Is Bordeaux safe?
Safe with normal care. Petty theft and bike theft are the main issues; violent crime is rare in central areas.
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 Bordeaux at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing in busy squares and trams, bike theft, and car break-ins. Occasional trouble around Saint-Jean station. |
| At night | The old town and quays stay lively. Trams run until about midnight (later weekends); take Uber after. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable alone. Catcalling is rare but happens near stations; use rides late at night. |
| Other risks | Summer heat; Strong Atlantic currents at Lacanau and Arcachon beaches; Wildfire smoke in some summers |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Petition clipboards near Place de la Bourse
- Fake charity collectors
- Overpriced drinks at some quayside bars
Take care
- Gare Saint-Jean area at night: some hassle
- Quays after midnight: drunk crowds
- Saint-Michel square late: drug dealing
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 Bordeaux 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 Bordeaux safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable alone. Catcalling is rare but happens near stations; use rides late at night.
Is Bordeaux safe at night?
The old town and quays stay lively. Trams run until about midnight (later weekends); take Uber after.
What is the crime rate in Bordeaux?
Pickpocketing in busy squares and trams, bike theft, and car break-ins. Occasional trouble around Saint-Jean station. Nationally, France records 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Bordeaux?
Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18 · All emergencies 112.
More about Bordeaux
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- TBM (Bordeaux transport)
- Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport
- 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.