Croatia
Capital City: Zagreb
Croatia Key Facts
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Flag
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Size
56,594 km2
(124th largest country)
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Population
4,284,889
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Croatia Location
Southeast Europe
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Travel Insurance
For Croatia travel insurance, select Europe Region
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International Calling Codes
385
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Cities
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Language
Croatian
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Religions
86.28% Roman Catholic
4.44% Eastern Orthodoxy
1.47% Muslim
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Currency
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Driving
In Croatia they drive on the right side of the road
Tourism website:
croatia.hr/en-GB
When is the best time to visit?
As with most of Europe, avoid the peak tourism months of July and August, as this is the time of the main school vacation. The best times to visit are spring or early autumn, when the weather is still warm and there are little to no crowds. The period from April until August also is the time for festivals: the Contemporary Music Festival, the Dubrovnik International Film Festival, the Croatian Pop Music Festival, and the Dubrovnik Summer Music Festival are just a few of the more famous ones happening in this period.
Transport Information
- Airports (8 international airports)
- Boat
- Harbours and ports
- Sailing
- Rail
- Highways
- Bus
World Heritage Sites
- Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč, an outstanding example of an early Christian episcopal complex
- Historic City of Trogir, represents a stunning example of a medieval town that was built on an existing Roman city and later embellished through the ages
- Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian, the oldest parts of this complex date back to the late 3rd and early 4th century AD
- Old City of Dubrovnik, which was an important Mediterranean sea power from the 13th century onwards and known as the 'Pearl of the Adriatic'
- Stari Grad Plain, an amazing cultural landscape that has remained largely intact since its colonialization by Greeks in the 4th century BC
- The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik, which was built by 3 architects fusing Gothic and Renaissance building tradition and art
- Plitvice Lakes National Park, a series of beautiful caves, lakes and waterfalls created over thousands of years by water running over limestone and chalk
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Average Annual Temperature
15 degrees
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Average Annual Rainfall
1030 mm
Climate Information
While the coastal regions enjoy a Mediterranean climate, the north of the country has a temperate continental climate. Temperatures inland in January range from -5 to -10 degrees, while at the coast they range from 6-11 degrees. August temperatures inland are between 19-39 degrees, depending on the region and elevation, and on the coast are between 21-39 degrees.
Official Holidays
- January 1 - New Year's Day
- January 6 - Epiphany
- March/April - Easter Sunday
- March/April - Easter Monday
- May 1 - Labor Day
- June 4 - Corpus Christi
- June 22 - Day of Antifascist Struggle
- June 25 - Statehood Day
- August 5 - Homeland Thanksgiving Day
- August 15 - Assumption of Mary
- October 8 - Independence Day
- November 1 - All Saints' Day
- December 25 - Christmas Day
- December 26 - St Stephen's Day
Why Visit Croatia?
Croatia offers great food, friendly people, lots and lots of history, and an absolutely amazing coastline. It has long been an inside tip for many Europeans, but remains quieter than its neighbouring countries. Due to being a little bit off the beaten tourist track, Croatia offers excellent value for money!
Things To Do In Croatia
- Spend a few days in the enchanting town of Dubrovnik
- Try the many different foods available in Croatia
- Try the local spirits
- Have some truffles in Istria
- Visit the city of Split
- Chill on one of the endless sand beaches along Croatia's expansive coastline
Travel Tips For Croatia
Make sure to try Croatian olives, claimed to be the best in the world.
Croatia's Food
Croatian cuisine is heavily influenced by its past and by its surrounding countries. The regions of Dalmatia and Istria have flavors similar to other Mediterranean cuisines with a focus on seafood, olive oil, garlic, and cooked vegetables. Continental cuisine is closer to Hungarian, Austrian and Turkish cooking with many dishes featuring meat and freshwater fish. While in Croatia, make sure to try some Čobanac, which is a stew made of several meats seasoned with red spicy paprika, kulen, which is an excellent spicy sausage, and štrukli, a cheese filled pasta. Similar to the dessert traditions in Austria, you will find many delicious sweets while travelling around Croatia, such as the iconic kremšnite (a puff pastry and cream cake) or various štrudla (strudels) filled with walnuts, poppy or pumpkin seeds and cheese mixes. Croatia is also famous for its olives and olive oil!
Croatia's Travel Safety and Warnings
- Croatia is considered a safe place to travel in, even major cities pose no significant risk.
- If you do decide to go hiking in remote areas, be sure to consult locals about landmines.
- For those driving, the Velebit area is known for particularly strong winds that can blow over lorries!
- As a precaution, ensure you have travel insurance for Croatia
About Croatia
| Croatia has long been a secret tip for vacation among Europeans, and slowly it’s becoming known to the rest of the world as well. Beautiful sandy beaches, gorgeous islands, great food, and lots of cultural and historical sites make Croatia a great destination for any traveller. Pack some beach gear, get your travel insurance for Croatia, and come visit 'the Mediterranean as it once was'. |
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Unless you’re arriving on a sailing boat at the coast, most travellers to Croatia will arrive in the nation's capital, Zagreb. Zagreb is oddly reminiscent of Vienna and Prague, with its architecture, cobbled streets and even the tram going through the city and it also has an excellent nightlife. |
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If you can, it’s well worth spending two or three days exploring the city and getting acquainted with some of the excellent food: make sure to have a kremšnite, a delicious local dessert made of puff pastry and a sweet creamy filling. Being located in Central Croatia, the food in this area tends to be heavily influenced by Austrian and Hungarian cuisines, offering hearty meat dishes and various delicious spicy sausages.
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As you travel from Zagreb towards the coast, make sure to stop at the iconic Plitvice Lakes National Park. This park consists of a series of lakes, caves, and waterfalls, which water has carved out of the limestone and chalk over thousands of years. Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also breathtakingly beautiful and worth the stop on your way to the coast. |
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The coast is easily Croatia's biggest tourist attraction, and once you see the beaches and islands, you will understand why so many Europeans have been coming here for years. The water of the Adriatic is crystal clear and very refreshing in summer.
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If you have a couple of days, make sure to jump on a boat and explore the islands just off the coast:
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Ensure you purchase travel insurance for Croatia before setting off on any island exploration.
As you reach the coast and travel along it, you will notice the food change character a little bit. It goes from hearty Central European fare to lighter, Mediterranean foods. For seafood fiends, the coast of Croatia offers a veritable haven of freshly caught fish usually simply prepared with olive oil and local herbs - the perfect meal on a hot day.
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The northern province of Istria is also home to truffles, which pop up everywhere around autumn and fill entire cities with their unique smell. If you want to purchase some to take home, prepare a jar of rice and face the agony of choosing between white or black truffles. Travelling along this magnificent coastline, you come to the city of Split. |
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Home to many a famous Croatian, and claimed by its inhabitants to be the most beautiful city in the world, Split's historic center is built around the remains of the Palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. The remains of the Palace are well preserved and you can see how some Gothic and Renaissance architecture was added over the years. While you’re in Split, make sure to visit the Green Market, a bustling food and clothing market that is fun to explore. |
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In the further southern tip of the Croatian coast is the world-famous town of Dubrovnik, known as the 'Pearl of the Adriatic'. This walled city has a rich history to explore, and as an important port city throughout the centuries, it shows a lot of different influences in architecture, art, and culture. Some say it’s one of the most beautiful towns in the entire Mediterranean, and George Bernard Shaw famously called it ‘Paradise on Earth’. |
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To call the city breathtaking is a mild understatement, and it’s easy to see how you can spend your entire holiday in Croatia just here! Dubrovnik is also an excellent starting point for those wishing to explore the Adriatic by boat.
In terms of safety there is little to worry about in Croatia. While the war of the past has left its scars, and if you decide to explore the backcountry you may run across landmine warnings (which you should take very seriously), there are few safety concerns. Arrange travel insurance for Croatia so that you can enjoy this beautiful and unspoilt country with peace of mind.
For more information on Croatia, visit the Croatia Tourism Website.
