Introduction to camping in Croatia

Table of Contents

• WELCOME TO CROATIA!
• CROATIA - A TRUE EUROPEAN CAMPING DESTINATION
• NATURISM - CAMPING IN THE SPIRIT OF TRADITIONAL CROATIAN TOURISM
• CAMPER-VANS, BUNGALOWS, APARTMENTS, CAMPING VILLAGES, HOLIDAY PARKS & RESORTS
• ISTRIA
• KVARNER
• LIKA - Karlovac
• Dalmatia - ZADAR
• Dalmatia - ŠIBENIK
• Dalmatia - SPLIT
• Dalmatia - DUBROVNIK
• CENTRAL CROATIA, CITY OF ZAGREB, SLAVONIA
• Mini campsites

Welcome to Croatia!

Unique in so many ways, Croatia has roots extending from ancient times and a great cultural wealth which tells of its turbulent history, from the Roman era to the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and Ottoman conquests, right up to the present day. This cultural wealth is exceptionally appealing to all those who visit the country. If we then include in this the amazing natural beauty which attracts visitors throughout the year, the 8 national parks, 11 nature reserves and the numerous UNESCO world heritage sites, Croatia can truly be called a country of incredible magnetic attraction.

Yes, Croatia is all that and so much more. It is the home of the necktie, the parachute, the torpedo, the mechanical pencil, the filament light bulb, the world's fastest electric car, the Dalmatian dog, Marco Polo, one of the oldest cities and parliaments in Europe, the second longest stretch of defensive walls in Europe, the smallest cathedral, the oldest arboretum, the oldest film festival in the world, and the birthplace of great athletes.

And last but by no means least - the Croats themselves! The Croatian people and their kindness are a magnet that keeps drawing tourists back. Sometimes the hospitality of the locals will make you wonder whether you are in your own home or simply - on holiday in Croatia!

Travel Documents

ID (EU and EEA citizens and Switzerland) or passport. A visa is necessary for the citizens of certain third countries. The Croatian visa policy can be consulted here: https://mvep.gov.hr/

Information: Diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Croatia abroad or the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Tel. +385 1 4569 964, Web: https://mvep.gov.hr/

Customs Regulations

The Republic of Croatia has implemented the customs legislation of the European Union on its territory, and the national legislation has been aligned with the regulations of the European Union. The import of personal luggage is exempt from import duties, without any limitations regarding its value, and this applies to every individual- passenger who enters the EU customs area, regardless of whether they carry their luggage with them or if it arrived separately, providing that the passenger can prove to the person responsible for its transport that all indicated luggage was declared simultaneously at departure.

Items that are in the personal luggage of the passenger, which by its type and quantity are not for resale but solely for the personal use of the passenger and members of their family, is exempt from import duties if its total value does not exceed the equivalent value of 300,00 €, or for air and sea transport the value of 430,00 €. This exemption applies to each passenger individually, and can be applied only once per day. Those items where the

value exceeds the specified amount or are not considered to be personal luggage are subject to customs duties and value added tax (and possibly excise duties as well). The luggage of passengers who are under 15 years of age is exempt from import duties up to a total value of the equivalent of 150,00 €, regardless of the mode of transport used.

Passengers are obliged to report to the Customs Service when they are carrying the equivalent of 10,000.00 € or more in cash, whatever the currency, or in any other means of payment, such as cheques, whenever they enter or leave the EU.

Foreign nationals and Croatians who are residents of third countries may temporarily bring in items for their personal use, as well as for the use of their family members, without being liable to import duties. Also, people residing in the EU may temporarily export items they need during their stay in a third country. The personal belongings of passengers include any items, whether new or used, which a traveller may reasonably need for his or her personal use during the journey excluding all goods being imported for commercial purposes. Examples of personal items are: video cameras, portable TV sets and audio devices, cameras, laptops, PCs, camping, sailing, scuba diving, skiing, skating and hiking equipment, caravans, pleasure crafts, portable medical devices with accessories (if necessary to the passenger), pets and the like. The import of such goods is made by oral declaration without any particular customs formalities at the border crossing. The re-export of the above items is done in the same way.

When a passenger imports or exports valuable professional equipment, when entering or leaving the Republic of Croatia, he must complete a "List of Goods" in triplicate at the border. If necessary, he must attach an insurance document to pay any customs duties which may arise. Natural persons, who are neither residents nor have a usual address in the European Union, are entitled to a refund of value added tax (PDV) on the goods they have purchased in Croatia, if the value of the goods exceeds 98,21 € per purchase. The refund is obtained upon presentation of the completed form PDV-P, i.e. Tax free form that must be certified, within 3 months of the date stated on the invoice or delivery note, by Customs when taking the goods out of the European Union. Foreign citizens must submit the VAT refund request within six months of the date of purchase. It is not possible to certify the PDV-P form or Tax-free form once the goods have been carried out of the European Union.

For further information, please contact the Customs Administration website (https://carina.gov.hr/).

For information on the regulations relating to the import of products of animal origin in personal luggage see the Ministry of Agriculture - Administration for Veterinary Medicine and Food Safety website: https://poljoprivreda.gov.hr/

Currency

Euro (1 euro = 100 cents). Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices, post offices, and most travel agencies, hotels and camps.

Post Offices

The opening hours of post offices are available on the Croatian Post website, as well as a smartphone app. Some post offices remain open until 0:00 a.m. - the one in Branimirova 4, in the center of Zagreb, as well as at the one at the border crossing of Bajakovo. Info. Tel.: 072 303 304, Web: www.posta.hr, E-mail: [email protected]

WORKING HOURS OF SHOPS AND PUBLIC SERVICES During the tourist season, most shops are open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. on weekdays, and most are open during the weekends as well. Public services and business offices work from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Health Services

Hospitals and clinics are found in all larger towns and cities, while smaller places have outpatient units and pharmacies. Foreign visitors who have compulsory health insurance in other EU countries and EEA (Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein) and Switzerland during their temporary stay in Croatia have the right to basic healthcare, on the basis of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Healthcare on the basis of the EHIC may be used in all healthcare institutions and with all MDs that have a regular contract with the Croatian Health Insurance Fund. They only bear the cost of participation in cases when Croatian insured persons pay it as well.

Tourists that have compulsory insurance in countries which have signed a social security agreement with Croatia, regulating the use of healthcare services (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, FYRM, Turkey) have the right to emergency health care during their temporary stay in Croatia. The precondition is that they request from their insurer the certificate of the right to health care during temporary stay in Croatia, before they leave for Croatia. The Croatian Health Insurance Fund (in the place of their stay) will change it into a health insurance certificate. They can benefit from health care services on the basis of the abovementioned certificate in contracting healthcare institutions and MDs, and they will only bear the cost of participation in cases when Croatian insured persons pay it as well.

Persons coming from third countries (countries that are not EU/EEA members, Switzerland or contracting countries) bear all healthcare costs in Croatia themselves. For further information, please contact the Croatian Health Insurance Fund - compulsory health insurance 0800 79 79, premium health insurance 0800 79 89; Ministry of Health toll free number 0800 72 29; web: www.hzzo.hr, and the National contact point for cross-border healthcare, E-mail: [email protected], tel.: + 385 1 644 90 90

POWER SUPPLY: 220 V, frequency 50 Hz.

TAP WATER is safe to drink in all parts of Croatia.

Public Holidays

January 1st - New Year's Day, January 6th - Epiphany, April 20th and April 21st - Easter and Easter Monday, May 1st - Labour Day, May 30th - Statehood Day, June 19th - Feast of Corpus Christi, June 22nd - Anti-Fascist Struggle Day, August 5th - Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Croatian Veterans Day, August 15th - Assumption of Mary, November 1st - All Saints' Day, November 18th - Remembrance Day for the Victims of the Homeland War and Remembrance Day for the Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja, December 25th - Christmas, December 26th - St. Stephen's Day

Petrol Stations

Petrol stations in larger cities and on motorways are open 24 hours a day. Petrol stations sell Eurosuper 95, Super 95, Super 98, Super plus 98, Euro Diesel and Diesel, and gas (LPG) is also available in major cities, and at petrol stations on motorways. For information on fuel prices and a list of places selling LPG gas go to: www.ina.hr; www.hak.hr; www.tifon.hr; www.petrol.hr

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS International dialling code for Croatia: +385 Ambulance: 194

• Fire Brigade: 193
• Police: 192
• Roadside vehicle assistance: (+385 1) 1987
• National Centre for the Co-ordination of
• Search and Rescue at Sea: 195
• National Protection and Rescue (single European number for
• emergency services): 112
• General information: 18981
• Information on subscribers' telephone numbers: 11888
• Information on international subscribers' telephone
• numbers: 11802

Duty forecaster of the Meteorological and Hydrological Service (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.): 0606 16666 (T-com), price: 0,93€/min for landlines and 1,12€/min for mobile networks.

• Hrvatski autoklub (HAK) (Croatian Autoclub):
• Roadside assistance: 1987
• -from abroad (1) +385 (1) 1987
• -from abroad (2) +385 (1) 4693
• Road traffic information: 072 777 777 from Croatia
• -from abroad +385 (1)464 0800
• User services: 0800 9987
• Web: www.hak.hr; http://map.hak.hr/

Dear Guests,

For your own comfort and in accordance with the law, please check whether you have been properly registered for the entire duration of your stay, from the date of your arrival to the date of your departure. This is an important and necessary procedure, particularly if you are staying in private accommodation, in order to guarantee the quality of service and your personal safety, as well as to prevent the illegal provision of accommodation by those who are not registered with the appropriate authorities. We thank you in advance for your co-operation and wish you a pleasant stay.

• 1. Campsite area (ha)
• 2. Campsite capacity (number of people)
• 3. Distance from the center of the town (km)
• 4. Pets allowed
• 5. Pets not allowed
• 6. Wireless Internet (WI-FI)
• 7. Sanitary facilities for the disabled
• 8. Sanitary facilities for children
• 9. Camper service
• 10. Sports facilities in the campsite
• 11. Outdoor pool
• 12. Mooring for boats or small port
• 13. Animation in the campsite
• 14. Catering services in the campsite
• 15. Commercial offer (self-service,
• groceries) in the campsite
• 16. Trailers and tents rental
• 17. Mobile houses, bungalows and apartments rental
• 18. Naturist campsite (FKK)
• 19. Textile and naturist campsite
• 20. Textile campsite with naturist beach
• 21. Croatian Camping Association - KUH
• 22. Blue Flag
• 23. Top Camping Croatia

CROATIAN TOURIST REGIONS

Camping

C R O A T I A

• CROATIA - A TRUE EUROPEAN CAMPING DESTINATION All the natural and cultural beauties of this country are just a
• fraction of the mosaic that makes Croatia a desirable destination for a holiday, at any time of the year. What makes it the perfect choice for campers is its location and proximity. One can reach Croatia from every part of Europe with just a few hours' drive, especially with the latest, modern motorways, and you can also be on the accessible Croatian coast within a one or two hour flight from all the major European cities.
• Due to the good transport infrastructure in Croatia itself and the transport connection with various parts of the country, you can spend your ideal holiday in more than one campsite, if you wish you can travel the entire country, and along with new destinations and attractions stay in different campsites. And you'll find out more about how to do that in this brochure.
• The campsites mentioned here are divided according to clusters, that is to say by regions and destinations. The basic information about each campsite is presented here, accompanied by
• photography, as well as texts and illustrations with captions of the basic facilities found in the campsites. In the brochure you will find details about the significant Croatian islands, of which there are over a thousand, as well as information about the beaches along the Croatian Adriatic, of which more than a hundred boast the Blue

Flag, the international ecologicalal symbol of the cleanliness of the sea and beaches. Croatian campsites are not only located along the coast, there are also campsites inland, large or small, intended for families with children, youngsters looking for adventure, people who want to enjoy thermal spas or those who want to discover the beauty of the Croatian interior. Every camper will find exactly what they want in Croatia: from the high-end modern camping parks, with their various facilities, where you can rent a superb mobile home or other accommodation, all the way to little places, which offer a stay in the garden or courtyard of a family run campsite, plus there is also Robinson Crusoe style camping and even glamping. Croatia is known for its naturist tradition so there are campsites for advocates of naturism, which began to appear quite early on along the Croatian coast, and which today are recognised above all for their high quality accommodation and service, but also for the safety and the beauty of the landscape which surrounds them.

Croatia can be really proud of the standards of its campsites, which is reflected in numerous prestigious international awards and acknowledgments. If this is your first time camping in this country, we are confident that you will come again. Just as many campers have already done for decades. Let your enjoyment of Croatia's campsites and our beautiful country begin!

NATURISM - CAMPING IN THE SPIRIT OF TRADITIONAL CROATIAN TOURISM

Naturism in Croatia has a long tradition. It is believed that it started on the island of Rab during the 1930s. Thes story goes that Dr Richard Ehrmann from Vienna, the first president of the International Naturist Federation, proclaimed Rajsku beach a naturist beach back then. Subsequently, in August 1936, the first to swim naked on the same island were Britain's King Edward VIII and his beloved, the American Wallis Simpson. In the following decades, naturist campsites have sprung up all along the Croatian coast.

Thus Croatia became the first European country to open its doors to lovers of naturism; those who see themselves as lovers of a life spent in harmony with nature, extolling health and recreation in a way so as to return to nature and recapture our natural equality. Today it is regarded by naturists as an ideal way of life, and a lifestyle. Croatia has the third-largest number of naturist campsites in Europe, with about 30,000 places, the larger number of which are in Istria and the Kvarner region.Indeed, the very first naturist campsite in Europe, Konversada, is in Istria. A common characteristic of Croatian naturist campsites is the high level of security, accommodation, beauty and peace. In accordance with the values of naturism, which are based on promoting a healthy lifestyle, nudist campsites are rich in sports and recreational facilities. Generally speaking, many believe that the campsites of the highest quality are those intended for naturists. It is selfevident that naturists will find all their needs fulfilled here. There are three types of campsite offering accommodation for naturists:

First there are dedicated naturist campsites with beaches that are exclusively for their use. Second, there are mixed campsites for naturists and others, in which one part of the site is intended for naturists and the other part for other campers. In these campsites one part of the beaches will be reserved exclusively for naturists, and the rest for the other campers, separated from the naturist part. In these campsites, the zones for naturists also have their own separate facilities, sanitation, restaurants, shops and more. The third type of campsite is the 'textile campsite', again with separate beaches for naturists. In these campsites all guests are dressed when going around the site, but they can swim and sunbathe nude on the dedicated naturist beaches. The same campsites also have beaches where it is forbidden to go completely without clothes. This type of campsite will be chosen by those who love to swim and sunbathe naked, but prefer to be dressed for the rest of the day. The specific information about a campsite's naturist provision is given along with a special symbol next to the campsite. Regardless of what you choose, you should realise by now that the high standards of planning, and the great range of activities available in Croatian naturist campsites, means that the perfect tailor-made choice for you is out there, waiting for you, ready to offer you an unforgettable stay on the Adriatic.

CAMPER-VANS, BUNGALOWS, APARTMENTS AND THAT'S JUST A TASTER! CAMPING VILLAGES, HOLIDAY PARKS & RESORTS

Do you want to spend your well-earned holiday on a campsite, but you don't have what you need to do so? Don't worry! In Croatia's modern campsites you will find camper-vans, bungalows and apartments awaiting you, as well as other similar kinds of rental accommodation. By choosing this unique mode of camping you can treat yourself to an unforgettable holiday in accommodation with all the comforts of home, or even of a top hotel, while at the same time experiencing an unforgettable closeness to nature and a laid-back atmosphere that only campsites provide.

Camper-vans are equipped with all the mod-cons. They have a kitchen, where you can use equipment such as a coffee maker and microwave, living room, bedroom, bathroom with shower, toilet, terrace and more, depending on the category and size you choose. There are smaller and larger camper-vans, from the most basic to the most luxurious, which could have its own spa bath. Whatever you choose, you are guaranteed comfort and the feeling of being at home. You can start your day on the terrace of your rented camper-van, which is usually covered and equipped with table and chairs. From your breakfast-spot in comfort, you can gaze upon the greenery of nature and the blueness of the sea, which is only separated from you by a beach or landscaped garden in some campsites. Some of the camper-vans have a fireplace and barbecue. Other home-comforts with which you'll be fully equipped include air conditioning, TV with satellite channels, as well as docking devices for iPod or iPhone and WiFi Internet. So without a care in the world left to you, the only thing remaining to turn your attention to are the sunbeds lying in anticipation on the terrace of your new home. Your car won't be a problem, as you will find reserved parking spaces next to the camper-van you have rented, or not far from it. In the same way, you can rent bungalows and apartments on Croatian campsites set amongst lush vegetation and a step away from the sea. Like camper-vans, these make up the more modern types of accommodation within the holiday resorts. You will also find wood and stone bungalows on Croatian, which blend in with the local environment, and styled by the environmentally-aware host in the traditions of the area in which the campsite is located. Apartments and bungalows are spacious and well equipped, and in each you will feel like you are at your own summer residence. With your family and friends you can enjoy all the comforts that this type of holiday offers, from the living room with its satellite TV, the kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom, shower, tub on the terrace, and the relaxing shades of green and azure outdoors.

If you are looking for a more 'Robinson Crusoe' type of experience, you could also rent a tent, although you may also find that in a wooden and cane-built bungalow, built using materials and styles from some of Croatia's water-rich areas, where such canes and reeds abound. These bungalows owe their natural airiness to their unique construction. The cane is also wellknown as an outstanding soundproofing material, so in such an environment you will enjoy peace and quiet. You will feel for yourself the positive energy that all these accommodation possibilities provide, so don't hesitate to come and experience it in Croatia's campsites.