Country information

Surface: ca. 56,500 km2 (1,3x Nederland)
Population: ca. 4,2 miljoen inwoners
Capital: Zagreb
Government form: Republic
Time difference with United Kingdom: 1 hour
Language: Croatian. English, German and Italian is also spoken

Food and drinks
Many dishes of Croatian cuisine stem from the time when the Italians were in charge. Pizza, pasta and gnocchi are therefore widely available. But there are certainly also traditional Croatian dishes on the menu, such as truffles (be sure to visit the truffle place Motovun), and the smoked “prsut ham”. If you are staying in the Dalmatia area, be sure to try “brudet” (seafood stew). Delicious! From the time when the Turks had influence in Croatia comes “sarma” (not to be mistaken with shoarma). These stuffed sauerkraut leaves (often with ground beef, rice, garlic and herbs) will make your mouth water. Do not forget to bring a bottle of olive oil for home. The quality is superb and the taste surprising! Tap water is good and safe to drink.

Climate / weather
There is a Mediterranean climate along the coastal areas in Croatia and Dalmatia. In the summer it is warm (hot) with many hours of sunshine and little rainfall. In winter there is regular rain. Inland it is wet in winter and sometimes snow falls. The temperature is also high during the summer, but there is a regular rain shower.

Religion
The vast majority of the Croatian population is Catholic (approx. 88%). The remaining faiths that are practiced are Islam, the Orthodox Church and the Protestant Church.

Tips
It is very common to tip. An amount of 5% to 10% is normal and is counted on. Rounding up the bill is very normal.

Passport
A visa is not required. A passport is required. The must have not expired on departure. Children must have their own travel document. A credit entry is the passport of one of the parents is no longer valid.

Money matters
From 1 January 2023, the Euro (€) will be the official currency in Croatia. In many (even smaller) places it is possible to withdraw money. Important, do not forget to request an unblock at the bank before your trip. The credit card is also easy to use.

Embassy of Croatia in the United Kingdom
Address: 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7387 2022
Fax: +44 20 7387 0310
Emails: vrhlon@mvep.hr, croemb.london@mvep.hr
Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00

Embassy of the United Kingdom in Croatia
Address: Ivana Lucica 4 10 000 Zagreb Croatia
Telephone: +385 1 600 9100
Fax: +385 1 600 9111
Email: For general inquiries: british.embassyzagreb@fcdo.gov.uk For consular services: zagreb.consular@fcdo.gov.uk

Opening hours
Shops are open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays often until 2 p.m. Banks often close a little earlier (4 pm) and are closed on weekends.

Price level
The price level is lower than in the United Kingdom. Restaurants avg. 35% lower, food products 25% lower, beer 30% lower. Please note: in tourist areas the differences may be lower.

Driver’s license
The United Kingdom driving license is also valid in Croatia.

Health and vaccinations
No vaccinations are required for Croatia.

Voltage
The voltage in Croatia is 230 volts. You do not need an adapter.

The best time to travel
The months of May, June and September are ideal. Pleasant temperature, lots of sun and little rainfall. In July and August it is warm and there is little rainfall.

Traffic
In Croatia, the driving is on the right. The highways (especially between the capitals) are of excellent quality. The back roads are also in good condition. Please note; there are many roads where you have to pay toll.

Distances from Calais in km.

Zagreb 1.486
Umag 1.506
Porec 1.541
Pula 1.578
Krk 1.537
Rab 1.580
Zadar 1.751
Split 1.874
Dubrovnik 2.066

Public holidays: The shops are (partly) closed during the official holidays

Januari 1: New Year's Day
January 6: Tree Kings
March/april: Easter
May 1: Labor day
June: Corpus Christi
Jun 22: Day of the fight against the Fascists
June 25: Establishment of the Republic
August 5: National Thanksgiving Day
August 15: Assumption of the Virgin Mary
October 8: Independence Day
November 1: All Saints' Day
December 25/26: Christmas

Safety
Croatia is a safe country. Crime is low.

Internet / calling
Your mobile phone works fine in Croatia. There is a 4G network.
Wi-Fi is available in many restaurants, hotels, pubs and airports. There are also hotspots in large cities. Pay attention to the costs that are charged by your provider. If you call the United Kingdom, you must use +44. From the United Kingdom to Croatia you have to use +385.

History
After several Illyrian wars, the Croatian area came largely under the influence of the Roman leaders from Italy. Remains of this period can still be found in Rovinj (historical centre), Pula (amphitheatre), Poreč (defensive towers), Split (Diocletian's Palace), Dubrovnik (founded by the Romans) and Trogir (historical centre).After the Romans were expelled, the country was ruled for a long time by various Slavic peoples. In the 9th century Croatia was officially recognized by the Pope. In the 11th century the Hungarians took back the land. Croatia's history is characterized by many wars from different directions. The Turks (Ottoman Empire) also owned the country for a long time, with frequent conflicts with Italy (Venetians). Until WWI, much of Croatia was part of the Habsburg Empire. In WWII, Croatia, under the leadership of General Tito, fiercely opposed Germany. After the war Tito formed Yugoslavia, of which Croatia was a part. After Tito's death, Yugoslavia fell apart after a war of independence with neighbouring countries. Since 1995, Croatia has regained its independence in Central Europe.

(Fun) facts about Croatia
* The smallest city (you) in the world (with city rights) is located here
* Hum (at an altitude of 400 meters) consists of 12 houses and 14 inhabitants
* The necktie has its origins in Croatia
* The fountain pen and the ballpoint pen were also invented in Croatia
* That only 67 of the 1,244 islands in Croatia are inhabited
* Part of the medieval sewerage system of Dubrovnik is still in operation
* The beach of Zlatni Rat (located on the island of Brac), regularly changes shape due to the current
* Dubrovnik and Split have been used as the location for the Game of Thrones series
* The Tesla car is named after the inventor Nikola Tesla, who was born in Croatia
* That Croatia, together with Spain, has the most Intangible Property on the UNESCO list than any country in the world