When looking at a map and you see a crescent-like shape land formation in Southern Europe, then you have identified the Republic of Croatia. Although some people might describe its outline similar to that of a horseshoe, Croatia is further divided into three major sections – the Northern, the Central and the Adriatic Coast. The largest city is Zagreb, which is also the country’s capital and has 20 other counties under its control. The neighboring countries and sea that surround Croatia include Hungary and Slovenia (north), Montenegro (far south), Herzegovina and Bosnia (south and east), Adriatic Sea (west) and Serbia (east). Italy can be found across the Adriatic Sea.
With its estimated 4 million plus populace, Croatia boasts of a few languages that are currently being used by its citizens. The official language is Croatian but you can still find several of its towns that utilize the following languages – Istriot, Italian, Romanian, and Venetian. The Dalmatian language is considered extinct while for those that suffering from hearing disability can rely on the Croatian sign language. The local denizens are referred to as Croats and they comprise almost 90% of the total population. The balance of 10% is composed of at least 20 minority groups with the Serbs having the predominant percentage at almost 5%.
Historically, Croatia allied itself as part of some Kingdoms such as Hungary and Yugoslavia in the early 20th century but its independence was officially announced in 1991. A war ensued between the Croats and the Serbian rebels after the former’s declaration of independence, which ended only in 1995 when the Dayton Agreement was signed. Today, the country enjoys a government that espouses a Democratic republic system of governance. Majority of the Croats practice the Catholic religion hence their official holidays observe the usual Catholic celebrations like Easter, All Saint’s day, Christmas, and New Year’s day, among others.
The alphabet being utilized in Croatia is in Latin. It has an impressive literacy rate set at a high 97% and it has produced a few famous scientists and inventors as well as renowned artists. The parachute and the fountain pens are the inventions attributed to Croatia. The literacy level, however, should be used by the country to its advantage to reduce its unemployment rate of 11.9% as reported in 2006. Croatia’s economy is heavily dependent on its services industry as it eats up the bulk of its recorded GDP of at least 2/3 or 67%. Shipbuilding is its top sector but tourism is another area, which the government is concentrating on to change the current mix of revenue contributions.
Croatia enjoys a rich and diverse culture. It is popular for its national parks and is a principal tourist attraction. The weather differs among the three geographical segments and the strong winds experienced each year impacts greatly on the climatic conditions in each area. Temperature changes are influenced by the following factors – altitude, land and sea formations, to mention a few. Nonetheless, those who have experienced the changing weather in this country notes that the winter season is not that cold or the summer period not that hot and humid.
Location
Croatia is a country located in Southern Europe, although most people would classify it as being part of Eastern Europe. It is located on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, which puts it right across that sea from Italy. Additionally, Croatia also borders countries in Eastern and Southern Europe such as Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary.
The population of Croatia is around 4.5 million people, making it one of the smaller countries within Europe. The vast majority of the people that live within Croatia are people that are Croatian in terms of their nationality, with over 95% of the population being made up of such people. The vast majority of immigrants to the country are from bordering countries and nearby areas, which means that you are not likely to see that many visible minorities when you are within the country.
If you are interested in taking a trip to Croatia, it would be helpful to have some sort of itinerary prepared beforehand. While the ultimate decision of what you are going to do in the country is yours, here are some suggestions you can use to get started on the path to having a plan.
Place to Visit
No visit to Croatia is complete without a visit to the city of Zagreb. Not only is Zagreb the capital city of the country, but it also happens to contain approximately 25% of the population within the country as well as around the same number of tourist attractions that it has to offer. All of the political and historical attractions of note (or most of them at any rate) are located within this city and anyone that travels to learn about a country would do well to visit Zagreb during their trip.
In addition to Zagreb, another place to visit is the nearby small down of Vrbovec. While it does not have the big attraction power of Zagreb, the way in which the people live there is very indicative of times past and it is one of the most peaceful places around.
If you are strictly into conventional tourism, then two places that you should also visit are Omis and Ruskamen. Omis is a coastal area that was built by one of the dynasties of the country and it also happens to be one of the most beautiful places in existence. Lots of pictures of beautiful man made objects are available in that city. Ruskamen is home to the best beaches on the Adriatic Sea, most of which are actually considered superior to anything you could find across the Adriatic in Italy.
Things to Do
The major activity that you have to try at least once when you visit Croatia is sailing. Sailing allows you to explore the Adriatic Sea from a rare perspective and you can actually take a look at both the Italian and Croatian sides of the Sea, taking pictures that will last a lifetime. The experience is also fantastic, as many tourists considered their sailing trips on the Adriatic the highlight of the trip.
After sailing, another worthwhile activity is outdoor tourism. Outdoor tourism involves the use of multiple outdoor activities like sailing, cycling, kayaking and hiking in order to explore the country to its fullest. Croatia has a lot to see in that sense and that is why outdoor tourism is so strong within the country.
Croatian Bookings
One of the most important parts of travel is booking and in particular being able to book flights, hotels and cars as needed. Luckily, Croatia makes it easy to do these things. Examples that support this statement are discussed below.
Flight Booking
Croatia, like many of the other countries in Europe, has its own national carrier. Croatian Airlines is that national carrier. Through the use of Croatian Airlines, you can actually get into their international airport in Zagreb from any of the following countries: Holland (Amsterdam), Germany (Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich), Belgium (Brussels), United Kingdom (London and Manchester), Spain (Madrid), Italy (Milan and Rome), Russia (Moscow), France (Paris), Israel (Tel Aviv), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo), Macedonia (Skopje), Austria (Vienna) and Switzerland (Zurich).
In addition to that, there are many regional carriers working within the European Union that will serve as flights into Croatia. A good example of this is Scandjet, which flies from places in Scandinavia to select cities within Croatia. The number and type of flights available to traveling to a city in Croatia is quite a lot larger than most people would assume. For this reason, people usually end up finding many more options for booking a flight than they ever thought they had.
Hotel Booking
Hotels are readily available for people to use, especially within the larger cities like Zagreb. There are alternatives to hotels such as hostels, private apartments and rooms within holiday homes. There is no dearth of choices when it comes to accommodations within Croatia because of the high tourism they experience, but if you want to stay outside of traditional hotels and motels you should definitely book well in advance to make sure that there is place to stay.
Car Booking
In terms of car booking, there are rental places available in the larger cities like Zagreb. However, this is not really the preferred method of travel in the country as Croatians in general do not get around through the use of cars. Croatian Airlines also flies domestically, which is an option for some people. Trains are also easily accessible, allowing you to travel between the major cities within the country. Busses are also available to a level of detail that would surprise most people. Finally, if you plan to spend most of your vacation on the Adriatic Sea, you can also book boats to travel between the various areas within Croatia.
Tourism Flavours
Croatia Entertaiment
Croatia is a country with a lot to do for entertainment, perhaps more so than many people realize. To give you an idea of just how rich the culture and entertainment availability is within the country, here are some ways for you to be entertained while in Croatia.
Sailing
Sailing is a huge industry in Croatia, primarily because of the fact that it is on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic Sea is one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world and that is why Croatian tourism companies have made millions of dollars over the years through offering sailing activities.
Adventurism
Adventurism, just like sailing, is another big industry in Croatia. The country is home to some special natural areas and for that reason you can actually spend your vacation in whole or in part traveling to the different areas of Croatia and having great outdoor adventures. Make sure you are physically fit before attempting these however as adventurism in Croatia usually involves a combination of sailing, hiking, cycling, diving, swimming and kayaking.
Naturism
Naturism is another word for nudity, something that many people travel to Croatia for. The naturist resorts within the country are some of the most respected in the world, so if you are a nudist or alternatively would like to try out nudism or naturism as a one time experience, booking a spot at a naturist resort in Croatia might definitely be a good idea. Pula and Rab are two areas within the country where you can get this done.
Lighthouse Tourism
Croatia is a place that has many unique things for you to experience, as the last two paragraphs have illustrated. However, their most unique experience in terms of tourism is perhaps the lighthouse tourism they offer. Croatia is home to eleven different lighthouses, all of which are placed at different locations along the Adriatic Sea. If you want a vacation that allows you to insulate yourself from mass tourism and everyone else in order for the maximum amount of relaxation, then an isolated two week stint in a lighthouse is the most extreme way to get that done.
Other
Aside from these special types of entertainment within Croatia, you can also visit a number of nightclubs located within Zagreb and other cities. These nightclubs are full of attractive young people and delicious food and drink. Restaurants are also an option for entertainment, as are music venues located all over the country. Finally, if you are interested in health tourism, Croatia is home to some of the best dentistry work in the world.