Guide Croatia
Why is there a growing interest in Croatia as a holiday destination year after year?
Croatia is a colourful country with a spectacular, sun-drenched coast, bathed in the aromatic scents of the Mediterranean. The 5935km coastline is dramatically indented with over a thousand virgin islands. Did you know that Croatia is called a “country with a thousand islands“, that it has one of the most indented coasts in the world with countless sandy and pebbly beaches, attractive bays and natural harbours – a true paradise for tourists.
It is also a country of rocky crags, mountain plains and pastures, with Velebit and Biokovo mountains in the coastal hinterland, known for their rich flora and fauna.
It is a country of lakes and magical waterfalls which can be seen at the Plitvice Lakes, not far from the Croatian coast. In this fairyland corner of nature, we become part of the magic and cleansed by the water we reach an inner peace.
Continental, Central European Croatia is a country of gentle wooded hills and fine vineyards, streams and old forests in the mountain area, and rivers running through fertile wheatlands.
Croatia is one of Europe's richest countries in natural spring water, suitable for human consumption.
It is known for its natural resources, its national parks, nature parks and reserves, some of which are on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
The country also has a remarkably rich cultural and historical heritage.
The Croats settled the area around the 7th century, in the time of the great migration of Slavic tribes, and founded their new homeland on the traditions of the Western Roman Empire.
The Croatian Kingdom was independent from the 10th to 12th century, after which it joined the Hungarian Kingdom.
Most of the Adriatic coastal areas were under Venetian rule.
Croatia joined other central European nations under the Habsburg Monarchy in the 16th c and remained part of the monarchy till the end of World War I in 1918. Centuries of unity with the peoples of Central Europe left an impact on the culture and national identity of the Croatian nation.
Life in a federation with other southern Slavic nations after WWI proved unsuccessful and eventually ended in the disintegration of Yugoslavia and tragical violence over the Croatian people.
Croatia proclaimed independence in 1991. The present-day Republic of Croatia is building a democratic society on the foundations of its Mediterranean and Central European cultural heritage and European values.
Croatia has a favourable geographic location and is easily accessible from European countries. It is on the route between Europe and the East, thus influenced and enriched by many whose paths crossed the country throughout its rich and turbulent history.
Many monuments and localities are under UNESCO's protection.
If you would like to visit Croatia and enjoy the beauty of the country, here is some useful information:
Official name: Republic of Croatia
Official language: Croatian, Latin alphabet
Currency: Croatian kuna (kn)
Population: 4.437.460
Capital: Zagreb (pop.770,058)
Geographical data
Croatia is a Central European and Mediterranean country.
Land area: 56,543 km2
Sea area: 31,067 km2
Total length of coastline: 5,835 km
Length of offshore island coastline: 4,058 km
Length of continental coastline: 1,777 km
Number of islands, islets, rocks and reefs: 1,185 of which 66 are inhabited
Largest island: Krk 410 km2
Larger islands:
- Krk 409,90 km2
- Cres 405,78 km2
- Brač 394,57 km2
- Hvar 299,66 km2
- Pag 284,56 km2
- Korčula 276,03 km2
- Dugi otok 114,44 km2
- Mljet 100,41 km2
- Rab 90,84 km2
- Vis 90,26 km2
Highest mountain: Dinara 1831 m above sea level
Climate:
- a moderate continental climate inland, with hot and dry summers and mild wet winters,
- cool summers and harsh winters with snow in the mountainous areas,
- Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters in the coastal area.
Average temperatures in August: Average temperatures in January:
- inland 22◦ – 26◦ C - inland -1◦ – 3◦ C
- mountain areas 15◦ – 20◦ C - mountain areas -5◦ – 0◦ C
- coastal area 26◦ – 30◦ C - coastal area 5◦ – 10◦ C
The Adriatic coast has an annual average of 2600 sunny hours, making it one of the sunniest coasts of the Mediterranean, with sea temperatures between 25 and 27 ◦ C.
Religion: the majority are Roman Catholics, followed by the Eastern Orthodox Church, Muslims and other creeds.
Political system: Parliamentary democracy
National parks:
Name - Area in km2
Kornati - 234
Plitvice Lakes - 295
Krka - 110
Paklenica - 102
Mljet - 54
Risnjak - 64
Brijuni - 36
Nature reserves:
Kopački rit, Medvednica, Lonjsko polje, Velebit, Biokovo, Telašćica and Učka.
There are six localities on UNESCO's World Heritage List, renowned for their cultural and historical value or natural beauty:
- The old town of Dubrovnik
- Plitvice Lakes NP
- Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč
- Diocletian's Palace in Split
- The Šibenik Cathedral
- The Romanesque old town of Trogir