Fast Facts

Area Codes -- Croatia's country code is 385.

Business Hours -- Croatian banks and post offices generally are open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday without midday breaks. Public offices are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm. During the tourist season, post offices generally are open until 9pm, including Saturday. Shops and department stores stay open from 8am to 8pm and to 2 or 3pm Saturday without a break. Increasingly, stores in malls are open on Sundays, usually from 10am to 6pm. They then open late on Mondays (2pm). Recently Croatia passed a law requiring stores to remain closed all day on Sunday. That law was rescinded for the 2009 tourist season, then repealed, but many small stores in less populated areas stay closed on Sunday.

Drinking Laws -- The minimum age for purchasing liquor in Croatia is 18, but there is no minimum age for consuming it. Croatia has strict tolerance laws regarding drinking and driving; the legal limit is 0.0% blood alcohol for anyone 24 or under; 0.05% is the limit for those over 24. Package liquor (wine, beer, spirits) can be purchased in markets, wine stores, and some souvenir shops, and at almost every gas station in Croatia.

Drugstores -- Ljekarna are open from 8am to 7pm weekdays and until 2pm on Saturday. In larger cities, one pharmacy in town will be open 24 hours on a rotating basis.

Electricity -- Croatian electricity is 220v, 50Hz; the two-prong European plug is standard. Most wall plugs are recessed, however, and in many cases you will need two two-pronged plugs to access the outlet.

Embassies & Consulates -- U.S.: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb; tel. 01/661-22-00. Australia: Krsnjavoga 1, Zagreb; tel. 01/483-66-00. U.K.: Ivana Lucica 4, Zagreb; tel. 01/600-91-00. Also U.K.: Obala hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 10, 21000, Split; tel. 021/341-464.

Emergencies -- Police tel. 92. Fire tel. 93. Ambulance tel. 94. Roadside assistance tel. 987. (When calling from abroad or by cellphone, call tel. 385 1 987.) General information tel. 981. Information about local and intercity numbers tel. 988. Information about international numbers tel. 902. Weather forecast and road conditions tel. 060/520-520.

Etiquette & Customs -- Appropriate attire: Croatians, especially Croatian women, take pride in their appearance. In cities, both men and women usually dress in business casual. On the coast and countryside, the "dress code" is more relaxed. You never will see Croatians wearing immodest or sloppy clothes in public places. If you plan to visit museums or churches anywhere, plan to wear tops with sleeves and pants that go to at least the knee.

Gestures: Dobar dan (good day) is the way Croatians generally greet each other. Handshakes are appropriate for first meetings and between business associates. Good friends will kiss on both cheeks in the European style.

Avoiding offense: Religion and politics are topics to avoid universally. In Croatia, stay away from discussing Croat-Serb relations or anything related to the Homeland War unless you know what you're talking about and have lots of time for debate.

Gasoline (Petrol) -- Gasoline and diesel are readily available all over Croatia and almost all stations take credit cards. In the summer of 2009, gas was running about 7.5kn per liter including taxes. One U.S. gallon equals 3.8 liters or .85 imperial gallons. That translates to 29kn or $5.90 per U.S. gallon of gas.

Holidays -- Croatian shops and banks are closed on public holidays, which are: January 1, New Year; January 6, Epiphany; March or April, Easter Monday; May 1, Labor Day; May (Thurs after Trinity Sun), Corpus Christi; June 22, Anti-Fascist Day; June 25, Croatian Statehood; August 5, Thanksgiving; August 15, Assumption; October 8, Independence Day; November 1, All Saints Day; December 25 and 26, Christmas.

Hospitals -- Zagreb: Klinicka Bolnica "Sestre Milosrdnice" (Vinogradska cesta 29; tel. 01/378-71-11). Split: Klinicka Bolnica Split (Spinciceva 1; tel. 021/556-111). Dubrovnik: Opca Bolnica Dubrovnik (Toka Misetica bb; tel. 020/431-777).

Insurance -- Information on traveler's insurance, trip-cancellation insurance, and medical insurance while traveling is at www.frommers.com/planning.

Language -- Most residents of major Croatian cities speak English. Most movie houses and programs on Croatian TV are in English with Croatian subtitles. For basic phrases and words, see the inside front cover of this book. For more specific vocabulary, see the Langenscheidt Universal Croatian Dictionary.

Legal Aid -- Consult your embassy if you get into legal trouble in Croatia.

Mail -- It costs 5kn to send a postcard to the U.S., and 11kn to send a letter weighing up to 20 grams (3/4 oz.). The post office is fairly reliable, but very slow. It takes about 10 days to 2 weeks for postcards to arrive in the U.S. from Croatia and up to a month for regular mail and packages. Other carriers are available (DHL, FedEx, UPS) in major population centers, but the cost is prohibitive (about 245kn or $50 per pound).

Newspapers & Magazines -- English-language newspapers and magazines are a rarity at Croatian newsstands, even in Zagreb. Some of the better hotels supply printed copies of various U.S. publications taken from the Internet. Algorithm bookstores in major population centers are the only common outlets for English-language publications. Look for the International Herald Tribune and USA Today if you crave English-language news.

Police -- Call tel. 92.

Smoking -- In May 2009 Croatia passed a law banning smoking in all public places. However, that was modified 4 months later to give small establishments the option of allowing or not allowing on-premises smoking. The ban still applies to places larger than 200 sq. m (2,153 sq. ft.), but they must confine smokers to separate areas with independent ventilation systems.

Taxes -- Croatia's VAT was raised to 23% from 22% in August 2009. Refunds of VAT are made to foreign nationals when they leave the country for goods purchased in Croatia for amounts over 500kn with a tax check form. Salespeople will provide this form when you make a purchase over 500kn. There is a 10% nonrefundable tax on excursions and tax on hotel rooms, too. For further information, go to www.carina.hr.

Time -- Croatia is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 6 hours ahead of New York (Eastern Standard Time), and 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles (Pacific Standard Time). Daylight saving time is observed from late March to late September, when clocks are advanced 1 hour.

Tipping -- A 10% to 15% gratuity is expected in upscale restaurants. Otherwise, it is considered polite to leave any coins from your change on the table in cafes and restaurants. A 10% tip for other service providers (taxi drivers, hotel personnel, and others) is the norm, as is a tip for anyone who helps you carry your luggage or conducts a tour.

Toilets -- There are no free-standing public restrooms in Croatia, but most restaurants and public buildings have them and will let you use them if you make a purchase.

Water -- Tap water is potable throughout Croatia.