Is Avignon safe?
Safe in the walled center and tourist areas. Petty theft is the main issue; some outer districts have drug-related crime.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-27.
- Homicide rate in France: 1.3 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in France: 5.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Avignon at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing in crowds around the Palais des Papes and festival venues, theft from parked cars and bike theft. |
| At night | The old town is quiet after midnight outside July. Bars close early; walk in groups or take a taxi back to the station. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women inside the walls. Use taxis late rather than walking outside the ramparts. |
| Other risks | Strong mistral winds in winter and spring; Summer heat above 35°C; Rhône flooding in rare wet winters |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Festival-ticket resale on the street; buy from official outlets
- Gold-ring trick or bracelet sellers near the Rhône
- Overpriced drinks at terrace cafés on Place de l'Horloge
Take care
- Outer districts like Monclar and Champfleury: little reason to visit
- Dark lanes outside the walls late at night
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Police can demand ID; without it you can be held up to four hours, so carry your passport.
- Smoking is banned on beaches, in parks, at bus shelters and near schools; fines apply.
- Covering your face in public (balaclava, niqab, mask) is illegal, with fines up to €150.
How Avignon compares in France
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Annecy | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Colmar | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Carcassonne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Brittany | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Dordogne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Paris | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nice | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Provence | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| French Riviera | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lyon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bordeaux | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cannes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Strasbourg | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chamonix | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Corsica | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Aix-en-Provence | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Toulouse | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Loire Valley | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Normandy | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Montpellier | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Avignon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Biarritz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Saint-Tropez | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Antibes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nantes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lille | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marseille | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Avignon safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women inside the walls. Use taxis late rather than walking outside the ramparts.
Is Avignon safe at night?
The old town is quiet after midnight outside July. Bars close early; walk in groups or take a taxi back to the station.
What is the crime rate in Avignon?
Pickpocketing in crowds around the Palais des Papes and festival venues, theft from parked cars and bike theft. Nationally, France records 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Avignon?
Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18 · All emergencies 112.
More about Avignon
Going to Avignon solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Avignon 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
- Avignon Tourisme
- Orizo (Grand Avignon transit)
- Centre Hospitalier d'Avignon
- 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.