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CROATIA
The Republic of Croatia
Surface: 56.542 km2
Population: 4.437.460 inhabitants
Capital: Zagreb, 779.145 inhabitants
Currency: Kuna (1 Kuna = 100 Lipa).
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, post
offices and at most tourist agencies, hotels and camping grounds. Banking
hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays banks are
open until 1 p.m. In the larger cities some banks are also open on Sundays.
Exchange rates...
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Water: Tap water is potable throughout Croatia.
The telephone code for Croatia is +385.
Time zone: GMT plus one hour in winter and GMT plus two in summer
Travel documentation:
Passport or some other internationally recognised identification document.
Tourists may remain in Croatia for up to three months.
Customs regulations:
Customs regulations of the Republic of Croatia are in line with the standards
of European Union countries.
The permitted amount of meat and milk products which can be brought in without
special veterinary inspection, as well as honey, is limited to 1 kg, while the
amount of wine is limited to 5 liters.
Foreign currency is freely brought in and taken out of the country (up to a
value of 3.000 euros); up to a value of 15.000 Kuna for domestic currency.
More expensive professional and technical equipment should be registered at the border.
Dogs and cats, accompanied by their owner, need to have an International certificate
from a registered veterinarian stating that at least 15 days and not more than
six months have passed since their vaccination against rabies.
Purchase tax reimbursement for foreign citizens:
Tourists making purchases in Croatia (apart from petroleum derivatives)
which exceed 500 Kuna per receipt may reclaim VAT ("PDV").
At point of purchase the sales person will provide on request a form
PDV-P, which should be filled out and stamped, on the spot. On leaving
Croatia the receipt must be verified by the Croatian Customs service.
A PDV refund in Kuna can be obtained within six months, either at the
same shop where the goods were purchased (in which case the tax is refunded
immediately), or by posting the verified receipt back to the shop, together
with the account number into which the refund should be paid. In this
case the refund is dealt with within 15 days of receipt of the claim.
National holidays in 2008:
1 January - New Year's Day;
6 January - Epiphany,
22 and 23 March - Easter, including Easter Monday;
1 May - Labour Day;
22 May - Corpus Christi;
22 June - Anti-Fascist Resistance Day;
25 June - Statehood Day;
5 August - Victory Day and National Thanksgiving Day;
15 August - Assumption;
8 October - Independence Day;
1 November - All Saints' Day;
25 and 26 December - Christmas Holidays.
Working hours:
Shops and department stores are open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and on
Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or to 3 p.m. A smaller number of stores
close between noon and 4 p.m. Many stores are also open on Sundays, especially
in the summer, and a smaller number in the larger cities are open 24 hours
a day. Public services and companies usually work from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30
p.m. from Monday to Friday.
Post and telecommunications:
Post Offices are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays until 1
p.m. There are Post Offices in the larger cities which are open until
10 p.m. in the summer. Postage stamps are sold in Post Offices and at
news-stands.
Public telephones can be used only with phone cards, which can be purchased
in Post Offices and at news-stands, in hotels and tourist complexes.
Important telephone numbers:
International dialling prefix for Croatia 385
A single countrywide number for all emergency situations 112
Ambulance 94
Fire-service 93
Police 92
Assistance on the roads 987 (If you are calling from outside of Croatia or using
a mobile phone
dial +385 1 987)
General information 981
Information about local and district telephone numbers 988
Information about International telephone numbers 902
Weather forecast and road conditions 060 520 520
Croatia's auto club (HAK) 01 4640 800
Croatia by car
Allowed speed:
- within residential areas 50 km/h
- outside of residential areas 80 km/h
- on major motor routes 100 km/h
- on motorways 130 km/h
Allowed quantity of alcohol on blood: 0,0 per mill.
Driving with headlights is obligatory both day and night.
Use of mobile telephones while driving is forbidden!
A reflective sleeveless jacket is an obligatory part of each vehicle’s emergency equipment.
Source: Croatian National Tourist Board
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