Croatia Contacts
Croatian National Tourist Board, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 469 9333 or http://www.croatia.hr/
Embassy of Croatia, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 588 5899.
Embassy of Croatia, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7387 2022.
Embassy of Croatia, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 562 7820.
Embassy of Croatia, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6286 6988.
Embassy of Croatia, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 1206.
Embassy of Croatia, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 476 7181.
Consulate-General of Croatia, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 836 5581.
United States Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 661 2200.
British Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 600 9100.
Canadian Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 488 1211.
Australian Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 489 1200.
South African Honorary Consulate, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 489 4111.
Honorary Consul of Ireland, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 631 0025.
New Zealand Embassy, Rome, Italy (also responsible for Croatia): +39
(0)6 441 7171.
Emergencies: 92 (Police); 94 (Ambulance).
Croatia Currency
Money: The official unit of currency is the Kuna (HRK). One
Kuna is divided into 100 Lipa. ATMs are plentiful throughout the country
and banks, authorised
bureaux de change, post offices or most hotels will exchange foreign
currency or travellers cheques. Banks open Monday to Saturday and some
banks also
open on Sundays in the main cities. Major credit cards are widely accepted
at the main hotels and restaurants, and may be used to draw cash from
ATMs, which are widely available throughout the country.
Croatia Health
No vaccinations are required, however there is a risk of tick-borne encephalitis
for those travelling in forested areas or who consume unpasteurised
dairy products. Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccinations are also recommended.
The bird flu virus was found in dead migratory swans and stringent
measures
have been taken by the Croatian authorities to contain the virus. Travellers
to Croatia are unlikely to be affected, but should avoid any contact
with
live birds and ensure poultry and egg dishes are well cooked. Medical
care is fairly good, with free emergency medical care available to
UK citizens
with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), though some medicines
are in short supply in public facilities. Non-UK nationals are advised
to
invest in health insurance.
View information on diseases: Typhoid fever, Tick-borne encephalitis,
Hepatitis A
Typhoid fever
Cause: Salmonella typhi, the typhoid bacillus, which infects only humans.
Similar paratyphoid and enteric fevers are caused by other species of
Salmonella, which infect domestic animals as well as humans. Transmission:
Infection with typhoid fever is transmitted by consumption of contaminated
food or water. Occasionally direct faecal-oral transmission may occur.
Shellfish taken from sewage-polluted beds are an important source of
infection. Infection occurs through eating fruit and vegetables fertilized
by night soil and eaten raw, and milk and milk products that have been
contaminated by those in contact with them. Flies may transfer infection
to foods, resulting in contamination that may be sufficient to cause
human infection. Pollution of water sources may produce epidemics of
typhoid fever, when large numbers of people use the same source of drinking
water. Nature of the disease: Typhoid fever is a systemic disease of
varying severity. Severe cases are characterized by gradual onset of
fever, headache, malaise, anorexia and insomnia. Constipation is more
common than diarrhoea in adults and older children. Without treatment,
the disease progresses with sustained fever, bradycardia, hepatosplenomegaly,
abdominal symptoms and, in some cases, pneumonia. In white-skinned patients,
pink spots (papules), which fade on pressure, appear on the skin of the
trunk in up to 50% of cases. In the third week, untreated cases develop
additional gastrointestinal and other complications, which may prove
fatal. Around 2-5% of those who contract typhoid fever become chronic
carriers, as bacteria persist in the biliary tract after symptoms have
resolved. Geographical distribution: Worldwide. The disease occurs most
commonly in association with poor standards of hygiene in food preparation
and handling and where sanitary disposal of sewage is lacking. Risk for
travellers: Generally low risk for travellers, except in parts of north
and west Africa, in south Asia and in Peru. Elsewhere, travellers are
usually at risk only when exposed to low standards of hygiene with respect
to food handling, control of drinking water quality, and sewage disposal.
Prophylaxis (protective treatment): Vaccination. Precautions: Observe
all precautions against exposure to foodborne and waterborne infections.
Source: WHO.
Tick-borne encephalitis
Cause: The tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus, which is a flavivirus.
Other closely related viruses cause similar diseases. Transmission: Infection
is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. There is no direct person-to-person
transmission. Some related viruses, also tick-borne, infect animals such
as birds, deer (louping-ill), rodents and sheep. Nature of the disease:
Infection with tick-borne encephalitis may induce an influenza-like illness,
with a second phase of fever occurring in 10% of cases. Encephalitis
develops during the second phase and may result in paralysis, permanent
sequelae or death. Severity of illness increases with age. Geographical
distribution: Tick-borne encephalitis is present in large parts of Europe,
particularly Austria, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania),
the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Russian Federation. The disease is
seasonal, occurring mainly during the summer months in rural and forest
areas at altitudes up to 1,000 metres. Risk for travellers: In endemic
areas during the summer months, travellers are at risk when hiking or
camping in rural or forest areas. Prophylaxis (protective treatment):
A vaccine against TBE is available. Precautions: Avoid bites by ticks
by wearing long trousers and closed footwear when hiking or camping in
endemic areas. If a bite occurs, the tick should be removed as soon as
possible. Source: WHO.
Hepatitis A
Cause: Hepatitis A virus, a member of the picornavirus family.
Transmission: The virus is acquired directly from infected persons by the
faecal-oral
route or by close contact, or by consumption of contaminated food or
drinking water. There is no insect vector or animal reservoir (although
some non-human primates are sometimes infected).
Nature of the disease: An acute viral hepatitis with abrupt onset of
fever, malaise, nausea and abdominal discomfort, followed by the development
of jaundice a few days later. Infection in very young children is usually
mild or asymptomatic (e.g. causes no symptoms); older children are at
risk of symptomatic disease. The disease is more severe in adults, with
illness lasting several weeks and recovery taking several months; case-fatality
is greater than 2% for those over 40 years of age and 4% for those over
60. Geographical distribution: Worldwide, but most common where sanitary
conditions are poor and the safety of drinking water is not well controlled.
Risk for travellers: Non-immune travellers to developing countries are
at significant risk of infection. The risk is particularly high for travellers
exposed to poor conditions of hygiene, sanitation and drinking water
control. Prophylaxis (protective treatment): Vaccination. Precautions:
Travellers who are non-immune to hepatitis A (i.e. have never had the
disease and have not been vaccinated) should take particular care to
avoid potentially contaminated food and water. Source: WHO.
Croatia Passport & Visa
Requirements
Entry requirements for Americans: US citizens must present a passport
(it may be expired up to six months). Visas are not required for stays
of up to 90
days.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK citizens must have a passport valid
for the period of intended stay. A visa is not required for British Citizens
for tourist or business stays of up to 90 days. Other UK passport holders should
check with the embassy whether a visa is required for travel.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian citizens must have a passport valid
for period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australian citizens must have a passport
valid for the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up
to 90 days.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South African nationals must have a
passport valid for the period of intended stay and a visa is required.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealanders must have a passport
valid for the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up
to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals must have a passport
or ID card valid for the period of intended stay. No visas are required for
stays of up to 90 days.
Passport/Visa Note: All visitors require documents and
tickets for onward or return destinations and sufficient funds (at least €100
or equivalent per day, or €50 if in possession of a tourist voucher
or confirmed invitation, unless a national of an EU country).
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.
Croatia weather
The coast of Croatia revels in a pleasant Mediterranean climate.
Summers are hot, sunny and dry, with an average temperature of 79°F
(26°C), while winters have cooler weather, though still mild, temperatures
dropping to a minimum of 39°F (4°C). Inland, Croatia experiences
a more severe continental climate, with greater differentiation between
the hot summer and cold winter conditions.
Croatia Basics
Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Sunday
in March to the last Sunday in October).
Electricity: Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz.
European style round, two-pin plugs are standard.
Language: The official language is Croatian.
Health: No vaccinations are required, however there
is a risk of tick-borne encephalitis for those travelling in forested
areas or who consume unpasteurised dairy products. Typhoid and Hepatitis
A vaccinations are also recommended. The bird flu virus was found in
dead migratory swans and stringent measures have been taken by the
Croatian authorities to contain the virus. Travellers to Croatia
are unlikely
to be affected, but should avoid any contact with live birds and ensure
poultry and egg dishes are well cooked. Medical care is fairly good,
with free emergency medical care available to UK citizens with a European
Health Insurance Card (EHIC), though some medicines are in short supply
in public facilities. Non-UK nationals are advised to invest in health
insurance.
Tipping: In tourist or upmarket restaurants a tip
of 10% will be appreciated, but otherwise it is usual to round up the
bill
if the service has been good unless a service charge has already been
added. Tour guides expect to be tipped. Most other services receive
a small tip by rounding up the bill.
Safety: Most visits to Croatia are trouble-free, and there is no particular
threat of terrorism. Busy tourist areas are prone to petty theft. Outside
the normal tourist routes travellers should be aware that unexploded
mines might
remain, particularly in Eastern Slavonia and the former Krajina.
Customs: Passports, or some form of identification,
should be carried at all times.
Business: Business in Croatia is conducted in a formal
manner; punctuality is key, dress should be smart and conservative
(suits and ties are the norm) and polite greetings are made with a
handshake.
Titles and surnames are usually used unless otherwise indicated and
business cards are exchanged at the beginning of a meeting. English
and German
are widely spoken, but any attempt at speaking some Croatian will be
appreciated. Women tend to hold high positions in business and are
well respected. Building a good working relationship is important in
Croatia
and it is useful to work with a reliable local partner. Although Croatia
appears typically European in its dealings, business can take some
time to conclude. Business hours are usually 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
Communications: The international access code for
Croatia is +385. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country
code
(e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Zagreb is (0)1
and (0)20 for Dubrovnik. Public phones take phone cards, which can
be bought in post offices and hotels. GSM operators have active roaming
agreements with most international networks, and cover most of the
country.
Internet cafes are available in the larger towns and cities.
Duty Free: Travellers to Croatia can enter the country
with the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1 litre wine and 1 litre spirits;
250ml of eau de cologne and one bottle of perfume. Regulations apply
to firearms
and radio instruments. No item of archaeological, historical, ethnographic,
artistic, cultural or scientific value may leave the country without
a license issued by the appropriate authorities.
Croatia Airports
Zagreb Airport (ZAG)
Location: The airport is situated 10 miles
(17km) southeast of Zagreb. Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last
Saturday in March to end October).
Contacts: Tel: +385 (0)1 45 62 222. Transfer to the city: A Croatia Airlines
bus service connects to the city centre's bus station, leaving from outside
the international arrivals hall (30 min). A taxi rank is also situated
right outside the international arrivals. Car rental: Avis, Budget, Europcar
and Hertz are among the rental agencies represented at the airport. Facilities:
The airport has a bank, duty-free shops, a post office, tourist information
kiosk, and 24-hour left luggage service. The Faust Vranèiæ Restaurant
is situated on the first floor of the passenger's terminal; a cafe/bar
is also available. Departure tax: None. Website: http://www.zagreb-airport.hr/
Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
Location: The airport is situated about 15 miles
(24km) south of Dubrovnik. Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last
Saturday in March to end of
October). Contacts: Tel: +385 (0)20 773 333. Transfer to the city: The
Croatia Airlines bus meets scheduled flights and runs between the airport
and the main bus station. Passengers can get off at the stop outside the
main gate to the old city on the way to the main bus station. Taxis are
also available. Car rental: Car hire companies at the airport include Hertz,
Avis, Budget and Thrifty. Facilities: A bank and exchange office are open
daily. There are also souvenir shops, duty free, and snacks and drinks
available. Departure tax: None. Website: http://www.airport-dubrovnik.hr/
Split Airport (SPU)
Location: The airport is situated 16 miles (25km) west
of Split. Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Saturday in March
to end of October).
Contacts: Tel: +385 (0)21 203 555. Transfer to the city: Croatia Airlines
operates a bus between the airport and the main bus station, on the waterfront,
in Split. Taxis are also available. Car rental: Car rental companies include
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National and others. Facilities: Airport
facilities include a restaurant and café, duty-free shopping, banking
and currency exchange services and a post office. Departure tax: None.
Website: http://www.split-airport.hr/
