CROATIA
All important information about the population, official language, area, language and geographical location of Croatia.
All important information about the population, official language, area, language and geographical location of Croatia.
Croatia, the “Land of 1000 Islands„ fascinates over 10 million visitors every year with its crystalclear water, over 200 days of sunshine, thousands of kilometers of picturesque beaches and natural paradises.
Croatia may be a small country geographically, but it makes a significant contribution to the world. Croatia, together with Spain, has the most intangible treasures in Europe that have been declared World Cultural and Natural Heritage by UNESCO.
Croatia is also the home of the famous explorer Marco Polo and the world’s greatest inventor, Nikola Tesla.
One of the most famous dog breeds – the Dalmatian – comes from the Croatian region of Dalmatia. And what many people don’t know is that the White House in Washington, as well as the parliament buildings in Budapest and Vienna, were built from the stone of the Croatian island of Brac.
Croatia in brief:
- Capital: Zagreb
- Roman Catholic population
- Flag: red-white-blue
- Currency: Euro
- 8 national parks, 11 nature parks and 2 nature reserves
- License plate: HR
- Internet TLD: .hr
- Telephone code: 00385
Facts about Croatia
Geographical dana – Area 56,594 km²
Area of territorial waters – 31,067 km²
Capital city Zagreb – with about 801,000 inhabitants, it is the economic, transport, cultural and scientific center of the country.
Geographical location – Croatia lies east of the Adriatic Sea and extends from the eastern edges of the Alps in the northwest and the Pannonian Plain in the east, across the Dinara mountains in the central part, to the Adriatic coast in the south of the country.
Coastline – 6,176 km – of which 1,778 km of coastline along the mainland & 4,398 km on the offshore islands, cliffs and rocks.
Islands – 1246 islands – 47 of them are inhabited. The largest islands are Krk and Cres
Political & other dana
Founded /Independence – October 8, 1991
Form of government – parliamentary democracy
Population – 3,888,529
National Structure – The majority of the population are Croats. The national minorities are: Serbs, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Italians, etc.
Religion – The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, with a smaller proportion being Orthodox, Muslim, Protestant and various other faiths.
Euro state – Croatia has been a member of the European Union since July 2013 and is now also a new member of the Schengen area since January 1, 2023. The old national currency, the kuna, has now also been exchanged for the euro. Croatia is thus the 20th euro state in the European Union.
Holidays in Croatia
Date Holiday:
January 1st – New Year
January 6th – Epiphany
Changes annually – Easter
May 1st – Labor Day
June 22nd – Anti-Fascism Day
June 25th – Statehood Day (National Day)
August 5th – national holiday
August 15th – Assumption Day
October 8th – Independence Day
November 1st – All Saints Day
December 25th & 26th – Christmas
Currency
Euro € – Since 01.01.2023, Croatia has also had the euro as its national currency
1 Euro (€) – old currency was the Kuna – fixed exchange rate is: 1 Euro = 7.5345 Kuna (HRK)
Currency
Since January 1, 2023, Croatia has also introduced the euro as the Croatian national currency. The EU member is thus the twentieth country to use the common currency, the euro. This is a huge relief for millions of holidaymakers, as they no longer have to exchange money. From now on, payment is only possible in euros.
Official language & writing
The official language in Croatia is the Croatian standard language – written in Latin script.
Croatian is the national language, but in the tourist centers, German, English, Italian and French are also widely spoken.
Climate & Weather
In Croatia you can expect around 2,600 hours of sunshine a year and little rainfall in the summer. There are often warm, long, sometimes hot and humid summers. Away from the coast, winters are cold. Spring and autumn, on the other hand, are less pronounced. If you are on holiday until the end of May or from mid-September, you can expect cooler evenings and nights, so make sure you wear appropriate clothing.
Lakes & waters
Croatia not only has fantastic beaches – away from the coast, in the hinterland, there are sparkling lakes and rushing waterfalls in an enchanting world.
The four largest lakes are Vransko jezero (30.7 km²), Dubravsko jezero (17.1 km²), Peruća Lake (13 km²), Prokljansko jezero (11.1 km²) – the most famous lakes are the Plitvice Lakes located in the national park of the same name (filming location of the famous Winnetou films)
National and natural parks
Croatia has 8 national parks and 11 protected nature parks and 2 nature reserves. In the national parks you can expect spectacular landscapes, turquoise lakes, rugged karst and unique river landscapes, as well as a diverse flora and fauna. That is why around 10 percent of the Croatian mainland is under nature protection.La
Drinking water
In general, the quality of drinking water in Croatia is very high. The quality of the water is constantly tested and strictly controlled. It can be used for cooking, preparing baby food and drinks without any problems.
Food & Drink
Croatian cuisine is traditional, Mediterranean and strongly regional. In the coastal regions there is a lot of fish and seafood. In the interior there are more meat dishes. In Croatia, gourmets will find what is probably the highest quality cuisine in the Balkans. There is something for every taste.
PERSONAL HYGIENE:
Personal hygiene includes all individual hygiene measures that are carried out as part of personal hygiene. It is primarily aimed at cleaning areas of the body that are in contact with the environment or are/have been contaminated.
The relevant measures include washing and disinfecting hands. Oral care and washing the armpits and intimate area are also part of personal hygiene.
PERSONAL HYGIENE:
Personal hygiene is carried out in the bathroom, a separate room in the house or apartment that typically includes the following:
1. Toilet – Used for urination and defecation. After use, it is essential to flush and wash your hands in the sink. (The toilet may also be located in a small separate room called a toilet or WC).
2. Sink – Used for washing your face, hands, and teeth, as well as grooming facial Teeth: Teeth should be brushed twice a day. This is sufficient, as the natural oral flora provides sufficient protection against caries.
3. Shower or bathtub – Where you shower or bathe daily and wash your hair. If you shower more than once a day, you risk weakening or even killing the microorganisms on your skin that protect against pathogens.
4. Regular handwashing with soap (liquid or bar) is important, and it includes keeping nails clean and well-groomed. Hands should be washed after contact with the outside world, g. after coming home, shopping, going to the toilet, etc.
SOCIAL RULES:
– Women and men in Croatia and all European countries have equal rights.
– Women and men interact and socialize together in all public spaces, except for public restrooms, which are physically separated. This includes shared outings to cafes, restaurants, cinemas, shops, and similar places.
– In public spaces such as streets, squares, parks, public transportation (buses, trains, trams), cafes, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, and healthcare facilities,… it is considered impolite to speak loudly on mobile phones, make video calls, or play music on mobile devices without headphones.
Power grid – sockets – mains voltage
Croatia has the type C plugs that are also common in Germany – the so-called “Euro plug” and type F sockets, also called “Schuko plugs”. The mains voltage is 220 V (50 Hz) and is routed via the Y distribution system, i.e. a three-phase system. Only customers from Switzerland who want to connect devices with a type J plug may need a travel adapter.
Health and Medical Care
Medical care in Croatia meets EU standards. In addition to medical centers and public hospitals, there are also an increasing number of private
outpatient clinics and practices. Croatian hospitals offer 24-hour emergency services.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies in Croatia are marked with a green cross and are called “ljekarna” in Croatian. Until 1991, the entire pharmacy sector was exclusively state-owned. Since 1991, it has been possible to open private pharmacies. 23% are still state-owned, 63% are public and around 14% are privately leased.
Foreign health insurance certificate / foreign health insurance
Since Croatia joined the EU, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is sufficient. It is integrated into the new insurance cards of your health insurance company and on the back of the electronic health card (inscription on the back “European Health Insurance Card”). However, in some cases you have to pay a deductible, so it is definitely advisable to take out travel health insurance / international health insurance.
Crime and Security
Croatia is one of the safest countries in Europe. Croatians are generally honest people and live from tourism. Therefore, the crime rate is rather low.
Internet in Croatia
In the age of Facebook & Co. and constant accessibility via our cell phones, we want to be “up to date” even on vacation. Since Croatia is part of
the EU and there have been no roaming charges within the EU since June 15, 2017, it is now cheaper to surf on vacation.
The mobile phone network in Croatia is very well developed and offers good reception almost everywhere. You can also make calls from landlines in hotels, post offices or public telephone boxes (with a phone card, available at post offices, newsstands or kiosks). Information on the options and prices can be found here:
Important telephone numbers In Croatia
Below you will find the official emergency and breakdown numbers in Croatia
Uniform emergency call: 112 (also mobile: police, fire brigade, first aid)
Police emergency number: 00385 / 92
Fire department: 00385 / 93
Emergency service / accident rescue: 00385 / 94
General information: 00385 / 981
Roadside assistance service / breakdown assistance: 00385 / 11 987
HAK = Croatian Automobile Club: 00385 / 1 46 40 800
Roadside assistance
If you have a car breakdown during your journey, you can contact the breakdown services using the telephone numbers below.
Phone numbers for car breakdowns
ADAC emergency call station
→ in Croatia 00385 /1-3636000
→ in Slovenia (Zagreb) 00385 / 1-3636500
→ in Austria 0043 / 1-2512060
→ from the Croatian landline: 01 – 3636666
International dialing codes – Phone number from abroad to
Croatia (HR) 00385 + area code without the zero
India 0091 + area code without the zero
Embassies and Consulates in Croatia – embassy / consulate address phone number
Indian Embassy in Croatia Bijenik ul. 152, 10000, Zagreb 00385 – (0) 1 4873 239
Arrival and entry regulations
→ Documents/Passports: For the duration of their stay (up to 30 days), EU citizens require a valid identity card or passport (for a stay of up to 3 months). Children under 16 years of age require a child’s ID card with a photo.
→ Many cityzens from non-EU countries require a visa to enter the country – this depends on the respective nationality. Information is available from the relevant consulates / embassies and here „travel documents Croatia”.
Speed limits & traffic rules
→ in built-up areas – 50 km/h → on country roads – 90-100 km/h → on motorways – 130 km/h (unless otherwise indicated) The blood alcohol limit of 0.5 per mille must not be exceeded.
About Croatia
Croatia, the “Land of 1000 Islands„ fascinates over 10 million visitors every year with its crystalclear water, over 200 days of sunshine, thousands of kilometers of picturesque beaches and natural paradises.
Capital: Zagreb
Roman Catholic population
Flag: red-white-blue
Currency: Euro
8 national parks, 11 nature parks and 2 nature reserves
License plate: HR
Internet TLD: .hr
Telephone code: 00385
