Croatia was the first European country I ever visited, followed by Serbia.
At the time, I only had two weeks of vacation and tried to see as much as possible, which indirectly gave birth to my whole short-trip travel style.
My partner in crime, Gordana, is from former Yugoslavia and grew up in a Croatian town called Knin. As a result, she is responsible for bringing me to Europe for the first time, and I’ll never forget that feeling of awe I had as I marvelled at how different Zagreb was compared to my city, Toronto.
History
- Croatia was once the Roman province of Pannonia, which was settled in the 7th century by the Croats.
- Converted to Christianity between the 7th and 9th centuries and adopted the Roman alphabet.
- Germany invaded Yugoslavia in 1941, turning Croatia into a Nazi state.
- In June 1991, the Croatian parliament passed a declaration of independence from Yugoslavia.
Capital
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city in Croatia. Zagreb is also the youngest capital in Europe and the world’s 18th most popular tourist destination.
Currency
The Croatian currency is called the Kuna – they are not yet on the Euro.
The word ‘Kuna’ means marten, a cute forest animal resembling a weasel. The Croats used its fur as payment many centuries ago.
Food
When I start talking about these ex-Yugoslavian and Balkan countries, your going to notice a theme for me surrounding one of my favourite foods – janjetina (roasted lamb garnished with Mediterranean herbs), which is done incredibly well in the Balkans.
That being said, you can’t just eat janjetina every day so here are some of my other favourites: Miješano Meso or Ražnjići (skewers), Zagrebački odrezak (Veal steaks stuffed with ham and cheese, breaded and fried), Šnicle or schnitzel (breaded veal or chicken cutlets , Meso z tiblice (pork ham from Međimurje County)
Here they’re pretty much into the meat – which is probably why I love their dishes so much.
Electricity
The electrical supply is 230V, 50Hz AC. Croatia uses the standard European (round-pronged) plugs.
Public Transit
Bus
The bus is the most popular mode of transportation in Croatia; the routes cover big towns and the more remote small villages. Buses run regularly and even run at night on certain routes.
Trains and trams
Croatian trains are comfortable, inexpensive and convenient but slow. Regular lines run between large cities such as Rijeka, Zagreb and Split and from Zagreb’s main train station, you can get to a lot of major cities.
Boat
You can cross the Adriatic sea by boat and visit Croatia’s beautiful islands. I’ve done both. I’ve travelled from Italy’s Anaconda to Split, Croatia, by catamaran, which took 4 hours. I’ve also visited the island of Bol.
Plane
The national airline Croatia Airlines has domestic routes between large airports in Croatia, namely Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, Rijeka, Zadar and Osijek.
Driving
Driving in Croatia can be a really rewarding experience, especially if you plan to take in some of the country’s amazing views. However, it’s important to know the rules and regulations before you set off on your trip to ensure that you and other drivers around you are safe and that you all have a pleasant journey. Here are some tips for driving in Croatia:
Research Your Route Ahead of Time
Before setting off for your travels, research what route you will take, as some roads may not be suitable or have restrictions. For example, certain mountain roads may be difficult to navigate, and the main highways have tolls, so have some cash ready. Additionally, be aware of road closures due to construction and bad weather conditions.
Familiarize Yourself with Croatian Driving Rules and Regulations
One of the most important parts of driving in Croatia is familiarizing yourself with all relevant traffic rules and road safety regulations, such as speed limits or which side of the road to drive on. In Croatia, they drive on the right side, and on the highways, people drive pretty fast.
Know Your Way Around Car Rentals
If renting a car for your Croatian journey, make sure you check all renting requirements, like minimum age requirements (usually 21+) or documentation needed (passport plus full valid driver’s license) before signing any contracts and getting behind the wheel.
Safety
Violent crime in Croatia is not common, making it extremely safe to travel to Croatia. As in most popular tourist destinations, pickpocketing and petty theft are common, so keeping your wallet and phone in your front pocket
Also Read : Meloni tells Trump to ‘focus on your own popularity’ as row escalates
