Important Travel Information
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Visas
None required by holders of British or other EU passports, USA, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passports.
Language
Croatian, although English is widely spoken in hotels and restaurants.
Money
The currency of Croatia is denominated in Kuna. There are approximately 9 Kuna to the British Pound although this will depend on the exchange rate at the time. Sterling, whether cash or travellers’ cheques, is readily accepted and easily changed. Larger restaurants and many shops accept international credit cards. ATM cash points are available in most resorts.
Local costs
A 3-course dinner around £20 and a glass of wine around £3. These prices are approximate and for guidance only.
Vaccinations
None are compulsory.
Time difference
BST+1 / GMT+2 (GMT+1 in winter).
Electricity
220v, European plug adaptors.
Flight time
2hrs – 3hrs 15mins.
Location
With the Danube forming much of its northern boundary, and the Adriatic marking its western reaches, the country shares its borders with Slovenia and Hungary to the north, while Bosnia & Herzegovina occupy the centre of Croatia’s crescent shape. Italy’s north-eastern coastline faces Croatia from the west.
Beaches
Sandy beaches are rare here, the majority of them are fine shingle.
A gently shelving sandy beach attracts families to little Lopud island, offshore from Dubrovnik, while this region’s ‘riviera’ is a series of picturesque pebble bays and water’s edge promenades. White pebble beaches form a gleaming ribbon along the Makarska Riviera, and the ragged and indented coastline of the Istrian Riviera creates a medley of sheltered coves and rocky outcrops.
Food and wine
Served with fresh vegetables and cooked in olive oil, the coastal cuisine of Croatia is based on a hugely varied range of seafood dishes. It’s said that 400 species of fish thrive in local waters. Mouth watering menus could include bream, cuttlefish and fresh sardines, swordfish-style dentex and orhan, prstaci shellfish, langoustines like mini lobsters, and squid - often deliciously prepared with rice in its own blue-black ink. Try the brodet - a mixed fish stew with rice.
The Italian influence on Croatia extends to its inexpensive specialities with pizza and pasta dishes in many eateries. Local meat is usually produced from free-roaming outdoor reared animals. Specialities include prsut – a Parma ham equivalent, served as a starter with local cheese in oil, cevapcici - little rissoles of beef, onion and herbs, and raznjici - pork kebabs. Manistra od bobica - a dish from the inland area, is a vegetarian soup of beans and maize.
Local wines include some from organic vineyards. Some of the best bottled wines are (reds) Dingac, Postup and Kastellet, (whites) Posip and Grk from Korcula island and Bogdanusa and Zlatan Otuk from Hvar. If you opt for carafe wines you’ll find the reds are more reliably good than the whites.
Activities
With such famous sons as Goran Ivanisevic and Mario Ancic, it’s no surprise that Croatians are keen on tennis. Wherever you are, there’s sure to be a court nearby - along with a basketball court and / or football pitch, two other favourite sports. Sailing is a super way to enjoy the coastal seas, and boats and berths can be hired in many little ports. Waterskiing, windsurfing, and fun rides on ‘donuts’ and banana boats are widely available in high season months, and Croatia has several recognised dive schools for scuba enthusiasts.
Shopping
Lace, leather goods, embroidered table linens, wood-carvings and colourful ceramics all contribute to the variety of locally hand-crafted giftware. All the towns and even small villages have somewhere selling local crafts, from market stalls to curiosity shops.
Brilliant browsing grounds include Dubrovnik’s medieval streets and marble-paved squares and Cavtat’s old town.
Entertainment
As you would expect, the variety of bars and nightclubs is more extensive in direct proportion to the size of the town and, though some stay open late into the night, it’s fair to say that Croatia’s nightlife is generally low key. Many of the larger hotels offer evening entertainment and the summer calendar includes a host of village festivals, carnivals and concerts - covering everything from folklore to classical and jazz. Atmospheric venues include churches and palaces, and al fresco events on Dubrovnik’s ramparts and in Pula’s Roman arena.
Getting around
A superbly scenic coastal road runs from Dubrovnik north to Zadar, turning inland before returning to the sea to encircle the Istrian peninsula. A hire car would be a real bonus for discovery here. Good regular ferry services link the mainland ports to their outlying islands.