Croatia receives almost double the number of tourists yearly than it has people living within the countries borders. This clearly speaks for itself making Croatia one of the most popular spots to see in Europe. Croatia is predominantly visited as a destination to relax. The long Adriatic coastline and warm summertime weather provide incredible opportunities for leisure. Not only that but Croatia has beautiful cities like Dubrovnik which is used for filming the scenes of King’s Landing in the famous Game of Thrones. Fun fact is that ties come from Croatia.

Traveling info

Croatia as a member of the EU and the Schengen convention allows all citizens of the EU to move freely to Croatia for tourist, business, starting a new life or any other purpose without the requirement to obtain any sort of a visa document. The only document required to cross the border is an ID card. There are several countries who are outside of the European Union however they are a part of the Schengen convention. These are Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland. Nationals of countries which are not part of this convention are required to obtain a Schengen visa that will allow them to move freely within the boundaries of the Schengen convention nations. Schengen visa is normally admitted once per half a year for a duration of 90 days. Schengen visa holders can not work or study during their stay within the Schengen boundaries. Visitors who choose rental or private vehicles as a means of transportations must have their national driving license, certificate of insurance and vehicle registration documents with them at all time whilst driving. An international driving permit is not required however it may come in handy to have one. The international driving permit may only be issued by the driving department in the visitors country of origin. Beware that an international driving permit is only a translation of the original driving permit and does not substitute for it. Both documents must be carried while driving a vehicle.

Traveling hazards

Driving in Croatia is generally safe with good road conditions and a highway system that connects all major cities in the country and connects to the neighboring countries. Traffic, however, gets quite congested particularly during the summer season when tourists flock to the coast. When traveling through former conflict areas it is best to stay on the paved road as there are many areas which are yet to be cleared of landmines. Landmine clearing is scheduled to continue until 2019. Many areas will bear warning signs however some may not be yet marked. While driving on secondary roads outside of urban areas beware of animals crossing the roads particularly at night. Accidents involving animals are frequent and often cause serious injuries.

Environmental hazards

There are two species of potentially dangerous carnivores inhabiting Croatia however these animals unlike their widespread reputation tells, avoid humans and seek as little contact as possible. Bears and wolves inhabit mainly areas designated as national parks. Although these areas are popular with hikers, encounters of these animals are very rare. Bears and wolves will usually retreat upon hearing human noises therefore while hiking, even solo try to make as much human noise that is talking or shouting as possible to let these animals know you’re coming. They should leave the area. Surprising one of these animals by approaching it undetected and making contact from a short distance might result in a defensive attack which may be fatal, or quite nasty to say the least. If the animal’s cubs are present, expect to be attacked. There are 3 species of vipers inhabiting Croatia of which two are potentially dangerous. The meadow viper is the least dangerous of the 3. Its bite is comparable to a bee sting and while encountered it usually retreats. The common European viper inhabits most of Europe including Croatia. Its venom is mild and rarely leads to fatalities. Children, elderly and allergic people are more prone to it. After a bite medical help should be sought despite the very low fatality rate. The untreated bite might result in lengthy rehabilitation. The horned viper is the largest, and the most dangerous viper inhabiting parts of Europe. This viper has a venom which is very dangerous for hikers in the remote areas where medical help cannot be accessed instantly. This species is not aggressive however surprising the animal by appearing in the close distance might result in a bite. Although the last shark attack happened in the 70s, attacks cannot be ruled out as large sharks often wander into the Adriatic following ships. These apex predators prefer colder temperatures often wandering into the northern Mediterranean including the Adriatic.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases nor are there any vaccination requirements in order to enter Croatia. There are however several vaccines which will help to avoid any unpleasant illnesses. These vaccines are the routine vaccines, hepatitis A and B vaccines and rabies vaccine. Croatian national health service provides a high quality of care and free service to its citizens. This, however, does not apply to expats. Citizens of EU member states may, however, obtain a European health insurance card which grants service at a reduced cost or free service and cost-free stay in the hospital in case of an emergency. Those who are not eligible for EHIC or are from the outside of EU should consider purchasing health insurance to cover the possible costs of medical services which may prove to be quite expensive for even the simplest treatments. Private hospitals and clinics usually provide higher quality at an increased cost. Most private clinics and hospitals in around tourist-popular areas will have English speaking staff.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Croatia is generally a safe destination with very low violent crime and low petty crime rates. Despite both violent and petty crime rates being low, there is still a possibility. Petty crime is much more likely to occur both during the day and night however there are a couple of guidelines to avoid becoming a victim. When thieves pick their target they rely on perception. If you wear overly expensive clothes, jewelry or you are indiscreet with money, chances to fall a victim of a pickpocketer or a mugger are greatly increased. Staying low key helps to avoid such occurrences. Gadgets such as a money belt help to keep the money, credit cards or IDs out of the reach of pickpockets. It is important to stay vigilant whilst in a crowded tourists spots of on crowded buses or tramps. Thieves usually operate in groups and employ a variety of thought-out tactics particularly in crowded spots. Croatia has quite a strict drug policy. It differentiates between hard drugs and soft drugs and minor possession. Cultivation, distribution or possession of large amounts is punishable by a mandatory prison sentence of minimum 3 years. Minor possession is not considered a criminal offense, despite that it is punishable by a fine of 650 up to 2000 euro.

Summary

Croatia is the second most popular spot in the Balkans to be and one of the most popular in Europe. Croatian coastline provides tourists with some of the finest beaches in Europe and crystal clear waters which it is famed for. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.mvep.hr/en/consular-information/visas/visa-requirements-overview/
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/information-on-croatia/visa-requirements-for-croatia/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/croatia