Croatia Facts and Culture

What is Croatia famous for?

• Food and Recipes: Breakfast is light and usually accompanied by black coffee. Lunch is the main meal of the day and consists of... More
• Family: Rural Croatian families traditionally include grandparents, parents, and two or more children. The father or grandfather has a dominant role... More
• Fashion: It is important for clothing to be neat and clean. In general, adults do not wear shorts in public, except... More
• Visiting: Croatians enjoy visiting one another to socialize. Most visits are arranged in advance, but unexpected guests are also welcomed. When... More
• Recreation: Nogomet or soccer is the most popular sport.  Other sports include basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming and hiking. Many young people... More
• Dating: The youth begin dating around age 15, beginning with small groups. Rural people get married in their early twenties and... More
• Diet: Seafood and vegetables are most poplar in coastal towns. Dishes made from chicken, beef, fish, pork, and lamb are common... More

What is the capital of Croatia?

Capital	Zagreb
Government Type	parliamentary republic
Currency	kuna (HRK)
Total Area	21,851 Square Miles 56,594 Square Kilometers
Location	Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Language	Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
GDP - real growth rate	1.9%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$22,400.00 (USD)

What is the population of Croatia?

Ethnic Groups	Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, Bosniak 0.5%, Hungarian 0.4%, Slovene 0.3%, Czech 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Albanian 0.1%, Montenegrin 0.1%, others 4.1%
Languages	The Croatian language has thirty letters, each with a distinct sound.
Nationality Adjective	Croatian
Nationality Noun	Croat(s), Croatian(s)
Population	4,227,746
Population Growth Rate	-0.11%
Population in Major Urban Areas	ZAGREB (capital) 686,000
Predominant Language	Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
Urban Population	57.8%

What type of government does Croatia have?

• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Zoran MILANOVIC (since 18 February 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016);... More
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal More
• Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Croatia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency... More
• National Holiday: Independence Day, 8 October (1991) and Statehood Day, 25 June (1991); note - 25 June 1991 was the day the... More
• Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990 amendments: proposed by at least one-fifth of the Assembly membership, by the president... More
• Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) More

What environmental issues does Croatia have?

• Overview: Croatia covers 56,500 km2 (21,829 mi2) of mainland and somewhat less than 32,000 km2 (12,316 mi2) of sea. The... More
• Climate: Zagreb's climate is predominately continental, with hot and dry summers and cold winters. Rainy weather, with accompanying fog, is... More
• Border Countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia and Montenegro (north) 241 km, Serbia and Montenegro (south) 25 km,... More
• Environment - Current Issues: air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste;... More
• Environment - International Agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate... More
• Terrain: geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands More

How big is the Croatia economy?

• Economic Overview: Though still one of the wealthiest of the former Yugoslav republics, Croatia’s economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war. The... More
• Industries: chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials,... More
• Currency Name and Code: kuna (HRK) More
• Export Partners: Italy 13.4%, Slovenia 12.5%, Germany 11.4%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 9.9%, Austria 6.6%, Serbia 4.9% More
• Import Partners: Germany 15.5%, Italy 13.1%, Slovenia 10.7%, Austria 9.2%, Hungary 7.8% More

What current events are happening in Croatia?
Source: Google News

What unique things can you discover about Croatia?

• Alka, a game held in August, is actually a loose staging of the historic defeat of the Turks in 1715 by the Croatians of Sinj. The galloping alkari horsemen, dressed in traditional costumes, attempt to push their lances through a ring hanging from a rope.
• Croatians celebrate St. Martin's Day (November 11), which traditionally in central Europe is the day for first tasting the year's new wine. Usually a goose is slaughtered for roasting.
• Croatians have a spectacular variety of traditional costumes, which creatively co-ordinate fabrics, leather, shapes and colors and an abundance of lace. Golden and multicolored threads depict the prosperity of the various regions.
• Croatia's white-headed griffon vulture has a wingspan of 2.5 meters and can live up to 60 years. The vulture feeds on carrion and can spot a carcass from a distance of six kilometers.
• Faust Vrancic, a 16th century Croatian scientist and writer, was the first person to build and fly a parachute.
• In many parts of Croatia, people greet each other by saying “ Bok”, which means God.
• In May 1994, the kuna replaced the dinar as the national currency. The Croatian kuna or marten is an indigenous animal whose pelt was used as a means of currency in Croatia during the Middle Ages.
• Much of the marble used in the White House in Washington D.C. comes from the Croatian island of Brac.
• Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) invented the first system for generating and transmitting alternating current for electric power, selling the rights to his system to Westinghouse in 1885. He also invented the Teslacoil, widely used in radios and television sets.
• On St. John's Day (June 24), some young Croatians celebrate the arrival of the summer solstice by jumping over bonfires.
• Signed in 1214, the Statute of the Island of Korcula was the first such document in Europe to prohibit trading in slaves. Korcula is also the birthplace of Marco Polo, the renowned explorer.
• Skier Janica Kostelic recently set a world record by winning four medals in alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics. She captured three gold and one silver.
• The bura is a cold, dry, northeast wind that blows across the central European plain into northwestern Croatia. The wind can be so strong as to overturn cars.
• The healing quality of the Ivanic Grads mud baths has been confirmed by medical opinion. The baths are famous for alleviating psoriasis, a chronic, inflammatory skin disease.
• The island of Pag produces paski-sir, a hard, distinctively flavored sheep's milk cheese. The unique flavor comes from the method of rubbing the cheese with olive oil and ash before leaving it to mature; in addition, the sheep eat a diet that includes many wild herbs such as sage.
• The meteorologist and geophysicist Andrija Mohorovicic (1856-1936) discovered the Mohorovicic Discontinuity or Moho layer, which is essential for understanding the structure of the earth and behavior of seismic waves. Mohorovicic also created a method of locating the epicenters of earthquakes and ascertaining the velocity of seismic waves.
• Two Croatian sailors, Ivan Malogrudic from Senj and Marino Masalarda from Dubrovnik, came to Canada with the expedition of Jacques Cartier in 1534.

What can you learn about Croatia in this video?

Trekking the Planet: Croatia - Pearl of the Adriatic YouTube: TrekkingThePlanet

What makes Croatia a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

Croatia is a well-developed parliamentary democracy and became a member of the European Union (EU) on July 1, 2013. Facilities for tourism are available throughout the country, and the Adriatic coast is a popular tourist destination.

Crime

While violent crime is rare, there have been isolated attacks targeting specific persons or property, which may have been racially motivated or prompted by lingering ethnic tensions from Croatia's war for independence. Foreigners do not appear to be singled out by criminals. We advise you to safeguard your belongings in public areas, especially in bus or railroad stations, airports, and gas stations, and on public transportation. As in many countries, outward displays of wealth may increase your chances of being targeted by thieves.

We urge U.S. citizens to avoid going to so-called "gentlemen's clubs." A few such establishments have presented foreign customers with grossly inflated bar bills, sometimes in the thousands of dollars, and threatened those customers who refuse to pay.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal to bring back into the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Croatia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own, and criminal penalties vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States; you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods, for example. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Croatia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Languages

The Croatian language has thirty letters, each with a distinct sound.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Health-care facilities in Croatia, although generally of Western caliber, are under severe budgetary strain. Some medicines are in short supply in public hospitals and clinics. There are numerous private medical and dental practitioners, and private pharmacies stock a variety of medicines not readily available through public health facilities. Tick-borne encephalitis, a disease preventable with a three-shot vaccination series, is found throughout inland Croatia, but is not prevalent along the coast.

Safety and Security

Although hostilities in all parts of the country ended in 1995, de-mining of areas along former confrontation lines is not complete. We estimate that de-mining operations will continue until at least 2018. Mine-affected areas are well-marked with Croatian-language warning signs using the international symbol for mines—a skull and crossbones inside a red, upside-down triangle. Be cautious in former conflict areas, including Eastern Slavonia, Brodsko-Posavska County, Karlovac County, areas around Zadar, and in more remote areas of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, and stay on known safe roads and areas. Mine-clearance work may lead to the closure of roads in former conflict areas.

While civil disorder is rare in Croatia, there are occasional strikes, protests and other public demonstrations. As all demonstrations can potentially turn confrontational or even violent, U.S. citizens are urged to avoid these events whenever possible, and to exercise caution when in the vicinity of any such gathering.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in Croatia, you may encounterroad conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Road conditions and maintenance in Croatia vary widely. Modern highways link Zagreb with Rijeka and Split. Construction work is still ongoing between Split and Dubrovnik, causing delays and road closures. Highway tolls are higher than those in the United States and can be paid by cash or credit card. Information on tolls is available from the Croatian Motorways website. Primary roads, including roads along the coast, are generally adequate, but most have only one lane in each direction. Coastal roads are narrow and congested, and tend to be slippery when wet. Rock slides are also possible on roads along the coast, as well as through the mountain regions of Lika and Gorski Kotar. There is heavy congestion on major routes on weekends (towards the coast, for example) and in major cities during rush hours. Congestion on coastal routes, at border crossings, and at tunnels is especially heavy in the summer months. Drivers should be prepared for sudden slowdowns when approaching tunnels at any time of year.

Drivers tend to be aggressive in Croatia. Passing on curves or in oncoming lanes is common on highways and poses a higher risk of accidents. Accidents, when they do happen, very often involve fatalities. Drivers traveling though former conflict areas should stay on paved roads to reduce the risk of encountering unmarked mines and unexploded ordnance left over from the 1991-1995 war. In Zagreb, motorists and pedestrians alike should also pay special attention to trams (streetcars), which in downtown areas may travel at a high rate of speed through the narrow, congested streets. Additionally, drivers in towns and cities should be aware that pedestrians crossing streets in designated white striped crosswalks have the right of way. Drivers must stop to allow these pedestrians to cross.

Right turns on red lights are strictly forbidden in Croatia unless an additional green light (in the shape of an arrow) allows it. At unmarked intersections, right of way is always given to the vehicle entering from the right. The use of front seat belts is obligatory, and passengers in vehicles equipped with rear seat belts are required to use them. Special seats are required for infants, and children under age 12 may not sit in the front seat of an automobile. The use of cellular phones while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited unless the driver is using a hands-free device. By law, headlights of vehicles must be used all winter, as well as during fog and other inclement weather.

According to Croatian law, a driver may drive with a blood alcohol level of up to 0.05 percent; however it is illegal for a professional driver and those younger than 24 years of age to drive with a blood alcohol level greater than 0.00 percent. A driver with an alcohol level greater than 0.00 may be found guilty if involved in an accident. Police routinely spot-check motorists for drinking and driving and administer breath-analyzer tests at the scene of even the most minor accident. Drivers who refuse to submit to a breath-analyzer test are automatically presumed to have admitted to driving while intoxicated. In case of accidents resulting in death or serious injury, Croatian law requires police to take blood samples to test blood alcohol levels. Punishment for traffic violations can be severe, including fines up to 2,000 euros and even prison sentences.

Within Croatia, emergency road help and information may be reached 24 hours a day by dialing 1987, a service of the Croatian Automobile Association (HAK), staffed by English-speaking operators. The police can be reached by dialing 112 or 192, and the ambulance service by dialing 194. Additional road condition and safety information may be obtained from HAK at ( 385 1) 464-0800 (English-speaking operators available 24 hours), or ( 385 1) 661-1999. Croatian Radio broadcasts programs in foreign languages designed for tourists in Croatia on several frequencies. A daily program is broadcast in English at 8:05 pm on channel one, lasting approximately 10 minutes. For a list of frequencies, see the Croatian Radio website.

During the summer season, approximately mid-June through mid-September, channel two of the Croatian Radio broadcasts foreign news, traffic information, and other important information in English and German, in addition to their normal reporting. See the Croatian Radio website for a list of frequencies.

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, but should also have an International Driver’s Permit. 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. Foreigners who have been granted temporary residence in Croatia and who are in possession of a vehicle registered abroad (with valid registration documents and insurance) may use their car a maximum of three months following the day of entry into Croatia, after which period the vehicle must be re-registered in Croatia. For specific information concerning Croatian driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, please contact the Croatian National Tourist Office, P.O. Box 2651, New York NY 10108.

In cases of traffic accidents involving a foreign-registered vehicle, the investigating police officer on the scene is required to issue a vehicle damage certificate to the owner of the foreign-registered vehicle. This certificate is necessary to cross the border. Upon written request, the police station in the area where the accident occurred will issue a Traffic Accident Investigation Record.