Croatia

Understand

Climate The climate of Croatia is diverse. The continental part has a generally temperate continental climate, but with summers that are often very hot (average temperature: January -10°C to 5°C; August 19°C to 39°C), while mountainous areas at their highest elevation have a colder, alpine-like climate, and have the most precipitation. The coastal part has a Mediterranean climate which is on average warmer, but also more even throughout the year, and not normally marked by prolonged extreme heat (average temperature: January 6°C to 11°C; August 21°C to 39°C). This is because the temperature changes are moderated by the Adriatic sea. Still, the area is not immune to heatwaves which may cause wildfires to erupt; they are managed by firefighters and rarely cause significant damage to communities. Mediated by the local topography, specific seaside areas experience a dry and cool wind forcefully descending from the mountains, called bura; it can adequately be summed up as unpleasant (upon direct exposure), however it has a positive corollary in that it brings in high-quality mountain air. Dalmatia in particular has exceptionally high annual sun, especially on the islands, with 2700 hours of sunlight per year on the record.

Terrain Croatia's geography is diverse with flat agricultural plains along the Hungarian border (Central European area), low mountains and highlands near the Adriatic coastline, and islands. There are 1,246 islands; the largest ones are Krk and Cres. The highest point is Dinara at 1,830 m.

History In ancient times, what is now Croatia was part of the regions of Illyria and Dalmatia. This region came under Roman control and became a province known as Illyricum from 27 BC. In the 5th century, Rome was declining and the Ostrogoths seized an opportuni

See

Croatia is dense with places that are well worthy of a visit, owing to its diverse regions, each with its own layered past. Towns and cities generally have a historical urban core that exhibits the architectural heritage of a specific era. To a get a sense of Croatia as a whole—how it was shaped by different influences, and the resulting contrasts—it is important to visit both the coastal and the inland part of the country. Dubrovnik being such a world renowned destination, it is often taken as the exemplar of the former style. However it is more of an enclosed world with its admirably individual aesthetic (having been an independent city-state for most of its history). Other similarly gratifying places, like Šibenik, carry the true spirit of Dalmatia, but going further north along the coast, there is Rijeka, which again has quite a different

Getting there

Entry requirements Croatia is a member of the Schengen Agreement. See Travelling around the Schengen Area for more information on how the scheme works, what countries are members and what the requirements are for your nationality. In summary:

There are normally no immigration controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty; there may be such controls temporarily, such as in connection with important events and various crises. The operators may carry out identity checks before passengers board international flights, ferries or trains, even between Schengen countries. Citizens of the EEA countries and Switzerland do not need visas to travel in the Schengen area, and may stay up to 90 days with no requirements other than having a valid ID card or passport. See European Union#EEA citizens. Normal visas granted by any Schengen member are valid in all countries that have signed and implemented the treaty (with exceptions for some overseas territories). The granting country may offer additional rights (such as longer stays or right to work) that apply only locally. More information about visa exemptions and the visa application procedure is available at the website of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs [1].

By plane Croatia has international airports in (descending in importance):

Zagreb (ZAG IATA) as the capital city is the hub for Croatia Airlines, with conventional-carrier flights to the other major cities of Europe, plus Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Dubai and Doha. Dubrovnik (DBV IATA) largely serve the tourist trade, with many seasonal flights across Europe. They're rather quiet in winter after the daily flight to Zagreb has departed. Split (SPU IATA), Zadar (ZAD IATA), Pula (PUY IATA), Rijeka (RJK IATA) and Osijek (OSI IATA). See a

Getting around

By plane National airline company Croatia Airlines connects major cities in Croatia to each other and foreign destinations. Due to the comparatively short distances and relatively high hassle of air travel–especially when you travel with luggage – domestic air travel is used mostly for getting to end points – e.g., Zagreb to Dubrovnik (see map) and vice-versa. Another popular flight (available in the summer months only) is between Split and Osijek, saving a long trip back through Croatia, or alternatively through the middle of Bosnia.

By train Train travel is definitely improving in Croatia, with money being spent on updating the aging infrastructure and vehicles. Trains are clean and mostly on time. Croatia's rail network connects all major Croatian cities, except Dubrovnik. If you want to visit Dubrovnik, you will have to travel by train to Split, and then go on the bus for Dubrovnik. Trains to Pula are actually connected via Slovenia due to historical accident, though there are designated connecting buses from Rijeka. Rail is still the cheapest connection between inland and coast, though not the most frequent. 160 km/h "tilting trains" that connect Zagreb with Split and other major cities in Croatia such as Rijeka and Osijek provide more comfort and fast journeys between cities (Zagreb-Split is 5.5 hr, Osijek is 3 hr, when other trains take around 4.5 hr). If you make a reservation early enough you can get a substantial discount, or if you are a holder of an ISIC card. Information on the trains, including timetables and prices, can be found on the Hrvatske željeznice (Croatian Railways) site in Croatian and English. Tickets are not usually sold on board, except if you happen to get on the train on one of the few stations/stops without ticket sales. However, onl