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Updated: July 2010 1. Culture In most Croatian cities there are various cultural events on offer – music, theatre, cinema, dance – as well as interesting monuments of the Croatian cultural heritage. Please find more information on the following websites: - Culturenet.hr, a project initiated by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia and the Open Society Institute-Croatia aims at pooling available information resources on Croatian culture
- Cultural Tourism (Croatian National Tourist Board)
- Republic of Croatia, Ministry of Culture
- Croatian cultural heritage
- A list of foreign cultural centres in Zagreb
2. Religion
Freedom of religion and free public profession of religious conviction is guaranteed by the Constitution and respected in practice.
According to the 2001 census (where the declaration of the religious beliefs was not mandatory) there were 4,437,460 citizens living in Croatia, out of which 88% declared Roman Catholics, 4.42% Orthodox, and 1.28% Muslims. The number of other confessions is less than 1%, while 5.21% stated that they do not belong to any confession. The Zagreb Tourist Board provides a list of religious communities in Zagreb. These can be contacted for information on communities meeting elsewhere in Croatia.
3. National Holidays
Most major Catholic holidays are also public holidays in Croatia, owing to the large majority of population being Roman Catholic. However, citizens of the Republic of Croatia who celebrate different religious holidays have the right not to work on those dates. This includes Christians who celebrate Christmas on January 7 per the Julian calendar, Muslims on the days of Ramadan Bayram and Kurban Bayram, and Jews on the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Public holidays
1 January New Year
6 January The Epiphany
- Easter
- Easter Monday
1 May Labour Day
- Corpus Christi (60 days post Easter)
22 June Anti-Fascism Day
25 June Statehood Day
5 August Victory and Homeland Gratitude Day
15 August The Assumption
8 October Independence Day
1 November All Saints Day
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Boxing Day (St. Stephen's Day)
4. Transport
Speed limits: In built-up areas 50 km/h (31 mph), outside built-up areas 90 km/h (55 mph), but 110 km/h (68 mph) on expressways and 130 km/h (80 mph) on motorways, unless otherwise indicated by road signs. If towing a trailer/caravan the speed limit is reduced to 90 km/h (55 mph).
All motorists under 24 years of age must not exceed: 80 km/h (49 mph) on normal roads outside built-up areas, 100 km/h (62 mph) on expressways and 120 km/h (74 mph) on motorways.
Minimum speed on motorways: 60 km/h (37 mph). Further information about driving rules and requirements in Croatia can be found here. Roadside assistance: Hrvatski Autoklub (HAK), telephone: 987 (+385 1 987 if calling from a mobile phone) Traffic accidents with a foreign registration vehicle involved
In cases of traffic accidents with a foreign registration vehicle involved, the police officer who investigated the accident scene will issue a vehicle damage certificate to the vehicle owner. This certificate is necessary when crossing the country border.
The local police station is not responsible to issue the foreign national any official documents. Such documents will be communicated upon written request. The document which foreign nationals or insurers most frequently request is the Traffic Accident Investigation Record. Driver’s License and Car Registration
Foreigners who have been granted a temporary stay or permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia, as well as employees of foreign commercial, traffic, cultural and other agencies, may drive a motor vehicle if they have a valid foreign driver’s license for a period of one year following the day of entry into the Republic of Croatia.
Foreigners who have been granted temporary stay in the Republic of Croatia and in possession of a vehicle registered abroad (with valid registration documents and insurance), may use their car not longer than three months following the day of entry into the Republic of Croatia, after which period the vehicle should be re-registered in the Republic of Croatia. For more information please visit the website of the Ministry of Interior.
For customs information please visit the following website. Local transport
Most cities and urban areas in Croatia have a well-developed local public transport.
- Zagreb (in English): http://www.zet.hr/english.aspx
- Osijek: http://www.gpp-osijek.com/website/
- Rijeka: http://www.autotrolej.hr/
- Split: http://www.promet-split.hr/
- Zadar: http://www.liburnija-zadar.hr/prijevoz/index.php
- Dubrovnik (in English): http://www.libertasdubrovnik.hr/
5. Pets
Pets which are being imported, or which are travelling through for non-commercial purposes, in the company on their owner (up to 5 animals) will be allowed to enter Republic of Croatia only if the following conditions are fulfilled:
- they have a valid international passport or health certificate (veterinary certificate) in which a licensed veterinary surgeon in the exporter’s country certifies that the animal(s) in question are healthy and show no symptoms of infectious diseases which must be reported, and that
- they do not come from an area in which infectious diseases are present and which that particular type of animal can transfer. In the legal sense, pets are animal species such as: dogs, cats, ferrets (Mustela putorius), invertebrates (with the exception of bees and crustaceans), ornamental tropical fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds (all species with exception of poultry), rodents and domestic rabbits. Dogs, cats and animals of the marten family must:
- be marked with a clearly legible tattoo or fitted with a microchip;
- have a passport issued by a licensed veterinary surgeon proving they have been vaccinated or re-vaccinated against rabies. For additional information please contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management – Veterinary administration (Tel. +385 1 610 6703 and + 385 1 610 6669). Download PDF with detailed information about non-commercial movement of pets into the republic of Croatia. | 
