Currency
Kuna (1 Kuna = 100 Lipa). 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.
Foreign currencies
Foreign currencies 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). Cash dispensing machines are ubiquitous.
Electricity
Voltage of city power grid – 220V, frequency 50HZ
Water
Tap water is potable throughout Croatia.
Telephone code
The telephone code for Croatia is +385.
Time zone
GMT plus one hour in winter and GMT plus two in summer
Travel documentation
Passport or some other internationally recognised identification document. Tourists may remain in Croatia for up to three months. For more information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Tel. 01 4569 964 Web: 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
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. There are hospitals and clinics in all the major towns, and health centers, as well as pharmacies, in all the smaller places. 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. Information: www.veterinarstvo.hr, e-mail: veterinarstvo@zg.tel.hr National holidays 2008/2009
1 January - New Year's Day; 11 and 12 april - Easter, including Easter Monday; 1 May - Labour Day; 10 June - 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; Internet: www.hak.hr; e-mail: info@hak.hr
CROATIAN ANGELS
CROATIAN ANGELS - unified number of tourist information for all of Croatia 062 999 999 International callers, dial: +385 62 999 999 This service is available in Croatian, English, German and Italian from the 1st of April until the 30th of October.
Radio news in foreign languages during the tourist season
On Program 2 of Croatian radio, along with the regular news in Croatian, the Croatian Auto Club (HAK) will give traffic reports in English, German and Italian along with nautical news a number of times throughout the day. Other than on Program 2 of Croatian radio, alternating news and traffic reports will be emitted every full hour from the following studios: Program 3 of Bavarian radio, Program 3 of Austrian radio, RAI Uno, British Virgin radio and Chezch radio. Throughout the day nautical news will be emitted in English and Croatian.