Currency:
Kuna (1 Kuna = 100 Lipa). As per 09 September 2007: 1€ = 7,31 kuna.
Banking:
Money can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, post offices and at most
tourist agencies, hotels and camping grounds. Banking hours are 7 a.m. to 7
p.m. from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays banks are open until 1 p.m. In the
larger cities some banks are also open on Sundays. Credit cards: Most hotels,
restaurants and shops accept credit cards (American Express, Diners Club,
Eurocard/ Mastercard, Visa, Sport Card International).
Electricity: Voltage of city power grid – 220V, frequency 50Hz
Water: Tap water is potable throughout Croatia.
The telephone code for Croatia is +385.
Time zone: GMT plus one hour in winter and GMT plus two in summer. (April – October)
Travel documentation and visas:
Passport or some other internationally recognised identification document.
Tourists may remain in Croatia for up to three months.
Diplomatic consulates of the Republic of Croatia abroad or the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.
Tel. 01 4569 964; Web: http://www.mvpei.hr
Customs regulations: Customs regulations of the Republic of Croatia are in line with the standards of European Union countries. Foreign currency is freely brought in and taken out of the country (up to a value of 3.000 euros); up to a value of 15.000 kn for domestic currency. More expensive professional and technical equipment should be registered at the border. Dogs and cats, accompanied by their owner, need to have an International certificate from a registered veterinarian stating that at least 15 days and not more than six months have passed since their vaccination against rabies. Tax refund for goods purchased in Croatia over 500 kuna in value with a validated "Tax cheque" at departure from the country. Information: Republic of Croatia Customs Administration, Tel. 01 6102 333, Web: www.carina.hr
Purchase tax reimbursement for foreign citizens:
Tourists making purchases in Croatia (apart from petroleum derivatives) which
exceed 500 Kuna per receipt may reclaim VAT ("PDV").
At point of purchase the sales person will provide on request a form PDV-P,
which should be filled out and stamped, on the spot. On leaving Croatia the receipt
must be verified by the Croatian Customs service. A PDV refund in Kuna
can be obtained within six months, either at the same 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 dealt with within 15 days
of receipt of the claim.
Medical service:
There are hospitals and clinics in all larger cities and first aid clinics and
pharmacies in all places. Foreign tourists do not pay for medical services if
the Health Care Convention was signed between Croatia and the country they come
from. Expenses of health services provided to persons coming from the countries
with which the Health Care 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).
There is a network of veterinary clinics and centres in Croatia.
National holidays 2008.:
1 January - New Year's Day; 6 January - Epiphany; 21-24 March - Easter; 1 May -
Labour Day; 22 May - Corpus Christi (Movable feast); 22 June - Anti-Fascist
Resistance Day; 25 June - Statehood Day; 5 August - Victory Day and National
Thanksgiving Day; 15 August - Assumption; 8 October – Independence
Day; 1 November - All Saints' Day; 25 and 26 December - Christmas Holidays.
Working hours:
Shops and department stores are open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and on
Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or to 3 p.m. A smaller number of stores close
between noon and 4 p.m. Many stores are also open on Sundays, especially in the
summer, and a smaller number in the larger cities are open 24 hours a day.
Public services and companies usually work from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. from
Monday to Friday.
Post and Telecommunications:
Post Offices are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays until 1 p.m.
There are Post Offices in the larger cities which are open until 10 p.m. in the
summer. Postage stamps are sold in Post Offices and at newsstands.
Public telephones can be used only with phone cards, which can be purchased in
Post Offices and at newsstands, in hotels and tourist complexes.
Environmental protection:
Protection of the biological diversity is in conjunction with the EU
regulations currently in force. The water quality of the Croatia's Adriatic Sea
is of high quality for swimming and in conjunction to the EU criteria. In
case of an accident or contamination of the sea, please contact the National
Centre for Sea Search and Rescue on the number 9155 (free telephone), which is
a part of international institutions of the same rank. In case of accidental
environmental contamination on land, report it to the National Information
Centre on the number 01/4814 911
For additional information about the
environment: Tel: 01/6106 111, Tel: 0800 200 037,
Web: www.mzopu.hr
Fire prevention:
Ensure that you have done everything to prevent a fire!
Do not throw lit or flammable objects into the environment!
If you see a fire, please inform others in your proximity; report it
immediately on the telephone number - 93; try to extinguish the fire till the
fire-fighters arrive and in such a manner so as not to endanger yourself or
others!
Take notice of signs forbidding the lighting of fires!
Take care that your parked vehicle does not obstruct accesses to the fire or
roads!
Important telephone numbers:
International dialling prefix for Croatia: 385
Ambulance 94
Fire-service 93
Police 92
Assistance on the roads 987; 987@hak.hr
(If you are calling from outside of Croatia or using a mobile phone dial +3851 987)
General information 981
Information about local and district telephone numbers 988
Information about International telephone numbers 902
Weather forecast and road conditions 060 520 520
Croatia's auto club (HAK) 01 4640 800;
Web: www.hak.hr;
e-mail: info@hak.hr