Important Information and Phone Numbers

Croatia is a Mediterranean county with total land area of 56,594 km2 with population of 4,284,889 (2011, census). The length of the Adriatic coastline is 1,777 km2. Croatia is rightly called a land of islands that has 1,246 islands and islets out of which only 66 are inhabited.

The best period to visit Adriatic coast is from April to October. Temperatures is the highest in July and August when it can reach 38°C (100°F), and water surface temperature reaches 26°C (79°F).

Tab water in Croatia is safe to drink, but bottled spring water is for sale in all shops.

Official language is Croatian, written in Latin alphabet.

Croatia is in a time zone GMT +1, and from last Saturday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October is in the time zone GMT +2.

If you travel by car in Croatia, you will require a green insurance card and valid national or international driving permit. A toll is paid on motorways, bridges and tunnels. During the summer months traffic at the borders is expected to be heavier that may cause some delay. Traffic information is broadcast in foreign languages regularly on main Croatian broadcast stations.

Blood/alcohol limit is 0.5 ppm (0 ppm for professional driveers and drivers under 24 years of age).

Zagreb-Split-Dubrovnik Motorway is opened until Ploče in its full length of 483 km. The pay toll is charged according to the distance of the section traveled and according to the vehicle type. Payments at the tollbooths can be made in cash or credit card, and can also be paid in foreign currencies according to the exchange rate of Privredna banka Zagreb (http://www.pbz.hr/ExchangeRateList/Default.aspx?lang=eng&type=PBZ) on the day of payment. Exact pay toll rates can be found at: http://www.hac-onc.hr/toll-payment/pricelist. For a map of the motorway network in Croatia visit http://www.highwaymaps.eu/croatia/a1-highway on the day of payment.

The best souvenirs are traditional handicrafts such as embroidery like table clothes, lace, silver filigran jewellery or jewellery made of corals and sea shelves and the whole range of woodcarvings and ceramics.

Local currency in Croatia is Kuna. 1 Kuna (HRK) = 100 Lipa. Notes are in dominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 200, 500 and 1000 Kuna, and coins are denominated of 1, 2, 5 and 25 Kuna and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Lipa. Currencies can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices and post offices. Exchange rates are published in the daily press and by banks that display them in visible places.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Croatia in all shops, agencies, hotels and other places that have logo stickers on visible places. You can take cash at ATMs. Standard credit cards that are accepted in Croatia are: Eurocard/Mastercard, Diners, American Express and Visa.

Post offices are yellow with blue lettering HP. Telephoning can be done at all post offices (with a telephone card as well). Telegram and fax services and money changing are also offered. Postcard and Stamps are available in post offices and at kiosks.

The offices in tourist centers are open from Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays form 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Telephone network is administered by the Croatian Telecommunication Company. Calling from Croatia, international access code is 00, after which you dial the county code. Calling Croatia from abroad you should dial your exit code (usually 00) followed by Croatia country code 385.

Mobile network is administered by two GSM operators in Croatia territory: VIPNET (for further information visit www.vip.hr ), Hrvatski Telekom (for further information visit www.hrvatskitelekom.hr) and Tele2 (for further information visit www.tele2.hr).

The state radio stations, Croatian Radio – Television, broadcast news in foreign languages few times a day during the summer season.

International daily, weekly and monthly papers are available at kiosks and in tourist resorts.