Croatia is a stunning country that combines past and present, amazingly beautiful nature and modern resorts, ancient monuments and cities, sea and mountains. It is a country that attracts millions of tourists. People of different nationalities live here, but all of them are very open, friendly and independent. Welcome to Croatia, the country is looking forward to you!
Croatia on the map
Geographical location of the country
Croatia is situated in the north-west of the Balkan Peninsula, which in turn belongs to the south of Central Europe.
If you look at a map, you will notice that the country seems to be divided into two parts: a continental part and a coastal part. The mainland lies in the basin of the Sava River, one of the major tributaries of the Danube. The coastal stretches in a narrow strip along the Adriatic Sea and is a paradise for tourists.
There are thousands of small islands off the coast of Croatia, most of them unpopulated. The largest island is Krk.
Croatia borders five countries: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Hungary and Montenegro.
Safety for tourists
Croatia is ranked 15th in a global world index that takes into account not only the safety of tourism, but also the attitude of residents to visitors to the country. This is a high score, indicating that tourism in Croatia is quite safe.
The crime rate is not high and serious crime is almost non-existent. However, there are a lot of pickpockets and crooks, who try to take advantage of inconsiderate tourists.
Traffic in the country is not the most intense, but one should remember that the hot Balkan blood often pushes drivers to risky manoeuvres. This is particularly noticeable outside the city, on the motorways along the coast.
Not so long ago, at the end of the last century, military action took place on the peninsula. Mines and unexploded ordnance are still found in various regions of Croatia after the war. These areas are fenced off and marked with warning signs.
Poisonous and dangerous to people, predatory animals in the republic are few. These are vipers, caracourt spiders and sea urchins.
Other hazards are also minimal. The climate is not hot enough to endanger your health and there are no dangerous diseases.
Holidays
Croats are a cheerful and sociable people who love and know how to have fun. The country has many official and unofficial holidays, which are divided into secular and religious holidays.
Secular public holidays include New Year’s Day, Labour Day, Croatian Defenders’ Day and a number of others.
Especially revered religious holidays include Christmas, Easter, Epiphany and Ascension Day.
In recent years, the country has become a regular destination for fun festivals of all kinds. It has even earned the unofficial title of the Festival Capital of the Adriatic.
Some of the most popular festivals include InMusic in Zagreb, Electric Elephant in Tisno, Superuho in Sibenik, and many others.
What fun things to do in Croatia
The picturesque Croatia offers tourists a wide range of entertainment and leisure options. Here are the main ones:
- Beaches. The country has a huge number of beautiful and comfortable beaches, some of which are sandy, but for the most part they are sandy and pebbly. Many beaches are located in beautiful coves surrounded by olive and date groves.
- Diving. Widely popular entertainment in the country. Divers are attracted by the crystal clear water, the absence of dangerous marine creatures, reefs and wrecks.
- Boat trips. This is also a very popular form of recreation at the local resorts. Here you can rent a yacht, sailboat or catamaran for very cheap, and either just sail along the coast or go fishing.
- Wine tours. Croatia is famous for its wine tradition. There are vineyards all over the country. Tourists are welcome to visit special tasting rooms and wine cellars.
- Journey to the Islands. There are hundreds of picturesque islands scattered along the coast, where you can enjoy some peace and solitude or explore the customs of the locals. The most popular destinations include the islands of Brac, Krk, Hvar and more.
- Historical sights. In the republic, there are many beautifully preserved monuments that never fail to attract inquisitive tourists. They are cathedrals, churches, fortresses and old quarters. The town of Varaždin is entirely built in Baroque style.
- Active recreation. The country is popular not only for beach holidays, but also for various types of outdoor activities: rock climbing, rafting, speleological tours. There are mountains, fast rivers and deep caves.
- Trekking. Popular hiking trails do not pass over Croatia. There are routes in the national and natural parks Mled, Paklenica, Biokovo, Risnjak. The trails are carefully marked in red and white.
- Bars and restaurants. There are a lot of cozy eateries for all tastes and wallets. Many are open 24 hours a day. The restaurants of Zagreb are especially famous, and are considered the best in the country.
- Festivals and celebrations. Croatia is famous for its numerous music and ethnic festivals. There you can enjoy beautiful music, dancing, art and interaction with interesting people.
- Gastronomy tours. Croatian cuisine is characterized by the richness of local ingredients, vegetables and fruits. Among the most popular dishes are: risotto with black squid, fish stew, smoked ham, homemade pasta.
What is important to know about Croatia
If you are planning to visit Croatia, here are some of the most important things to know:
Language
The official language of the country is Croatian. However, the laws of the country allow the use of national minorities as official languages. In many towns in Istria, for example, Italian is also considered an official language, while in other places, Serbian, Hungarian, Czech and Ruthenian are considered official languages.
Croatian is also spoken by residents of many of Croatia’s neighbouring countries. The total number of speakers of Croatian is 6.2 million.
Population
Today, the country has a population of just over 4 million people. Ethnic Croats make up the vast majority of the population, over 90%. The second largest ethnic group in the country is the Serbs. They account for 4% of the total. Serbs live in compact groups, mostly along the border between the two countries.
Also in the republic live representatives of many other nationalities: Bosnians, Hungarians, Italians, Albanians, Roma and others.
More facts about Croats, their character and local colour can be found in this article.
Currency
The national currency is the euro.
Before independence, the Yugoslav dinar was used in the country. From 1994 until 2022, the Croatian Kuna was in circulation. The name of the currency has a strong reference to the old Slavic measure of exchange – the skin of a marten.
From 2023, the country switched to the euro, which is printed by the Croatian Mint. Many of the coins bear the portrait of Nikola Tesla, who, even though he was Serbian, was born on the territory of modern-day Croatia. Others bear the silhouette of a marten.
Religion
Croatia is a secular country, which means that religion is separated from the state. The most part of the population is Catholicism, the representatives of this religious current in the republic are more than 86%.
In second place are the Orthodox. They are mostly Serbs, so it is not surprising that their number coincides with the number of this population group, which is 4%.
There are Muslims and Protestants in the country. Approximately 4% of the population are atheists.
Climate
Croatia is divided into two distinctly different climates. The continental part of the country has a temperate climate, with cool winters and hot summers. The coastal area has a Mediterranean climate with wet winters and dry, very hot summers.
January has an average temperature of -5 °C in the mainland and +25 °C in July. The rainy season lasts from late April to July. The winters, on the other hand, are dry. Precipitation can be seen only in the mountainous areas.
On the coast the winter temperature never drops below +7 degrees and in the summer the temperature rises to +35 degrees. The wet season begins in November and lasts all winter.
Sea water temperature
The average temperature of sea water in Croatia varies markedly over the seasons. In the winter it can drop to 9–10 degrees; in the summer it can rise to +26 degrees. The geographic position of the resorts is also important. It is colder in the north in the Rijeka area than in the south of Dubrovnik.
- The water temperature in winter, December to January: from +9 degrees in Rijeka to +13 degrees in Dubrovnik.
- Water temperature in spring, March to May: +13 to +18 degrees Celsius.
- Water temperature in summer, June-July: +20 to +26 degrees Celsius.
- Water temperature in autumn, September-November: +22 to +15 degrees Celsius.
Natural disasters
Croatia is an average, safe place in terms of natural hazards. There are no active volcanoes and although the country lies in a seismically active area, there have not been any truly large or destructive earthquakes in a long time. The most recent earthquake was recorded in the Zagreb area in 2020. It had a magnitude of 5.
River overflows, sometimes resulting in flooding, are quite common in the country. There is a record of a flood in 1964, when 17 people died in the country.
The most frequent disaster in Croatia is forest fires. They occur every year, but are rarely of devastating severity. The last very large fire raged on the country’s coast in 2007. The victims were 12 people.
In the latter part of the winter, it is not uncommon for the country to have strong hurricane winds, causing storms at sea and devastation on land.
You can read about the most devastating disasters in Croatian history in this article.
Political structure
Croatia is a parliamentary republic, a unitary state. The country is headed by a president, who is elected every five years. The executive power is represented by the government, headed by the prime minister. Legislative is Sabor, the name of the local Parliament.
The country is administratively divided into 20 counties, regions, cities and communities. The capital, Zagreb, is separated into a separate zupanja.
Croatia was formed on 25 June 1991 after its separation from Yugoslavia. The country is now a member of the European Union and is part of the Schengen Area.
Major cities and resorts
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the country. Some 700,000 people live in Zagreb. This ancient city was founded in 1094 and many interesting historical monuments such as churches, cathedrals and towers have survived. There is a zoo and several museums.
Split is a city in Dalmatia with population of 180 thousand people. It was founded more than 1700 years ago. According to a legend, the Emperor Diocletian was born here, whose palace still attracts tourists today. There are also picturesque cathedrals, a fortress and a number of museums.
Rijeka is the third largest city in the country, situated near the Istrian peninsula. Its population is 130 thousand people. There are also many interesting sights, including the Leaning Tower.
Sibenik is a resort in the central part of the Adriatic coast. It has a population of about 40 thousand people and was founded in 860. It is characterized by fine pebble beaches, beautiful nature and historical monuments: old fortresses, churches and the town hall.
Dubrovnik is a resort in southern Dalmatia. It is an ancient city founded in VII century. About 30 thousand people live in it. Until 1918 it was called Ragusa. Besides wonderful beaches, tourists are attracted by the picturesque nature and the ancient monuments, such as monasteries, churches, fortresses, the city harbour.
Croatia’s symbols
The red and white checkerboard is a national symbol that is fashionable everywhere: on flags, clothes, sports uniforms. Legend has it that King Stefan Držislav won freedom and this land in chess from the Venetians.
The gingerbread heart is a symbol of love, especially popular in Zagreb. It is a biscuit, necessarily coloured red and covered with a pattern of multicoloured icing.
Maraschino is Croatia’s signature alcoholic liqueur. It is made exclusively from Dalmatian cherries.
Moreska is a traditional theatrical dance with swords, symbolizing a battle between two rivals for the heart of a beautiful girl.
How much money to bring
Prices for holidays in Croatia vary quite widely, but in general remain very democratic for Europe. The country can provide recreation options for almost any budget.
The cost of packages for 7 days for two in this country starts at 3 thousand euros. Depending on the prestige of the hotel and luxury rooms the price can be much higher.
In the country itself tourists are charged as follows:
- Meals: cost between 100 and 200 Euros per day, depending on whether one eats in cafes and restaurants or cooks with food bought by oneself.
- Sightseeing: €50 to €100 for admission. It’s up to you to choose the right amount and the most interesting places.
- Water parks, entertainment, excursions: 250 – 500 EUR.
- Souvenirs: 40 to 100 Euros.
- Transport: the cost of one trip by city bus is 1.3 Euros. That means you’ll have to spend anywhere from 20 to 40 Euros per week.
Thus, taking into account the reserve amount for contingencies, a holiday in Croatia for two will cost from 3000 to 5000 thousand dollars for 7 days. And of course, the maximum amount of a holiday can be much higher.
Please
If you have already visited the country, please share your impressions in the comments. Please write a few words about what you liked most about the country, what moments you can remember forever and what you would recommend to other tourists. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!