It is considered rude to place one's hands below the table. Rather, Croatians tend to keep their hands above the table. In Croatia, lunch is considered to be the main meal of the day and may consist of multiple courses. It is very common for a glass of wine to accompany the meal and it is common for people to toast.

In Croatia, certain cultural norms are taken very seriously, and ignoring them can be seen as quite disrespectful. One of the most common faux pas is wearing swimwear or going shirtless anywhere outside of the beach or pool area; walking through the historic streets of Split or Dubrovnik in a bikini can result in a fine of up to 500 euros. Additionally, public drunkenness is heavily frowned upon and culturally inappropriate. In social settings, it is considered rude to call Croatia "Eastern Europe"—locals much prefer "Central Europe" or the "Mediterranean." Another unique cultural quirk involves the "Propuh" (draft); many Croatians believe that a cross-breeze between two open windows can cause illness, so closing a window that someone else opened is a common and respected move. Lastly, avoid sitting directly on cold concrete (believed to cause health issues) and never bring up the 1990s war with Serbia unless you are very close with the person, as it remains a sensitive and deeply personal topic for many families.