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After more than a decade of civil and ethnic unrest,
Croatia is once again emerging as an attractive tourist
destination. With its magnificent coastline, 1,185 islands,
islets and reefs, Roman ruins and picturesque medieval
villages, it is fast becoming a rival to the magical
Greek islands - alluring for lovers of fun, sun, local
colour, great food and a little history.
The
most prominent feature of Croatia's tourist industry
is its Dalmatian coastline, which is indented with
rocky cliffs, peninsulas and small inlets. Numerous
good quality hotels and marinas have been resurrected
or constructed in the past few years, and the Croatian
province is once again beginning to enjoy a tourist
boom reminiscent of its heyday in the 1930s.
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There
is a special atmosphere to Croatian towns and villages,
many of which
are built on the sites of ancient Greek settlements dating
from the 4th century BC. This, coupled with a welcoming
and determined population, Mediterranean climate, scenic
beauty and lush vegetation, is aiding Croatia's rise
from the ashes of war into one of the world's tourist
hotspots.
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Local
time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Saturday in March to end
of October).
Electrical
current is 230 volts, 50Hz. European style round, two-pin
plugs are standard.
The
official language is Croat.
The
international access code for Croatia is +385. The outgoing code is 00
followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom).
The city code for Zagreb is (0)1 and (0)20 for Dubrovnik. Public phones
take phone cards, which can be bought in post offices and hotels. GSM
operators have active roaming agreements with most international networks,
and cover most of the country. Internet cafes are available in the larger
towns and cities.
The coastal
region enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and
mild winters (minimum winter temperatures
are around 4°C/39°F and summers average around 26°C/79°F).
Inland a continental climate is predominant with hot summers
and cold winters.
If you like to drive and stay at hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, that is
fine. We offer a choice of 5
companies offering budget vehicles, new vehicles and mini-buse. If you tell us
your requirements we will happy prepare a quotation for you. See details Croatia
Car Hire
For flexibility, freedom and value for money it is really hard to beat Motorhome,
RV, Campervan or Motorcaravan hire or rental. Our friendly and experienced team
are here to assist and provide valuable free advice, plus the most competitive
quotes. We offer the widest selection and we have a best value and best price
guarantee.
See details: Croatia
Campervan Hire
You can also travel by boat. As the largest global canal boat wholesaler,
we offer you a choice of 3 self skipper companies: Amadeus, Luftner, Sunsail
Yacht Charter, Zephyrus Yacht Charter, Sunlife Yacht Charter and Viking River
Cruise and Value World Travel river cruising is lots of fun. No license
is
required
and
boats are available for 2-12 passengers. It really is a terrific bonding time
for
families or just
a
great time for a group of friends. The Luxury Ships or boats are very comfortable
and most boats have en-suites and comfortable cabins. BBQ's , fishing rods
and
outdoor
deck
furniture complete the picture.
For details, Croatia
River Cruising
Entry requirements for Americans: US
citizens must present a passport (it may be expired up to six
months). Visas are not required for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK
citizens must have a passport valid for the period of intended
stay. A visa is not required for tourist or business stays
of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian
citizens must have a passport valid for period of intended
stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australian
citizens must have a passport valid for the period of intended
stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South
African nationals must have a passport valid for the period
of intended stay and a visa is required
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish
nationals must have a passport or ID card valid for the period
of intended stay. No visas are required for stays of up to
90 days.
Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New
Zealanders must have a passport valid for the period of intended
stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
Passport/Visa Note: All
visitors require a passport valid for period of intended stay,
as well as documents and
tickets for onward or return destinations and sufficient funds
(at least €100 or equivalent per day unless a national
of an EU country).
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at
short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry
requirements with their embassy or consulate.
Despite a turbulent history during
which it has been occupied and conquered by a succession
of its neighbours and European colonial powers, Dubrovnik
is now a town at peace, allowing visitors to make the most
of its rich vegetation, beautiful lakes, white pebble beaches
and crystal-clear sea. Political upheaval has seldom kept
tourists away from this uniquely lovely Adriatic port city;
for centuries it has drawn those seeking fine accommodations,
excellent cuisine, beautiful surroundings and recreational
opportunities. George Bernard Shaw is quoted as describing
Dubrovnik as 'heaven on earth'. The old town, dating from
the 7th century, is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
Enclosed by city walls built in the 12th century, the buildings
of the town represent a cross-section of medieval architectural
styles and remain well preserved. The centre of the town
is the Stradun, its main street, which was originally a channel
separating an island from the mainland, and was filled in
to join two opposite towns into the merged city of Dubrovnik.
The main tourist area lies southeast of the old town at Ploce,
where most hotels and the best beaches can be found. There
are numerous churches, monasteries and museums to explore
and the coastal belt is awash with marinas, piers and promenades.
ATTRACTIONS
IN DUBROVNIK
Franciscan Monastery
The 14th-century Franciscan church and monastery enclosed
in the walls of medieval Dubrovnik boasts a world-renowned
collection of ancient manuscripts, open for viewing to the
public in a beautiful reading room. The research library has
been utilised by many famous writers and historians, including
Croatian literary scholars. The original library of the monastery
was destroyed by fire after an earthquake in 1667, and the
present collection was put together in the early 19th century
by a Franciscan friar, Inocentije Culic, who energetically
worked to save the manuscripts of several monasteries that
were closed down during the French occupation of the city.
The friar donated hundreds of manuscripts and valuable printed
works to the library, leaving the city of Dubrovnik a treasure-house
of learning and literature. Also at the Franciscan Monastery
is a fascinating pharmacy museum, which preserves the relics
of the medieval pharmacy that was run in the monastery as far
back as 1317.Address: Placa 2; Telephone: (20) 321 410; Opening
time: 9am to 6pm daily; Admission: 6 kn (adults), 4 kn (children)
City Walls
The impressive walls enclosing the ancient city of Dubrovnik
were laid out in the 13th century and became an ongoing work
for almost two centuries. Today they stand proudly with five
bastions, three round towers and 12 square towers, and provide
a popular diversion for visitors wishing to explore their 6,365ft
(1,940m) length.
Address: Gundulièeva poljana 2; Telephone:
425 942; Opening time: 9am to 6.30pm; Admission: 15 kn (adults);
5 kn
(children)
Marin Drzic’s House
Croatia’s
literary genius, Marin Drzic, has been immortalised by turning
his Dubrovnik home into a museum which introduces
visitors to the writer with a 40-minute presentation on his
life and work. The presentation is also a good introduction
for visitors to the history and culture of Dubrovnik itself.
Address: Široka
ulica 7; Telephone: 420 490; Website: www.mdc.hr/dubrovnik/;
Opening time: 9am to 2pm, closed Sundays.
The presentation is shown to groups of 15 at a time; Admission:
10 kn (adults); 5 kn (students and children)
Cathedral Treasury
Dubrovnik has had three cathedrals on the same
site during its long history. The first was a Byzantine building
dating
from the 7th century; the second a Romanesque Cathedral which
was destroyed by the great earthquake of the 17th century;
and the present beautiful Baroque structure which was designed
by Italian architect Buffalini from Urbino and was completed
in 1713. The treasury of the cathedral is rich in religious
relics, icons, paintings and other items of value. It is also
possible to view the archaeological excavations that continue
on the cathedral site.Address: Kneza Damjana Jude 1; Telephone:
323 459; Opening time: Weekdays 8am to 8pm; Sundays 11am to
5.30pm; Admission:
5 kn (adults); 3 kn (children)
Zagreb, capital of Croatia, is the country’s
economic centre and gateway to Western Europe. The city is
sited on the slopes of Medvednica Mountain along the banks
of the Sava River, in the northern part of Croatia. The core
of the city consists of the preserved medieval city, known
as Gradec and Kaptol, while the residential area covers the
southern slopes of the Medvednica Mountains. Since the 1950s
the city has grown appreciably to the south of the Sava River,
and the main industrial area is in the southeast. Besides being
a commercial hub Zagreb is a tourist centre, and a popular
international conference venue, with a history dating back
nearly a thousand years. It is rich in historical monuments,
museums and galleries, has modern shops, restaurants, sport
and recreation facilities and a good transport infrastructure.
Its attractions are largely historical, dating from the Palaeolithic
Veternica Cave, through Roman culture and the fascinating medieval
old town.
ATTRACTIONS
IN ZAGREB
Andautonia Archaeological Park
Near the village of Scitarjevo,
close to Zagreb, are the remains of the ancient Roman town
of Andautonia which have been excavated
and provide a fascinating tourist attraction. Andautonia was
a prominent administrative, economic, cultural and religious
centre about 400 years ago. Archaeologists are still excavating
the site, but visitors can view a 26,910 square foot (2,500
sq m) area of the Roman City including parts of the main street,
city baths, colonnades and side streets. Tourists can also
visit the present-day village of Scitarjevo, which offers examples
of typical rural farms with their characteristic wooden houses.
Address:
Archaeological Museum: 19 Nikola Subic Zrinski Square; Telephone:
(0)1 487 3000; Transport: Regular buses run to the
site from Zapruðe and Velika Gorica; Opening time: Tuesday
to Friday 9am to 1pm and 4.30pm to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday
10am to 6pm (May to 23 September). Tuesday to Sunday 10am to
6pm (24 September to October). Museum: Tuesday to Friday 10am
to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am to 1pm; Admission: 10 kn (adults),
5 kn (concessions)
Croatian History Museum
The building
that houses Croatia’s history is itself
a part of that history. Sited in the historical town centre,
it is the beautiful Baroque palace, Vojkovic-Orsic-Rauch, built
at the end of the 18th century and formerly the private residence
of three successive baronial families. In the late 1930s the
palace became the residence of Zagreb’s mayors, before
being designated as a repository for the historical relics
of the city. It currently houses more than 140,000 artefacts
in various collections, from stone monuments to fine art, religious
artefacts to heraldry. The exhibitions are not permanent but
constantly changing so that all the collections get an airing.
Address:
Matoševa 9; Telephone: (01) 4851 900; Website:
www.hismus.hr/english/main.htm; Opening time: Daily 10am to
5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 1pm; Admission: 10 kn (adults),
5 kn (concessions). Free on Mondays
The pretty city of Split has a rich history.
Since ancient times it has, in various guises, served as the
economic and administrative centre of the beautiful Croatian
Adriatic coastal region, today called Dalmatia. The city sits
mainly on a peninsula on the eastern part of the island of
Ciovo, although it has nowadays spread onto the mainland and
encompasses the mouth of the River Cetina. From the 5th to
the 2nd century BC Greek colonists settled the mainland and
adjacent islands. Later, came the Romans: in particular the
Emperor Diocletian, who, being of Dalmatian origin, elected
to build a huge palace at a spot then called Salona, in AD303.
A town grew up around the palace, and eventually, by the Middle
Ages, the city of Split had begun to develop. Diocletian's
Palace still stands in the very heart of the old part of Split,
which charms visitors with its cobbled streets. The greater
Split area is characterised by its lush vegetation and green
areas, particularly Marjan Hill on the west of the peninsula
with its ancient indigenous forest. The city makes an ideal
base from which to explore the islands, beauty spots, and historic
villages in central Dalmatia.
Split Summer Festival
The month-long festival of contemporary arts has been entertaining
visitors for over half a century in the delightful city of
Split. A number of performances in music, art, fringe and dance
take place and the lively atmosphere throughout the city entices
visitors from all over Europe, for whom Croatia is a favourite
summer getaway.
Venue: Various; Date: 14 July to 14 August 2007; Website:
www.splitsko-ljeto.hr/splitskaljeta/index.htm
ATTRACTIONS
IN SPLIT
Archaeological Museum
Founded in 1820, the Archaeological Museum in Split is the
oldest Museum in Croatia. Its displays include many archaeological
artefacts from prehistoric times, the Greek colonial period,
and from the Roman, early Christian and Medieval ages. Most
of the relics found in excavations of the Roman city of Salona
are displayed here. There is also a large collection of antique
coins and a large library.
Address: Zrinsko-Frankopanska 25; Telephone: (021) 318 721;
Website: www.mdc.hr/split-arheoloski/eng; Opening time: Tuesday
to Friday 9am to 2pm; Saturday and Sunday until 1pm (June
to October). Tuesday to Friday 9am to 12pm and 5pm to 8pm;
Saturday and Sunday 9am to 1pm; Admission: 10 kn (adults),
5 kn (concessions)
Diocletian's Palace
Roman Emperor Diocletian, having abdicated his throne in AD
305, decided to spend the last years of his life in Dalmatia
and built a palace for that purpose on the bay of Aspalathos,
on the south side of a peninsula extending into the Adriatic
sea. The spot he chose is now the very heart of the city of
Split, and the palace still stands as one of the city's major
tourist attractions. The building and the entire historic Split
inner city area around it have been declared a UNESCO World
Cultural Heritage Site. The palace is interesting in that it
is designed to combine a luxurious villa with the defences
of a military camp, having towers and fortifications on its
landward sides and monumental gates. The palace is built of
local white limestone, quarried on the nearby island of Brac.
Makarska
About 30 miles (47km) south of Split is the popular holiday
town of Makarska, with its stone cobbled streets and natural
harbour fringed with the two green peninsulas of Osejava and
St Peter. Standing sentinel over the town is Mount Biokovo.
This scenically beautiful spot offers secluded beaches washed
by an azure sea, and it lies at the heart of a coastal strip
characterised by pine forests and glades of wild flowers. The
town was an important trading port during its colourful history,
which spans occupation by the Venetians, Turks, French and
Austrians, all of whom left a taste of their culture and tradition
behind. The town boasts a world-renowned collection of sea
shells, and a Franciscan monastery dating from the 16th century,
a Venetian fountain, several churches and Baroque palaces.
Website: www.makarska.com
Marina
Split is world-renowned among seafarers for the quality,
and quantity, of its marinas. There are 44 of them in the city
area altogether. One of the major marinas is ACI Marina Split,
in the southwestern section of the city port, north of Sustipan
Peninsula. A long breakwater ensures the marina is protected
from the southern winds, and it provides moorings for 360 craft,
and can accommodate 120 stored on land. Facilities include
a bureau de change, restaurant, ablutions, grocery store, repair
shop, slipway and other essentials.
Address: The Marina is adjacent to the Marjan Hotel; Telephone:
(021) 355 488 (Harbour Master’s Office)
The Island of Hvar
Off of the coast of
Split, just 15 nautical miles (24km) from Baska Voda and accessible
by ferry, is the
island of Hvar,
which abounds with Romanesque and Renaissance buildings and
a true Mediterranean atmosphere. The island is noted for its
fertile soil and was the site of the world’s first parcelling
out of arable land by the ancient Greeks, who farmed there.
It is now mainly a wine-growing area. The island’s main
towns are Vrboska and Jelsa, famed for their Dalmatian wines,
and it is dotted with picturesque villages.
Lastly and I hope you don't need it, but should
you require consular help - here are the details
Croatian National Tourist Board, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 469
9333 or www.croatia.hr
Embassy of Croatia, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 588
5899.
Embassy of Croatia, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7387
2022.
Embassy of Croatia, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 562 7820.
Embassy of Croatia, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6286 6988.
Embassy of Croatia, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 1206.
Embassy of Croatia, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 476 7181.
Consulate-General of Croatia, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9
836 5581.
United States Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 661 2200.
British Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 600 9100.
Canadian Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 488 1211.
Australian Embassy, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 489 1200.
South African Honorary Consulate, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 489 4111.
Honorary Consul of Ireland, Zagreb: +385 (0)1 631 0025.
New Zealand Embassy, Rome, Italy (also responsible for Croatia):
+39 (0)6 441 7171.
Emergencies: 92 (Police); 94 (Ambulance)
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Zagreb Airport (ZAG)
Location:
The airport is situated 10 miles (17km) southeast of Zagreb.
Time: Local time is GMT
+1 (GMT +2 from last Saturday
in March to end October). Contacts: Tel: +385 (0)1 45 62 222.
Transfer to the city: A bus service connects to the city centre's
bus station, leaving from outside the international arrivals
hall. A taxi rank is also situated right outside the international
arrivals. Car rental: Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz are
among the rental agencies represented at the airport. Facilities:
The airport has a bank, duty-free shops, a post office, tourist
information kiosk, and 24-hour left luggage service. The Faust
Vranèiæ Restaurant is situated on the first floor
of the passenger's terminal; a cafe/bar is also available.
Departure tax: None. Website: www.zagreb-airport.hr
