Capital: Zagreb (pop.
960,000)
Area: 56,538 sq. km.
Population: 4.78 million
Religion: Roman Catholic
(76.4 per cent), Orthodox, Muslim, and others.
Alphabet: Roman
Language: Croatian
Political system: Parliamentary
democracy
Travel documents: Valid passport or some other identification document on the basis of which the border police will issue an entry permit or border pass (valid for three months).
Visas, if required, may be obtained without much difficulty at any border crossing. Pets can be brought into the country if accompanied by an International Certificate of vaccination and veterinary examination. The most recent date of vaccination must not be more than a year from the date of entry into Croatia. The veterinary examination can be effected at the border crossing (in which case a fee needs to be paid).
Boats and yachts brought by visitors for their own
use need not be declared, but a proof of ownership (title deed)
is required.
Customs: In addition to
items of clothing and personal belongings, foreign visitors are
allowed to bring the following items duty-free: 200 cigarettes,
one bottle of spirits, one kilogram of coffee or tea, and perfumes
for personal use. The following items need to be declared when
entering Croatia: sports equipment, professional equipment, radio
transmitter, radio telephone, photographic and movie cameras,
gramophone, tape recorder, portable television set, typewriter,
etc. Art objects may be taken out of Croatia only with the written
export permit issued by State Administration for the Protection
of Cultural and Natural Heritage. Art objects and archaeological,
ethnographic and historical items classified as Croatian Cultural
heritage may be taken out of the country only temporarily (again
with the export permit issued by the State Administration for
the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage).
Money: The official currency
of the Republic of Croatia is the Croatian kuna (HRK). Banknote
of 5, 10, 20, 50, l00, 200, 500 and 1,000 kunas are in circulation.
as well as coins in denominations of l, 2 and 5 kunas and 10,
20 and 50 lipas ( 1 kuna = 100 lipas). Foreign currency can be
exchanged for the local currency in banks, official exchange offices,
post offices, etc., according to the published rates of exchange.
In addition to cash payments, payment can be made also with credit
cards (American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard/Master Card, Visa,
JCB) and Eurocheques, as advertised at points of sale. When leaving
Croatia, foreign nationals can convert unused kunas into a foreign
currency. This can be done only in banks upon the presentation
of a receipt of the original exchange transaction. Restrictions
apply to the amounts of kunas that can be brought into the country
and taken out of it.
Shopping: Items that are
popular bargains in Croatia include leather goods, crystal and
porcelain, ceramics, and handicrafts. Foreigners can claim a sales
tax refund within one year for purchases exceeding 50 kunas in
a single transaction. Public holidays:1 January, 1 May, 30 May,
22 June, l5 August 25 and 26 December. In addition, 6 and 7 January,
Easter Monday, Ramadan-Bairam, and 1 November are not-working
days.
Opening hours: Banks and
post offices are normally open from 7 (7.30) a.m. to 7 (8) p.m.
non stop. Government offices work from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday. Post offices in tourist resorts are often open
on Sundays as well during the season, when they remain open until
10 p.m. on weekdays. Most grocery, stores and department stores
are open non stop, from 6 (7.30) a.m. to 7.30 (8) p.m.
Climate: The climate is
continental in northern Croatia, subalpine and alpine in the central
parts of the country, and Mediterranean along the Adriatic. With
an annual average of 2,600 hours of insolation and the average
sea temperature between 25 and 27 degrees centigrade during the
summer, the Croatian Adriatic coast is among the sunniest in Europe.
Spring and autumns are very mild along the coast, while winters
are quite cold in the northern and central parts of the country,
which also get ample snow.
Accommodation: accommodation
is available in class L, A, B, C, D hotels, hotel complex, flatlet
hotels, flatlet/apartment complexes, pensions/guest houses, camping
sites, holiday homes, youth hostels, rented houses, private homes,
and inns. A new classification of accommodation facilities will
be made over the next three years, starting in August 1995. Hotels
and other accommodation facilities will range between the lowest
one-star and the highest five-star facilities.
Medical care: Foreign
visitors coming from countries which have signed the convention
on health care with Croatia need not pay for medical services
while in Croatia (apart from the participation fee).
International telephone prefix for Croatia:
385.
Emergency telephones:
Police 92, fire brigade 93, ambulance 94, automobile club road
assistance service 987.
Start-Amadeus code: KZT.
Electricity voltage: 220
V, 50 Hz.
Tap water is safe for
drinking throughout the country.
Traffic information
Road traffic: Traffic regulations on Croatian roads are the same as in the rest of Europe. Speed limits are posted along the roads. Unless posted otherwise, the speed limits are as follows: dual carriageway motorways 130 km/h, other highways 90 km/h, roads in residential areas 60 km/h. The maximum allowed speed for passenger cars with trailers is 80 km/h.
The toll roads are the Zagreb-Karlovac motorway (E-59. E-65), the Zagreb-Slavonski Brod motorway (E-70), the Zapresic-Gubasevo motorway (E-59), the Ucka tunnel, and the Krk bridge. Road information is obtainable twenty-four hours a day from the Croatian :Automobile Club, telephone (01) 4l5-800, and from the local automobile clubs.
Petrol sold oat petrol stations is leaded super (98), unleaded (91 and 95) and diesel.
Air traffic: Croatia has
nine airports: Zagreb, Split, Pula, Rijeka., Dubrovnik, Osijek,
Zadar, Losinj and Brac. Regular flights are operated by the domestic
carrier Croatia Airlines and a number of foreign carriers (Lufthansa,
Swissair, Austrian Airlines, Air France, CSA, SAS, KLM, Aeroflot,
etc.).
Rail traffic: There are
daily international connections with Leipzig (EC Mimara), Munich
(Lisinski), Vienna (IC Croatia), Trieste (IC Kras), Budapest (Adriatica,
Maestral, Avas, IC Kvarner), Geneva (Simplon Express), Venice
(Venezia Express), Ljubljana (Sava, Lisca), and Maribor (Zagreb).
Daily domestic connections link Zagreb with Rijeka, Pula, Osijek,
Virovitica, Novska, Sisak, Slavonski Brod, Vinkovci, Varazdin,
Cakovec, Split and Sibenik.
Rail traffic information: Croatian Railways (Hrvatske
zeljeznice), telephone 9830.
Bus lines: International bus lines operate daily (from Zagreb, Split, Rijeka. etc.) to Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt. Zurich, Vienna, Trieste, Nagykanizsa, Berlin, etc. The domestic network is well developed, linking all Croatian towns and cities.
Maritime traffic: Ships and ferries operate along the coast and towards the islands. Express coastal lines start from Rijeka and touch many towns and islands all the way to Dubrovnik. There are regular services to Italian ports (Ancona, Bari, Venice).
Sailing information: Jadrolinija,
Riva 16, 51000 Rijeka, tel. (051) 211-444.
Ferry services: Cres-Losinj
(Valbiska-Merag, Brestova-Porozina), Pula-Losinj-Zadar, Rab (Jablanac-Misnjak,
Baska-Lopar), Pag (Prizna-Zigljen), Ugljan (Zadar-Preko), Dugi
Otok (Brivinj-Zadar, Zaglav-Zadar), Pasman (Biograd-Tkon), Brac
(Split-Supetar, Makarska-Sumartin), Peljesac Peninsula (ploce-Trpanj),
Korcula and Lastovo (Orebic-Domince, Lastovo-Split), Hvar (Stari
Grad-Split, Drvenik-Sucuraj, Split-Hvar), Solta (Split-Rogac),
Vis (Vis-Split), Dubrovnik-Sobra.
Taxi services: Taxis are
available in all larger towns and cities and tourist resorts.
Car rentals: Car rental
offices are located at airports, in towns and cities, and in larger
tourist resorts.