Useful information for your holidays in Croatia

Currency

Kuna (1 Kuna = 100 Lipa). There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Lipa coins, 1, 2, 5 and 25 Kuna coins and 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 Kuna banknotes.

Foreign currencies

can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices, post offices, travel agencies, hotels, camps, marinas; cheques can be cashed in banks.

Power supply: 220 V, 50 Hz

Our UK guests should note that power outlets in Croatia are the Continental two-pin type and that a socket adapter is therefore required.

Water

Tap water is potable in all parts of Croatia.

Telephone

The telephone code for Croatia is +385.

Time zone

GMT plus one hour in winter and GMT plus two in summer.

Travel documentation

A valid passport or some other identification document recognised by international agreement; for certain countries a personal identity card is sufficient (i.e. a document which testifies to the identity and citizenship of the bearer).

For more information

Diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Croatia abroad or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia. Tel: +385 1 4569 964; E-mail: stranci@mvpei.hr ; www.mvpei.hr

Customs regulations

Customs regulations of the Republic of Croatia are harmonised with the standards of E.U. member states, but the value of objects of non-commercial character for personal use allowed to be brought into the country without tax duty or PDV (VAT) is limited to 300 HRK.
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 and local currency may be freely taken in and out of the country; local currency up to an amount of 15, 000 HRK, but any amount brought in our taken out of the country (whether foreign currency or HRK) in an amount exceeding a value of 40,000 HRK, must be declared to the customs officers. More valuable professional and technical equipment must be declared at the border. A non-resident can freely bring in and take out cheques in HRK.
Refund of tax when leaving the country is made to foreign nationals for individual goods purchased in Croatia for amounts in excess of 500 HRK, on presentation of a “Tax-cheque” form. This form is provided on request by a sales assistant, when items are purchased.

Pets

Pets which are being imported, or which are travelling through for non-commercial purposes, in the company on their owner (up to 5 animals: dogs, cats, African polecat, all types of birds, rodents and domesticated rabbits, invertebrates. (with exception of bees and crabs), ornamental tropical fish, amphibians and others will be allowed to enter Republic of Croatia only if the following conditions are fulfilled:
- they have a valid international passport or health certificate (veterinary certificate) in which a licensed veterinary surgeon in the exporter’s country certifies that the animal (s) in question are healthy and show no symptoms of infectious diseases which must be reported, and that they do not come from an area in which infectious diseases are present and which that particular type of animal can transfer.
Dogs, cats and animals of the marten family must be:
- marked with a clearly legible tattoo or fitted with a microchip;
- have a passport issued by a licensed veterinary surgeon proving they have been vaccinated or re-vaccinated against rabies. For additional information please contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management – Veterinary administration (Tel. +385 1 610 6703 and + 385 1 610 6669; www.mps.hr)

Health services

There are hospitals and clinics located in all the larger towns and cities, while smaller centres have dispensaries and chemist’s.
Foreign visitors are not obliged to pay for medical services if a convention on Social Security has been signed between Croatia and visitors’ country of origin, i.e. if they have in their possession a certificate stipulated by such a convention confirming their right to health care. Health care (including transport) is used for emergency cases in the manner and according to regulations valid for Croatian citizens covered by Social Security, with the costs of health care being participated in, in the same way (participation and administrative duty). Persons coming from countries with which no such convention has been signed bear the costs of health services rendered personally

Public holidays

1 January - New Year’s Day; 6 January – Epiphany; Easter Sunday & Easter Monday; 1 May - Labour Day; Corpus Christi; 22 June - Anti-Fascist Resistance Day; 25 June - Statehood Day; 5 August - Victory Day and National Thanksgiving Day; 15 August - Assumption Day; 8 October - Independence Day; 1 November - All Saints’ Day; 25-26 December - Christmas Holidays

Working hours

Most shops are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on weekdays and until 2 or 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Some shops work a split-shift system: from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and again from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Many shops stay open until 10 p.m., even on Sundays, especially in summer, while certain shops in the larger cities are open for business 24 hours a day.Public services and business offices work from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

Post and Telecommunications

Post offices are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, in smaller centres from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.; some offices work a split shift. In most towns and tourist centres, on-duty post offices are open on Saturdays and Sundays until 9 p.m. Postage stamps may also be purchased from newspaper and tobacco kiosks Phone cards are used in all public telephones and may be purchased from post offices and from newspaper and tobacco kiosks. International calls may be made directly from public telephones. www.posta.hr

Environmental protection

Protection of biodiversity complies with valid E.U. regulations. As regards bathing, the sea at the Croatian Adriatic is of high quality, again according to E.U. criteria. In the event of extraordinary environmental pollution on land, please advise Centre 112.

Fire prevention
Check that you have undertaken all the necessary measures to prevent fire!
Do not throw burning objects or inflammable objects into the environment!
If you notice a fire, please alert other persons in your surroundings; immediately inform the fire service on telephone number 93 or 112; attempt to extinguish the fire before the arrival of the fire brigade, but do not place yourself or others in danger!
Observe the signs forbidding the lighting of fires!
Take care that your parked vehicles do not obstruct fire-fighting approaches and access roads.

Call 112 in the following cases:
- if you need urgent or vital medical assistance;
- for assistance of fire fighting services;
- for assistance of mountain rescue services;
- for urgent or vital veterinary assistance;
If you notice:
- fire
- leakage of hazardous material, pollution of drinking water, springs, streams, rivers or sea

Search and rescue
In the event of accident on land or at sea, call 112 (number for all emergency situations), and in the event of accident at sea call 112 or 9155 (National Centre for search and rescue at sea).

Important telephone numbers

International country code for Croatia: +385
Police: 92
Fire Brigade: 93
Ambulance: 94
Roadside vehicle assistance: 987
(when calling from abroad or by mobile phone, call +385 1 987)
National Search and Rescue Centre: 9155.
A single countrywide number for all emergency situations: 112
General information: 981
Information local and intercity numbers: 988
Information international numbers: 902
Weather forecast and road conditions: 060 520 520
Croatian Automobile Club (HAK): +385 1 46 40 800,
Internet: www.hak.hr; E-mail: info@hak.hr

Radio news in foreign languages during the tourist season
Croatian Radio broadcasts on several frequencies programmes in foreign languages designed for tourists in Croatia. A daily programme is broadcast at 20.05h on channel one, in English in a duration of up to 10 min. On channel two of Croatian Radio, along with regular news, HAK provides reports on road conditions in English, German and Italian and, several times each day, information for sailors.
In the summer season, on channel two of Croatian Radio (98.5 Mhz), in addition to the regular news in the Croatian language there will also be a broadcast on road conditions in the English, German and Italian languages by HAK (from 18 June to 9 September 2007).
During the same period there will also be broadcasts every hour on the hour; news and reports on the condition of the roads are broadcast directly from the studios of: the Third Programme of Austrian Radio, RAI Uno, British Virgin Radio, Radio Prague and the International programme of Croatian Radio – Voice of Croatia.
Once each day during the summer Radio Prague reporters inform their colleagues via regional radio stations: Radio Split, Radio Dubrovnik and Radio Rijeka.