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World > Croatia > Mali-Losinj
City Guide Mali-Losinj
Overview
General Information
Mali Lošinj is the biggest town on the island Lošinj in Croatia, embedded in the bay of Augustus. The beginnings of the town date back to the 12th century when 12 Croatian families fled from the Mongols from Hungary and settled down in the small bay of the Holy Martin. After agricultural use and cattle-breeding away from the shores, people started fishing and settling along the sea side which contributed to the growth of the today’s cities. Mali Lošinj is the biggest and most important tourism and economy centre on the island Lošinj. Especially shipbuilding is a very crucial backbone of the city. Besides the Croatian island beauty offers a lot of sport activities, a high amount of accommodations and recreation areas. Nevertheless, Mali Lošinj with its old Captain’s Villas has preserved a natural atmosphere and a certain serenity which makes a stay even more enjoyable. Although the numbers of tourists are rising, Mali Losinj belongs to the less touristy places where fantastic sunsets and rocky beaches offer space for a romantic time.
Weather
Mali Losinj has a mild climate with warm winters and nicely warm summers. The average temperature in January is 7,3 °C and in July 24,7 °C. The average annual temperature is 15 °C. Due to its nice weather conditions the area was established as climatic health resorts. The best time to visit is from May to October.
Languages
The official language in Croatia is Croatian which belong to the South Slavic group of Indo-European languages and is written with the Latin alphabet. About 4,8 million people speak Croatian. In most of the hotels German, English and most of the time also Italian is widely understood and spoken. Even in most restaurants and shops you can use one of the three mentioned languages for communicating.
Religion
About 76 % of the Croatian population is Roman-Catholic. But there is also an Islamic and a Jewish community. A small percentage belongs to the Protestant church or are atheist.
Curreny
The Croatian currency is Kuna (1 Kuna = 100 Lipa). Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Lipa and 1, 2, 5 and 25 Kuna and notes in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Kuna. Foreign currencies can be changed at banks, exchange offices, at post offices as well as in hotels, on camping grounds and travel agencies. Sometimes paying with Euro is possible but the exchange rate is worse. Credit cards can be used in most hotels, restaurants and shops (American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard/Mastercard, Visa).
Tipping
Usually tips are already included in the price for meals and drinks. But it is common to tip 10% of the total price. Tips for hotel staff depends on the category of the hotel and starts with 10 Euro per week. Taxi drivers normally don’t expect tips but appreciate a small tip anyway.
Taxes
Personal objects are not taxed. Valuable professional and technical equipment needs to be declared at the customs office at the border. The VAT (PDV) can be reclaimed by foreign visitors for goods purchased in Croatia with a higher value than 500,00 Kuna. Ask for a PDV-P form in the shop and have it filled in and verified by the salesperson. When leaving the country the invoices and the form need to be certificated by the customs office. The VAT (PDV) can be reclaimed within 6 months after the purchase, either personally from the salesperson who sold the goods (immediate recompense) or via the postal address of the salesperson (recompense via bank account within 15 days after the receipt of the claim).
Telephone
To call Croatia from abroad you have to dial +385 and for Mali Lošinj (0)51. Public telephones can only be used with telephone cards which can be purchased in hotels, at kiosks and at post offices.
Internet
Internet access is fairly commonplace in Croatia; broadband services less so, although coverage is increasing all the time. Something that passes for an Internet cafe can be found pretty much anywhere, even if this consists of a PC in the corner of a bar.
Emergency numbers
Ambulance: 94 Fire Brigade: 93 Police: 92
Opening times
Shops are open on weekdays from 8 am – 8 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to 2 or 3 pm. Some shops have a break in between and are open from 8 am to 12 am and from 4 pm to 8 pm, some others are even open until 10 and are also open on Sundays. Public Services and offices are open during the week from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Opening times of banks are weekdays from 7 am to 7 pm and on Saturdays until 1 pm.
Public Holidays
1. Jan: New Year (Nova godina) Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (Uskrsni ponedjeljak) 1. May: Labour Day Corpus Christi 22. June: Day of Anti Faschism (Dan antifašisticke borbe) 25. June: National Holiday (Dan državnosti) 5. Aug: Day of Victory and Gratefulness (Dan domovinske zahvalnosti) Ascension Day (Velika gospa) 8. Oct: Independence Day 1. Nov: All Saint’s Day (Svi sveti) 25. Dec: Christmas Day 26. Dec: Boxing Day
Safety
Croatia is one of the safest holiday destinations in the world. The criminal rate is very low, so there is no need to worry to be attacked at night. Minor crimes such as pick pocketing or fooling tourists are nevertheless quite common. In order to prevent that always count the change you get back and inform yourself about the exchange rate before changing currencies.
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
Mali Lošinj is a city shaped by culture and past times. In the 19th century it became a small seafarer’s town and the centre of the whole island. Still today the atmosphere of the seamen’s traditions and the life of the captains characterises the environment. Since the discovery of the climate for therapeutic use and the growth of tourism as a growing part of the economy a new leaf was turned over for the city. Especially its nice rocky beaches, bays and green promenades paired with an excellent cuisine and nice people make Mali Lošinj an ideal destination for holidays. But apart from the relaxing beaches Mali Losinj has many old churches like the church St. Martin which dates back to the year 1450 and is today located on the graveyard of Lošinj. It is the oldest building and it depicts the history of the city. The church Mala Gospa (1696 – 1775), a three naved building, and the church of the Virgin Mary from 1534 are two other examples of sights worth seeing. The latter used to be the starting point for ships. Every time they started a journey they were bid farewell people could hear the sirens. Still today this tradition is kept. If the sirens get off people know that the captain of the passing ship comes from Lošinj. Beside the churches Mali Lošinj possesses many old villas of former captains which go back to the Austrian aristocracy who built many Art Nouveau houses and middle class houses on the coast line.