About the Dalmatian Coast
Dazzling blue sea, rugged shoreline and lush green hills mean it’s hard not to find paradise in Croatia. And the nation’s long and complex history means the style of properties on offer extends far beyond classic luxury villas. Dalmatian Coast retreats cluster in three main areas: sophisticated Dubrovnik, bustling Split and Croatia’s many dazzling islands.
If you’ve ever watched Game of Thrones you’ll recognise the beauty of Dubrovnik, with its glorious Byzantine architecture and medieval streets. What you won’t have seen is the harbour teeming with luxury yachts, the exclusive restaurants and the designer bars, let alone the elite hideaways that cluster in and around the city.
Or perhaps Split will be more to your taste? Croatia’s second city is one of the oldest in the region, founded during ancient Greek times. Medieval architecture and Roman ruins draw plenty of visitors to this bustling harbour town, but it remains less busy than Dubrovnik during the peak season.
When it comes to islands, you’re spoilt for choice. Hvar offers restaurants and bars tailored to the same demanding clientele that frequent Dubrovnik’s hotspots, as well as all the comforts the modern traveller could need. Others are more intimate and more discreet.
Wherever on the Dalmatian Coast you choose to rest your head, expect the freshest seafood, the clearest skies and pure serenity.
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Time Zone
GMT +1 hour
Language
Croatian
Currency Information
The official currency used in the Republic of Croatia as of January 2023 is the Euro (EUR).
Money Matters
Credit cards can be used where indicated. You can withdraw cash from ATMs in all larger cities and important tourist offices.
Tipping in Croatia
The Croatians are fairly relaxed about tipping etiquette. However, service is not usually included in restaurants and it's common practice to leave the spare change, or up to 10% of the total in a smarter restaurant. Tipping taxi drivers in Croatia is not expected.
Arrival & Departure Formalities
As of 1 January 2023, Croatia is part of the Schengen area.
Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country, and valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. If you are travelling to Croatia and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit.
Driving in Croatia
You will need your home country’s driver’s licence with you to drive and hire a car in the Republic of Croatia. Croatians drive on the right-hand side of the road in left-hand drive vehicles.
The speed limit on Croatian motorways is 130 km/h, 90 km/h on open roads, and the inner-city speed limit is 50 km/h.
The minimum driving age in Croatia is 18. However, the minimum age for renting a car in Croatia is 21. However, if you are below 21 years of age you can choose to pay a young driver's surcharge. This surcharge usually amounts to EUR 25 per rental.
Parking
There are parking zones in most Croatian cities. Higher zone numbers are generally not too close to city centres and have cheaper parking spots. It’s worth checking out the parking zones before you drive into cities. A lot of people choose to park in shopping mall garages, since it’s usually cheaper than parking in Zones 0 and 1.
