Tourist information
The Croatian National Tourist Board has information offices in all larger tourist centres. They are usually open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer months. Croatian National Tourist Board (Hrvatska turistička zajednica or HTZ), head office: Ilica 1a, 10000 Zagreb, tel: +385-(0)1-4556-455, fax: +385-(0)1-428-674
For local turist office in the place where you plan to spend your holiday, check the info part on the place itself.
HTZ publishes a lot of tourist literature including maps, brochures and leaflets on transport and accommodation.
Personal security
The crime rate in Croatia is very low compared with other European countries. But we do recommend few precautions worth taking like keeping your car doors locked when you step out of the car, watching your bags in public, don’t keep all your travel documents in one place. If you do have anything stolen, contact the police right away.
Religion
In Croatia, being mainly Roman-Catholic country, you will find catholic churches in every town or village. Places of worship for other religions, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim, are situated in few largest towns.
Languages
German, Italian and English are the most common foreign languages spoken in the tourist resorts.
Time zone
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Saturday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz
Plugs have two round pins or three round pins for appliances that need to be earthed. If you need adapters or transformers (for USA equipment check things like notebooks or electric razors if they have a switch), inquire in bigger shops with electric supplies or in supermarkets.
Health Care
No vaccination is required for entering Croatia. All larger towns have a hospital (Bolnica), and all places have their own infirmary (Dom zdravlja or Ambulanta) to take care of emergencies.
In every place you will find a pharmacy (Ljekarna) with a wide range of suppliesPharmacies stay open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. They might be able to order for you, but if you are on a treatment it’s best to bring the supply of medication to last you during your stay, and a prescription stating the generic name of the medication.
Social insurance of following countries has a contract with the Croatian social insurance:
- Austria
- Belgium
- France
- Italy
- Luxemburg
- Macedonia
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Romania
- Slovenia
- Bulgaria
- Czech
- Hungary
- Poland
- Great Britain
- Denmark
- Norway
- Sweden
- Slovakia
- Switzerland
Other foreign visitors should have their health insurance certificate.
Health precautions
In spite of generally good health care system, it is best to take a few sensible precautions during your holiday. The most important is to avoid overexposure to the sun, wear hat and quality sunglasses, and use a high-factor suntan lotion, especially during the hottest part of the day (11 a.m. till 3 p.m.).
Drink plenty of water to avoid exhaustion and dehydration. Tab water in Croatia is generally safe to drink, but if you feel uncomfortable, bottled spring water is for sale throughout the country.
Swimming after a full meal is not recommended for at least two hours. Wild beaches are usually not cleaned from sea urchins that like Croatia’s clean waters. If you notice their presence, the best solution is to wear plastic or other adequate shoes to enter and get out of the water safely.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 New Year’s Day. Jan 6 Epiphany. Apr 24 2000 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 30 Statehood Day. Jun 22 Antifascist Victory Day. Aug 5 Homeland Thanksgiving Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas.
Social conventions
People normally shake hands upon meeting and leaving. Smoking is generally acceptable but there are restrictions in public buildings and on public transport.
Topless sunbathing is generally accepted, but nude bathing is restricted to few designated beaches or any of numerous wild beaches along the coast.
Post Offices
You can spot post offices in Croatia from the yellow sign with the lettering HPT. The offices in tourist centres are open from Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Telephoning can be done at the post office (with a telephone card as well), they also offer telegram and fax service, and money changing.
Postcards and stamps are available in post offices and on most kiosks. Paper and envelopes are available in all stationer’s shops and post offices. Post boxes are yellow with HPT sign and they can always be found in front of post offices and elsewhere around the centre.
TV and radio
Satellite TV gives you access to CNN (other reachable non-scrambled programs are mostly in German or Italian), and the state news agency, HINA, produces material in English for international distribution on a daily basis.
The state radio station, HRT, is broadcasting the news in English few times a day during the summer.
International English-language papers (Herald Tribune, the Guardian, the Independent, Europe Today, and some others) as well as English editions of some popular magazines (Times, National Geographic, Vogue, Elle and others) are available in the larger towns and resorts.
Photography
The usual brand-name films are available in photo-shops and kiosks. In the tourist resorts, there are often photo stores that offer good and fast developing service.
Photography is generally restricted only for military installations. Churches and museums, which don’t allow indoor photography, have the sign clearly visible. If you’re not sure don’t hesitate to ask.
What to do?
Check with tourist information office for local events. There you will find information on festivals, cultural and sport events. Please check the information on our pages on a particular destination. We will try to keep track of major events for you. Larger towns have in-door movie theatres, and some tourist resorts have outdoor cinemas. All films are in original language (mostly English) with Croatian subtitles. Lot of bars with terraces, discos and night-clubs are available for your entertainment and local taverns are a must for good food and wine lovers.
Shopping
Traditional handicrafts that cover a range of items like embroidery (table clothes, clothes and other), lace, silver filigran jewellery or jewellery made of corails and sea shelves, woodcarvings and ceramics make good souvenirs.
If you go shopping for clothes or shoes, the prices in our shops will not be a pleasant surprise. Therefore, if you’re not particularly attached to designer’s clothes, take a look in small boutiques and on the market. Prices are much lower and the choice gets to be quite good during the high season.
Working hours
In general, working hours for all shops and other services are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. till 7 or 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. till 1-2 p.m. During summer season opening hours of shops and boutiques vary from ones like private shops that mostly stay open till 9 p.m. or longer and full day on Saturday, and the others that work in two shifts, closing from noon till 4 p.m. Sundays and public holidays are the usual closing days.
Tipping
A tip is not included in the price of meals or drinks. If the tip is earned it should be about 10 per cent of the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip, but it will be appreciated.