Croatia (Hrvatska) extends from the foothill of the Julian Alps in the north-west and the  Pannonian lowlands in the east, across the Dinara mountain range in the central part, all the way down to the Adriatic Coast in the south.

The northern part of Croatia has the continental climate; the central Croatia has the semi-mountain and mountain climate, and the southern Croatia. Winter temperature goes from -1 to 3^oC degrees in the continental area, 5 do 0 ^oC degrees in the mountain region and 5 do 10 ^oC degrees in the coastal area. Summer temperature ranges from 22 do 26 degrees in the continental part of the country, from 15 do 20 degrees in the mountain region and from 26 do 30 degrees in the coastal area.

Most of the inhabitants are Croats. Ethnic minorities are Serbs, Bosnians, Italians, Hungarians, Albanians, Slovenes, Czechs, Slovaks, and others (according to the data of the Government Statistical Office for 2001)

Foreign currency can be changed at banks, exchange offices, post offices and at most of the   travel agencies, hotels and camps. Bank working hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. On Saturday banks are open till 1 p.m.. Some of the banks in major cities are open on Sundays as well.

Credit cards: most hotels, restaurants and shops accept credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard/Mastercard, Visa, Sport Card International). Cash dispensers are also there.

Customs regulations of the Republic of Croatia have been adjusted to the standards of the   European Union countries. Foreign currency may be freely taken in and out of the country (up to the value of 3,000 Eur); local currency (Croatian Kuna)  up to the value of 15,000.

Valuable professional and technical equipment should be declared at the frontier. Cats and dogs travelling with their owners must possess an International Certificate issued by an official veterinary, certifying that a minimum of 15 days have passed since the last vaccination against rabies but not more than six months. Tax refund to foreign citizens for goods bought to an amount above 500 Kuna with a receipt form called "Porezni ček" (Tax cheque) when leaving the country.

Shops and shopping centres are open from 8 hours a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or to 3 p.m. A small number of shops is closed between noon and 2 p.m. Many shops are open on Sunday, especially in summertime, and a small number of shops in major cities stay open 24 hours a day. Usual working hours of public services and firms is Monday to Friday  8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Post offices are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.. In major cities some post offices are open till 10 hrs p.m. Postal stamps can be bought at post offices and at news-stands. Public telephones operate exclusively with telephone cards that can be bought at post offices, news-stands, hotels and tourist complexes.

Protection of the biological variety is consistenmt with the valid EU regulations. Sea water for bathing at the Croatian Adriatic is of a very high quality according to the EU criteria.  In case of an accident or contamination of the sea, please kindly inform the National Head Office for Search and Rescue at Sea, telephone 9155 (Freefone), included into the international net of the same-level institutions. In case of an exceptional contamination of the environment at land please kindly inform the Government Information Centre on the telephone number 01/4814 911