Entry requirements | Organizing your trip | Visiting | Eating | Paying | Speaking |

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service

Visa requirements overview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Visa HQ

Diplomatic representations

Web page of the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Croatia

For more information

Embassy of Croatia in Greece
4, Tzavela Str, Neo Psychico
154 51, Athens
Phone: (0030 10) 677 7059 or 677 7037
Fax: (0030 10) 671 1208 or 671 1362
croatemb@hol.gr
http://www.europanas.com/Croacia-Grecia.htm

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

In cities it is the best option to take a taxi since there is no underground or similar efficient public transport available.

Maps of urban networks

Maporama
UT Library on line
Mapblast

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Rail companies

Croatian railways

Flight from Greece

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

The highway network is generally in good condition and does not present any risks in terms of traffic. Although still limited, it is presently improving: the Zagreb-Karlovac, the Kupjac-Rijeka (in the direction of Istria), Zagreb serb border and Zagreb-Split sections. On the other hand, a particular attention is recommended on the main and secondary roads because they are not regularly watched and lack followed-up maintenance. In particular, stone falls are frequent on mountainous roads because of an often unstable ground. Besides that, finding a gas station is not a problem and the organisation of help, in the event of an accident, is generally very satisfactory, although relatively slow in isolated zones.

Otherwise, finding and communicating with a taxi in at least major cities should not be a problem.

Road maps

Zagreb map

Find an itinerary

Via Michelin Route planner

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical

There are six Croatian cultural properties inscribed on the World Heritage list of UNESCO: Old city of Dubrovnik, historical complex of the city of Split with the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian, historical city of Trogir, episcopal complex of the Euphrasian basilica in the historic center of Porec, the cathedral of St. James in the city of Sibenik and Stari grad Plain on the island of Hvar.

Cultural

Among the numerous festivals, the most notorious are: Dubrovnik summer festival, Pula film festival, Split summer festival, and the traditional folklore competition of Alka tournament.

Other important festivals are: Motovun film festival, Festival of Dalmatian close-harmony singing groups ("klapa") at Omis, Rijeka carnival and International Children's Festival at Sibenik.

Nature

National Geographic declared Croatia as one of the top destinations in the world in 2006 due to its natural beauty and diversity.

One Croatian natural property has been already inscribed on the World Heritage list of UNESCO: Plitvice lakes national park.

Numerous others are submitted on the tentative list of UNESCO: Velebit Mountain, Lubenice, Primosten wineyards, Kornati national park and Lonjsko polje nature park.

Otherwise, Croatia has eight national parks and ten parks of nature. One of the most famious national parks in Croatia is also Brijuni national park situated on the numerous small Brijuni islands along the south-west coast of the Istrian peninsula including an 18-holes golf course.

Religious

As a catholic country, Croatia has many interesting catholic monuments, churches and cathedrals such as: Euphrasian Basilica in the historic center of the town of Porec on the Istrian peninsula (inscribed on the UNESCO's list), the cathedral of St. Jamens in Sibenik, the episcopal complex in the city of Zadar, Zagreb cathedral and others.

Thermal

Bizovacke toplice (Bizovac spa) - the spring of the ancient Pannonian sea, salty almost as the Adriatic sea, very rich on minerals, warmer than any other known thermal water (96 degrees Celsius at the spring).

Stubicke toplice (Stubica spa) - a special hospital for medical rehabilitation. Natural healing factor in Stubicke Toplice is thermal water, with its temperature of 69 degrees Celsius by the spring.

Beach

Croatia has a very long and diversified coast line with countless number of beautiful beaches along the Adriatic sea and numerous islands that has always been Croatia's main tourist attraction. Croatia offers more than 1,700 km of seaside and over 1,000 islands to choose from.

In the northern part, there are most famous beaches (to name at least a few of them) at the town of Rovinj (Istria) and on some of the Kvarner gulf islands like Baska on the island of Krk (Vela plaza beach and Stara Baska beach), a beach named Sunny cove on the island of Losinj and Paradise beach on the island of Rab. Along the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic sea there are further beaches at the coastline rivieras like Biograd, Primosten, Makarska and Dubrovnik. On the islands further most attractive beaches are named Zrce on the island of Pag, beaches on the island of Hvar (Milna and Dubovica beaches) and Golden horn beach at the Bol on the island of Brac.

Winter sports

There are quite limited possibilities and facilities for winter sports like skiing and snow boarding due to the Mediteranean mild climate influences. The best ski resort is called Sljeme not far from the capital of Zagreb.

Outdoor activities

Sailing, diving, walking/hiking, cycling, kayaking, fishing and hunting.

Tourism organizations

Croatian Tourism Board

Eating

Food specialties

The Croatian food is quite varied. Specially along the coast, it offers numerous fish-based specialities. Most dishes are flavoured with olive oil and served with vegetables or rice.
Brodet: dish based of several sorts of fishes and served with rice.
Manistra od bobica: beans and corn soup.
The Croatian dishes are served with rather reputed local wines.

Drinks

Coffe, wine, beer, mineral water and carbonated soft drinks are among the most popular drinks.

Dietary restrictions

Within the Mediteranean and central European kind of food there are no food restrictions in the country.

Paying

Domestic currency

Croatian Kuna

ISO Code

HRK

To obtain domestic currency

It is possible to get local currency directly from ATM: They are everywhere and easily accessible. Since June 1994, the currency is the Kuna, which is issued in bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 et 1,000 Kunas and in coins (called Lipa). Although it may be little overvaluated, it is a quite stable currency.

Possible means of payment

All major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Diners, American Express) are quite widely accepted, especially in hotels and bigger restaurants but also in rental agencies, gas stations and highway toll stations.

Exchange rate on

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)

To find out the locations of ATMs in in Croatia, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Speaking

Official language

Croatian.

Other languages spoken

The country has national minorities; Serb, Slovenian are spoken, as well as Italian, specially along the sea side, also German and Hungarian. Otherwise, especially in bigger cities and in tourist resorts along the coast a lot of people do understand at least the basics of English, Italian and German.

Business language

English (particularly used in the region of the capital Zagreb), along the coast also Italian and German may be used.

Getting some knowledge

See Learn-Croatian.com for some basics expressions, including sound pronounciation files (mp3).

Free translation tools

Lear-Croatian.com - Free English-Croatian-English translator of words
Intertran - English-Croatian-English translator of texts and web pages

We can translate your foreign-language documents.

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Last updates: May 2012