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Visas and documents

       In order to attract visitors to Croatia once again, entry requirements have been relaxed somewhat. Citizens of Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Singapore, the UK and Ireland no longer require a visa for stays up to 90 days. South Africans must apply for a special visa in Pretoria. This lasts 90 days and you must produce a return ticket. If you are unsure about your requirements, visit any Croatian Embassy. If you wish to stay more than 90 days the easiest thing to do is cross the border into Italy or Austria then return. All foreigners must register with the local police when they arrive in a new area of the country but this is normally a simple matter handled by the hotel or your accommodation agent. They will normally hold your passport overnight when you arrive.
A valid passport is always required for entry into Croatia and you must ensure that it is valid for your entire stay in the country. Always make a photocopy and keep it in a separate place. In the event of your passport becoming lost or stolen, a photocopy will assist the Embassy in issuing a replacement.

Beach holidays

        The beaches in Croatia are superb. There are many tiny coves with crystal clear water. Many beaches are flanked by unspoilt pine forests and some beaches are packed with naturists. Some of the best beaches include Baska on Krk Island and Lopar on Rab Island. Many of the beaches are popular with nudists.

Activity holidays

        Croatia’s wonderful coastline combined with a diverse topography make it the ideal location for activity holidays of every description. Hiking, Rock climbing, Scuba diving and Mountain biking are all popular.

Practical matters

        Electricity is 220V, 50Hz. Croatia uses the standard European 2 point plugs so if you are visiting from the UK, obtain an adaptor.

Time

        Croatia is on Central European Time (GMT + 1 hour). Daylight saving comes into effect at the end of March when clocks are put forward one hour. At the end of September clocks are put back an hour.

Language

        In addition to the Croatian language, most Croats speak at least one other language. Inland the second language is most likely to be German or Italian. Most people in hotels, tourist offices and restaurants are proficient in English.

Communications

        Post services
            HPT Hrvatska shows a red, white and blue sign and offers a wide range of services from selling stamps and telephone cards to sending faxes and offering call facilities. To avoid a trip to the Post Office, you can buy stamps ‘pismo’ from newsstands ‘tisak’ and drop your letters into a yellow post box on any street. In larger cities and towns Post Offices are open from 7am – 7pm Monday to Friday and 7am – 1pm on Saturday. In small towns Post Offices may be open from 7am – 2pm, and sometimes on Saturday mornings.

       Telephones
            The international dialling code to call Croatia is 385. You also drop the initial ‘0’ on the area code. To make a call within Croatia, start with the area code (including the initial 0), then the local number. Phone numbers beginning with ‘060’ are free and calls beginning with ‘09’ are mobile phone numbers. To make an international call from Croatia, go to a Post Office as a hotel will charge a much higher rate. Most street telephones are card operated only. Most Post offices, tobacconists and newsstands sell telephone cards. Most public telephones are equipped with several languages. Calls within Croatia are cheaper after 4pm.

       Mobile telephones in Croatia
            Croatia uses GSM 900/1800 which is compatible with the rest of Europe but not the USA GSM 1900. If you have a GSM phone, check with your service provider for compatibility. Be careful with international calls as they are expensive. You can purchase a SIM card for about 200KN which includes a Croatian number and an amount of call time.

       Internet access and computers in Croatia
            The use of the internet is growing rapidly in Croatia and telephone lines are being modernised. However, it may still be difficult to obtain internet connection at your hotel. The older hotels may still have an antiquated telephone system. The dial tone in Croatia is also different which may cause computer problems. Internet cafes are springing up all over Croatia and they are cheap and efficient. Most have English speaking staff. Some tourist offices allow free collection of emails on their computers. If you are staying in Croatia for any length of time you can sign up with the Post Office who will provide you with internet access. This cannot however be done on line. You have to sign a contract at the Post Office. They will then post a disk to you.

       Crime and safety
            It is quite safe to travel all over Croatia and mugging and thefts are not a major problem. However, as with any foreign country, use your common sense and do not put yourself in a vulnerable position. Young girls on their own at night may be pestered but it is not usually a great risk situation. If you are concerned, approach a policeman.

Arrival to Croatia by car

Arrival to Croatia by plane