• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Social Life in Croatia

Behavior

The Croats are very well aware of the world around them as well as the differences in opinions and behaviors. Because of this they are quite understanding of various cultures and foreigners so odd behaviors are generally accepted (but not encouraged).

Your behavior should begin with modesty as being loud, rude, showing off wealth, or dressing provocatively will get you stares. Likewise, placing yourself above others or boasting is viewed negatively.

As a visitor to Croatia, just try to follow the lead of the locals by dressing in like manner (see below for details), dining in the local etiquette (see our Croatia Dining & Food Page), and avoid sensitive conversation topics, such as politics, finances, and business unless initiated by your local counterpart.

Dress

The traditional clothing in Croatia is called narodna nošnja, which simply means national dress. However, this traditional dress is quite varied since the country is divided by mountains, having led to numerous clothing variations over time. For women the dress generally consisted of a white blouse, skirt or tunic, an apron, which was usually quite colorful, sometimes a vest, and a hat or cloth for their hair. For men the dress was generally similar as most men wore dark pants, a colorful belt, a white shirt, and a decorated vest, which was again usually on a dark base to match the pants. Red is a very common color among the Croatians, but again this is regional.

Today most Croatians wear modern western-styled clothing with a great amount of variation. Many people are somewhat conservative and dress in a similar fashion as few people wear shorts or short-sleeved shirts, but the younger generation is quickly changing this.

As a visitor to Croatia you are free to wear just about anything so long as it's not too revealing. On beaches and the islands swim wear is more common, but cover up if dining at a nearby restaurant, even if it's on the beach. The opposite is true as the people tend to dress on the formal side in churches and in business settings so if in doubt dress on the more conservative and formal side. Lastly, sunbathing naked or women sunbathing topless is only permitted in certain places so always be sure to know where this is allowed before doing so.

This page was last updated: November, 2013