Is Dubrovnik safe?
Safe, with normal care. Pickpocketing and overpriced tourist traps are the main nuisances; heat, cruise crowds and slippery stone cause more trouble.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2026-05-17.
- Homicide rate in Croatia: 0.7 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Croatia: 7.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 192 · Ambulance 194 · Fire 193 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Dubrovnik at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpockets in the Old Town's narrow lanes and on buses in peak season, overcharging by some restaurants and taxis, and occasional bar fights. |
| At night | Old Town is lively until midnight and then empties; Lapad and Gruž are quiet. Use Bolt late at night. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women, day and night. Use app taxis from the port and watch drinks in bars. |
| Other risks | Heat above 35°C in July and August; Steep, slippery marble steps in the Old Town; Wildfires in the hills in dry summers |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Restaurants and bars adding cover charges or unlisted prices
- Unlicensed taxis near Pile Gate quoting very high flat fares
- Touts selling unofficial wall or island tickets
Take care
- Old Town lanes in peak crowds: pickpockets target phones
- Rocky swimming spots: slippery steps and sea urchins
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Swimwear or going shirtless in Split, Dubrovnik and other town centres brings on-the-spot fines
- Drinking alcohol in public spaces is fined in several tourist town centres
- Outdoor fires and barbecues are illegal June–October outside designated areas
How Dubrovnik compares in Croatia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Zagreb | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Zadar | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Pula | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Rovinj | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Korčula | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Brač | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Šibenik | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Krk | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Poreč | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Trogir | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Vis | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Opatija | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Split | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dubrovnik | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hvar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Makarska | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rijeka | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Dubrovnik safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women, day and night. Use app taxis from the port and watch drinks in bars.
Is Dubrovnik safe at night?
Old Town is lively until midnight and then empties; Lapad and Gruž are quiet. Use Bolt late at night.
What is the crime rate in Dubrovnik?
Pickpockets in the Old Town's narrow lanes and on buses in peak season, overcharging by some restaurants and taxis, and occasional bar fights. Nationally, Croatia records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Dubrovnik?
Police 192 · Ambulance 194 · Fire 193 · All emergencies 112.
More about Dubrovnik
Going to Dubrovnik solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Dubrovnik Tourist Board
- Libertas Dubrovnik
- Dubrovnik Airport
- Dubrovnik General Hospital
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.