Page 252 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

250  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

SHOPPING IN CROATIA

Croatia does its best to encourage its On the island of Pag, exquisite lace is
visitors to go shopping (indeed it is a made and in Osijek, where beautiful
significant factor in local economies) and embroidery is a proud tradition, you can
there is a range of traditional and typical also buy pretty cost ume dolls. Ties and
crafts that make excellent souvenirs. The fountain pens, both of which originated
prices are by and large very reasonable in Croatia, also make good purchases. In
too. Shoppers can choose from a variety some resorts, local artists make a living
of products, from works of creative by selling their watercolours. Visitors can
handicraft such as handmade lace or also buy all sorts of delicious Croatian
hand-painted ceramics to jewellery. comestibles, from honey to plum brandy.

often displayed in the markets, or by posting the verified
but it should be remembered receipt back to the shop,
that at times the prices together with the number of
displayed are not always the the bank account into which
same as those applied to the the refund should be paid. In
local people. The spending this case the refund is dealt
power of foreign visitors is with within 15 days of receipt
frequently much greater than of the claim.
that of the local Croats and can
occasionally result in pricing Markets
variations for locals.
The street markets of Croatia
are colourful, lively places to
Paying
stroll around.
In department stores, shopping In Zagreb, the Dolac (see
centres and the major chain p159) is a daily market where
stores, it is possible to pay using food is sold under colourful
one of the main international red umbrellas. There is also an
Jars of various types of honey, a speciality credit cards. In the smaller underground area here where
on the island of Šolta shops and in places such as other products such as meat,
markets, payments should be dairy products and food
Opening Hours
made in cash, with kuna. are sold.
Shops and department stores In Split there is a morning
are usually open from 8am to Vat Refunds market which is held every
8pm from Monday to Friday day on Pazar, just east of the
(but some stores may open at Tourists in Croatia who spend palace walls. This market sells
7am and close at 9pm) and more than 740 kuna on a single absolutely everything: fruit,
from 8am to 2 or 3pm on item are entitled to a refund of vegetables, flowers, shoes,
Saturdays. However, remember the Value Added Tax (VAT),
that sometimes small shops in which is called PDV in Croatia.
the smaller towns close at When making your purchase,
lunchtime, usually from noon you should ask the sales
to 4pm in summer. Shops are assistant for the appropriate
generally closed on Sundays form (PDV–P or Tax Free), which
and holidays but in the high should be properly filled in and
season in the tourist resorts stamped, on the spot.
many shops stay open for This document should
business as usual. be handed to the customs
authorities on departure from
Croatia, thus verifying that the
Prices item bought is genuinely
The prices are fixed in the shops destined for export.
and it is not usual to haggle A PDV refund in kuna can
over prices. This is also the case be obtained within three
in the markets and at the street months, either at the same
stalls where prices are also fixed shop where the goods were
and it is not common practice purchased (in which case the Fruit and vegetables on sale at the Dolac
to negotiate. The prices are tax is refunded immediately), market in Zagreb

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