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(Last updated: 05 Nov 2008)
Visas
Australian citizens do not require a visa to enter Croatia. Tourists may stay in Croatia for three months.
Croatian Embassy in Australia
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
14 Jindalee Crescent
O'Malley ACT 2606
Tel: +61 2 6286 6988
Fax: +61 2 6286 3544
Email: croemb@bigpond.com
Business hours:
9.00am-1.00pm and 2.00pm-5.00pm, Monday to Friday
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Croatia has three main climate zones: the north, central region and the coast.
Northern Croatia’s weather is affected by continental Europe, and ranges from –1 to 26ºC. The difference between night and day temperatures can be high.
Central Croatia has a mountain climate with colder winters just reaching zero, and cool summers with a high of 20ºC.
Coastal Croatia has a Mediterranean climate, with warmer winters rarely colder than 5ºC and hot summers reaching 30ºC.
For weather details in Croatia, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.
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It takes around 30 minutes to travel the 17 kilometres from Zagreb airport to the city and both taxis and buses are available. A taxi will cost around A$30 to a city centre hotel.
Zagreb is the main airport with links to most European capitals. There are also important regional airports in Split and Dubrovnik which serve the tourist industry. Other important airports are in Osijek, Zadar, Pula, Brac, Lošinj and Rijeka.
There are daily scheduled flights to most of major European cities by the national carrier Croatia Airlines.
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Croatia has a good transport system. The Croatian Tourist Board provides further information and links for travellers in Croatia.
There are trains linking the main Croatian cities and also European cities. The only major city not on the rail network is Dubrovnik. For more information please refer to Croatian Railways.
Croatia has an extensive bus and coach network linking most towns and cities. Zagreb is the main terminus (Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb).
You can hire a car via your hotel or at the airport. Check what documentation you need and make sure you have it with you. Most petrol stations are open from 7.00am to 8.00pm (or 10.00pm in summer), and some are open 24 hours. You will have to pay tolls for some motorways.
Taxis are available in all tourist areas or by calling the local operator, your hotel can arrange these for you.
Ferry services are available for inhabited and holiday islands on the Croatian coast. Service timetables may vary between summer and winter, so check with the local operator. For more information please refer to Jadrolinija. |
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Hotels
The Croatian National Tourist Board provides information on where to stay. Their database of over 600 hotels can be searched by location and star rating. Zagreb has a wide range of hotels of all qualities and prices, including international chains and independent, local hotels. |
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Croatia. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.
Australians in Croatia should exercise caution. There are unexploded land mines and military ordnance throughout the country. Australians should not stray from known safe roads and areas. Australians can check the latest information on known and suspected mine areas with the Croatian Mine Action Center.
Health
Emergency numbers:
92 - Police
93 - Fire department
94 - Ambulance
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Tipping is appreciated by those who provide service. If you have been satisfied with the service given, then it is a customary to leave a tip, between 5-10 per cent. |
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Time zones and time differences
Croatia is eight hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time from March to September, and 10 hours behind from October to February.
To find out the current time in Zagreb, view the World Clock.
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Dialling codes
Croatia's country code is 385.
For calls to Croatia from Australia dial: 0011 + 385 + area code + telephone number.
For calls from Croatia to Australia dial: 00 + 61 + area code + telephone number.
For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.
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Offices are generally open from 8.00am–4.00pm.
Shops and post offices stay open until 7.00pm or 8.00pm. On Saturdays shops are open and some post offices are open from 8.00am–midday.
Banks are usually open from 8.00am–7.00pm Monday-Friday; Saturday 8.00am –2.00pm and are always closed on holidays.
Supermarkets are also open on Sunday.
Many smaller companies shut down during the summer holidays in July and August, and also during Christmas and New Year (24 December to 2 January). |
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Public holidays
January 1 – New Year's Day
May 1 – Labour Day
June 10 – Corpus Christi
June 22 – Anti Fascist Resistance Day
June 25 – Statehood Day
August 5 – National Thanksgiving Day
August 15 – Assumption Day
October 8 – Independence Day
November 1 – All Saint's Day
December 26 – Boxing Day (St. Stephen's Day) |
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Oanda currency converter
The currency of Croatia is the Kuna (HRK), made up of 100 Lipa (lp). There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Lipa coins, 1, 2, 5 and 25 Kuna coins and 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 Kuna banknotes.
No more than HRK2000 may be taken out of the country, however, there are no restrictions on the movement of foreign currency.
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Electricity and water
Croatia's power supply is 220 volts, 50Hz. Plugs have two round pins or three round pins for appliances that need to be earthed.
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Dining
Croatian cuisine, due to its diversity, can be called 'cuisine of regions'. The modern roots come from early Slavic and ancient times, and due to historical and geographical influences, the most evident differences in gastronomy between the coast and the mainland are the choice of provisions and food preparation processes. The most popular dishes are scampi or mussels buzara (Dalmatia), turkey with mlinci (Zagorje), žgvacet s fužima (goulash) (Istria), cobanac sa žlicnjacima (goulash) (Slavonija), cabbage - lika style (Lika), paprenjak – traditional Croatian biscuit and many others.
Most hotels, shops and restaurants accept credit cards. They also have signs at the entrance detailing which credit cards are accepted. They usually include Visa, AmEx, MasterCard and Diners. If you wish to obtain cash in advance on your credit card, you can do so with Visa or MasterCard. |
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Tourist attractions
Alongside Croatia’s relatively short coast there are more than 1100 islands. Visiting any of Dalmatian towns is unique experience although Pula, Split, Hvar and Dubrovnik are considered as the top sites. Inner Croatia has a lot to offer including the beautiful National Park Plitvice with its lakes and waterfalls. Zagreb, the capital of Croatia is also a ‘must see’ destination. |
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