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  Visitors can enjoy many outdoor activities in Croatia such as camping, hiking, cycling, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, swimming and scuba diving. Sailing is particularly popular in this country and, with the many islands and coasts off of Croatia, it would be hard to find another setting where you'll get better trade winds. Many tourists also enjoy trekking through the various islands such as Ciovo, Trogir, Hvar, Vis, Brac, Krka, Paklenica, Korcula, and the Plitvice Lakes, which is a national park that is home to many lakes and waterfalls. Some other sites worth visiting include the historic castles of the Zagorje and the region of Slavonia, where you’ll find the cities of Osijek and Vukovar – both have a number of vineyards and castles. The more popular destinations include the coastal towns of Zadar, Rijeka, Dubrovnik, and Split, where you’ll find the Royal Palace of Diocletian, built by the famous Roman Emperor who lived there in the last days of his life. The Islands of Brioni are also notable as being the summer home of the former Yugoslavian dictator, Tito. Other top Croatian destinations include Rab Island, Murter, Pag Island, Pula, Porec, and Zagreb, which is the Croatian capital. Driving around Croatia is perhaps one of the better ways to explore the myriad sites bestowed by this country. And it does not take much time to do so either. In just 4 hours, for example, you can drive from Vienna to Zagreb and in another 2 hours from Zagreb to the Adriatic coast. Moreover, the drive along the Adriatic freeway is a real treat; you'll pass through beautiful cities, islands, and sceneries. And the Adriatic coast happens to be one of the Mediterranean’s most attractive areas and the location of Croatia’s numerous touristy hot spots. These hot spots are located so close to each other that they are within an hour’s driving distance from one to another. But Croatia’s natural attractions aren’t its only selling points. The food in Croatia is also raved by many. While Croatian cuisine is not well defined, it encompasses numerous well-known specialty dishes, including pasta with štrukli cheese, the purica s mlincima, which is a baked turkey with stuffed pastry, and the police, which is a famous dish in Likia involving oven-baked potatoes sprinkled with bacon. Other well known Croatian specialties include the kulen and the kulenova seak, both are types of spicy sausages. The Čobanac is also another favorite. It is a Shepherd’s stew involving meat mixed with red paprika. Croatians are also known for their great domestic wines and world-class white and black truffles. And being a Mediterranean country and all, the seafood in Croatia is naturally first-rate – great shrimp and calamari dishes can be had. WINTER TOURISM Winter tourism in Croatia is greatly developed. There are lots of nice, warm hotels with pools containing warm sea-water. There are many opportunities for playing winter sports. Famous ski-centers are: Delnice, Platak, Bjelolasica, Mrkopalj. Good ski-tracks are also on Sljeme (Zagreb), and Velebno (Gorski Kotar). HEALTH RESORTS There are lots of thermal and mineral springs in Croatia, enriched with traditional Roman chemical compounds. Lots of health resorts are built on those springs, offering good hotels and good medical service. Many of thermal springs are around Zagreb: Varazdin, Tuhelj, Krapina, Stubica etc. There are also some other thermal springs all around Croatia: Topusko, Daruvar, Lipica, Ivanic-grad, Bizovac, Istria, Split. Visitors from all around Europe frequently visit those thermal springs. Famous health resorts along the Adriatic coast are in Opatija, Crikvenica, Vela Luka, Veli Losinj. Umag, Island of Hvar and Makarska. Because of the beauty of woods and hills, there are many comfortable tourist camps (health resorts) like, for example, the one in Gorski Kotar, attended by a large number of tourists longing for the fresh air, escaping from polluted cities. HUNTING AND FISHING In hunting districts of Croatia, there is the same game as in the Middle and Southeast Europe. Hunters are particularly interested in big game (deer, bears...), as well as in small game (rabbits, foxes...) and feather game (pheasants, wild ducks. ..), there are over 600 hunting grounds in Croatia, most of which are with accommodation, guide-service and other facilities. All information is available in the hunting organizations, tourist agencies and in wildlife management agencies. For fishing in lakes and rivers, fishing license is required and it is issued in country districts administration offices. The tax for the license has to be paid. For the sport fishing in the sea no license is required, and no tax should be paid. The license for the spear-fishing is required. BOARD AND LODGING There are about 500 hotels and board and lodgings in Croatia, and their facilities are very good. All of the tourist buildings have running warm and cold water. Special price-offers are given off-season. Along with good meals good drinks are served. Croatian national dishes are served, depending which part of Croatia you are in: fish specialties are served along the coat, various roast meat dishes are served in the continental part of Croatia (Raznjici, Cevapcici, 0 uved, grill, lamb. ..) All kinds of cakes and biscuits and fruits are also available. Famous Croatian vines are: Traminac, Grasevina, Teran, Dingac, Postup, Posip, Malvazija etc. Famous aperitifs are: Sljivovica, Lozovafia, Vinjak Sweet or Bitter Pelinkovac, various beers and soft drinks. Famous sodas (mineral waters) are Jamnicka and Lipicki Studenac. USAGE OF SAILING BOATS FOR NAUTICAL TOURISM The Adriatic coast (600 km); with its many bays, 700 islands and its natural beauty, is ideal for nautical tourism. This branch of tourism is well developed and it is significant for Croatian tourism. Therefore, a large number of tourists bring along yachts, motorboats, sailing-boats etc. Lots of them stay for the winter sailing, as well. The owner of such nautical object can cross the border crossing without complications, but it is obligatory to register the object in order to sail. If no registration office is around, it should be registered with the tourist agency, or at the hotel reception where further information is given. In order to get a sailing license in Croatia, the owner of a nautical object must provide the information about the yacht, sailing boat etc identity, dimensions, engine power, length of time of owner's sailing activity, navigation instruments, nautical equipment, and a list of the spare parts for the nautical object. The list of the crew their ID information must be included. The license can be issued only if the owner is a holder of valid documents about a naval object. Those documents should be issued by the naval office of the country of origin. A sailing license is included. Those documents are fully recognized in Croatia. A temporal sailing license can be issued if a member of a crew does not have a sailing license (for a yacht long up to 12 m, 15 BRT volume). The owner will be tested first, and will be issued a year-valid sailing license. The license is valid for the unlimited number of sailing-offs, including the possibility of a temporary left yachts or sailing boats for repairing reasons or for the supervision. In that case the license is valid till 31st October of a coming year. Permission for having a yacht supervised can be expanded. A fee must be paid for getting the sailing permission document and the amount depends on how big a naval object is. For a race boat, kayak or some similar naval object, as well as for the boats shorter than 3 m transported by road, one does not have to produce a sailing permission document. If a yacht or a sailing boat is transported abroad by road, the check out has to be done in a port-office. All other formalities are taken care of at customs. Although the Adriatic is known for its safe and peaceful sea, preferential al for the seamanship, there is always an opportunity to be harbored by one of 260 Adriatic harbors, 153 of which are Island-ports. If a naval object remains in the Republic of Croatia during the winter, it should be registered with the harbor-office in charge. Details about the marinas and any other information on nautical tourism in Croatia, is available in all tourist-companies throughout Croatia, and its foreign representation-offices. The price lists are available in all the marinas. Area Overview Croatia is rich with woods, long rivers, valleys, high mountains, hills and a number of lakes. Interesting things and a peak of hundreds of 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. The Republic of Croatia, with its 56.538 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 one of Norway, and Ireland. It has got more than 6.600 inhabited areas. The Serbian aggression that started in 1991 has completely changed the whole image of Croatia. Croatia was systematically devastated during the war. Almost 3.000 inhabited districts were endangered by the was aggression. The horrible wind of war that started in 1991 demolished over 250.000 homes. More than 250.000 people were drove away from their homes. Apart from the Croats, who make over 80% of population, in Croatia live further nations: the Serbs, the Muslims, the Hungarians, the Italians and other national minorities. Croatia can be divided in several geographical units: the Mediterranean, the highlands, and the Pannonian. The Mediterranean part includes all the islands of the Adriatic sea, costal 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 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, populary called Croatian Switzerland. Wood industry, winter tourism and hunting are especially developed here. Significant economic centres here are Gospic, Ogulin, and Delnice. The vast majority of the newborn Croatia is covered by the Pannonian area. Population density is the highest there, economically it is the most powerful part of Croatia with its many industrial centres such as: Zagreb, Varazdin, Osijek, Karlovac, Sisak, Slavonski Brod, Vinkovci, Virovitica. Apart from industry, economic, agricultural and the cattle - raising branches are dominant in this area. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ENTERING AND TRAVELING IN CROATIA For traveling through the Republic of Croatia, one only needs a valid passport. Visa is not needed for those citizens of those countries who have made the agreement with Croatia about canceling visas. Those citizens can exceptionally enter Croatia without a passport, provided they have some identification on them. When entering Croatia, those citizens will be given a registration certificate three month valid. For the citizens of those countries which did not make the agreement about abolishing visas with the Republic of Croatia, are obliged to get the Croatian visa. It is issued by Croatian councils abroad. Currency Regulation In the Republic of Croatia there are no restrictions about the amount of foreign currency that is either carried into or carried out of the country. Foreign travelers can carry in or out of Croatia 2000 kunas per person. at the most and in 500 kunas notes. Larger amounts need a special permission of the National Bank of Croatia. Foreign currency could be exchanged in exchange offices, according to a current of exchange. Customs Regulations Foreign travelers are allowed to carry into the Republic of Croatia their personal luggage with no limits. Without paying a fee they can possess 1 I of liquor, 1 I of wine, 1/2 kg of coffee, 1/2 kg of tea, 200 cigarettes (50 cigars, 25 dkg of tobacco), 50 ml of perfume. Camp equipment, boats and the equipment and other technical goods should be declared when entering and check out when leaving the Republic of Croatia. MEANS OF TRAVEL Railways Croatian railway regularly connects all bigger places in Croatia and it is connecting Croatia with most of the European capitals. The international 2-month valid railway ticket is issued in all bigger railway stations and in travel agencies. The tickets bought in Croatia are unique and its valuation varies from two to six days, depending on the destination. Among larger cities, express trains run and one needs a 1st class ticket with a search-charge and a reservation of seat. Along the main lines, directional and trains with sleeping wagons with a buffet run. During the season, car drivers who wish to avoid the long driving use seasonal trains, that is, the trains with the car transportation. Air Traffic Besides the leading air company Croatia Airlines, there are few other private air companies in Croatia, such as Anic Airlines and others in Dubrovnik. Regular international air lines of Croatia Airlines connect Croatia with important cities of Europe and throughout the world. Apart from Croatian air-craft, there are a number of foreign and few national air lines that are connected with bigger cities of Croatia. Further information is available at the air - ports, tourist agencies, or directly through the air companies. Airports in Croatia are in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, Rijeka, (Island of Krk), Zadar, Mali Losinj, Osijek and Island of Brae. Ships Fast and comfortable ferries and ships of the biggest Croatia transportation company Jadro-Line and other companies’ ships connect main tourist centers all through the year. During the summer season a number of ships and ferries are even larger in order to secure better connection with small tourist places and the main tourist’s centers of many islands. During the season, a number of ferries carry passengers and automobiles to bigger islands more frequently. Transportation by road Drivers of private cars and motorcycles need further documents for entering Croatia: national or international driving license and the green (international) insurance card. It is permitted to park on all the roads except where it is not permitted - before curves and crossroads. On highways and freeways it is permitted to park on marked parking places. Croatian Auto club has provided the help on the road. In order to get the help dial 987 Transportation by bus The Republic of Croatia is connected with other countries through international bus - lines, which are supplemented during the tourist season. National bus lines are organized in such way that all the places in the country can be reached by bus. Postal Code and Telephone Communication Postal and telephone communication is well developed in Croatia. The Croatian Post-office and telecommunication (HTP) offers various services (phone service, telegraph, fax express mail service and postal bank service.) Direct telephone connections could be made from all post-offices and telephone boots in Croatia through chip-cards which are available in all post-offices. Working hours are mostly from 7 AM to 8 PM. Some post offices (in tourist places) are open even longer, some have two-time working hours and some are pen on Sunday and holidays. Border Crossings Transportation by road It is possible to enter Croatia by vehicle across further border crossings: From Slovenia: Kostanjevica-Socice, Mokrice-Bregana, Dobava-Harmica, Bistrica-Kumrovec, lmeno-Mil|ana, Rogatec-Hum, Zaki-Macelj, Brezovac-Donja Voca, Borl-Cestica, Ormoz-Vratno, Sredisce-Nedelisce-Dolnja Bistrica-Raskrizje-Strigova, Lendava-Mursko Sredisce. From Hungary: Letenye-Hodosan-Gorican, Brzonce-Gola (near Koprivnica) Barce-Tere-zino Polje, Draveszabolcs-Donji Miholjac, Udvar-Knezevo From Serbia: Batina-Bezdan, Erdut-Bogojevo, llok-Backa Palanka, llok-Nestin, Ilik-Vizic, Sarengrad-Sid, Tovarnik-Sid-Nijemci-llipci, Lipovac-Batrovci (highway), Strosinci-Jeme-na, Racinovci-Jemena. These border crossings are not regular though they are actual vehicle traffic-routs to Serbia. From Bosnia and Herzegovina: These are the roads leading to Croatia from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unofficial border crossings are here. 70% of Croatian border is with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Gunja-Brcko, Donja Mahala-Loncari, Slavonski Samac-Bosanska Gradiska, Dragsenic-Jasenovac Dubica-Bosanska Dubica, Dvor-Bosanski No-vi, Kostajnica-Bosanska Kostajnica, Obljaj-Vrnogorac, Mihaljac-Velika Kladusa, Sturic-Donji Furijan, Coralici-Nova Krslja, Izacic-Licko Petrovo Selo, Avalje-Melinova, Martin Brod-Do-Ijani, Podvucjak-Dugo Polje, Mracaj-Strmica, Prelog-Bili Brig, Tasiljka i Lukova Gora-Prisi-ka, Mijakovo Polje-Studenci, Zavalje-Studenci, Postranje-Gornji Prolozac-Posusje-Gornj Vinjani, Gorica-lmotski, Drinovci-lgrisce, Itina-Vrgorac, Crveni Grm-Mali i Veliki Prolog, Bi-jaca-Nova sela, Gabela-Metkovic, Kolojanj-Glusci Gradac Topolo, Slano-Zavala-Ravno, Dubrovnik, Gornji Brgat-Trebinje, Jablanovo-Ljuta Dubravka. From Crna Gora: (Monte Negro) Almost all of the crossings listed are official and open day and night. For private automobiles and bicycles only national, traffic and driving license are needed. The green (blue) card is obligatory, otherwise insurance agreement has to be made on customs. Customs formalities during entering and exiting Croatia are mineralized. For foreign automobiles no fees or taxes are to be paid in the Republic of Croatia, except on highways Zagreb-Karlovac, Zagreb-Lipovac, and The bridge of Island of Krk-land and along the tunnel Ucka near Rijeka. If a driver of a vehicle is not the car's owner, the permission of the owner should be produced and it should be verified by the national auto-moto touring club. If a foreign vehicle should remain in Croatia because of an accident without its owner, it is obligatory to notify customs office and to leave the vehicle under the official supervision. Apart from the road crossings, there are crossings at the airports, as well. Marine crossings They are open throughout the year and are in: Dubrovnik, Korcula, Mali Losinj, Maslenica, Metkovic, Porec, Ploce, Pula, Rasa, Rijeka, Rovinj, Senj, Split, Sibenik, Umag and Zadar. During the summer season (from 1st May to 30th December) the further crossings are open: Lastovo, Novigrad, Primosten, Ravni Zakan, Sail and Soline on the Long Island. The airports are Located in: Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, Pula, Rijeka (Island of Krk), Island of Brae, Osijek, Mali Losinj Roads The main transversal road (route E-96) runs from North-Western Italian and Austrian border and further to Istanbul across Skopje towards the Greek border to East. Another transversal road is Adriatic Freeway that runs along the Adriatic coast towards Kopar and further across Pula, Opatija, Rijeka, Zadar, Sibenik and Dubrovnik to Petrovac. From Petrovac it further runs across Podgorica, Kolasin, Ivangrad, Mitrovica and Pristina to Skopje where it is connected to the main transversal road to Greece. This tourist road is one of the most frequently used ones in Europe. Other roads in Croatia are modern ones as well. Sections of the future highways that are in usage are: Zagreb-Karlovac and Za-greb-Okucani-Slavonski Brod. For the use of those roads you will be charged a fee. The main Croatian highway runs from Bregana along the turnabout to Zagreb and further to Ivanja Reka, it passes Ivanic Grad, Kutina, Novska, Nova Gradiska, Slavonski Brod and Zupanja and near the village Lipovac continues through Serbia. Speed limit is marked along the road. Traffic Rules Croatian traffic rules and horizontal and vertical traffic signalization are the same as in all other European countries. One drives on the right hand side and overtakes from the lift hand side. Priority right is reserved for vehicle coming from the right hand side even on roundabouts. Speed limits are marked along the road. When passing through inhabited areas, speed limit is 50 km/h unless indicated otherwise. Outside inhabited areas speed limit is 80 km/h and 130 km/h on highways. All Croatian roads are supervised by the Croatian traffic police. It is not permitted to overtake along curves, on pedestrian crossings as well as in all other situations that endanger traffic safety. Failing to comply will result in fine. This also applies to driving under the influence of alcohol. Tolerable amount of alcohol is 0.5 %. Seat-belts are required for drivers, co-drivers as well as for passengers in those vehicles equipped with additional seat-belts. All vehicles coming from foreign countries are required to have an adequate license plates as well as a bumper sticker indicating the country of origin. Information for drivers All information on the state of roads is available in information offices of HAK (Croatian Auto-Club), Zagreb, tel. 01/415-800, 0-24 h, and in regional auto-clubs. Road Assistance and Towing Road - help service and towing service are provided by HAK-"Assistance and Information". Other private companies also have concessions for these kinds of help. Numerous vehicles specially equipped for those services are situated along the main roads and may be reached by dialing 987. By dialing 987., you may get the nearest vehicle to come to your assistance. The HAK blue signs bearing the information on the location of the nearest phone-boot are situated along most of the roads. If there are none, you may flag down passing vehicle or a police car and ask them to call for help by dialing 987. For the members of foreign auto-moto-touring clubs of AIT of FIA, help from "Help - Information" service is provided as well as HAK towing service. Vehicle Repairs There are workshops in Croatia specialized for repairing certain cars and motorcycles. They are mostly situated in bigger cities and tourist places. There are also a number of workshops that deal with servicing mechanical apertures, electric installations, tire-repairing etc. Mechanic store-houses are situated together with specialized workshops. Representations (agencies) and spare-parts storehouses lists are available in HAK. Spare parts that are not available in Croatia, could be posted to Croatia without having to pay taxes or customs fees for them. The members of foreign auto-moto-tour clubs could pay for emergency repairs in specialized shops with their guarantee coupons. Legal Assistance If required, the members of foreign auto-moto-tour clubs can get legal assistance from HAK lawyers and some other organizations, free of charges. HAK legal assistance is available in all bigger places and the list of lawyers is available in all regional auto-clubs. Medical Help During their time spent in Croatia, foreign tourists can get medical help in all medical centers. In case of emergency all medical centers and medical personnel are obliged to provide medical attention to foreign tourists. Medical attention for the tourists from: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Holland, Luxemburg, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Germany and Great Britain is regulated according to international social insurance-cy agreement made with those countries. Citizens of those countries have to pay a minimal participation fee for this kind of a service if they are holders of required medical documents. (Austria A-3, Germany JN-6, Italy IT-17). Tourists whose origin countries have not yet made the health-insurance agreement with Croatia, are obliged to pay for received medical attention. If they are the members of auto-moto-touring clubs in their countries and are holders of a guarantee, they can pay for the service with their guarantee coupons. Repatriation of Foreign Vehicles If for any reason vehicle cannot be repaired in Croatia, foreign drivers can turn to HAK for repatriation of a vehicle and passengers to the country of origin. For repatriation, the members of foreign auto-moto-touring clubs pay with the guarantee coupon, and those who are not members of foreign auto-moto-touring clubs pay with money or checks. Railway or plane tickets are issued by the HAK, transporter or towing-service is included. In case the owner of a car cannot drive for medical reasons, a driver can be hired from the HAK in order to take a vehicle back to the owner's country or origin. If required, injured tourists can be repatriated by plane or by a special plane or by a helicopter, according to the agreement made with a foreign auto-moto-touring club or with a social insurance. If a foreign vehicle temporarily remains in Croatia, it has to be declared tat the nearest customs or left in the HAK's depot. RENT-A-CAR In Croatia, cars can be rented at the travel agencies, some other tourist organizations and at private rent-a-car agencies situated in all bigger cities. Cars are available under the same conditions as in all other European countries, with or without a rented driver. In larger places on the coast, all kinds of boats, sailing boats are available, equipped for driving along the coast or for the few days of a sail-off. Procedure in Case of an Accident According to Croatian law about safety on the roads, it is obligatory for a person that happens to be on the place of an accident to offer a help. If there are injured or killed, it is obligatory for a person who happens to be there to inform the police or a health service. All parties in any way involved in an accident are obliged to provide information about themselves and their vehicles. All parties are obliged to remain on the place of an accident until the police come. The scene of an accident must not be changed and must be secured until the police come. In the Republic of Croatia, the vehicle insurance is required. In case the accident involves a vehicle insured in Croatia, it is necessary to ask for the place where that vehicle has been insured and the name of the insurance company. In case an accident involves a foreign vehicle, it is necessary to ask for the green insurance card. A professionally trained person should do the checking of a vehicle and form an opinion about the degree of damage. The certificate about the damaged car should be issued from the police and it should be produced on the border crossing. Fuel Well supplied petrol stations are located frequently along the main roads as well as in inhabited areas, and mostly are opened 0-24 h. The usual kinds of fuel are available: super (98 octane), normal (86 octane) and diesel. Power-generating gas is also available. In all bigger places and along the main roads are situated petrol stations with foreign trade-mard engine oil available. (Croatian engine oil is of equal quality). | |
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