Croatia

Croatia is supposed to be one of the sunniest countries in Europe. Visitors should expect more than 12 hours of the sunshine per day during the summer season on average, which makes it a perfect spot for a vacation in combination with the spectacular beaches the country has to offer. Moreover, it is conveniently located, it can easily be accessed from European capitals however remote. Major Croatian cities are just 2 hours away by plane from most major European hubs. The variety of activities and places of interest is so wide that you will never be bored. Above all, the country is very affordable for tourists as prices are around 15-20% lower than in major EU countries.

SAFETY INDEX

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Croatia is a very safe country for tourists, although some areas are best to avoid would require you stay vigilant during your stay. SafeAround has compiled information from diverse resources to make sure you have a safe trip in Croatia and be aware of all potential risks. Croatia is the 19th out of 162 places of the safest country in the world.

Is Croatia a Safe or Dangerous Country?

Travelling in Croatia is generally safe, it’s highly rated for its safety index in our list of the safest and most dangerous countries. The country is in top 20 safest countries on earth. Visitors of Croatia seldom face any serious threat during their stay in the country, however, pickpocketing, petty thefts, bag snatching and ATM scams do happen.

There is a high risk of pickpocketing on the streets of Zagreb as it is the main tourist destination. However, there is no specific safety concern for visitors, although some things are worth avoiding. For further information, you can visit the special city page – Zagreb.  In the last 5-6 years, the popular Adriatic beaches experience a spark in petty crimes during summer the season. Since the hard, hostility time ended in 1995, some landmines are still found in certain areas. So, if you plan a trip to a remote part of the country, it’s worth paying special attention to the mine suspected areas, as Croatia counts more than 16.000 mine warning signs. No accidents involving tourists have been reported as all areas visited by tourists are clear of landmines.

Special advice!

SafeAround advises avoiding the strip clubs at all costs, especially in Zagreb. Criminal and shady characters own these places and tend to racket visitors. There are known cases when customers were charged 2000 euros for a bottle of Champagne and forced for a pay. Using common sense is essential. If you intend to travel by car, theft risk does exist. So, we advise you use official and underground parking under surveillance both during the day and especially at night. Parking your car, we recommend you don’t leave any valuables in plain sight on a back or front seats of the car. Be very cautious when exchanging money. There are know scams in the currency exchange offices where they may charge a hidden commission. It is essential to inquire beforehand about the transaction rate and fees charged. Rates posted in some offices may only reflect the exchange rate for large amounts.  

Warnings & Dangers

Mid Priority-96 OVERALL RISK : LOW

Croatia is a very safe country. It is ranked 19 out of 162 in our ranking of the safest and most dangerous cities. However, SafeAround advises you stay vigilant and don’t let anyone fool you!

Mid Priority-96 PICKPOCKETS RISK : LOW

As it is a top tourist destination with more than 12 million foreign tourists annually, unsurprisingly pickpockets are also active in Croatia.

Mid Priority-96 MUGGING RISK : LOW

Croatia is a place where you are not likely to be kidnapped or mugged. Anyway, we recommend you do not accept drinks from strangers and avoid street touts, that are common in some touristic neighborhoods. Also, avoid poorly lit areas in the capital city of Zagreb, for instance, “Ribnjak Park” as it has a violent history of fights between local groups or “King Tomislav Park”, which is situated just in front of the Central Railway Station. In addition, the same precautions apply for the area around the “Zagreb Bus Terminal”. Mainly it’s unsafe because of the bars and casinos which work all night long and the density of the intoxicated, aggressive individuals can be very high.

Mid Priority-96 SCAMS RISK : LOW

Overcharging scams are also very common, particularly in the capital, thus avoid any suspicious bars or you might be easily charged a huge bill for your evening. Keep an eye on your credit card art all times, especially when paying at restaurants, shops and particularly in the bars/clubs.

Mid Priority-96 TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : LOW

Pickpockets operate in the public transport mainly in Zagreb. Never ask Taxi drivers for a recommendation as to which club or bar to visit, as you might be ripped off in the recommended place. The night tram is not advised as it tends to host homeless intoxicated people and is usually not reliable.

Mid Priority-96 NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : LOW

Croatia is seismically active. However, serious earthquakes are very rare.

Mid Priority-96 TERRORISM RISK : LOW

The threat of terrorism in Croatia is low.

Mid Priority-96 WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW

On the whole, Croatia is very safe for women travellers. We advise you use common sense and avoid those public places where people get intoxicated and drunk if travelling alone.

Carte

Useful Information

On the whole, Croatia is very safe for women travellers. We advise to use common sense and avoid public drunkenness places if you are alone, as well as other silliness.
The creation Kuna is the official currency of the country. Due to the high exchange rates in the local exchange offices, and high probability of scams. It is highly recommended to simply withdraw money from your credit/debit card from the ATM in order to obtain the best exchange rate possible.
Spring and Autumn are the best seasons to observe the fairy tale country.  During summer period the sunshine prevails.
Main airports in Croatia are in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Zadar. If you’re looking for cheap flight deals, you can find some on JetRadar.
As in any country, we advise travelers to get a travel insurance that covers not only medical problems but also theft and loss of personal items. Learn more on our travel insurance page.