The Croatian Kuna
The Croatian currency is the Kuna, which is divided into 100 lipas. (The word "Kuna" means marten, a weasel-like animal, whose fur Croats used for payment many centuries ago. The lipa is a lime tree, but we don't know the connection here!) When listed as a price, the Kuna is abbreviated to Kn.

The Kuna comes in dominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 as notes and 1, 2, 5, 25 as coins. The Lipa comes in coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50.

The 200 Kuna note. The front features Stjepan Radic, a Croatian politician and leader of the Peasant Party. The back shows Osijek's headquarters, a building which dates from 1726

In the opinion of many, the Kuna is overvalued but is nevertheless a stable currency. The current exchange rate between the Kuna and various world currencies can be found at the Croatian National Bank.

Obtaining Kunas prior to your visit to Croatia
In the UK, it is possible to obtain the Kuna prior to your trip to Croatia at some foreign exchange stores. The easiest way might be to purchase your money online, as once you order the amount you want, the money can either be posted to you (for a charge) or it can be picked up at an airport prior to your departure.

Travelex, for example, now offer home delivery for foreign currency purchases. The also allow you to pick up your purchased currency at various Heathrow and Gatwick terminals. Travelex charge 0% commission - click on the banner for more details.

Check also with your own bank to see if can order Kunas online with them.

ATMs in Croatia
Alternatively, you may not see the need to purchase Croatian Kunas prior to your trip - which is perfectly understandable! In this case, our first piece of advice would be to take a bank card/cash card instead - this avoids the need to travel with large-ish amounts of cash, and ATMs are readily available in all resorts, towns and cities in Croatia, in banks, supermarkets, airports and elsewhere.

As a foreign card is inserted into the machine, you will most likely be presented you with a choice of languages - no need to navigate through Croatian-language menus! The exchange rate you'll receive will be fairly good, and there may only be a small service charge, which depends on your bank back home - you may want to check before travelling. Local banks may also charge an operating fee on top of this.

If you travel abroad a fair bit, you may like to see if you can find a bank in your home country that will give you a debit card that doesn't incur charges when used aboard. In the UK, Nationwide are currently the only bank/building society that offer such a debit card.

Other currencies and changing money in Croatia
You will find that you can pay for some items - accommodation, taxis, some restaurants - in Euros. You'll find most people know the current rate of exchange between the Euro and the Kuna and if you do wish to take some foreign currency to Croatia, Euros are probably the most suitable. Generally, though, you're better off having Kunas (or converting your own currency into them) to make things easiest when you're in Croatia - it is the currency, after all!

Otherwise, if you don't have any spare Euros lying around, taking whatever currency is most suitable/easy for you is fine - i.e. if you're arriving from the U.S., just bring along your US Dollars! Likewise, take your UK Pounds if coming from the UK - no need to change your Pounds into US Dollars (or vice versa) to change into Kunas when in Croatia. UK Pounds, US Dollars and Euros are easily changeable in Croatia, although other currencies can of course be changed too.

Hotel exchange rates are usually quite poor, so try to avoid changing your money at your hote. You'll probably be better off changing your money in a bank or in one of numerous Bureaux de Change dotted around towns.