Croatia
General Information
 Geographic location: Croatia extends from the foot of the Julian Alps in the north-west and the Pannonian plain to the east, over the Dinara mountain range in the central part to the Adriatic coast in the south.
Area: 56,542 km2, along with 31,067km2 of territorial waters
Population: 4.437.460
Capital city: Zagreb (779.145 inhabitants - administrative, cultural, academic and traffic center of the country)
Shoreline length: 5,835km - including islands, islets and cliffs
Number of islands, islets and cliffs: 1,185. The largest islands are Krk and Cres. 67 islands are inhabited.
Climate: Northern Croatia has continental climate; central Croatia has mountain climate of various intensity. The winter temperatures range from -1 °C to - 30 °C in the mountain zone, from 0 °C to 5 °C in the continental area and from 5 °C to 10 °C on the coast. The summer temperatures range from 22 °C to 26 °C in the continental part of the country, from 15 °C to 20 °C in the mountain area and from 26 °C to 30 °C on the coast.
 Population: Croatians make up most of the population. National minorities are Serbians, Bosniacs, Italians, Hungarians, Albanians, Slovenians, Czechs, Slovaks, and so on (according to the Bureau of Statistics for 2001).
Official language and script: Croatian language and Latin script
Religion: Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Muslims, Jews, Protestants, others
Currency: The Croatian currency is the kuna (abbreviation kn, international abbreviation HRK). The kuna consists of 100 lipa (lp).
Time zone: Croatia lies in the GMT +1 zone. The zone changes to GMT +2 as of the last Saturday in March until the last Sunday in October.
Electric power supply: 220 V, 50Hz
Electric plugs have two cylindrical contacts or three contacts for devices that are grounded. If you need adapters or transformers, you will find them in larger stores or department stores. We recommend that guests from the USA check whether their laptops and other electrical devices such as shavers have the necessary switch.
 The flag
The flag of the Republic of Croatia consists of three colours: red, white and blue, with the historical Croatian coat of arms in the center. The length is twice the width. Its colours, in the order red, white and blue are laid horizontally, each one third the width of the flag. The coat of arms is placed in the centre of the flag so that the upper part of the coat of arms (the crown) overlaps the red field of the flag, and the bottom part overlaps the flag's blue field. The center of the coat of arms is placed at the point where the diagonals of the flag meet.
At the time of the Croatian national renaissance the Illyrian traditional jackets also were most often red, white or blue. All three colours were also part of the ceremonial inaugural uniform of Viceroy Josip Jelacic in 1848. The tricolor flag (red-white-blue) from the same year was also preserved. The flag is a symbol of the Croatian national reformers' striving for the unification of the Croatian lands.
Formalities
Entrance of Croatia is allowed against a valid passport or any other personal identification document recognized by a bilateral agreement. The border police issues, against a certain duty, document allowing passing the border, valid for a period of three months. A visa, if required, can be obtained at each border-crossing. However, the applicants are advised to contact the nearest Croatian diplomatic mission. Owners of vehicles are obliged to show the international motor vehicle insurance card.
Customs
Foreign visitors are allowed to tax-free import of personal luggage, including 200 cigarettes of 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco and a bottle of spirits. Customs duties, approximated to a half of the price of the purchased goods, are charged for larger quantities. A customs declaration has to be filled in when importing music instruments, camping or diving equipment (including oxygen bottles), radio equipment, etc., according to which the same items can be taken out of Croatia. Pets (dogs, cats) must have a valid vaccination certificate. Export of works of art, antique objects, sculptures, paintings and other objects of cultural heritage as well as gold and silver is possible only against a valid permit
Airports
Croatia has ten international airports: Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Pula, Zadar, Osijek, Vrsar, Ploce, Cunski on the island of Lošinj, and Brac on the island of Brac. The airports in Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Split are of great importance for tourism. The domestic airline company Croatia Airlines maintains air connections with all important centres in Europe. Additional flights, if necessary, are provided by foreign airlines.
Ship connections
Ferry and ship connections, apart from local communications, operate on regular international routes: Venice - Split - Dubrovnik; Trieste - Rijeka - Split - Durres (Albania); Zadar - Ancona; Split - Pescara; Dubrovnik - Bari. The Croatian passenger marine includes fast hydrofoil boats. Croatian ports accommodate many foreign tourist ships and yachts during the tourist season.
Public holidays in Croatia:
• January 1 - New Year’s Day
• January 6 - Epiphany
• Day after Easter - Easter Monday
• May 1 - Labor Day
• Corpus Christi - not a fixed holiday
• June 22 - Day of the Anti-Fascist Struggle
• June 25 - Statehood Day
• August 5 - Homeland Gratitude Day
• August 15 - Assumption
• October 8 - Independence Day
• November 1 - All Saints’ Day
• December 25-26 - Christmas holidays
Important telephone numbers:
• Police: 92
• First Aid: 94
• Fire Department: 93
• Road Assistance: 987
• General Information: 981
• Information on local and long distance telephone numbers: 988
• Information on international telephone numbers: 902
• Weather forecast and road conditions: 060 520 520
• Croatian Automobile Club: +385 1 4554 433
THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
The Republic of Croatia, with its 56542 km2 and the population of about 4 800 000, belongs to the group of Middle European countries. It is bigger than Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland, and its population is larger than the on of Norway and Ireland.
Croatia can be divided in several geographical units: the Mediterranian, the highlands, and the Pannonian.
 The Mediterranian part includes all the islands of the Adriatic sea, coastal background – Zagora. This area has a specific relief, configuration, climate and the vegetation. warm summers and mild winters are characteristic for this part of Croatia. Fishing, seamanship, trade, ship-building, agriculture and tourism play very important part in the life of the towns and villages situated along the Adriatic coast. Tourism is highly important for development of many districts in Croatia, especially for the cities along the coast such as Dubrovnik, Makarska, Split, Sibenik, Zadar, Rijeka, Pula, and Porec. Croatian highlands Lika is quite characteristic area. Most attractive is Gorski Kotar, popularly called Croatian Switzerland. Wood industry, winter tourism and hunting are especially developed here. Population density is the highest in Pannonian area – economically the most powerful part of Croatia with its many industrial centres such as: Zagreb, Varazdin, Osijek, Karlovac, Sisak, Slavonski Brod, Vinkovci, Virovitica.
Thanks to its geographical position which covers the Adriatic sea, rivers Sava and Drava, Croatia is spread over the most important part of the European Continent. This is the reason why this area has always been the center of the European political events.
Ever since the Croatian tribes have inhabited this area 14 centuries ago, they have been subjected to various pressures from all around. Throughout hundreds of years of fighting, strong, politically conscious nation has arisen, the one prepared to remain on this in spite the military forces that had unsuccessfully tried to drive them away. Finally, in the last decade of the 20th century, this nation has established and created its own country.
 Specially interesting are cultural and historical monuments of this area, the kinds of which do not exists anywhere else in Europe. Those monuments stand of Croatian history, past and culture. Croatian rich history has so far left its marks all around the country. This rich heredity is emphasized with Croatian natural beauty.
Croatia, as an independent country nowadays offers various attractive tourist programs : vivid landscapes, interesting cities with the possibility to enjoy historical buildings, art treasures, various opportunities for rest and rehabilitation are offered. Croatia enchants every visitor with a magic of its environment. There is the Adriatic sea, with many of islands on the South, lawns and pastures and forests in the middle of beautiful Gorski Kotar and Lika, and fertile plains hundreds of years old towns on the north.
Croatia is rich with woods, long rivers, valleys, high mountains, hills and a number of lakes. Interesting things and a peak of hundreds years old culture is here to welcome everyone in all parts of Croatia: strong holds, castles, churches, convents, historical towns, city – walls, watchtowers, old city – halls, and romantic lanes. A number of large cities and cultural centers of the high range invites to various museums, galleries, concerts...as well as to shopping centers, and outings to beautiful places.
What does Croatia offer ... From magnifficantly articulated Adriatic coast with its thousands islands and small islands, crests and castles to romantic ruins, magic mountains and endless plains, numerous beauties of the nature. Above all, Croatia offers its ancient towns; they are the core of Croatian style of life and tradition. There are suitable hotels, restaurants and inns. Based upon a tradition, and historical charm, those cities offer that special something that is hard to find on the other parts of Europe.
 Travelling around the Croatia does not take much time. For example, it takes 4 hours by car to get to Zagreb from Vienna. From Zagreb to the Adriatic coast takes 2 hours of driving. It is pleasant travel along Adriatic freeway, one can enjoy a beautiful scenery, cities, places and islands. It is the most attractive area of the Mediterranean where the biggest tourist centers of Croatia are situated. The centers are situated closely one to another, so it never takes more than one hour of driving to reach each one of them. Travelling by the plane is taken care of by the Croatian Airlines and another air – companies.Croatian railway company, many transportation and traffic companies take care of travelling ba the road.
For sailing along the Adriatic coast , Jadrolinija is in charge. In other words, Croatia is full collection of tourist attractions. Tourist employees in Croatia base their tourist offers on the rich and beautiful Croatian landscape, national cousin, and they offer to their guests what they cannot enjoy anywhere else. Warm, clean sea, bright sun and fulfillment of many of their wishes is offered. Therefore, it is worth to come to Croatia, because this part of Europe offers thousands of combinations and thousands of combinations and various tourist possibilities.
Houses for rent in Croatia
Lighthouses Croatia
Rent a boat Croatia
Map of Croatia
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