FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CROATIA
Do I need a visa to visit Croatia?
Traveling with a valid U.S. or Canadian passport entitles you to a three-month stay in Croatia, a
visa is not needed.
Further information on visa and other legal questions can be directed to: Diplomatic missions
and consular offices of the Republic of Croatia abroad or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
European Integration of the Republic of Croatia. Croatia has consular offices in both USA and
Canada, for contact information please consult the official web pages: www.mvpei.hr
American Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia: http://zagreb.usembassy.gov/
U.S. Embassy Zagreb
2 Thomas Jefferson Street
10010 Zagreb
Telephone: 385 (1) 661-2200
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: 385 (1) 661-2400
Facsimile: 385 (1) 665-8933
E-mail: ZagrebACS@state.gov
The U.S. Embassy Zagreb is located in the southern outskirts of Zagreb near the airport.
Will I need an international driver’s license in Croatia?
According to Croatian law, U.S. citizens visiting Croatia for tourism or business may use a U.S.
driver's license for up to three months. U.S. citizens with an approved extended tourist visa or a
permit for permanent residence may continue to use a U.S. driver's license for up to twelve
months; however, a Croatian driver's license is required for stays longer than twelve months. A
driver must be at least 23 years old and have a valid driver's license in order to rent a car.
What is the official language in Croatia?
The official language in Croatia is Croatian. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
What is Croatian currency?
The official currency in Croatia is 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 currency can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices, post offices and in the majority
of tourist information offices, hotels and campsites.
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 (Eurocard / Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Diners) are accepted in
almost all hotels, marinas, restaurants, shops and ATM machines.
What is the power supply in Croatia?
Power supply: 220 V, frequency: 50 Hz
Can I drink tap water?
Tap water is drinkable throughout Croatia.
What are the public holidays in Croatia?
1 January - New Year’s Day
6 January - Epiphany
Easter Sunday & Easter Monday
1 May - Labor Day
Corpus Christi
22 June - Anti-Fascist Resistance Day
25 June - Statehood Day
5 August - Victory Day and National
Thanksgiving Day
15 August - Assumption Day
8 October - Independence Day
1 November - All Saints’ Day
25-26 December - Christmas Holidays
What are shops and public services working hours?
During the tourist season, most shops are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on weekdays, and
many are also open during the weekend.
Public services and business offices generally work from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
What is the high season and what is the low season in Croatia?
High season: June to September
Low season: January to March
Shoulder season: October to December, April to May
In which time zone is Croatia located?
Croatia is located in the Central European time zone, i.e. six hours ahead of Eastern Standard
Time. Daylight saving time starts at the end of March and lasts till the end of October.
Are credit cards widely accepted?
Most shops and restaurants do accept major credit cards; however, at open-air markets, most
vendors will only take cash. It is good practice to ask upfront if the venue will take a credit card.
Where can I find local or regional information regarding Croatia?
This website offers an abundance of travel information, including links to regional and local
Croatian tourist office web sites.
Where can I find detailed maps of Croatia?
Maps can be obtained from a local Tourist Information Office in Croatia upon your arrival. They
are specialized in providing tourists with information on their city or town and on the surrounding
area.
What is the telephone code for Croatia
+385
Where can I find information on ferry?
Regular boats from several companies connect Croatia with Italy and Slovenia. Companies and
routes arise, change or disappear from season to season; it’s important to check information
carefully. Many routes are available only in summer and the schedules are usually not available
until late spring. All of the boat-company offices in Split are located inside the ferry terminal.
Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr); Rijeka (051-211 444; Riva 16
Croatia’s national boat line, runs car ferries from Ancona to Split (€44, 10 hours) and Zadar
(€41, seven hours); a line from Bari to Dubrovnik (€44, eight hours); a year-round ferry from
Pescara to Split (€44, 10 hours, twice weekly); and a summer ferry from Pescara to Hvar (€44,
nine hours, once weekly). Prices are for deck passage; bringing a car costs an extra €57.50 and
a basic couchette is €61.
SEM (www.sem-marina.hr); Split (021-338 292; Gat Sv Duje); connects Ancona with Zadar and
Split, continuing on to Stari Grad (Hvar).
SNAV (www.snav.com); Split (021-322 252) has a fast car ferry that links Split with Pescara
(€69, 4¾ hours) and Ancona (€63, 4½ hours), and Pescara with Hvar (€80, 3¼ hours).
Sanmar (www.sanmar.it) handles the same route for a similar price.
Venezia Lines (041-52 22 568; www.venezialines.com;) runs passenger boats from Venice to
the following destinations once, twice or three times weekly, depending on the destination and
the month: Pula (€54, three hours), Opatija (€57, four hours), Rovinj (€52, 3¾ hours) and Porec
(€52 2½ hours). The company also covers other Istrian destinations and runs some routes from
Rimini and Ravenna.
Emilia Romagna Lines (www.emiliaromagnalines.it) is another company that has recently
started running summer passenger boats from Italy to the Croatian coast for similar prices.
Routes run from Ravenna, Cesenatico, Rimini and Pesaro to Rovinj, Poreč, Pula and Hvar.
In Croatia, contact Jadroagent (052-210 431; jadroagent-pula@pu.t-com.hr; Riva 14) in Pula
and Istra Line (info@istraline.hr) in Poreč for information and tickets on boats between Italy and
Croatia.
More information on Croatia
Croatian National Tourist Office www.croatia.hr
Croatia Airlines www.croatiaairlines.com
Croatian Railways http://www.hznet.hr/Default.aspx?sec=282