Interesting facts about Croatia you should know
For 25 years Croatia is an independent country. Before it used to be part of Yugoslavia. It has a long and scenic coastline, over a thousand islands, gorgeous natural landscapes, several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, stunning hilltop and seaside towns, excellent cuisine and wine, and warm, hospitable people.
The name of the country in Croatian is Hrvatska, it is a Slavic language that sounds similar to languages like Russian, Czech, or Slovak. The language is almost the same as Serbian and Bosnian, with only a few regional differences in vocabulary. English is widely spoken, especially among the younger generation, while Italian is a second language in Istria (which was ruled under Italy during the World Wars).
Basic facts about Croatia
- Name: Croatia (Hrvatska)
- Full Name: The Republic of Croatia (Republika Hrvatska)
- Capital: Zagreb (the largest city). The second-largest city is Split.
- Land area: 56,594 km² (21,851 square miles)
- Population: 4,057,717 (May 2020)
- Official language: Croatian
- Regions of Croatia: there are 7 major regions in Croatia.
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- Dalmatia, Kvarner, Istria, Slavonia, Gorski Kotar, Hrvatsko Zagorje, Lika
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- Croatian flag: it consists of three equal size, horizontal stripes in the colors red, white, and blue. In the middle is the coat of arms of Croatia.
It has a lot of beaches
With a 3,900-mile-long coastline, and over 1,200 islands and islets, Croatia has plenty of turquoise waters and tantalizing beaches that are a major draw to the country. Still, it’s not all about the beaches. There are eight national parks, ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 13 mountain chains, castles, and much more, yet, the beaches are beautiful.
Croatia’s beaches are mostly rocky, but they’re among the cleanest in Europe. The quality of swimming water at public beaches is taken seriously. Each year the water at hundreds of beaches is tested according to European Union requirements. One reason for the clear waters is that most beaches in Croatia are made of pebbles or rock, but there are a few sandy beaches to be found on the islands of Rab and Brač.
Apart from beaches it has over 1,000 islands. Of its 1244 islands, just 50 are inhabited, and only 15 have a population greater than 1,000. Some have a healthy tourist visitation, but some are totally untouched.
Pack aqua shoes for coast walking/swimming.
The history is rich
Over the years, Croatia was ruled by several Illyrian kings , Roman and Byzantine Emperors, Venetian rulers, Hungarian Kings, Ottoman Sultans, and Habsburg Monarchs.
All of these different rulerships can be seen also in the rich architecture across the whole country. For example, the Pula Amphitheater is a great example. Waddling around any city you will see the history mingle.
And don’t ask about the war. 25 years ago, Croatia declared independence, but suffered much of the effects of the Yugoslav war until the conflict finally fizzled out in 1995. Some regions were hit harder than others, but the memories are still raw for some generations.
Most people don’t want to talk about the war and prefer to put it behind them to focus on the future instead. Don’t blame them, who would like to take about war? Me not so much.
Read also: 7 Things to know about Dubrovnik before visiting
Croatia is part of the European Union, but is not in the Schengen Area
In July 2013, Croatia became the 28th member state of the European Union, but are still not part of the Schengen Area. Meaning that all passengers entering must go through passport control when arriving. And Croatia is neither in the eurozone, meaning they have their own currency called kuna. The word ‘Kuna’ means marten, a weasel-like animal, whose fur Croats used as payment for goods many centuries ago.
As of the 1st of Januray, 2023 they will change to EURO.
Tipping is not expected, but welcome
Tipping is not really part of the local culture, and services are generally included in the cost of the bill. Although it’s not expected, it’s good practice to round off your bill in cafes and restaurants.
If you want to leave a tip and are paying by credit card, leave cash.
Not really a country for vegetarians and vegans
The food in Croatia is excellent, however, their diet is largely based on meat and fish cuisine. If you are a vegetarian or a vegan it can be a challenge to find a nice restaurant, but things are slowly changing. You will find especially restaurants in bigger cities like Zagreb, Split or Dubrovnik.
Swimming pools in hotels are often filled with saltwater
Some hotels keep it conventional, having fresh water, and those closest to the sea have pools filled with salt water. We know saltwater is beneficial for the skin and health in general. Still, they do it also for ecological water-saving reasons. The water is filtered and chlorinated of course — but needs much fewer chemicals — and unless you drink it, you won’t even notice it’s salty.
Croatia is great all year long
The fact that Croatia is great no matter the season is showing in the ranking of countries where to retire. International Living ranked Croatia as one of the best countries in Europe to retire. The best destination for retirement is Dalmatia, but it doesn’t really matter where you settle in. It has a low cost of living, high quality of life, small population, and clean air and water. Even Forbes put Croatia in the top 20 countries for retirement.
The pen was invented in Croatia
Ever wondered where the pen came from? The paper is from China, but the mechanical pencil comes from Croatia.
It was Slavoljub Penkala who invented the mechanical pencil in 1906 and a year later he had fashioned the first solid-ink fountain pen. And we also thank him for the hot water bottle (the irony here, he died of Pneumonia).
Dalmatians come from Croatia
The famous spotty-coated dog was found in Croatian paintings from the 17th century, suggesting the breed originated here. They’re even named after Dalmatia, one of the country’s main regions.
Naming of things
It is interesting knowing that the Croatian currency is named after a rodent. Kuna is the Croatian word for a marten – a disarmingly cute variety of rodents, famed for its silky soft fur. Their banknotes are called kuna.
And let’s not forget the coins, named after trees. One Kuna is made up of 100 Lipa, which is named after a variety of lime trees.
