Croatia (HR)
Croatia is a scenic Adriatic nation at the crossroads of Central and Southern Europe, celebrated for its over 1,200 islands and islets, medieval walled cities, eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, crystal-clear waters of the Dalmatian coast, and rich Habsburg-era architecture.
Daily Life
Practical day-to-day information for living in Croatia.
🛒 Supermarkets
Croatia's largest supermarket chain — part of the Agrokor/Fortenova group. Present in almost every town and city. Good range of Croatian and EU products. Multiplus loyalty card offers discounts. Open most holidays.
German discount chain with extensive Croatian presence. Excellent value for basics and weekly specials (Thursday/Sunday promotions). Growing fresh produce section. Popular with expats for familiar European brands at lower prices.
Austrian/international chain with a strong Croatian presence. Wider product range than discount chains — good for international and imported products. Superstore format (Eurospar) includes non-food items.
German hypermarket chain. Large format stores with wide selection including electronics, clothing, and home goods alongside groceries. Good value, particularly for bulk purchases.
Popular in Dalmatia (Split region) — a Croatian regional chain with good local products. Known for fresh Dalmatian produce, local wine, and olive oil.
Croatian budget supermarket chain — good value for basics. Strong presence outside major city centres. Limited international selection but excellent for fresh local Croatian produce.
Speciality Croatian delis and butchers for premium local products — Slavonian kulen, Istrian prosciutto (pršut), local cheeses (paški sir from Pag island). Found in covered markets (tržnice) in most cities.
Opening Hours
Shops: generally Monday–Friday 08:00–20:00, Saturday 08:00–15:00. Supermarkets: typically 07:00–21:00 weekdays, 07:00–20:00 Saturday. Shopping centres: Monday–Saturday 09:00–21:00, Sunday 10:00–20:00. Smaller Croatian shops may close during the traditional afternoon break (13:00–17:00) in coastal areas, particularly outside peak tourist season. Pharmacies: Monday–Friday 08:00–20:00, Saturday 08:00–14:00; duty pharmacies (dežurna ljekarna) open 24/7 on a rotating schedule.
Sunday Rules
Most larger supermarkets and shopping centres are open on Sundays (10:00–20:00). Smaller shops may close Sunday or have limited hours. Markets (tržnice) often operate Sunday morning only. Government offices, banks, and post offices are closed on Sundays. Sunday trading laws in Croatia are more relaxed than in some EU countries — major chains typically remain open.
Recycling
Croatia has significantly improved its recycling infrastructure since EU accession. Coloured bins for sorting: blue (paper/cardboard), yellow (plastic/metal), green (glass), brown/grey (mixed waste). Depozitni sustav: bottle deposit scheme (povratna naknada) — return plastic bottles and cans to machines in supermarkets for a €0.07 deposit refund per item. Green islands (zeleni otoci) — recycling drop points — are distributed throughout neighbourhoods. Hazardous waste (batteries, electronics) at designated collection points. See city waste management websites for schedules.
Dining Out
Croatian dining culture revolves around fresh, seasonal local ingredients. Lunch (ručak, 12:00–15:00) is traditionally the main meal. Zagreb has a vibrant café and restaurant scene. Coastal restaurants specialise in Adriatic seafood — grilled fish priced by weight (usually €15–40/kg for prized fish like sea bass or bream). Menu del giorno (dnevni obrok) — daily lunch menu — offers excellent value (€8–12 for soup, main, and drink) in most Croatian restaurants. Dinner service from 18:00. Booking essential for popular restaurants in tourist areas in summer. Vegetarian and vegan options growing in Zagreb and tourist centres; limited in rural areas.
Utilities & Internet
Electricity: HEP (Hrvatska elektroprivreda) is the main provider. Average monthly bill: €60–100 for a 1-bedroom apartment. Gas: Gradska plinara Zagreb for Zagreb; various regional providers. Water: provided by municipal companies (Vodoopskrba i odvodnja in Zagreb). Rubbish collection included in communal charges (pričuva). Utilities are included in many rental agreements — check your contract. Set up direct debit (trajni nalog) at your bank. Bills also payable at post office (Hrvatska pošta), banks, or online via internet banking.
Cultural Tips for Expats
- → Coffee culture is sacred — Croats spend significant time in cafés (kafići) for kavica (coffee). This is a social ritual, not just caffeine intake. Espresso (espresco) is standard; cappuccino and latte also popular. Expect to linger over coffee for an hour or more.
- → Siesta / afternoon break tradition persists in smaller towns and coastal areas — businesses may close 13:00–17:00 outside tourist season. Plan accordingly.
- → Local market (tržnica) culture: fresh produce markets in every town centre (Zagreb's Dolac market is iconic). Shopping at the tržnica for fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, and meat is a daily ritual for many Croats.
- → Sports passion: Football (Hajduk Split vs. Dinamo Zagreb is one of Europe's most heated club rivalries), basketball, water polo, and handball are major national sports. Croatia consistently punches above its weight in international sports.
- → The Adriatic coast is Croatia's most treasured national asset — environmental protection is increasingly prioritised. Littering, camping outside designated areas, and damaging marine life carry significant fines.
- → Public holidays are taken very seriously — virtually all offices close and family gatherings are expected. Plan your schedule accordingly, especially around Christmas, Easter, and the August national holidays.
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours (mir i tišina) are regulated by local ordinances in Croatian municipalities. Violations can result in fines from local inspectors.
All residential buildings — no loud music, construction, or disruptive noise
Residential buildings — particularly enforced in coastal areas and smaller towns. Construction noise prohibited.
Construction work prohibited. Loud residential noise (power tools, loud music) strongly discouraged.
- •Playing loud music on terraces after 22:00 — common tourist mistake in coastal areas
- •Running washing machines and dishwashers late at night in apartment blocks
- •Construction or renovation work starting before 08:00 or continuing after 22:00
- •Loud gatherings in communal apartment spaces after 22:00
Fines issued by local komunalni redari (municipal inspectors) for repeat offenders. Neighbours can call the police (192) for serious disturbances. In coastal tourist areas, noise ordinances are strictly enforced in summer to protect local residents.
Postal Services
HP (Hrvatska pošta) is the national postal operator. Post offices (pošta) in every town. DHL, FedEx, GLS, and DPD operate courier services. Online shopping delivery is well-served by Overseas shipping to Croatia is subject to EU customs rules for non-EU goods.
HP has a network of self-service parcel lockers (Paketomati) in cities and shopping centres. InPost lockers are growing in Zagreb. DPD pick-up points (PUDOs) available at petrol stations and convenience stores.
ID required to collect packages with customs declaration or registered mail. Packages from non-EU countries above €150 are subject to customs duty and VAT.
Preporučena pošta (registered mail) requires signature at delivery. If absent, a notification card is left — collect at local post office within 15 days. Valuable registered items can be insured.
HP offers address redirection service (preusmjerenje pošte) for a fee. Cancel or redirect mail when moving.
- →Post offices (pošta) also offer banking services, bill payment, and government form submission
- →Track HP parcels at posta.hr
- →For international shipping, compare HP rates with courier services (DHL often faster for urgent items)
- →Pick up customs-held packages at the main post office or customs depot — bring your ID and customs notice