Safest cities in Croatia
3 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in CroatiaAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Croatia, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsTourists have been overcharged at certain ‘gentlemen’s clubs’, sometimes by thousands of euros, and threatened with violence if they refuse to pay.
- Attacks and sexual assaults in taxisThere have been reports of sexual assaults in taxis in Croatia. To reduce risk and help prevent potential assaults:
- Large gatherings, including football matchesLarge gatherings and public events are overwhelmingly safe and peaceful in Croatia, including sporting events. However, there are periodic cases of violence between football fans around matches. Care should be taken near football stadiums around match times, especially “derby” matches, and you should:
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDAlways carry your passport or, if you’re a resident, your Croatian ID card. Keep a copy of your passport’s photo page in a safe place.
- Antisocial behaviourIn some Croatian town centres, including tourist destinations like Split and Dubrovnik, you can get on-the-spot fines for behaviour seen as inappropriate, including:
- Illegal drugsIllegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. Carrying cannabis for personal use has been decriminalised but if found on you or in your apartment, you will be asked to pay sometimes heavy fines.
- Unexploded minesIf you travel outside the tourist resorts, beware of unexploded mines in previously war-affected areas, including:
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Hiking and mountaineeringIf you’re hiking in the mountains, get expert advice from local guides, however tame the mountain might seem. Weather in the Croatian mountains can change quickly, even in summer. Temperatures can get very low overnight.
- Music festivalsMany music festivals are held in Croatia each year. Follow the advice of police and local authorities when attending events and take care of your valuables if attending a festival or large concert. Find out how to enjoy festivals safely with the festival travel checklist.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you’re planning to drive in Croatia, see information on driving abroad and check the rules of the road in RAC’s Croatia guide. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of, such as:
- Sea travelDo not drink alcohol if you’re in charge of a yacht or boat. There are heavy penalties for being caught drunk in charge of a boat and a zero-tolerance approach.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- WildfiresWildfires are common during Croatia’s hot and dry summers. They can be highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly. Take care when visiting or driving through woodland and forest areas. If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112.
- EarthquakesEarthquakes in Croatia can be strong and cause deaths and damage to infrastructure. In recent years, there have been earthquakes in Zagreb and in Petrinja, near Sisak in central Croatia. Both caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure and loss of life. Heavily damaged buildings, which are not always signposted, may be unstable.
- FloodsFlash floods can happen with very little warning and lead to dangerous water flows and disruption to transport and other networks. There is the highest risk of flooding in central Croatia, between Karlovac and Slavonski Brod. Monitor Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service forecasts, as well as traffic conditions with the Croatian…
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Croatia, updated 2026-08-11 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 1.01 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 30.12023
- Human development
- HDI 0.8892023
- Income
- $50,410/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 7.9 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 76/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 63/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 47/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 2.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.79GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 15.8 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 87%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 3.9 doctors /1k5.6 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 6.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 5.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 5.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 2.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Croatia (as of 2025).
How Croatia compares
| Measure | Croatia | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.0 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −1.4 /100k — better for Croatia |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 30.1 | 35.2 | −5.1 — better for Croatia |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.889 | 0.763 | +0.126 — better for Croatia |
| Road deaths | 7.9 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −7.5 /100k — better for Croatia |
| Rule of law | 63/100 | 52/100 | +11/100 — better for Croatia |
| Corruption perceptions | 47/100 | 39/100 | +8/100 — better for Croatia |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 15.8 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −3.9 µg/m³ — better for Croatia |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.5/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.3/10 — better for Croatia |
| Measure | Croatia | Europe median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.0 /100k | 1.0 /100k | +0.0 /100k |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 30.1 | 30.7 | −0.6 — better for Croatia |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.889 | 0.911 | −0.022 — better for Europe median |
| Road deaths | 7.9 /100k | 5.5 /100k | +2.4 /100k — better for Europe median |
| Rule of law | 63/100 | 74/100 | −11/100 — better for Europe median |
| Corruption perceptions | 47/100 | 57/100 | −10/100 — better for Europe median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 15.8 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ | +4.6 µg/m³ — better for Europe median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.5/10 | 2.5/10 | ±0.0/10 |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.