Croatia

Etiquette & respect

Croatia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and the 1990s were marked by ethnic conflict and the bloody and brutal war in Croatia is still a painful subject, but generally there should be no problem if you approach that topic with respect. Croatia has seen a heap of invaders through history; Greek, Roman, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Yugoslav, etc. Proudly independent today, calling Croatia Yugoslavia or calling Croats Yugoslav, would almost be considered an insult. Also don’t call the Croatian language Serbo-Croatian, as you could easily come across a person sensitive about the issue. Locals tend to be way more forgiving ove…

Tipping guidance

Discrete service charges are not included in the bill, so voluntary tipping is customary. However, as in the rest of Europe, waiters and bartenders are paid (at least) a statutory living wage, so tip amounts tend to be on the small side—if you're paying for a drink, a nominal tip by rounding up or leaving just any eurocent coin on the table is normal, but if you're paying for dinner, the usual tip is 5-10%, with a bias toward rounding up (say, the bill could be 18.5 or 28.5, and in both cases an equally normal tip would be 1.5). Tipping 10% is a sign that you are satisfied with the service; more than that is unusual. If generally paying with a credit card it's a good idea to carry some small-denomination currency, to be able to tip in cash. It is becoming increasingly common to tip with the credit card, but it's doubtful if the person who served you will actually benefit from the tip. It's also somewhat customary to tip certain other service personnel (small amounts only, in the manner of "keep the change"), such as taxi drivers and hairdressers.

Health & wellness

Increasingly Croatia is becoming a popular place for health tourism. A number of dental surgeries have experience in treating short term visitors to Croatia. Croatian dentists study for 5 years in Zagreb, Split or Rijeka. Harmonization of training with EU standards has begun, in preparation for Croatia's accession.

Scams & street smarts

Croatia is extremely safe by international standards in most crime categories. In case of an emergency, dial 112 for fire brigade, police, ambulance or mountain rescue. Police can search anyone at any time in public spaces and while they should have a reason there is in reality no recourse against it. Everyone is required to carry an ID or passport. Corruption exists but is exceedingly rare compared to other countries in the region. Attempts to bribe police will get you arrested. It is not uncommon that older Police officers outside Zagreb, even in Rijeka, Pula & Split, do not speak any English. Generally it is not advisable to carry knifes even though it is not illegal. With an explanation (fishing, food, camping....) and not intoxicated this is usually not a problem. During summer make sure you use adequate SPF to protect yourself from sunburn. There are no ozone holes over Croatia but it's fairly easy to burn in the sun. If this happens make sure you get out of the sun, drink plenty of fluids and rehydrate your skin. The locals will often advise covering the burnt spot with cold yogurt bought from the supermarket. Since the wars ended in 1995, landmines remain buried in Croatian soil. If you plan to hike consult locals before you go. The suspected areas are marked with mine warning signs. Although mines are still a problem for Croatia, it is highly unlikely you will spot any minefields in Croatia today. However, it is still better not to leave paved roads, even for a pee-break, in areas you are not familiar with. If you find yourself in area that can be potential contaminated with mines, do not stray from marked roads or known safe areas. As of 2020, very few minefields remain in some rural areas. For further advice refer to Wikivoyage's war zone safety section. Watch out for bura wind danger signs. The bura can be particularly strong in the Velebit area, where it can blow up to 200 km/h and overturn lorries. However, if the wind is strong enough to pose a significant danger to all traffic on a road section, that section will be closed. During strong bura wind, avoid any activity on the sea. Accidents caused by wind occur every year and claim adventurous tourists' lives in Croatia. From sailing accidents to drownings due to high water. Avoid strip clubs. They are often run by shady characters, and often overcharge their guests. Foreigners have been charged 2000 for a bottle of champagne. These clubs overcharge their customers to the extreme, and their bouncers will have no mercy if you tell them you can't pay. You will soon find yourself in a local hospital. Using common sense is essential, but due to the nature of the clubs this may be in short supply, and you may be better advised simply to steer well clear of these clubs. Abuse of LGBT people is possible in Croatia, so travelers should potentially avoid public displays of same-sex affection. Risk of abuse is low in urban areas, whilst higher in rural areas. Religious discrimination is virtually non-existent but knowledge outside Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Islam (eg. Judaism and Hinduism) is often extremely limited.