Fun facts

Area Codes - Croatia’s country code is 385.

Business Hours - Banks are generally open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 8am to noon. The bigger post offices work Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm, and Saturday 7am to 1pm. The smaller ones, for example on the islands, might only operate Monday to Friday 7 to 11am. Public offices are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm. Shops and department stores stay open from 8am to 8pm and to 2 or 3pm Saturday without a break. Increasingly, stores in malls are open on Sunday, usually from 10am to 6pm. Most supermarkets remain closed on Sunday, as do butchers and bakeries, though in popular resorts along the coast there will often be a few small general stores open for Sunday shopping in summer.

Drinking Laws - The minimum age for purchasing liquor in Croatia is 18, but there is no minimum age for consuming it. Croatia has strict laws regarding drinking and driving; the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent. In 2003, the country briefly implemented zero tolerance, but found it to be unworkable and amended the law in 2008. Package liquor (wine, beer, spirits) can be purchased in markets, wine stores, and some souvenir shops. Wine can also be bought directly from producers in some rural wine-making areas.

Drugstores - Ljekarne are open from 8am to 7pm weekdays and from 8am to 2pm on Saturday. In larger cities, one pharmacy in town will be open 24 hours on a rotating basis.

Electricity - Croatian electricity is 220v, 50Hz; the two-prong European plug is standard.

Emergencies - tel. 112. Calls to this number are free of charge. This is the number to call if you need assistance from police, firefighters, mountain rescue, or an ambulance. Roadside assistance is tel. 1987. (When calling from abroad or by cellphone, call tel. 385-1-987.) The national headquarters for Search and Rescue at Sea is tel. 9155. Weather forecasts are www.meteo.hr and road conditions are www.hak.hr/en.

Gasoline (Petrol) - Gasoline and diesel are readily available all over Croatia and almost all stations take credit cards.

Police - Call tel. 192.

Smoking - In May 2009, Croatia passed a law banning smoking in all public buildings. However, that was modified four months later to give small bars and cafes the option of allowing or not allowing on-premises smoking. The ban still applies to restaurants and larger bars and cafes. However, it is normal for people sitting at outdoor tables to smoke, especially if they are drinking or have just finished their meal.

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