VISIT CROATIA

With its elongated coastline and thousands of islands in the Adriatic sea, Croatia is the place to go if exploring ancient towns next to blue water is your idea of a good trip.

Currency

€ - Euro (1€ ≃ 1,05$ ≃0,86£)

POPULATION

3,9 millions

MAIN LANGUAGE

Croatian

AREA

56,594 km²

TIME ZONE

UTC+1 / UTC+2

FLAG

🇭🇷

Croatia features countless islands and beaches, a thriving nightlife, and unique natural attractions. Don't let Croatia's party-going destination label repel you if that is not your thing though, because this country has much more to offer. Whether you find yourself walking the old city walls of the medieval town of Dubrovnik, marvelling at the incredibly well-conserved Roman amphitheatre in Pula, or strolling in Zagreb's Gornji Grad (Upper Town), you will quickly realise Croatia is a country with a rich history. For the nature-lovers, Croatia houses a remarkable variety of landscapes to enjoy in no less than eight natural parks (Plitvice and Krka being the most famous ones).

There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Croatia:

Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Croatia.

Driving: In Croatia, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 30 mph on main roads within built-up areas, 90 kph / 56 mph on main roads outside built-up areas, 110 kph / 70 mph on dual carriageways, and 130 kph / 80 mph on motorways. During adverse weather (rain, fog, etc.), the speed limits are lowered.

Plugs: Two plug types are used in Croatia: C and F. They both have two grounding holes. Croatia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.

Tipping: As a general rule - although welcome - tipping is not compulsory in restaurants and cafés in Croatia.

Payment: Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - are widely accepted across Croatia, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places. The use of cash money is still very common, especially for low-value purchases, and/or in small shops and open markets.

Basic language: Bok = Hello; Dobar dan = Good day; Doviđenja = Goodbye; Da = Yes; Ne = No; Hvala = Thank you; Puno hvala = Thank you very much; Molim = Please; Izvolite = You're welcome; Oprostite = Excuse me; Dan = Day; Noć = Night; Dobra večer = Good evening; Laku noć = Goodnight; Gospodine = Mister; Gđa = Ma'am

Holidays and closing days: Sunday is a closing day for most stores. There are 14 official public holidays in Croatia: New Year's Day (January 01), Epiphany (January 06), Easter and Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 01), Statehood Day (May 30), Corpus Christi, Anti-Fascist Struggle Day (June 22), Victory Day (August 05), Assumption Day (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 01), Remembrance Day (November 18), Christmas Day (December 25), St. Stephen's Day (December 26). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Croatia, or if you are planning to come to Croatia for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the Croatian government website: https://mvep.gov.hr/

✅ No visa is needed if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Greece; France; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg, Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland

⏳ Visa-free but limited to a maximum of 90 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; El Salvador; Georgia; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Israel; Japan; Kiribati; Macao; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Palau; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon islands; South Korea; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay: Vatican; Venezuela

🛂 Visa required (Schengen visa) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

❄️ December – February: Winter in Croatia is a time for empty beaches and closed resorts along the coast. Inland, the country is not asleep though: Croatia is a predominantly Christian country, so Christmas is taken seriously. Almost all of the major cities and towns will be celebrating in some way. In Zagreb, you can visit several Christmas markets, ice rinks, decorations and more, and even ski nearby! During this season, the temperatures in Zagreb usually range from -2°C (28F) to 8°C (46F). The climate is milder in Dalmatia - which is the Croatian coastal region to the south of Istria - but doesn't usually exceed 12°C (54F).

🌱 March – May: Springtime in Croatia is a terrific time to visit the popular Plitvice Lakes National Park, because the lakes and waterfalls are bursting with water from melting winter snow and there are fewer tourists. It is also a good time to wander the coastal towns and islands, even though the water might still be too cold to swim in during early Spring.

☀️ June – August: It is not a secret, summer in Croatia is the peak of tourist season. You sure won't be alone, especially in July and August, so make sure to book your accommodation and ferries well in advance! If you are into festivals and nightlife, this is definitely the best time to come. During summer, the temperatures in Zagreb usually range from 15°C (59F) to 28°C (82F); while the temperatures in Dalmatia are usually between 20°C (68F) and 31°C (88F).

🍂 September – November: During autumn, temperatures in Croatia are getting cooler but remain warm enough for swimming. The tourist mass is way lighter, which makes accommodation cheaper and easier to book. When planning your trip, bear in mind some places start to shut down in October and ferry companies change their schedules.

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