Currency:
Kuna (1 Kuna = 100 Lipa). There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Lipa and 1, 2, 5 and 25 Kuna coins and 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 Kuna.
Foreign currencies:
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, post offices, travel agencies, hotels and campsites. Banking hours are 7 to 19 hours from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays banks are open until 13 pm. Some banks in larger cities are open on Sundays. Credit cards: most hotels, restaurants and shops accept credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard / Mastercard, Visa, Sport Card International). ATMs are ubiquitous.
Power supply:
220V, frequency 50Hz
Tap water is safe throughout Croatia.
Call number:
Country code for Croatia is +385.
Time Zone:
GMT (UTC) plus one hour in winter and GMT (UTC) plus two hours in summer time
Travel documents:
A passport or other internationally recognized identification document. Tourists may remain in Croatia for three months.
Diplomatic missions of Croatia or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia
Tel. 01 4569 964
Web: www.mvp.hr
Customs regulations:
Customs regulations of the Croatian Republic of compliance with the standards of the European Union. Foreign currency is freely brought in and taken local currency up to 15,000 Kuna. Professional and technical equipment must be declared at the border. Pets accompanying their owners should have an International certificate from a veterinarian stating that the vaccination against rabies at least 15 days but not more than six months. Tax refund is allowed for goods purchased in Croatia over 500 Kuna in value with a validated "Tax check" (Tax check) when leaving the country.
Information: Croatian Customs Administration (tel 01 6102 333);
Web: www.carina.hr
Tax refund for foreign nationals:
Tourists making purchases in Croatia (apart from petroleum derivatives) which exceed 500 Kuna per receipt may reclaim VAT ("VAT"). Upon purchase, the dealer will provide a form PDV-P, which must be filled out and stamped on the spot. On leaving the account must be verified by the Croatian Customs service. VAT refund in Kuna can be obtained within six months in the 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 paid within 15 days of receipt.
Medical service:
There are hospitals and clinics in all larger cities and clinics and pharmacies in all places. Foreign tourists do not pay for medical services if there is a signed health care convention between Croatia and the country of origin. Cost of health services for persons coming from countries with which the Convention was not signed are charged directly to users according to the price list. For patients whose lives are in danger, there is emergency transport by air (helicopter) or sea (speedboat).
Veterinary services:
Croatia has a network of veterinary clinics and dispensaries.
Information: www.veterinarstvo.hr , e-mail: veterinarstvo@zg.tel.hr
National holidays 2006.:
1st January - New Year's Day 6 January - Epiphany. Epiphany, 16 and 17 April - Easter and Easter Monday 1 May - Labour Day, 15 June - Corpus Christi, 22 June - Day of Antifascist Struggle, 25 June - Statehood Day, 5 August - Victory Day and Thanksgiving, 15 August - Assumption Day, 8 October - Independence Day, 1 November - All Saints, 25 and 26 December - Christmas Day.
Opening hours:
Shops and malls are open from 8 till 20 hours, and Saturdays from 8 till 14 or 15 hours. A smaller number of stores close between 12 and 14 hours. Many stores are open on Sundays, especially in summer time, and a smaller number of stores in larger cities are open 24 hours a day. Public services and companies usually work from 8 to 16 o’clock from Monday to Friday
Post and telecommunications:
Post offices are open from 7 till 19 hours, and on Saturdays up to 13 hours. In most towns, post offices are open until 22 hours. Stamps can be purchased at post offices and newsstands.
Public telephones work only with phone cards that can be purchased at post offices, shops, hotels and tourist complexes.
In Croatia there are four GSM networks - T-Mobile, VIPNet, Tele2 and Tomato.
Environment:
Protection of biodiversity complies with current EU regulations. Sea water in the Croatian Adriatic is of high quality, according to EU criteria. In case of accident or pollution, please contact the National Centre for Search and Rescue, number 9155 (free call), which is included in the international institutions of the same level. In case of accidental environmental contamination on land notify the State Center for Information, number 01/4814 911. For additional information about the environment call: 01/6106 111
Tel: 0800 200 037 Web: www.mzopu.hr
Fire prevention
Make sure you have done everything to prevent a fire!
Do not throw lit or flammable objects into the environment!
If you notice a fire, please inform others in your vicinity, immediately make a phone call to number - 93, until the arrival of firefighters try to extinguish the fire, but do not endanger yourself or others!
Observe the signs forbidding the lighting of fires!
Take care that your parked vehicle does not obstruct access to the fire.
Important telephone numbers:
International dialing code for Croatia: 385
Ambulance 94 or 112
Firefighters: 93 or 112
Police 92 or 112
Help on the road 987; 987@hak.hr
(If calling from overseas or a mobile phone dial +3851 987)
General information 981
Information about local and district telephone numbers 988
Information about International telephone numbers 902
Weather and road conditions 060 520 520
Croatian Automobile Club (HAK) 01 4640 800 Internet: www.hak.hr e-mail: info@hak.hr
Radio news in foreign languages during the tourist season:
On second channel of the Croatian National Radio, along with regular news in Croatian language, HAK (Croatian Auto Club) will give reports on road conditions in English, German and Italian language, as well as provide nautical information. Every full hour of broadcast, on second channel of the Croatian National Radio, there will be alternating news and reports about traffic directly from the foreign studios: the Third Program of the Bavarian Radio, the Third Program of Austrian Radio, Italian RAI Uno, British Virgin radio and Czech radio. During the day, there will be broadcasts for nautical tourists both in English and Croatian.