Everyday life in Croatia: language, coffee, opening hours, Sundays, public holidays, emergencies and work culture
In Croatia, the everyday and administrative language is Croatian; many Croatians speak English, and German or Italian are common in some regions, but learning a few basics will open doors. Shops are closed on Sundays, except for 16 Sundays a year chosen by each shopkeeper; in an emergency, dial 112. Coffee on a terrace, especially on Saturday morning in the town centre, is a real social ritual.
Daily life
- Language: Croatian. According to EURES, knowing a little of the language is advisable; English is widely spoken, German and Italian in some regions.
- Currency: the euro.
- Shops: generally Monday to Saturday; shopping centres most often open from 9:00 to 21:00, six days a week.
- Sundays: shops are closed, but each shopkeeper can choose 16 Sundays a year to open.
- Coffee: terraces open at the first ray of sunshine; Saturday-morning coffee in the town centre is a habit throughout the country (EURES).
- Food: gastronomy is a pillar of Croatian identity, from seafood on the coast to the spicy dishes of Pannonia (the eastern plain).
- Indicative prices (EURES, page updated on 03/07/2026): espresso €1.80, bread €1.41, litre of milk €1.03, pizza €10 to €12. Average gross salary 2025: €2,016 per month (€1,449 net). Prices rose by 3.4% over one year in January 2026.
- Politeness, formal address and tipping: no official source read describes these customs. To be confirmed.
Public holidays
Public holidays and non-working days 2026 according to EURES: 1 January (New Year's Day), 6 January (Epiphany), 5 and 6 April (Easter and Easter Monday), 1 May (Labour Day), 30 May (National Day), 4 June (Corpus Christi), 22 June (Anti-Fascist Struggle Day), 5 August (Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day), 15 August (Assumption), 1 November (All Saints' Day), 18 November (Remembrance Day for war victims, Vukovar and Škabrnja), 25 and 26 December (Christmas and St Stephen's Day).
Emergencies
- 112: single emergency number (EURES).
- 192: police. 193: fire brigade. 194: medical emergency (ambulance). 195: sea rescue (Civil Protection Directorate, civilna-zastita.gov.hr; gov.hr portal for 193, 194 and 195). 112 is enough in all cases.
Work culture
- Duration: 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week full-time.
- Break: at least 30 paid minutes if you work at least 6 hours in the day.
- Rest: at least 12 hours a day and 24 hours a week, in principle on Sunday.
- Overtime: at most 32 hours a month and 180 hours a year.
- Job search: the public employment service (HZZ) publishes vacancies on burzarada.hzz.hr.
Common pitfalls
- Forgetting the tax card (porezna kartica): your employer needs it from the first day (see HR-ADMINISTRATIONS-TOUS-001).
- Shopping on Sunday without checking: most shops are closed.
- Assuming everyone speaks English in the administration: arrange an interpreter or a Croatian-speaking friend for important procedures.
What changes by country of origin
- EU and EEA citizens, Swiss citizens: nothing particular for daily life. Your European Health Insurance Card lets you obtain necessary care during a temporary stay (see HR-SANTE-TOUS-001).
- British citizens (Scots included): same daily life; residence and driving licence follow third-country rules. For health, the HZZO groups them with EU and EEA citizens and Swiss citizens and accepts the British GHIC card (see HR-SANTE-TOUS-001).