The +385 country code is for Croatia. A country of about 3.9 million people along the eastern Adriatic coast, Croatia is shaped like a boomerang curving around Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zagreb is the capital and largest city. The Dalmatian coast -- Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar -- draws millions of tourists each summer, but the country's economy runs on more than tourism. Croatia joined the EU in 2013, adopted the euro in January 2023, and entered the Schengen zone the same month. It was part of Yugoslavia until declaring independence in 1991, and the 1991-1995 war still shapes the country's politics and demographics.

Quick answer: The country code +385 is for Croatia. Croatian numbers have 8-9 digits after +385. Mobile numbers start with 9: +385 9X XXX XXXX (9 digits). Zagreb landlines start with 1: +385 1 XXX XXXX (8 digits). The trunk prefix is 0 -- drop it when dialing from abroad. A domestic number like 091 234 5678 becomes +385 91 234 5678.

How to call Croatia: quick reference

Croatia uses the trunk prefix 0 for domestic calls. When dialing from abroad, drop the leading 0 and replace it with +385. Germany and Bosnia are listed because they have the largest Croatian diaspora communities. Slovenia shares a border and a shared Yugoslav history.

Calling from Dialing format
US/Canada mobile +385 [local number]
US/Canada landline 011-385-[local number]
UK 00-385-[local number]
Germany 00-385-[local number]
Bosnia & Herzegovina 00-385-[local number]
Slovenia 00-385-[local number]

Understanding Croatia phone numbers

Croatia uses area codes for landlines and carrier prefixes for mobiles. The trunk prefix is 0, which you drop when dialing internationally. The total digits after +385 vary: 8 digits for Zagreb landlines, 8-9 for other landlines, and 9 for mobiles.

Mobile numbers

All Croatian mobile numbers start with 09X domestically, or +385 9X internationally. The second digit identifies the carrier:

  • 091, 098: Hrvatski Telekom (HT)
  • 099: A1 Croatia (formerly VIPnet)
  • 092, 095, 097: Telemach (formerly Tele2 Croatia)

After +385, a mobile number is 9 digits: carrier prefix (2 digits) + subscriber number (7 digits). Example: domestic 091 234 5678 becomes +385 91 234 5678.

Number portability has been available since 2006, so these prefixes are no longer a reliable carrier indicator. But they remain a useful rule of thumb.

Landline numbers and area codes

Croatia has geographic area codes. Zagreb's area code is 1 (the shortest), other cities use 2-digit codes. Domestically you dial 0 + area code + subscriber number. Internationally, drop the 0:

City Area code Domestic format International format
Zagreb 1 01 XXX XXXX +385 1 XXX XXXX
Split 21 021 XXX XXX +385 21 XXX XXX
Rijeka 51 051 XXX XXX +385 51 XXX XXX
Osijek 31 031 XXX XXX +385 31 XXX XXX
Dubrovnik 20 020 XXX XXX +385 20 XXX XXX
Zadar 23 023 XXX XXX +385 23 XXX XXX

Zagreb landlines have 7-digit subscriber numbers (8 digits total after +385). Other cities generally have 6-7 digit subscriber numbers. If someone gives you a Croatian landline number, ask whether the leading 0 is included -- that's the trunk prefix to drop.

Mobile carriers in Croatia

Hrvatski Telekom (HT) -- ~45% market share

The incumbent, majority-owned by Deutsche Telekom. Operates the largest fixed and mobile network in Croatia. Best coverage in rural areas and on the islands, which matters when you're trying to reach someone on Hvar or Korcula. HT also runs the main fibre broadband network. Prefixes 091 and 098.

A1 Croatia -- ~30% market share

Part of the A1 Telekom Austria Group (owned by América Móvil). Formerly branded as VIPnet until 2018. Strong in urban areas, particularly Zagreb and Split. Good 4G/5G coverage along the coast. Prefix 099.

Telemach Croatia -- ~20% market share

Part of United Group, which acquired Tele2 Croatia in 2020 and rebranded to Telemach in 2022. The budget option with aggressive pricing. Also provides cable internet and TV through the former Optima Telekom infrastructure. Prefixes 092, 095, 097. Smaller rural footprint than HT, but solid in cities.

During summer, the Dalmatian coast population can triple with tourists. The carriers add temporary capacity to coastal cell towers from June through September. If you're calling someone in Split or Dubrovnik in August, network congestion during peak hours is possible.

Don't confuse +385 with nearby codes

Croatia's code sits in the +38X range, which covers all the former Yugoslav republics. This is the single most confusing cluster of country codes in the world.

Code Country Note
+385 Croatia Capital: Zagreb
+386 Slovenia One digit off. Capital: Ljubljana
+387 Bosnia & Herzegovina Ethnic Croats in Herzegovina may use +385 SIMs
+381 Serbia Capital: Belgrade
+382 Montenegro Adriatic neighbor to the south
+383 Kosovo Newest code in the range
+389 North Macedonia Capital: Skopje

Before 1991, all of Yugoslavia used +38. When the country broke apart, the ITU assigned each successor state a code in the +38X range. Serbia kept +381 (closest to the original), and the rest were distributed geographically.

The biggest practical confusion is +385 vs. +386 (Croatia vs. Slovenia). Both are small countries, both joined the EU, both use the euro. One misdialed digit and you're in Ljubljana instead of Zagreb.

The Bosnia situation adds another layer. Ethnic Croats in Herzegovina (particularly around Mostar and West Herzegovina) often carry Croatian +385 SIM cards alongside their Bosnian +387 numbers. If you're calling a Bosnian Croat, ask which number to use -- the +385 number routes through Croatian networks, the +387 through Bosnian ones.

Time zone considerations

Croatia is on Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from late March to late October.

Your location Time difference Call Croatia 9 AM - 6 PM
US East Coast (EST) Croatia is 6 hours ahead 3 AM - 12 PM EST
US East Coast (EDT) Croatia is 6 hours ahead 3 AM - 12 PM EDT
US West Coast (PST) Croatia is 9 hours ahead 12 AM - 9 AM PST
UK (GMT) Croatia is 1 hour ahead 8 AM - 5 PM GMT
UK (BST) Croatia is 1 hour ahead 8 AM - 5 PM BST
Germany (CET/CEST) Same time zone 9 AM - 6 PM
Australia (AEST) Croatia is 8-9 hours behind 5 PM - 2 AM AEST (next day)

Germany shares the same time zone as Croatia, which makes it the easiest diaspora connection. The US East Coast has a workable morning window. Australia is the hardest -- Croatian-Australians typically call on weekends when the time gap is less of a problem.

Communication in Croatia

Business hours and communication style

Standard business hours are 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks often close by 3 PM. The lunch break is typically short, around 30 minutes, and people eat at their desks or nearby. This is not Spain or Italy -- the long midday break isn't a thing in Croatia.

Croatians are generally direct communicators. Business calls tend to be efficient, with small talk kept brief. Titles matter in formal contexts -- "gospodin" (Mr.) and "gospoda" (Ms.) are used with last names. In Dalmatia, the pace is a bit slower and the style more relaxed than in Zagreb.

Messaging apps

WhatsApp is the dominant messaging app, used by roughly 70-80% of the population. Viber also has a solid presence, particularly among older demographics -- Croatia is one of the European countries where both apps coexist rather than one dominating completely. Facebook Messenger is used for more casual contacts. Instagram DMs are increasingly common among younger Croatians.

For business communication, email remains standard. There's no widely-used local business messaging platform.

Network quality

Croatia has solid mobile coverage along the mainland and coast. 4G covers most populated areas, and 5G rollout began in 2022 in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, and Osijek. The Dalmatian islands have decent coverage in towns but spotty service on hiking trails and remote beaches. The interior highlands (Lika, Gorski Kotar) can have gaps between villages.

Since joining Schengen in January 2023, EU roaming rules apply. Tourists from EU countries use their home plans at no extra charge, which has reduced demand for local prepaid SIMs among European visitors.

The Croatia diaspora

Croatia has a large diaspora relative to its population. An estimated 3-4 million people of Croatian descent live abroad -- nearly as many as live in Croatia itself. The 1991-1995 war and post-war economic struggles drove a major wave of emigration, and EU accession in 2013 opened Western European labor markets, triggering another.

Germany -- the largest community

An estimated 400,000-500,000 Croatians and Croatian-descended people live in Germany, concentrated in Bavaria (Munich, Stuttgart, Nuremberg), North Rhine-Westphalia (Dusseldorf, Cologne), and Frankfurt. The first wave came as Gastarbeiter (guest workers) in the 1960s and 1970s. A second wave arrived after EU accession. Germany shares Croatia's time zone, so calling home is effortless. The Croatian football association estimates more people of Croatian origin watch national team matches in Germany than in some Croatian cities.

Austria

About 100,000-150,000 Croatians in Austria, mostly in Vienna and Graz. The Burgenland Croats are a distinct community -- ethnic Croats who have lived in Austria's Burgenland province since the 16th century and speak an archaic dialect. They're Austrian citizens with Croatian heritage going back centuries, separate from recent economic migrants.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

About 500,000 ethnic Croats live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly in Herzegovina (Mostar, Siroki Brijeg, West Herzegovina Canton) and central Bosnia (Vitez, Busovaca). Many hold Croatian citizenship and passports. The phone situation is complicated: some Bosnian Croats use Croatian +385 SIM cards, some use Bosnian +387, some carry both. During Croatian elections, buses run from Herzegovina to Croatia for voting.

Ireland

Ireland became a surprising destination after 2013. Tens of thousands of young Croatians moved to Dublin, Cork, and Galway for work, particularly in hospitality and tech. The Croatian community in Dublin grew fast enough to support its own sports clubs and cultural events.

Australia, US, and Canada

The Croatian community in Australia (about 130,000, concentrated in Melbourne and Sydney) dates to post-World War II migration. In the US, about 400,000 Americans claim Croatian ancestry, with the largest communities in the Pittsburgh area (steel industry connections), Chicago, and Cleveland. Canadian Croatians are concentrated in Toronto, Mississauga, and Hamilton. These older diaspora communities maintain cultural ties through Croatian churches, clubs, and football clubs named "Croatia" in every city.

Dialing examples

Example 1: Calling a Zagreb mobile (HT) from the US

  • Domestic number: 091 234 5678
  • Drop the trunk prefix 0: 91 234 5678
  • From a US mobile: +385 91 234 5678
  • From a US landline: 011 385 91 234 5678

Example 2: Calling a Split landline from Germany

  • Domestic number: 021 345 678
  • Drop the trunk prefix 0: 21 345 678
  • From Germany: 00 385 21 345 678

Example 3: Calling a Dubrovnik mobile (A1) from the UK

  • Domestic number: 099 876 5432
  • Drop the trunk prefix 0: 99 876 5432
  • From UK: 00 385 99 876 5432

Example 4: Calling a Zagreb landline from Bosnia

  • Domestic number: 01 456 7890
  • Drop the trunk prefix 0: 1 456 7890
  • From Bosnia: 00 385 1 456 7890

Common mistakes to avoid

Leaving the trunk prefix 0 in the number

The most common mistake. A Croatian gives you their number as 091 234 5678. You dial +385 091 234 5678. That's wrong -- you've got an extra 0. The correct international format is +385 91 234 5678. Always drop the leading 0.

Dialing +386 instead of +385

Slovenia is +386, Croatia is +385. One digit apart, both former Yugoslav states, both EU members, both use the euro. If you accidentally dial +386 91..., you might reach a Slovenian number instead of your Croatian contact.

Expecting consistent digit counts

Zagreb landlines are 8 digits after +385 (area code 1 + 7 subscriber digits). Other city landlines are 8-9 digits. Mobiles are always 9 digits. If you're used to countries with fixed-length numbers, the variable length can trip you up. Count the digits if something seems wrong.

Calling a Bosnian Croat on the wrong number

Ethnic Croats in Herzegovina often have both a Croatian +385 and a Bosnian +387 number. The +385 number may not work if they're physically in Bosnia and not near the Croatian border (where Croatian signals spill over). Ask which number to call based on where they'll be.

Summer island coverage assumptions

Croatia's islands have coverage in towns and ports, but signal drops on remote beaches, hiking trails, and between villages. If someone says they'll be "on the island" in summer and you can't reach them, it might be a coverage issue rather than them ignoring your call.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What country has the +385 country code?

The +385 country code is for Croatia.

How many digits is a Croatian phone number?

After +385, mobile numbers are 9 digits (starting with 9). Zagreb landlines are 8 digits (starting with 1). Other city landlines are 8-9 digits.

How do I call Croatia from the USA?

From a mobile phone, dial +385 followed by the number without the leading 0. From a landline, dial the US exit code 011, then 385, then the number without the leading 0.

What is the difference between +385 and +386?

+385 is Croatia (capital: Zagreb). +386 is Slovenia (capital: Ljubljana). Both are former Yugoslav republics, but they are different countries.

Does Croatia have a trunk prefix?

Yes. Croatia's trunk prefix is 0. Drop it when dialing from abroad. Domestic number 091 234 5678 becomes +385 91 234 5678 internationally.

What currency does Croatia use?

Croatia adopted the euro on January 1, 2023, replacing the Croatian kuna (HRK). Prices, including phone credit, are now in euros.

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