Croatia Useful INFO

Useful INFO Korcula - Croatia

Visas - A full passport is required to visit Croatia. Holders of UK, EC countries, USA, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passports require no visa to visit Croatia for stay up to 3 months. Holders of other countries, please check with the Croatian Embassy for up to date requirements.Address: Croatian Embassy 21, Conway Street, Fitzroy Square London W1T 6BNTel: 020 7387 2022

Money - Croatian currency is KUNA (KN). Kuna is divided into 100 lipa. Presently the exchange rate is just over 13 Kuna to £ 1.00.You can exchange Sterling (both cash and travellers cheques) into KUNA at exchange offices, banks, post offices, travel agencies, hotels, camps, marinas and at airports. Most larger cities and resorts offer ATM (cash dispenser ) facilities. Croatian currency is not available in Britain. Credit Cards: All major credit cards are accepted in hotels, larger shops and many restaurants. Foreign currency can be freely brought in and out of the country but there is a limit for Kuna (presently maximum 2,000)

Health and Medical - There are no special requirements for inoculations to visit Croatia. For up to date information contact the Department of Health or free phone 0800 555777.In general the standard of public health and hospital services is good, although some of the more expensive Western drugs are sometimes in short supply. Tap water is drinkable in all parts of Croatia. Presently, hospital treatment is free to citizens of most EU countries, including the UK and Irish nationals. Citizens of other countries should check the position with health care in Croatia. For minor health complaints help can be obtained from a pharmacy (ljekarna). All cities and major resorts will have at least one pharmacy open at night time, holidays and weekends.

Shops and Offices - opening hours - Shops are open from 08.00 to 20.00 hours.
Public services and offices works from 08.00 - 16.00 hours from Monday to Friday.
Post offices are open from 07.00 to 19.00 hours. Saturdays and Sundays.
Post offices in major cities and in larger tourist resorts are open from 07.00 until 22.00 hours.

Telephone - Direct dial code from the UK to Croatia: 00385 followed by the local city code (omitting zero) and subscribers number and from Croatia to the UK: 0044 followed by the number. In Croatia all public telephones accept phone cards only. These can be purchased from post offices and in newspaper kiosks.
Important telephone numbers: Ambulance service: 94 , Fire brigade: 93 , Police: 92.

If you are taking your mobile telephone check with your service provider for network coverage- and don't forget to take the charger with continental adapter.

Voltage - 220 - 240 (continental adapters may be necessary to use your appliances wired for British standard.)

Local time - Croatia is one hour ahead of British Summer Time.

National holidays

Easter Monday, 1st May - Labour Day, 9th May - Ascension Day, 22nd June - Antifascism Day, 25th June National Day, 5th August - National Thanksgiving Day, 15th August - The Assumption, 8th October - Independence Day.

Driving - To enter Croatia drivers must be in possession of valid driving licence, vehicle registration document and green card (evidence of insurance.) Apart from several stretches of motorways connecting major inland cities, roads are single carriageway and in satisfactory condition. During the summer peak months the roads are clogged with holiday traffic- especially the Adriatic coastal road (Jadranska Magistrala). This and many other busy roads become slippery when wet, during and after rainfall, tends to become extremely slippery. Please take extra care, remember to cut your speed and avoid overtaking.

The permitted speed within residential areas is 50 kph , other roads 80 kph and on motorways 130 kph. Petrol stations are opened from 07.00 - 22.00 hours in summer.

Petrol stations in major cities and along major international roads are open 24 hours.

Available petrol includes non-leaded Eurosuper 95, Super 98, Normal and Euro Diesel fuel. Permitted quantity of alcohol in blood: 0.5 per ml. Use of safety belts is obligatory for the driver and co-driver, as well as the back seats if the belts are fitted.

Road assistance: Automobile breakdown service telephone: 987. Croatia AA club telephone: 01 4554 433.

Weather forecast and road conditions telephone: 060 520 520.

Accident procedure: Place the triangle sign behind the vehicle/s involved in accident Advise the police (tel. 92) and wait for their arrival. For any damage to vehicle it is obligatory to obtain from police a certificate listing the damage and circumstances.

Travelling by road - For moving from one place to another we would recommend the public bus service which is a good standard, cheap and usually frequent. The services are run by a array of competing companies, but well integrated and organised. The buses (autobus) are in most cases modern comfortable coaches. Tickets must be purchased before departure , usually from bus station ticket windows. It is advisable to buy a ticket in advance particularly in summer for journeys from Zagreb to the coast.

Travelling by trains - Avoid local trains unless you intend to use the Express and the Fast direct services which link all major cities (increased frequency in summer months). These services operate between Zagreb - Rijeka, Pula, Zadar, Sibenik and Split. There is no service to Dubrovnik. Rail information/ reservation tel: 00385 1 4553 238 / and 00385 1 45573 253.

Travelling by air

Croatia Airlines operate domestic service connecting Zagreb with Pula , Rijeka, Zadar, Split, Brac and Dubrovnik. Croatia Airlines information/reservation tel: 00385 1 487 2727.

Ferry Service: - Jadrolinija, the state ferry company, operate a regular international car and passenger ferry service between Italy and Croatia. From Ancona to Zadar and to Split and from Bari to Dubrovnik In addition, this company operates a regular coastal car ferry service from Rijeka to Dubrovnik calling at Zadar, Split, Hvar and Korcula on the way, and from Dubrovnik to Rijeka calling at the same ports. The journey one way takes just under 24 hours. This is good way to see and enjoy the Croatian coast.

Jadrolinija mainland to islands car ferry service:

Split - Korcula, Dubrovnik – Korcula

Jadrolinija information: tel: 00 385 (0) 51 666 100 / and 211 444