National Holidays in Croatia

On the following National Holidays, the banks, shops, post offices and public institutions are closed:

New Year’s Day 1 January
Epiphany 6 January
Easter Monday March/April
Labour Day 1 May
Corpus Christi 10 June
Day of Antifascist Resistance 22 June
Statehood Day 25 June
Victory Day and National Thanksgiving Day 5 August
Feast of the Assumption 15 August
Independence Day 8 October
All Saints’ Day 1 November
Christmas 25 & 26 December

During above holidays most bus, ferry and train timetables usually are changed. Sometimes the traffic happens to be denser on the main roads from/to the inland to the seaside. Check my high season Jadrolinija ferry schedules from June to September 2009.

During the high season (July and August) in same tourist places, you can find small grocery stores open for few hours in the morning of the festive holidays.

If you happen to be in Croatia on above national holidays, here the list of some cultural events /music or film festivals, concerts or local feasts) that are worth visiting.

National Holidays by months

JUNE

Rovinj: Summer Salsa Festival

Sibenik: International Children’s Festival

Zagreb: Dance Week Festival

MAY

Split:
International Flower Fair
What could usher in spring better than a flower fair? The basement halls of Diocletian’s Palace are filled with flowers as florists compete for the best display.

St Duje Day
The patron saint of Split is St Duje (St Domnius) and his feast day is on May 7. Expect games, prizes, competitions, processions and, possibly, a giant risotto in the town centre.

AUGUST

Zadar

Full Moon Festival in Zadar On the night of the full moon (usually around the beginning of the month), Zadar celebrates its folklore tradition by brining in dancers and musicians from outlying regions. Gastronomy is on display as well as taverns turn out traditional dishes and fishermen sell their catch on the boats lining Zadar’s illuminated quays.

July-August

Dubrovnik

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival keeps the Old Town young every summer. Concerts of all sorts take place nearly every night in venues around town while every place with a stage hosts a play or two. The most prestigious is the traditional production of Hamlet staged at Fort Lovrijenac. Heartthrob Goran Visnjic of "ER" fame once played the brooding prince there. See the Dubrovnik Summer Festival website for schedules and tickets.

Sinj

The victory over the Turks is celebrated around the beginning of August in the famous Sinjska alka.

October

Zagreb

Zagreb Film Festival - Not just Croatian films (although they are well represented) but a selection of films from renowned and up-and-coming international directors.

Istrian Truffle Days - Motovun Lovers of the tuberous wonder should immediately schedule a long stay in Istria, famous for its black and white truffles.

Back to About Croatia Page

Return to Home Page