovnik (see map) and vice-versa.

Another popular flight (available in the summer months only) is between Split and Osijek, saving a long trip back through Croatia, or alternatively through the middle of Bosnia.

Train travel is definitely improving in Croatia, with money being spent on updating the aging infrastructure and vehicles. Trains are clean and mostly on time.

Croatia's rail network connects all major Croatian cities, except Dubrovnik. If you want to visit Dubrovnik, you will have to travel by train to Split, and then go on the bus for Dubrovnik. Trains to Pula are actually connected via Slovenia due to historical accident, though there are designated connecting buses from Rijeka.

Rail is still the cheapest connection between inland and coast, though not the most frequent. 160 km/h "tilting trains" that connect Zagreb with Split and other major cities in Croatia such as Rijeka and Osijek provide more comfort and fast journeys between cities (Zagreb-Split is 5.5 hr, Osijek is 3 hr, when other trains take around 4.5 hr). If you make a reservation early enough you can get a substantial discount, or if you are a holder of an ISIC card.

Information on the trains, including timetables and prices, can be found on the Hrvatske željeznice (Croatian Railways) site in Croatian and English.

Tickets are not usually sold on board, except if you happen to get on the train on one of the few stations/stops without ticket sales. However, only local trains stop on such stations. In all other cases, a ticket bought on the train will cost considerably more than the one bought outside the train.

You should be aware that the platform designation is different from many countries. The platform (peron) is then further subdivided into two sides (kol).

A very comprehensive coach network connects all parts of the country. Bus service between major cities (intercity lines) is quite frequent, as are regional services. The most frequent bus terminal in Croatia is Bus Terminal Zagreb (in Croatian "Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb"). Buses are faster than trains for inter-city travel. See Bus travel in the former Yugoslavia for more information.

Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb – Zagreb Bus Station (timetable information, content in Croatian and English)

CroatiaBus – bus company (timetable information, prices, content in Croatian and English)

Arriva Croatia – bus company (timetable information, prices, content in Croatian, English, German, and Italian)

Autobusni promet Varaždin – bus company (timetable information, prices, content in Croatian, English, and German)

Libertas Dubrovnik – bus terminal and company (international and domestic information; content mostly in Croatian)

Croatia is endowed with a beautiful coastline which is best explored by ferry or yacht to access the hundreds of islands.

In many instances, the islands are accessible only by sea. For information on the regular ferry and catamaran connections, see these sites:

Jadrolinija – the national ferry company. In addition to the routes operating from the major cities to the islands, it operates a ferry along the Adriatic Coast from Rijeka to Dubrovnik (and then across to Bari, Italy) calling at Split, Hvar, Mljet, and Korčula. Check the timetables [2] as the schedules are seasonal. The boats are large and have sleeping facilities as the Rijeka-Split leg goes overnight.

SNAV – an Italian company connecting Split with Ancona and Pescara. Check timetables as the schedules are seasonal.

Split Taxi Boat – speed taxi boat transfers from the town or airport of Split to nearby islands.

Azzura lines – an Italian operator connecting Dubrovnik with Bari; check timetables as the schedules are seasonal.

Outside the summer months it is often difficult or impossible to make a day trip to the more remote islands: ferry schedules are made to suit commuters who live on islands and travel to the mainland, not vice versa.

For a more bespoke experience, there are literally dozens of yacht charter and other boat hire companies at virtually every significant port along the Adriatic coast. For bareboat charter you usually need certification from a reputable organisation, such as American Sailing or the RYA, or an extensive sailing resume.

Croatia has a different traffic culture than northern Europe. You should therefore exercise caution when driving a car. The winding and narrow roads along the coast, excessive speeds and reckless overtaking can cause accidents. During the July-August tourist season, be prepared for congestion at key border crossings and on the roads leading to the coast.

Roads in Croatia are usually well maintained, but can be very narrow and full of curves. Some local roads in Istria have been worn down to a smooth surface from regular wear and tear, and can be extremely slippery when wet. Highways with more than one lane per direction (motorways) tend to connect major cities and can be well out of the way even for some longer routes such as to Plitvice. Speed limits outside motorways are thus low (60–90 km/h), and it's not recommended to drive faster (although most locals do), especially at night. Beware of animals crossing the road.

In case you want to overtake a slow vehicle on a narrow road, often the drivers in front of you will flash their right yellow turning lights and drive all the way on the right to signal the drivers behind that it is okay to overtake. But this is at your own risk.

Renting a car is around the same price as in the EU (from around €40). Almost all cars have a manual transmission. Most rental agencies in the Balkans allow you to rent a car in one country and drive in the neighbouring countries however try to avoid a renting a car in Serbia and driving it into Croatia (or vice versa) in order to avoid negative attention from nationalists.

On Croatian Motorways [3] toll fees apply. The A6 motorway runs between Zagreb and Rijeka, while the main motorway A1 from Zagreb connects to Dubrovnik through the newly opened Pelješac bridge, circumventing the border crossing with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Another major motorway is the A3, linking the Slovenian border (not far from Zagreb) with eastern Croatia and the Serbian border (120 km from Belgrade). The general speed limit on motorways is 130 km/h (81 mph). You will probably encounter cars driving much faster, but following their example is of course highly unsafe. Check your mirrors before pulling into the left (passing) lane, cars may approach from behind at higher speeds than on typical Western European motorways.

When exiting a toll motorway, ask the receipt at toll booth if it is not given to you to be sure you do not get overcharged (you could receive along with the receipt some unexpected change compared with the price you were given verbally).

If an unknown person flashes their car lights at you it may be a sign that they've recently passed a police unit doing speed limit checks. Ensure you comply with all the traffic rules and regulations to avoid being stopped and fined.

Trying to find a parking space near Croatia's coastal old towns in the summer can be an exercise in futility. Even though prices range from the merely expensive in Split to the extortionate in Dubrovnik, the spaces fill up very quickly. However, away from the old towns, parking is convenient and often free at shopping malls and large supermarkets, sports venues, near residential tower blocks and at restaurants (free for guests).

Motorways and border crossings can experience congestion at high-traffic weekends during the tourist season.

You can use a taxi service by calling 970, or sometimes another number for a private company – check individual city articles. The taxi usually comes within 10 to 15 minutes from the call except in the busy summer season where it depends on how much business they have. Croatian taxis are generally rather expensive. In major cities prices are around €1/km, more in Split but less in Zagreb. Uber and other rideshare services exist but have about the same prices except during surges.

You can also book the transportation in advance which is great when you are in a hurry or have a larger number of people in need of transportation, or you just want everything organised in advance.

You can also arrange a taxi service by e-mail in advance to have even more comfort and to save money since these taxi operators are cheaper than the regular taxi service.

Ride-hailing is available in Croatia and the following are the most anticipated providers:

Bolt. Includes many towns. (updated Jul 2020)

Uber. Works in Zagreb, Split. (updated Jul 2020)

Hitchhiking is generally good, but on some roads, it is not permitted. Roads on which you cannot hitchhike are usually denoted by a sign with the word 'autostop' crossed out ('autostop' is Croatian for 'hitchhiking'). These are generally motorways: Hitchhiking directly on a motorway (i.e. while standing on the stopping lane) could easily result in a fine if a police car passes by. If you can get to a highway toll stop simply ask people to take you with them as they open their windows to pay the toll. The toll collectors usually won't mind. The tricky part, of course, is to get to the toll stop. If you are in Zagreb and you are, like most people, heading south, take the bus 111 from the Savski most station in Zagreb and ask the bus driver where to get off to get to the toll stop. The next best place to ask people to pick you up are gas stations. And finally, using the good old thumb will work too if everything else fails.

Sailing is a good way to see the coastal islands and networks of small archipelagos, and it gives you a chance to see some incredible bays that are simply inaccessible by anything other than a boat. Most charters leave from Split or the surrounding area on the North or the South circuit, each offering its own pros and cons, although Dubrovnik is becoming increasingly popular. A good way is to book a package with a company at home (and let them worry about speaking in Croatian!), although many Croatian companies do offer both bareboat and crewed charters.

Booking a charter vessel is basically done in two payments: 50 percent of the charter price is paid as a deposit, after which the booking is confirmed. The other 50 percent of the charter fee is usually paid six weeks before the charter date. Before paying the first charter fee you should request to see the charter contract from the agency where you chartered a boat – pay close attention to the cancellation fees because in many cases if you cancel your charter vacation you could lose the initial fifty percent you have already paid. After that you are all set to go sailing.

Most yachts are only available on a Saturday–Saturday basis in peak season (May–September); there may be more flexibility from yacht companies in April and October if you can't do the full week. When you arrive at the 'home marina' (where your chartered yacht is moored), you need to do the check in (usually Saturday around 16:00) and you have to do the shopping for the charter vacation. There is usually a mini-market in the marina, but it will be expensive compared to a normal supermarket. Typically you will be nearest a big supermarket on the first day, so it's the best time to stock up. Buy everything that you possibly can (that won't go off) – the sea and winds can be unpredictable and you don't want to get stuck on the boat with nothing to eat or drink! Top up your shopping with fresh bread, meat, fruit and vegetables in local marinas.

You can also order from yacht provisioning services that can deliver your shopping straight to your yacht. This is convenient because it takes the load off you and the things you must do when you arrive at the marina for your sailing holiday, but also (obviously) works out more expensive.

Croatia was the first country in Europe to introduce the concept of commercial naturist resorts. According to some estimates, about 15% of all tourists that visit the country are naturists or nudists (more than one million each year). There are more than 20 official naturist resorts as well as a very large number of the so-called free beaches which are unofficial naturist beaches, sometimes controlled and maintained by local tourist authorities. In fact, you are likely to find nudists on any beach outside of town centres. Naturist beaches in Croatia are marked as "FKK".

The most popular nudist destinations are Pula, Hvar and island Rab.

Increasingly Croatia is becoming a popular place for health tourism. A number of dental surgeries have experience in treating short term visitors to Croatia.

Croatian dentists study for 5 years in Zagreb, Split or Rijeka. Harmonization of training with EU standards has begun, in preparation for Croatia's accession.

Facilities for the disabled are not as developed as elsewhere, but there are exceptions to this and certain hotels, camp sites and beaches have facilities for the disabled and wheelchair access.

One of Croatia's more "wild" holiday offers are the lighthouses. Most of them are situated on a deserted coastline or in the open sea. The speciality of this is that you are able to cut yourself off from the rest of the world and take the time to "smell the roses". Sometimes the best way to relax is to take part in a Robinson Crusoe style holiday.

Croatia has 11 rent-a-lighthouses along the Adriatic coast: Savudrija, Sv. Ivan, Rt Zub, Porer, Veli Rat, Prisnjak, Sv. Petar, Pločica, Sušac, Struga and Palagruža.

Croatia uses the euro, like several other European countries. One euro is divided into 100 cents. The official symbol for the euro is €, and its ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol for the cent.

All banknotes and coins of this common currency are legal tender within all the countries, except that low-denomination coins (one and two cent) are phased out in some of them. The banknotes look the same across countries, while coins have a standard common design on the reverse, expressing the value, and a country-specific design on the obverse. The €2 obverse is also used for different designs of commemorative coins. The design of the obverse does not affect the coin's acceptability.

Prices are around 10% to 20% lower than most other EU countries. Tourist destinations and articles are much more expensive.

Value added tax (PDV) is 25% with reduced rates for certain items, as of 2024.

Credit cards are virtually everywhere accepted but there is no American Express acceptance in Croatia.

Croatia's former currency, the kuna, denoted by the symbol "kn" (ISO code: HRK) was retired on 1 January 2023. Any amount of kuna you have left can be converted to euros for a fixed rate of 7.53450 kuna per euro. Exchanging them at banks is however not free of charge; Croatia's national central bank will exchange kuna banknotes free of charge until further notice, and coins until December 2025.

Most shops have their price quoted in both euro and kuna for familiarization purposes, but it is not required, and it is no longer possible to pay using the latter.

ATMs (in Croatian bankomat) are readily available throughout Croatia. They will accept various European bank cards, credit cards (Diners Club, Eurocard/MasterCard, Visa, American Express, etc.) and debit cards (Cirrus, Maestro, Visa electron, etc.) Read the labels and notices on the machine before using. Check charges before completing transaction - It is advisable to use a bank ATM and not Euronet or similar due to high fees.

Discrete service charges are not included in the bill, so voluntary tipping is customary. However, as in the rest of Europe, waiters and bartenders are paid (at least) a statutory living wage, so tip amounts tend to be on the small side—if you're paying for a drink, a nominal tip by rounding up or leaving just any eurocent coin on the table is normal, but if you're paying for dinner, the usual tip is 5-10%, with a bias toward rounding up (say, the bill could be €18.5 or €28.5, and in both cases an equally normal tip would be €1.5). Tipping 10% is a sign that you are satisfied with the service; more than that is unusual. If generally paying with a credit card it's a good idea to carry some small-denomination currency, to be able to tip in cash. It is becoming increasingly common to tip with the credit card, but it's doubtful if the person who served you will actually benefit from the tip.

It's also somewhat customary to tip certain other service personnel (small amounts only, in the manner of "keep the change"), such as taxi drivers and hairdressers.

If you buy goods worth more than a threshold, you are entitled to a PDV (VAT) tax return when leaving the country. This applies to all goods except petroleum products. At point of purchase ask the sales person for a PDV-P form. Fill it out and have it stamped on the spot. On leaving Croatia the receipt will be verified by the Croatian Customs service. A PDV refund can be obtained within six months, either at the same shop where you bought the goods (in that case the tax will be refunded to you 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. There is another, much easier way to receive the refund. Buy your goods in shops with a "Croatia Tax-free Shopping" label. This label is displayed on the shop's entrance, usually next to the labels of credit cards and debit cards this particular shop accepts. Using an international coupon, refund is possible in all countries-members of the Tax-free international chain. In this case the service charge is deducted from the tax refund amount.

Croatia now uses the Global Blue system. They will do the refund and take a commission. You can do this at the airport or post it once you get home.

The ingredients used (herbs, olive oil, etc.) are grown in Croatia. In comparison to some world famous beauty products, Croatian natural cosmetics present real value for money.

Ulola makes soaps, bath salts, body butters and more. It's all natural and comes in combinations like orange and cinnamon, and goats milk and almond oil.

S-Atea produces soaps, shower gels, body butter and more. Seaweed, olive oil, rosemary and lavender are some of the ingredients they use.

Brac fini sapuni (Brac quality soaps) makes a wide range of natural soaps. Their bath line includes Aurum Croaticum made from virgin olive oil and thin leafs of 23 carat gold.

There are many Croatian designers and clothing specialists.

Etnobutik "Mara" (designs by Vesna Milković) offers a range of really unique clothing and accessories inscribed with "glagoljica" (glagolitic script; old Slavic alphabet). Some of her designs are protected as Authentic Croatian produce.

I-gle Fashion Studio by two female designers Nataša Mihaljčišin i Martina Vrdoljak-Ranilović. Their clothing is sold in Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge (London).

Nebo ("Sky") is a fashion house that makes really nice, funky clothes and shoes.

Nit ("Thread") is not widely known even among Croats but is definitely worth visiting as they have some "funky and arty but serious" clothing items that are "value for money".

Borovo is a well-priced and stylish shoe company which makes everything from flip-flops to desert boots and high heels.

Although Croatia is not the best destination for vegetarians, vegetarians will not have much difficulty in Croatia. Lacto-ovo vegetarians will have many options, even in Croatian-cuisine restaurants since many of them offer at least one vegetarian option. This only means that they predominantly don't use meat and may still be prepared using lard or other animal fats or served with small pieces of meat, so make your requirements clear. Strict vegans may have a challenging time finding food without animal products since traditional vegetarian dishes usually include dairy.

Pasta is popular in Croatia, so as long as you don't mind having a lot of pasta in Croatia you will have more options.

Key phrases for vegetarians:

"I am vegetarian." – "Ja sam vegetarijanac." IPA: [ja sam vegetarijanats]

"Does this contain meat?" – "Sadrži li ovo meso?" IPA: [sadrʒi li ovo meso]

"Please don't use animal fats." – "Molimo vas da ne koristite životinjske masti." IPA: [molimo vas dane koristite ʒivotiɲske masti]

"Could you please cook without lard?" – "Možete li, molim vas, kuhati bez masti?" IPA: [moʒete li, molim vas, kuxati bez masti]

Croatia is the destination of many worldwide volunteer organizations that send groups of volunteers throughout the year to help with agriculture, community development, education, animal welfare, and more. These programs are put together by nonprofits, community groups and volunteers to help locals improve their economy and way of life. With rich cultural history and stunning coastline, Croatia is truly is the jewel of eastern Europe. If you would like to travel to Croatia as a volunteer, visit these websites for volunteer programs, accommodations, travel dates, and tours.

ISV Croatia

Volunteers Centre Zagreb

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in Croatia without any special permits but the registration as resident is bureaucratic, often due to language issues. Your employer should help you.

Without a job offer/contract the process is often more complex and might require a lawyer to force the government to act - There is no legal basis for rejection if you have funds to sustain yourself and a local address.

Generally it is required to obtain a personal identification number (OIB - free) at Porezna (Finance Ministry), then with this, your ID/Passport and a rent contract (or proof of ownership for real estate) register as resident at MUP (Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova, Ministry of Internal Affairs - 15€ for ID issuance) - Within 30 days you receive a workers ID card. Validity ranges from 1 to 10 years and is decided by MUP; 5 years seems to be the most common and it is worth arguing if only offered 1 year.

Your employer will handle the Health Insurance (HZZO) registration and a local card will be mailed to you. EU health insurance cards can be obtained with no cost at any HZZO office.

If not employed it is required to pay Health Insurance yourself, approx. 50-75€ per Month, but no taxes or pension. This does not apply if married to a citizen. As of 2024 some report that HZZO stopped charging them even while unemployed; why is not known but likely related to Schengen ascension.

Foreigners, including EU, are not eligible for unemployment benefits at this time (2024) regardless of marriage status - In reality even locals rarely receive any benefits (or commonly just around 100€/Month for very limited time) so this is not too much concern.

Citizenship can be obtained after 10 years of legal residence and should require a language test but in reality this is often waived. Unlike in many countries costs are negligible and the process is fairly straightforward.

Discussing local politics is not considered a societal taboo in Croatia, and Croats are open about talking about the country's political situation. Remember that you are a foreigner — to avoid coming off as culturally insensitive, simply listen, ask questions, and learn something new.

Although Croatia is a secular country, most Croatians are adherents of Roman Catholicism, and it plays often an essential role in their lives. Be mindful of that when conversing with the Croats.

Croatia uses the GSM 900/1800 system for mobile phones. There are three providers, Hrvatski Telekom (formerly T-Mobile; also operates the Bonbon prepaid brand), A1 (formerly Vipnet; also operates the Tomato prepaid brand) and Telemach. Over 98% of the country's area is covered, including most islands. Since 2006 UMTS (3G) is available as well, and as of 2013 also HSDPA and LTE. 5G has also been available since 2022 with A1, Telemach, and Hrvatski Telekom deploying 5G networks in the country. If you have an unlocked phone, you can buy a prepaid SIM card. There have been promotions in which SIM cards were given away for free with newspapers, and sometimes even literally handed out on the street. GSM phones bundled with Hrvatski Telekom or A1 prepaid SIM cards can be found in post offices, grocery stores and kiosks at varying prices. SIM cards do not need to be registered with an ID but some ISPs offer incentives to do so.

An alternative to using a mobile phone is calling cards which can be found in postal offices and kiosks, there are two providers, Dencall and Hitme. You can buy cards from €3.50.

If you have an existing subscription with an EU-based mobile provider, you should be able to use at least some of your bundled minutes, SMS, and data in Croatia at no extra cost. This should save you the hassle of purchasing another SIM and a prepaid bundle. See European Union#Connect and check with the provider of the SIM.

Area codes:

When calling between cities (actually between counties) or from a mobile phone, you must dial specific area codes:

(area code)+(phone number)

Zagreb (01)

Split (021)

Rijeka (051)

Dubrovnik (020)

Šibenik/Knin (022)

Zadar (023)

Osijek (031)

Vukovar (032)

Virovitica (033)

Požega (034)

Slavonski Brod (035)

Čakovec (040)

Varaždin (042)

Bjelovar (043)

Sisak (044)

Karlovac (047)

Koprivnica (048)

Krapina (049)

Istria (052)

Lika/Senj (053)

Mobile phones (091) (092) (095) (097) (098) or (099)

ADSL is still common in rural Croatia though fiber is more and more available - speeds range from 4Mbit/s to 2Gbit/s. Due to Yugoslav infrastructure it is not uncommon to see small villages with Gigabit+ fiber access while some urban tower blocks only have access to old ADSL or Cable. Rule of thumb is if you see a cell phone tower on the roof it most likely has fiber access also for residents. Cable is somewhat common in cities but rare rural, with usual speeds of 100-250Mbit/s; it has mostly been replaced by fiber.

Prices are fairly cheap between Western EU and Eastern EU, ranging from €20 to €50. ISPs often share infrastructure with Hrvatski Telekom (HT) where they do not have their own as HT is forced to sell access to their network at a fixed price.

A1 offers 4G/5G based home internet as well.

Internet cafés are available in all major cities. They are relatively cheap and reliable. A free Wi-Fi signal can be found in practically every city (virtually all cafés, restaurants and hotels & some libraries, schools, colleges, shopping centers). Private unsecured networks have become uncommon.

Croatia's postal service is generally reliable, even if sometimes a bit slow. Every city and town has a post office. Here you can find their exact locations, and here is the price list (the prices change often).

HRT, the public television broadcaster, operates four channels, while the commercial networks RTL and Nova TV have two channels each. Foreign films and series are shown with sound in the original language (English, Turkish, German, Italian...) and Croatian subtitles. Only children's programming is dubbed. Many hotels and private apartments have some channels from other European countries (mostly from Germany).

Radio stations that feature English-language pop/rock music are HRT-HR 2, Otvoreni and Totalni. They all have occasional traffic reports, but only HR 2 translates them into English, German and Italian during the summer. Other nationwide stations are HRT-HR 1 (news/features), HRT-HR 3 (mostly classical music), Narodni (Croatian pop) and HKR (Catholic radio).

Newspapers and magazines from Germany, Austria, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Slovenia, Serbia and other countries are available in Croatia. In Zagreb and the northern coastal areas some foreign newspapers arrive on the cover date, elsewhere they are late.