About Split, Hvar and Brač
The capital of Croatia's Dalmatian province, Split, is the trendiest low-key travel destination that guests of all generations appear to be longing for – and why wouldn’t they be? Around every turn there is an extraordinary beach, fresh seafood, history, culture, and restored architecture to satisfy all possible holiday wish lists.
The remarkable Roman complex of Diocletian's Palace, in a prime harborside location in Split, is one of the most impressive remaining ancient Roman buildings. This is still the city's vibrant core, with its serpentine streets thriving with people, bars, shops, and five-star restaurants.
Brač is a white stone island off the Adriatic coast of Split known for its sunny disposition, white pebble beaches and fantastic windsurfing spots. The island produces high-quality wine, olive oil, figs, nectarines, and other fruits, but the renowned Brač stone has long been the primary export. It’s also home to the dramatic Golden Horn beach.
The smaller, swankier Hvar sits south of Brač and is home to handsome harbours in Hvar Town, as well as one of the oldest settlements in Croatia – Stari Grad. It has an elongated shape that resembles the profile of a traveller lounging in the sun, and its interior combines vineyards, rocky peaks, ancient hamlets and the island's signature lavender fields.
Time Zone
GMT +1 hour
Language
Standard Croatian is the official language of Croatia followed closely by Standard Bosnian and Standard Serbian.
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 Advice
It is always fair to round up your bill at a restaurant or bar and tipping an average of 10-20 per cent is appropriate. A general tip for a boat crew is between 5-15 percent of the total sum if you are happy with the experience and the service provided. Unfortunately tipping with credit cards is near impossible in Croatia, so we recommend having cash available.
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.
