Is Hvar safe?
Safe, with normal care. Party-season drinking, scooter and quad crashes, and overpriced bills cause most 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 Hvar at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Drink spiking and bar-bill disputes in Hvar Town's nightlife, theft from beach bags, and occasional drunken fights in peak season. |
| At night | Hvar Town stays busy to early morning in summer; elsewhere it is quiet by 11 pm. Taxis are scarce after midnight. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women; watch drinks in Hvar Town and book your late ride in advance. |
| Other risks | Scooter and quad crashes on steep, narrow roads; Wildfires in dry summers; Sea urchins and slippery rocks |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Bars adding cover charges or unlisted prices; check the menu before ordering
- Scooter or quad rental firms claiming damage on return
Take care
- Hvar Town bar streets late at night: spiked drinks and fights
- Narrow island roads on scooters and quads: frequent crashes
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 Hvar 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 Hvar safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women; watch drinks in Hvar Town and book your late ride in advance.
Is Hvar safe at night?
Hvar Town stays busy to early morning in summer; elsewhere it is quiet by 11 pm. Taxis are scarce after midnight.
What is the crime rate in Hvar?
Drink spiking and bar-bill disputes in Hvar Town's nightlife, theft from beach bags, and occasional drunken fights in peak season. Nationally, Croatia records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Hvar?
Police 192 · Ambulance 194 · Fire 193 · All emergencies 112.
More about Hvar
Going to Hvar solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Hvar meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Hvar Tourist Board
- Jadrolinija ferries
- Croatian National Tourist Board
- 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.