Croatia Travel Guide

Full Name

Republic of Croatia

Former Name

People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

Capital City

Zagreb

Government Type

presidential/parliamentary democracy

Area Size

56,542 sq km

Time Zone

UTC/GMT +1 hour

Climate

The coastal region enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters (minimum winter temperatures are around 4°C and summers average around 26°C). Inland a continental climate is predominant with hot summers and cold winters.

Geography

Croatia is located in Southern Europe. Its shape resembles that of a crescent or a horseshoe, which flanks its neighbours Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. To the north lie Slovenia and Hungary; Italy lies across the Adriatic Sea. Its mainland territory is split in two non-contiguous parts by the short coastline of Bosnia and Herzegovina around Neum.

Languages

Croatian 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) (2001 census)

Culture

Croatian culture is based on a thirteen century-long history during which the country has attained many monuments and cities, which gave birth to a number of historical figures. The country includes six World Heritage sites and eight national parks. Among a list of notable people that came from Croatia are three Nobel prize winners, and numerous inventors. Some of the world's first fountain pens came from Croatia. Croatia also has a place in the history of clothing as the origin of the necktie (cravat). The country has a long artistic, literary and musical tradition. Of particular interest is the diverse nature of croatian cuisine.

History

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.

Travel Information

The national airline is Croatia Airlines. Zagreb (ZAG) (Pleso International) is 17km southeast of the city. An airport bus runs to the city centre ; taxis are also available. Facilities: Left luggage, banks/bureaux de change, restaurants, snack bars, bars, business lounge, duty-free shops, post office, tourist information and car hire. Dubrovnik (DBV) is 18km southeast of the city. An airport bus runs to the city. Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, post office, bars, duty-free shop, shops and car hire. Split (SPU) is 25km northwest of the city. An airport bus runs to the city. Facilities: Banks/bureau de change, post office, car hire, duty-free shops and bar/restaurant. Pula (PUY) is 8km northwest of the city. An airport bus runs to the city. Facilities: Bureau de change, car hire, duty-free shop and snack bar/restaurant. Rijeka (RJK) is 27km from the city on the island of Krk. Buses runs to the city. Facilities: Car hire, duty-free shop, ATM, left luggage and snack bar/restaurant. Main ports: Split, Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Zadar and Ploce. Passenger and car ferry services run to Italy. The main routes are: Split-Ancona, Zadar-Ancona, Split-Pescara and Dubrovnik-Bari. Fast hydrofoil services operate on some routes. Jadrolinija is the main service provider. Dubrovnik is an established cruise destination. Croatian Railways operates trains in Croatia. Direct trains run from Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. Express services run from Zagreb to major cities including Berlin, Budapest, Munich, Venice and Vienna. There are routes from all neighbouring countries. Hrvatski Autoklub (the Croatian Automobile Club) can provide information. There are regular international buses connecting Croatia with Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Germany, Hungary, Italy and the Slovak Republic. Eurolines runs regular coach services from the UK to Croatia.

Accommodation

Ongoing investment in Croatia's hotel stock is seeing the standard in accommodation increase across the board, with good 4-star hotels available along the coast and inland. 5-star properties are still predominantly found in Zagreb and in popular coastal resorts like Dubrovnik.

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by all nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA for stays of up to 90 days. Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Passport valid for at least the length of stay required by all, except: nationals of EU countries with valid national photo ID cards.

Getting Around

Zagreb (ZAG), Rijeka (RJK), Split (SPU), Pula (PUY) and Dubrovnik (DBV) international airports all receive domestic flights. Domestic services also run to Zadar and Osijek, which both handle some international traffic, and the smaller airports on the island of Brac and Losinj. The main domestic routes operated by Croatia Airlines are Zagreb-Dubrovnik and Zagreb-Split. Jadrolinija is the main provider of car and passenger ferries and catamarans in Croatia. There are regular connections between the main ports and the offshore islands. Croatian Railways operates trains in Croatia. The network connects all major cities except Dubrovnik.Traffic drives on the right. The last decade has seen considerable investment in Croatia's roads and the country has an extensive network of highways and unclassified roads.A toll is payable on motorways. There are regular coach services to destinations throughout Croatia. International and local car hire firms have offices in Croatia's cities, bigger towns and leading resorts. The centre of Zagreb can easily be navigated on foot. It also has a good network of trams and buses run by ZET, as well as a funicular and taxis. Dubrovnik's Old City is pedestrianised. Libertas operates efficient bus services, with stops just outside the Pile and Ploce gates.

Health & Safety

No vaccinations are required, however there is a risk of tick-borne encephalitis for those travelling in forested areas or who consume unpasteurised dairy products. Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccinations are also recommended. Hospitals and medical treatment are fairly good, with free emergency medical care available to UK citizens with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), though some medicines are in short supply in public facilities. Non-UK nationals are advised to invest in health insurance. Most visits to Croatia are trouble-free, and there is no particular threat of terrorism. Busy tourist areas are prone to petty theft. Outside the normal tourist routes travellers should be aware that unexploded mines might remain, particularly in Eastern Slavonia and the former Krajina.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year's Day. 6 Jan - Epiphany. 6-9 Apr- Easter. 1 May - Labour Day. 7 Jun - Corpus Christi. 22 Jun - Anti-Fascist Resistance Day. 25 Jun - Croatian National Day. 5 Aug - Victory Day and National Thanksgiving Day. 8 Oct - Independence Day. 1 Nov - All Saint's Day. 25-26 Dec - Christmas.

Currency

Croatian Kuna (HRK)

Electricity

220v AC, 50Hz

Working Hours

Office hours: Mon-Fri 8.00am - 4.00pm.

Emergency Numbers

112