Is Makarska safe?
Safe with normal care. Summer nightlife brings drunken fights and theft; mountain hikes and stony shores need respect.
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 Makarska at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Bag theft from beaches, drink spiking and fights near waterfront bars on summer weekends, and car break-ins. |
| At night | Busy and mostly safe until late in summer; the Riva stays lit. Take taxis rather than walking dark coastal roads. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women; watch drinks in the beach bars and avoid empty paths at night. |
| Other risks | Biokovo heat, bora wind and sudden storms; Wildfires on the slopes in dry summers; Sea urchins and slippery rocks |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Restaurants adding cover charges or unlisted prices
- Water-sport touts overcharging for unlicensed boat trips
Take care
- Waterfront bars after 2 am in July–August: drunk crowds
- Biokovo hikes in heat or bora wind: exposed and dehydrating
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 Makarska 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 Makarska safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women; watch drinks in the beach bars and avoid empty paths at night.
Is Makarska safe at night?
Busy and mostly safe until late in summer; the Riva stays lit. Take taxis rather than walking dark coastal roads.
What is the crime rate in Makarska?
Bag theft from beaches, drink spiking and fights near waterfront bars on summer weekends, and car break-ins. Nationally, Croatia records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Makarska?
Police 192 · Ambulance 194 · Fire 193 · All emergencies 112.
More about Makarska
Going to Makarska solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Makarska Tourist Board
- Jadrolinija ferries
- 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.