The safest Dalmatian tourist spot has been revealed

Bol on Brač

As the summer tourist season winds down in Croatia’s Split-Dalmatia County, crime statistics reveal the realities for popular destinations.

While some areas have seen an uptick in offences involving both visitors and locals, the town of Bol on the island of Brač continues to stand out for its remarkable safety record.

Bol remains a shining example of a secure and peaceful tourist compared to nearby places like Makarska and Hvar.

While minor thefts and serious crimes aren’t always headline news, this year saw some incidents. Daily Slobodna Dalmacija asked the police about crime in public spaces in the main tourist areas of the Split-Dalmatia County.

One place stands out for its low crime rates where tourists, in the broadest sense, are either victims or offenders, or simply witnesses.

The town of Bol on the island of Brač has earned a reputation for safety, as confirmed by the statistics:

In the first eight months of 2024, Bol recorded 22 criminal offences: 14 cases of juvenile delinquency, 4 general crimes, 3 traffic offences, and 1 cybercrime incident, according to the Split-Dalmatia Police Department, Slobodna Dalmacija reported.

Zlatni rat in Bol (Photo: Oliver Sjostrom/Unsplash)

These figures are identical to last year’s. No serious crimes against life or physical harm, nor violent public offences, were reported.

There were no robberies or break-ins, with only three recorded thefts.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER AREAS

For comparison, Makarska recorded 275 criminal offences in the first eight months of 2024, up from 223 the previous year.

Of these, 180 were general crimes, including 119 property-related offences. The majority of property crimes involved theft (61), aggravated theft (27), and property damage (20).

However, no robberies or life-threatening crimes were recorded in Makarska, except for three serious physical injuries, two of which have already resulted in the perpetrators being identified and charged.

Makarska

The police also noted that Makarska is considered a safe tourist destination, despite the significant increase in population during the summer due to domestic and foreign visitors.

In the City of Hvar, 58 criminal offences were recorded in the first eight months of this year, one more than last year. The majority, 46 offences, were related to general crime, with 29 of those classified as property crimes.

Among the property offences, theft (9) and damage to property (11) were the most common.

Hvar

Additionally, three cases involved juvenile delinquency, three were cybercrimes, two were related to drug offences, and two were traffic-related crimes. There was also one case each of economic and organised crime.