While Croatians are rather less formal than the inhabitants of some Central and Eastern European nations, it’s still common to call colleagues and business partners by their title and surname. Wait for acquaintances to call you by your first name before you start doing the same. People have a tendency to evaluate another person’s 'seriousness’ in terms of dress so, to be safe, go for that Armani suit.

In social situations, Croatians also dress up rather more than you might be used to. If you’re invited to visit someone’s home for dinner or a party, it’s customary to take a gift— some wine, flowers for the hostess, and particularly sweets or a small gift for children.

To many foreigners, the subject of the war following the break-up of Yugoslavia is understandably a mystery and a source of fascination, but locals may feel fatigued by years of argument on the subject. Therefore it’s probably best not to bring up the topic. The very mention of the name Yugoslavia is, in fact, best avoided altogether.