Rijeka

History

The name Rijeka appeared in the records in the 13th century. In the Roman times there was Tarsatica (first mentioned in 60 BC), a key fortification and settlement on the borderline of the so-called Liburnian Limes (Illyrian Liburnia stretched from Plomin to the Krka river in Dalmatia). Tarsatica was last mentioned in AD 799. From the end of the 7th century under the Croatian rule; after that changed several rulers, and in 1466 fell under the rule of the Habsburgs, which helped them to spread their property to the Adriatic coast in the 15th century, which in turn resulted in conflicts with Venice (1509, Venetians turned the town into ashes). Rijeka gained autonomy at the end of the 16th century, and in 1719 was declared a free port by Emperor Charles VI. Under the rule of Maria Theresa (1776) Rijeka and a part of Primorje formed a special territorial unit within Croatia. -After the French and Austrian administration, it was included under the Croatian civil administration in 1822. In 1848 Rijeka supported the Hungarian Revolution, upon which the Croatian Viceroy Josip Jelacic became the Governor of Rijeka. In 1919 Rijeka was occupied by Gabriele d'Annunzio and his legionaries. According to the Treaty of Rapallo (1920), the State of Rijeka was established; pursuant to the Treaty of Rome, Rijeka fell to Italy (1924-43). In 1945 it was annexed to the parent country, Croatia.

Info
Area and population
44 km2 – 150.000

Language
Official language is Croatian. Most commonly used foreign languages are English and Italian.
 
Time zone
Central European Time GMT +1 (GMT + 2 from last Saturday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
 
Power supply
220 V, 50 Hz. Plugs have two round pins or three round pins for appliances that need to be earthed. If you need adapters or transformers inquire in bigger shops with electric supplies or in supermarkets.
 
Water: tap water is absolutely safe for drinking.
 
Climate
Climate is Sub-Mediterranean on the coast; temperate continental to mountainous in other parts of Croatia. Weather information and forecats http://meteo.hr/index_en.php 

Currency
Hrvatska kuna (HRK), 1 HRK = 100 lipa, 1 Euro = around 7,30 HRK. Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks, exchange bureaux, post offices, hotels, campsites.
Exchange rates (Croatian national bank) http://www.hnb.hr/tecajn/etecajn.htm
Currency converter http://www.xe.com/ucc/full/

Credit cards / Cash machines
Credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, shops and filling stations. The accepted credit card logos are usually displayed at the entrance to the sales point. Cash machines (ATMs) are available all around the city.

Visas
For information about visas, diplomatic missions and consular offices please visit the web site of Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. http://www.mfa.hr/MVP.asp?pcpid=1612
 
Customs / VAT
All major items are required to be declared at the customs. By doing so, you will be allowed to take them back on your return without any problems. The VAT in Croatia is 22% for most purchases, except bread, milk, books 0% and accommodation services 10%. You should keep receipts for the purchases in Croatia which exceed 500 HRK and then you qualify for a tax refund when you get home. It is required to take a stamp on the border. If you intend to buy works of art, ask for export approval before you buy them.  More http://www.carina.hr/engindex.htm
 
Safety
You will surely find Rijeka to be remarkably safe in comparison to most Western European cities, even at night. Although there is little street crime, it is recommended to keep an eye on your personal belongings.
 
WLAN access
Free wireless internet access is available in the Rijeka centre, on Trsat and at the Swimming Complex Kantrida.

GSM networks
The usage of the mobile phone in Croatia:
• calls to Croatian fixed network: Area Code + Telephone number
example for Rijeka: 051 xxx xxx
• calls to mobile networks: 098 (099, 091, 095, 092) + Mobile number
example: 098 xx xx xxx
• calls to foreign fixed networks: International Country Code + Area Code +
Telephone number
example for Austria (Vienna): +43 1 xx xx xxx
• calls to foreign GSM networks: International Country Code + Network Key
+ Mobile number
example for Austrian A1-network: +43 664 xx xxx
When dialing international country code you should drop "0" for area code.

Banks
Bank main offices are open from 8:00 to 19:00, and branches only mornings until 13:00 or, alternatively, every second day in the morning and every other day in the afternoon. Banks offer a wide range of banking services as well as exchanging money. Cashpoints (US ATM) are almost everywhere. In the centre of the town, Jadranski trg (Jadran Square), within Erste bank there is a cashpoint for exchanging foreign currency (0:00 - 24:00).

Post offices
The main post office is at Korzo 13 and operates daily from 07:00 to 21:00 and sunday from 07:00 to 14:00, while the branches operate until 19:00. The Post Office 2, operates from monday to saturday (from 07:00 to 20:00). Stamps can be bought in post offices and news-stands. In telephone boxes only telephone chip cards can be used and are obtainable in post offices, news-stands and hotel front desks.

Shops
Shops in the centre of the town are open from 8:00 to 20:00, Saturdays until 13:00 and Sundays closed. Central Market operates daily until 14:00, on Sunday until 12:00. Brajda Market is open until 18:00. In the town centre there are also some drugstores open 24 hours. After 20:00 cigarettes and newspapers can be bought at the news-stand at Bus Station Žabica.

Medical assistance
If you need medical assistance, you can get it with the necesary documentation at the same place as Croatian citizens. In case of emergency call 94.

Hospitals
KBC RIJEKA, Krešimirova 42, Tel: 658-111
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, Istarska 43, Tel: 659-111
MATERNITY HOSPITAL, Krešimirova 42, Tel: 658-111
DOM ZDRAVLJA RIJEKA, Cambierijeva ulica 7, Tel: 335-588

Important telephone numbers
POLICE Tel: 92
FIRESTATION Tel: 93
EMERGENCY ROOM tel: 94
ASSISTANCE-ON THE ROAD (CROATIAN CAR CLUB) Tel: 987
SEARCH AND RESCUE SERVICE AT SEA Tel: 9155
MOUNTAIN RESCUE SERVICE Tel: 091/5911111
INFORMATION CENTRE Tel: 112
MUNICIPAL SERVICES Tel: 0800-5100

More information about Rijeka and the region
Tourist information centres:
TIC Rijeka – Korzo 33a, tel. 335 882, e-mail: tic@ri.t-com.hr
TIC Opatija – Maršala Tita 101, tel. 271 310, e-mail: opatijainfo@ri.t-com.hr

For more information about Rijeka, please visit the following web sites:
Rijeka Tourist Board & Convention Bureau http://www.tz-rijeka.hr/english/default.asp        
City of Rijeka http://www.rijeka.hr/Default.aspx?sec=394                                               
Rijeka in your pocket http://www.inyourpocket.com/croatia/city/rijeka.html Opatija Tourist Board http://www.opatija-tourism.hr/Home.aspx?PageID=1&gohome=true
Croatian National Tourist Board http://www.croatia.hr/English/default.aspx  
The Kvarner County Tourism Office http://kvarner.hr/default.asp?lang=en