Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hungary
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SloveniaGreeks settle on Hvar
Greek colonists from the island of Paros founded Pharos, today's Stari Grad on Hvar. They divided the nearby plain into fields with stone walls that are still farmed today.
Southeast Europe
Croatia
A long, sunny Adriatic coast with more than a thousand islands, Roman palaces, walled medieval towns and turquoise lakes in the hills.
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Overview
Croatia at a glance
Croatia curves like a boomerang around the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. In the north and east it reaches into the flat farmland of the Pannonian plain along the Sava, Drava and Danube rivers; in the south it runs as a narrow strip of rocky coast backed by the Dinaric mountains. Offshore lie more than a thousand islands, islets and rocks, 48 of them inhabited.
People have lived here since prehistoric times. Greek colonists planted vineyards on the islands, the Roman emperor Diocletian built his retirement palace in Split, and Tomislav was recognised as the first Croatian king by 925. Over the centuries the land was joined with Hungary and the Habsburgs, while Venice ruled much of the coast, and in the 20th century it was part of Yugoslavia. Croatia declared independence in 1991.
Today Croatia is a parliamentary republic of about 3.9 million people. It joined the European Union in 2013, and on 1 January 2023 it adopted the euro and joined the Schengen area on the same day. Tourism along the coast is one of the most important parts of its economy.
CapitalZagreb
PopulationAbout 3.9 million
Official languageCroatian
CurrencyEuro (€), since 1 January 2023
AreaAbout 56,600 km²
GovernmentParliamentary republic
Highest mountainDinara, 1,831 m, at its Sinjal peak near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina
Longest river in CroatiaThe Sava, about 562 km within Croatia, flowing from Slovenia through Zagreb towards the Danube
NeighboursSlovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro by land. Across the Adriatic it shares a sea border with Italy
Drives on theRight
Calling code+385
The story
A short history of Croatia
Croatia's story runs from Greek farmers on the islands and a Roman emperor's palace, through a medieval kingdom and the rich city republic of Dubrovnik, to centuries within larger states and independence in 1991.
384 BC AD 305 Diocletian retires to Split
The Roman emperor Diocletian gave up his throne and retired to the huge palace he had built by the sea near his home region. The city of Split later grew up inside its walls.
AD 925 Tomislav, the first king
Tomislav, who had ruled as duke, is called king of the Croats in a letter from Pope John X in 925. He is remembered as the first king of Croatia.
1102 Union with Hungary
After the native royal line died out, Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary under King Coloman. Croatia kept its own parliament, the Sabor, and a viceroy called the Ban.
1358 Dubrovnik becomes a free republic
Venice gave up its claims to Dalmatia, and Dubrovnik, then called Ragusa, began its long life as a self-governing republic. It grew rich from trade and skilled diplomacy.
1527 Croatia chooses the Habsburgs
After the Hungarian king died fighting the Ottomans, the Croatian parliament met at Cetin and elected Ferdinand of Habsburg as king, hoping for protection against the Ottoman advance.
1593 The Battle of Sisak
Croatian and Habsburg troops defeated an Ottoman army at Sisak, south of Zagreb. The battle started a long war, after which the Ottoman advance into Croatia was largely stopped.
1667 The great Dubrovnik earthquake
A powerful earthquake destroyed much of Dubrovnik and killed several thousand people. The city was rebuilt, largely in the Baroque style seen today.
1808 The end of the Republic of Ragusa
Napoleon's forces had occupied Dubrovnik in 1806, and in 1808 the French marshal Marmont formally abolished the Republic of Ragusa after about 450 years.
1918 Croatia joins a South Slav state
On 29 October 1918, as Austria-Hungary collapsed, the Croatian parliament cut its ties with it and joined a new state of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. In December this state united with Serbia in the kingdom later called Yugoslavia.
1945 Part of socialist Yugoslavia
After the Second World War, in which Axis powers occupied Yugoslavia and partisans led by Josip Broz Tito fought them, Croatia became one of the six republics of socialist Yugoslavia.
1991 Croatia declares independence
On 25 June 1991 the Croatian parliament declared independence from Yugoslavia. Fighting soon broke out, and the war that followed is known in Croatia as the Homeland War.
1992 International recognition
On 15 January 1992 the countries of the European Community recognised Croatia as an independent state. It joined the United Nations later the same year.
1995 The war ends
Most of the fighting ended in August 1995. The last area in the east was returned peacefully under a United Nations mission that ended in January 1998. Around 20,000 people died in the war, and many more lost their homes.
2013 Croatia joins the EU
On 1 July 2013 Croatia became the 28th member of the European Union, ten years after it applied. It had joined NATO in 2009.
2023 The euro and Schengen
On 1 January 2023 the euro replaced the kuna, and Croatia joined the Schengen area, so checks at its land and sea borders with other Schengen countries ended.
At the table
What to eat in Croatia
Croatian food is a cuisine of regions. On the coast and islands it is Mediterranean, with olive oil, fish, herbs and wine, and a clear Venetian and Italian touch. Inland, in Zagreb, Zagorje and Slavonia, it is heartier, with lard, paprika, sausages, fresh cheese and cream, shaped by Hungarian, Austrian and Turkish neighbours. A family Sunday lunch usually starts with a clear soup, followed by roast or stewed meat and ends with cake.
Main courseRecipe
Peka (dishes cooked under the bell)
ispod peke
Dalmatia and the islands, also found across the Balkans
Lamb, veal or octopus with potatoes, slowly cooked in a shallow dish under a heavy metal or clay bell covered with hot embers. The meat cooks in its own juices and comes out very tender.
The bell is called a peka in Croatia and a sač in several neighbouring countries. The same way of cooking is found from Turkey across the Balkans.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- 1.2 kg lamb or veal on the bone, in large pieces
- 1 kg waxy potatoes, peeled and cut in large chunks
- 2 onions, cut in wedges, and 1 whole head of garlic, cloves separated
- 2 carrots, cut in chunks
- 2 sprigs of rosemary and a few bay leaves
- 100 ml olive oil and 150 ml dry white wine
- Salt and black pepper
Method
- Without a real peka, use a heavy casserole dish with a tight lid in the oven. Heat the oven to 180°C.
- Put the meat, potatoes, onions, garlic and carrots in the dish. Pour over the olive oil and wine, add the herbs and season well with salt and pepper. Toss everything together.
- Cover with the lid and cook for about 2 hours, stirring gently once or twice, until the meat is very tender.
- Take off the lid, raise the heat to 200°C and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes so that the potatoes and meat turn golden.
- Serve straight from the dish with bread and a green salad.
Main courseRecipe
Zagorje štrukli
zagorski štrukli
Hrvatsko Zagorje and Zagreb, in the north
Very thin pastry rolled around a filling of fresh cottage cheese, eggs and sour cream, cut into pieces and either boiled or baked with cream until golden.
Zagorje štrukli were added to Croatia's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2007.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- For the dough: 300 g plain flour, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon oil, a pinch of salt and about 150 ml lukewarm water
- For the filling: 500 g fresh cottage cheese (well drained), 2 eggs, 150 ml sour cream and a pinch of salt
- For baking: 200 ml single cream and 30 g butter
Method
- Mix the flour, egg, oil, salt and water into a soft, smooth dough. Knead for 5 minutes, brush with oil, cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Mix the cottage cheese, eggs, sour cream and salt into a thick filling.
- On a floured cloth, roll and then gently stretch the dough with your hands until it is very thin and almost see-through.
- Spread the filling along one long edge, then roll up the dough using the cloth. Cut into pieces about 10 cm long, pressing the ends closed with the edge of a plate.
- Put the pieces in a buttered baking dish, pour over the cream, dot with butter and bake at 200°C for about 35 to 40 minutes, until golden. Serve hot.
Main course
Pašticada
dalmatinska pašticada
Dalmatia
A festive dish of beef marinated overnight in wine vinegar, studded with garlic, cloves and bacon, then slowly braised for hours with prunes and sweet prošek wine. It is served in slices in its rich, sweet and sour sauce, usually with gnocchi.
The oldest known recipe for Dalmatian pašticada was written down in Dubrovnik in the 15th century.
RiceRecipe
Black risotto
crni rižot
The Adriatic coast, especially Dalmatia
Rice cooked with cuttlefish, or sometimes squid, and its own ink, which turns the whole dish a deep, glossy black. It is flavoured with garlic, onion, parsley and wine, and usually served without cheese.
Cuttlefish is at its best from about April to June, and some restaurants serve black risotto only in those months.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- 600 g cleaned cuttlefish or squid, cut in small pieces
- 2 to 3 sachets of cuttlefish or squid ink (about 8 g), from a fishmonger
- 300 g risotto rice
- 1 onion, finely chopped, and 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 150 ml dry white wine
- About 1 litre hot fish stock
- A handful of chopped parsley, salt and pepper
Method
- Warm the olive oil in a wide pan and cook the onion gently until soft. Add the garlic for one minute.
- Add the cuttlefish and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring, until it releases its juices and they start to reduce.
- Pour in the wine and let it bubble for 2 minutes. Stir in the rice so that every grain is coated.
- Add the ink and a ladle of hot stock. Keep adding stock a ladle at a time, stirring often, for about 18 to 20 minutes, until the rice is tender and creamy.
- Season with salt and pepper, stir in the parsley and a little more olive oil, and rest for 2 minutes before serving.
DessertRecipe
Fritule
fritule
The coast and islands, especially at Christmas
Small, round fried doughnuts flavoured with citrus zest and a splash of rum, often with raisins inside, and dusted with icing sugar.
Fritule are made above all for Christmas. A similar sweet, the frittella, is made in the Venice area across the Adriatic.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- 250 g plain flour and 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 eggs and 50 g sugar
- 150 ml milk or plain yogurt
- Grated zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange
- 1 tablespoon rum (optional) and a handful of raisins
- A pinch of salt
- Sunflower oil for deep frying and icing sugar for dusting
Method
- Beat the eggs and sugar, then stir in the milk or yogurt, zest, rum and salt.
- Add the flour and baking powder and mix to a thick, sticky batter. Fold in the raisins.
- Heat the oil in a deep pan to about 170°C. Never leave hot oil alone, and keep children away from the pan.
- Drop small spoonfuls of batter into the oil and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, turning, until puffed and golden.
- Drain on kitchen paper and dust with icing sugar while still warm.
Snack
Soparnik
soparnik
The Poljica area between Split and Omiš
A thin, round pie of Swiss chard and onion between two sheets of unleavened dough, baked on an open hearth under hot embers and then brushed with olive oil and garlic.
Soparnik has been made since about the 13th century, and in 2016 it was given protected status by the European Commission.
Pasta
Pasta with Istrian truffles
tjestenina s tartufima
Istria, especially the forests around Motovun and Buje
The damp forests around Motovun in Istria are known for black and prized white truffles. Istrian restaurants are famous for truffle dishes, above all fresh pasta topped with shaved truffle.
In 1999 a truffle hunter and his dog Diana found a white truffle weighing 1.31 kg near Buje, and it entered Guinness World Records.
Starter
Pršut
pršut
Dalmatia, Istria and the island of Krk
Dry-cured ham, sliced thin and served with cheese and olives as a starter. Dalmatian pršut is lightly smoked, while Istrian pršut is not smoked.
Similar dry-cured hams are made all around the Adriatic, from Italy and Slovenia to Montenegro.
Starter
Pag cheese
paški sir
The island of Pag
A hard, salty and aromatic sheep's milk cheese, aged for months, often served in thin slices with pršut and olives.
The strong bura wind scatters sea salt over Pag's pastures, and the salty herbs the sheep eat give the cheese its special taste.
Starter
Kulen
slavonski kulen
Slavonia and Baranja, in the east
A thick, firm pork sausage, spiced with hot red paprika and garlic and slowly dried for months. It is sliced thin and eaten with bread, fresh cheese and peppers.
Kulen is traditionally made at the autumn pig slaughter and is at its best by the following summer.
Main course
Fisherman's stew with paprika
fiš paprikaš
Slavonia and Baranja, along the Drava and Danube
A red, hot river-fish stew made with carp, catfish or pike and plenty of paprika, often cooked outdoors in a kettle over an open fire.
It is a close cousin of Hungarian halászlé, a reminder of Slavonia's long shared history with Hungary.
Main course
Brudet
brudet or brodet
Dalmatia, Kvarner and Istria
A fish stew made in one pot with several kinds of fish, tomato, onion, wine and a little vinegar, usually served with polenta to soak up the sauce.
Similar fish stews called brodetto are made along the Italian side of the Adriatic.
Main course
Turkey with mlinci
purica s mlincima
Zagorje and Slavonia
Roast turkey served with mlinci, thin dried flatbread broken into pieces, softened in hot water and then soaked in the roasting juices.
Mlinci are also eaten in Slovenia, where duck or goose with mlinci is a traditional dish for St. Martin's Day.
Dessert
Samobor cream slice
samoborska kremšnita
Samobor, near Zagreb
A tall square of light vanilla custard between layers of puff pastry, dusted with icing sugar. Zagreb has its own version with a chocolate glaze on top instead of pastry.
Cream slices like this are loved all over the lands of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, from Vienna to Bled in Slovenia.
Drink
Rakija
rakija
All of Croatia
A strong fruit brandy made from grapes (loza), plums (šljivovica) or pears, or flavoured with herbs (travarica) or walnuts. It is offered to guests as a sign of welcome.
Shop-bought rakija is usually about 40% alcohol, but homemade rakija can be much stronger, so it is sipped slowly from a small glass. Anyone who does not drink alcohol can politely say no.
Table manners
- Before eating, people wish each other 'Dobar tek' (enjoy your meal).
- When glasses are raised, people say 'Živjeli' (cheers).
- Wine is often mixed with water: red wine with still water is called bevanda on the Dalmatian coast, and white wine with sparkling water is gemišt in the north.
- A family Sunday lunch almost always begins with a soup, usually a clear broth with thin noodles.
- Croatians are keen coffee drinkers, and Viennese-style coffee houses can be found all over the country.
Cities
12 cities to know
Croatia's cities are very different from each other: Central European Zagreb and baroque Varaždin in the north, Slavonian Osijek on the plain, and a chain of old stone ports along the coast, from Roman Pula to walled Dubrovnik.
Zagreb Capital
City of Zagreb
The capital and by far the largest city, home to about 770,000 people. It lies on the Sava river below Medvednica mountain, with a hilltop Upper Town of old churches and a grand 19th-century Lower Town.
- St. Mark's Church with its tiled roof
- The Museum of Broken Relationships
- Its Christmas market
Split
Split-Dalmatia County
The second-largest city and the largest on the coast. Its old town grew up inside the walls of the palace the Roman emperor Diocletian built around 300 AD, and people still live and shop there today.
- Diocletian's Palace
- The seafront Riva
- The Split Summer Festival
Rijeka
Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
Croatia's main seaport and third-largest city, on Kvarner Bay. Its name simply means 'river', and it has been ruled by many different powers over the centuries.
- The Rijeka Carnival before Lent
- Shipbuilding and the port
- Trsat Castle above the city
Osijek
Osijek-Baranja County
The largest city of Slavonia in the east, on the Drava river about 20 km from the Danube. Its centre is Tvrđa, an 18th-century Habsburg fortress town full of baroque buildings.
- The baroque Tvrđa fortress
- Kulen and fiš paprikaš
- Kopački Rit nature park nearby
Zadar
Zadar County
A historic city on a small peninsula in northern Dalmatia with about 3,000 years of history. The Romans laid out its street grid and forum, and today visitors come for its sunsets over the sea.
- The Sea Organ
- The Roman forum
- Maraschino cherry liqueur
Pula
Istria County
The largest city of Istria, at the southern tip of the peninsula. It has many Roman buildings, and its great amphitheatre is still used for concerts and films.
- The Pula Arena
- Roman temples and gates
- Beaches of southern Istria
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik-Neretva County
Once the capital of the Republic of Ragusa, this walled city of stone is now Croatia's most famous sight. It sits in the far south, cut off by land from the rest of Croatia by a short strip of Bosnian coast around Neum.
- The city walls
- The Stradun, the main street of the Old City
- Filming locations of Game of Thrones
Varaždin
Varaždin County
A graceful baroque town in the north. In the 18th century it was for some years the seat of Croatia's government, until a great fire in 1776 destroyed most of the town.
- Baroque palaces and churches
- Its old fortress
- Music and theatre
Šibenik
Šibenik-Knin County
A stone town where the Krka river meets the sea, first mentioned in 1066 in a charter of King Petar Krešimir IV. Unlike most coastal towns, it was not founded by the Greeks or Romans.
- The Cathedral of St. James
- St. Nicholas Fortress
- Trips to the Krka waterfalls
Poreč
Istria County
A small seaside town on the west coast of Istria whose old centre still follows the Roman street plan. It is one of the busiest holiday towns in Croatia.
- The Euphrasian Basilica and its mosaics
- Istrian wine and olive oil
- Summer holidays by the sea
Hvar
Split-Dalmatia County
The main town of the island of Hvar, with a fortress above a harbour full of boats. Hvar calls itself one of the sunniest places in Europe, with more than 2,700 hours of sunshine a year.
- The Spanish Fortress above the town
- Its Venetian-era harbour and walls
- Lavender and olive groves
Karlovac
Karlovac County
A green town between Zagreb and the coast, founded in 1579 as a six-pointed star fortress against the Ottomans. It is called the town on four rivers: the Kupa, Korana, Mrežnica and Dobra.
- Its star-shaped old town
- Four rivers and many parks
- The road south to Plitvice Lakes
Landmarks
Places everyone should see once
Dubrovnik
The Old City and Walls of Dubrovnik
Stone walls about 1,940 metres long and up to 25 metres high wrap around Dubrovnik's Old City, with towers, bastions and forts built mainly between the 13th and 17th centuries. Visitors can walk the whole circuit on top of them.
UNESCO World Heritage
Split
Diocletian's Palace
A Roman palace and fortress built around 300 AD as the retirement home of Emperor Diocletian. Today it forms about half of Split's old town, with about 3,000 people living among its walls, shops and cafés.
UNESCO World Heritage
Near Karlovac
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Sixteen lakes joined by waterfalls, ranging in colour from turquoise to green and grey, in the mountains of central Croatia near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wooden walkways lead over the water. The park was founded in 1949 and is about 130 km by road south of Zagreb.
UNESCO World Heritage
Pula
The Pula Arena
A Roman amphitheatre built in the time of Emperor Augustus and enlarged under Vespasian. It once held about 23,000 spectators and is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. Concerts and a film festival are held there today.
Poreč
The Euphrasian Basilica
A 6th-century church complex in Poreč with shining gold mosaics in the early Byzantine style. Parts of even older churches and their floor mosaics survive on the same site.
UNESCO World Heritage
Šibenik
The Cathedral of St. James
A cathedral built entirely of stone between 1431 and 1536. Around its outer walls runs a frieze of 74 carved human heads, thought to be portraits of ordinary people of the time.
UNESCO World Heritage
Near Split
The Historic City of Trogir
A tiny old town on an island between the mainland and the island of Čiovo, about 27 km west of Split. Founded by Greek colonists, it is packed with churches and palaces. UNESCO lists it for its ancient Greek street plan, filled with Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque buildings.
UNESCO World Heritage
Near Hvar
Stari Grad Plain
Fields on the island of Hvar laid out by Greek colonists in the 4th century BC and farmed with grapes and olives ever since. The ancient stone walls and small stone shelters are still kept up by local farmers.
UNESCO World Heritage
Zadar
The Sea Organ
Wide marble steps on Zadar's waterfront with pipes hidden underneath. As waves push air through the pipes, the steps play soft, changing notes. It was designed by the architect Nikola Bašić and opened in 2005.
Zagreb
St. Mark's Church
A church in Zagreb's Upper Town, first built in the 13th century. Its colourful tiled roof shows the coat of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia and the emblem of the city of Zagreb.
Fun facts
Things you might not know
- 01
The word 'cravat' is traced to Croatian soldiers who served in France during the Thirty Years' War (1618 to 1648). Parisians admired their knotted neckerchiefs, and the French word for Croats, 'Croates', became 'cravate'. Croatia celebrates International Necktie Day every 18 October.
- 02
The spotted Dalmatian dog is named after Dalmatia, the coastal region of Croatia where the breed's origins can be traced.
- 03
Croatia has more than 1,000 islands, islets, rocks and reefs. One official count gives 1,185, of which 48 islands are inhabited.
- 04
A 20 km stretch of coast around the town of Neum belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina and separates Dubrovnik by land from the rest of Croatia. Since 2022 the 2.4 km Pelješac Bridge lets drivers go around it without crossing a border.
- 05
Croatia's old currency, the kuna, was named after the marten, a small forest animal whose furs were once used in trade. It was replaced by the euro on 1 January 2023 at 7.5345 kuna to the euro.
- 06
In Zagreb, the engineer Slavoljub Eduard Penkala patented an improved mechanical pencil in 1906 and developed a solid-ink fountain pen in 1907.
- 07
Ivan Vučetić, born on the island of Hvar in 1858, emigrated to Argentina and, as Juan Vucetich, pioneered the use of fingerprints to identify criminals.
- 08
The inventor Faust Vrančić from Šibenik drew a parachute called 'Homo Volans', the Flying Man, in his book of machines published in the early 1600s.
- 09
Dubrovnik's walls and fortresses played King's Landing in the TV series Game of Thrones.
- 10
Zagreb has a Museum of Broken Relationships, filled with objects donated by people after a break-up, each with its story. In 2011 it won the Kenneth Hudson Award for Europe's most innovative museum.
- 11
Croatia's football team, famous for its red and white checked shirts, finished third at the World Cup in 1998 and 2022 and reached the final in 2018.
- 12
The Baška tablet, a stone slab from around 1100 found on the island of Krk, is written in the old Glagolitic alphabet. It names King Zvonimir, 'king of the Croats', the first time a Croatian king and the Croatian name appear in the Croatian language.
- 13
Zadar's Sea Organ has no keyboard and no player: the waves of the Adriatic play it day and night.
Croatian words
21 words to start with
Pronunciation is written the way it sounds; the capital letters show where the stress goes. Audio is coming soon.
Basics
- daDAHyes
- neNEHno
- hvalaHVAH-lahthank you
- molimMOH-leemplease, or you're welcome
- bokBOHKhi, or bye (informal)
Food and drink
- kruhKROOHbread
- vodaVOH-dahwater
- vinoVEE-nohwine
- pivoPEE-vohbeer
- ribaREE-bahfish
- sirSEERcheese
- kavaKAH-vahcoffee
Getting around
- trajektTRAH-yektferry
- autobusOW-toh-boosbus
- vlakVLAHKtrain
- lijevolee-YEH-vohleft
- desnoDEH-snohright
Shopping
- jeftinoYEHF-tee-nohcheap
- skupoSKOO-pohexpensive
Time
- danasDAH-nahstoday
- sutraSOO-trahtomorrow
Say it like a local
Useful phrases
Dobro jutro
DOH-broh YOO-troh
Good morning
Greeting someone in the morning
Dobar dan
DOH-bahr dahn
Good day, hello
The polite greeting for most of the day, in shops and with strangers
Dobra večer
DOH-brah VEH-cher
Good evening
Greeting someone in the evening
Laku noć
LAH-koo nohch
Good night
Saying goodbye late at night or before bed
Do viđenja
doh vee-JEH-nyah
Goodbye
Leaving a shop, a restaurant or people you don't know well
Kako ste?
KAH-koh steh
How are you? (polite)
Asking an older person or a stranger how they are
Dobro sam, hvala
DOH-broh sahm, HVAH-lah
I'm fine, thank you
Answering 'How are you?'
Drago mi je
DRAH-goh mee yeh
Nice to meet you
Meeting someone for the first time
Hvala lijepa
HVAH-lah LYEH-pah
Thank you very much
Thanking someone warmly
Nema na čemu
NEH-mah nah CHEH-moo
You're welcome
Answering when someone thanks you
Oprostite
oh-PROHS-tee-teh
Excuse me
Getting someone's attention, or getting past people
Govorite li engleski?
GOH-voh-ree-teh lee EN-glehs-kee
Do you speak English?
Before asking for help
Ne razumijem
neh rah-ZOO-mee-yem
I don't understand
When you can't follow what someone says
Koliko košta ovo?
KOH-lee-koh KOHSH-tah OH-voh
How much is this?
Shopping at a market or in a shop
Gdje je bankomat?
GDYEH yeh BAHN-koh-maht
Where is a cash machine?
Looking for an ATM
Dobar tek
DOH-bahr TEHK
Enjoy your meal
Before eating with others
Živjeli!
ZHEE-vyeh-lee
Cheers!
Raising a glass for a toast
Bilo je ukusno
BEE-loh yeh OO-koos-noh
It was delicious
Thanking the cook or the waiter
Račun, molim
RAH-choon, MOH-leem
The bill, please
Asking for the bill in a restaurant or café
Local tips
Before you go
Euros, cards and a little cash
Croatia has used the euro since 1 January 2023, so old kuna prices in guidebooks are out of date. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but carry some small notes and coins for markets, tips and small cafés.
Tipping is modest
Service is not added to the bill. Rounding up is normal for drinks, and 5 to 10% in a restaurant shows you were happy with the service. More than 10% is unusual.
Cover up in town
In several coastal towns, walking around the town centre in swimwear or without a shirt can bring an on-the-spot fine. Save the swimsuit for the beach and put on a shirt and shorts or a dress in town.
Plitvice: book ahead, no swimming
Buy Plitvice Lakes tickets online in advance: you choose an entrance and a time, and must arrive at that entrance within your time slot. Swimming in the lakes is strictly forbidden, and not every path is suitable for wheelchairs.
Emergency number: 112
The number for police, ambulance and fire in Croatia is 112. It works from any phone, free of charge.
Respect the bura wind
The bura is a cold, dry wind that rushes down from the mountains to the sea, most often in the cooler months. It can be very strong, especially around the Velebit mountains, and can close roads and bridges and delay ferries, so check forecasts and warning signs.
Driving rules
Drive on the right. From 1 November to 31 March, dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on even in daytime. The alcohol limit is 0.05%, and zero for drivers under 24.
Mines are cleared, but stay careful
As of 2026, Croatia has finished clearing the landmines left from the war of the 1990s and has declared itself free of mine danger. In remote countryside that was once on the front line, stay on marked trails and roads and never touch an old metal object you find.
Sources (78)
- Croatia (Wikipedia)
- History of Croatia (Wikipedia)
- Dinara (Wikipedia)
- Croatia.eu: Rivers and lakes (Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography)
- List of islands of Croatia (Wikipedia)
- Telephone numbers in Croatia (Wikipedia)
- Stari Grad Plain (Wikipedia)
- Diocletian's Palace (Wikipedia)
- Tomislav, King of Croatia (Wikipedia)
- Republic of Ragusa (Wikipedia)
- Battle of Sisak (Wikipedia)
- Kingdom of Yugoslavia (Wikipedia)
- Croatian War of Independence (Wikipedia)
- 2013 enlargement of the European Union (Wikipedia)
- Adoption of the euro in Croatia (Wikipedia)
- Croatian kuna (Wikipedia)
- eucrim: Croatia joins Schengen area
- Pelješac Bridge (Wikipedia)
- Neum (Wikipedia)
- Croatian cuisine (Wikipedia)
- Sač, or peka (Wikipedia)
- Zagorski štrukli (Wikipedia)
- Pašticada (Wikipedia)
- Michelin Guide: Crni rižot, Croatia's coastal black risotto classic
- Frittella, or fritule (Wikipedia)
- Soparnik (Wikipedia)
- Istria Tourist Board: Truffle for the Guinness World Record
- Motovun (Wikipedia)
- Kulen (Wikipedia)
- Fisherman's soup, or fiš paprikaš (Wikipedia)
- Brudet (Wikipedia)
- Pag cheese (Wikipedia)
- Mlinci (Wikipedia)
- Cremeschnitte, or kremšnita (Wikipedia)
- Prosciutto, or pršut (Wikipedia)
- Rakia (Wikipedia)
- dobar tek (Wiktionary)
- živjeli (Wiktionary)
- Zagreb (Wikipedia)
- Split, Croatia (Wikipedia)
- Rijeka (Wikipedia)
- Osijek (Wikipedia)
- Zadar (Wikipedia)
- Pula (Wikipedia)
- Dubrovnik (Wikipedia)
- Varaždin (Wikipedia)
- Šibenik (Wikipedia)
- Poreč (Wikipedia)
- Hvar (town) (Wikipedia)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Croatia
- Walls of Dubrovnik (Wikipedia)
- Plitvice Lakes National Park (Wikipedia)
- Plitvice Lakes National Park: FAQ
- Pula Arena (Wikipedia)
- Euphrasian Basilica (Wikipedia)
- Šibenik Cathedral (Wikipedia)
- Trogir (Wikipedia)
- Sea organ (Wikipedia)
- St. Mark's Church, Zagreb (Wikipedia)
- Necktie (Wikipedia)
- Dalmatian dog (Wikipedia)
- Slavoljub Eduard Penkala (Wikipedia)
- Juan Vucetich (Wikipedia)
- Game of Thrones (Wikipedia)
- Museum of Broken Relationships (Wikipedia)
- Croatia national football team (Wikipedia)
- Baška tablet (Wikipedia)
- Fausto Veranzio (Wikipedia)
- Croatian language (Wikipedia)
- Croatian phrasebook (Wikivoyage)
- Croatia (Wikivoyage)
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice: Croatia, safety and security
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice: Croatia, entry requirements
- Croatia Week: Croatia becomes mine-free after 30 years
- Croatia Week: Daytime car lights in Croatia, rules from April to October
- Karlovac (Wikipedia)
- Hvar (Wikipedia)
- 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake (Wikipedia)
