Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, but the split was not amicable, requiring another four years of often brutal fighting to fully rid the country of ethnic Serb militias. Once an economically vital part of Yugoslavia, the Croatian economy has been slowly but steadily recovering from the effects of civil war and recession. The reappearance of large numbers of tourists, lured by the nation's islands, beaches and ski resorts, will go along way toward rehabilitating the economy.
Croatia's climate brings weather that has sunny, hot summers and cold, overcast winters in the interior, and milder winters and moderate summers along the Adriatic coast. Croatia sometimes has mild earth tremors, and rare - sometimes destructive - earthquakes. The country also suffers from acid rain.
Croatian is the official language and is spoken almost exclusively; it is virtually identical to Serbian and very close to Russian. Some English, German and Italian are spoken in resorts and major cities. Most Croats are Roman Catholic, though there is an Eastern Orthodox (Serb) minority.
Croatia's capital city of 1 million inhabitants, Zagreb, is accessible by air from all major European capitals. Croatia Airlines is the nation’s flag carrier with service to most major western European cities. All Croatian cities except Dubrovnik are served by connections to the European rail network. A boost in car ownership since independence has spurred congestion in major cities during rush hours. Primary roads are adequate and in relatively good repair, but secondary roads are narrow, and those on the coast are often congested; vehicles are driven on the right.
Pickpocketing and purse snatching, while not major problems, occur throughout Croatia, especially in the coastal resort areas. Most crime occurs in tourist areas, at shopping centers and in and around public transportation hubs. ATMs are fairly widely available, as are banks for currency exchange and cash advances. Credit cards are widely accepted in cities but not so much in smaller towns, even in some resort areas. The phone system is fairly reliable, and is in the process of being modernized. English media is readily available in Zagreb and other large cities, mainly in upscale shops and hotels. Four- and five-star hotels in resort areas usually have cable television.
Seafood is the staple of the coast, but the interior has a more continental flavor to its food. The food is safe, but standard precautions should be observed. Hotel prices are close to Western norms in Zagreb and in some of the Adriatic resorts, but less expensive elsewhere.
The iJET® Intelligence Center
Intelligence Officers at iJET are currently monitoring local conditions in Croatia to provide a level of information that surpasses any available from other public sources, including the U.S. State Department. Free from political constraints or concerns, our data provides vital, unfiltered information created specifically for travelers.
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