Is Dordogne safe?
Very low crime and calm villages. Your biggest risks are driving on narrow roads, summer heat and swimming in the river.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- 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 Dordogne at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Rare theft from cars at caves and castles, and occasional house burglary of empty holiday rentals. Violent crime against visitors is very uncommon. |
| At night | Towns are very quiet after about 22:00 and villages shut early. Taxis are scarce, so arrange rides ahead. |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women, though rural isolation means planning transport back after dinner. |
| Other risks | Narrow, winding roads with sudden tractors; River currents on Dordogne canoe trips; Heat in July–August |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake gîte or holiday-home listings asking deposits before viewing
Take care
- Valuables in parked cars at castles and viewpoints
- Dark country roads 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 Dordogne 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 Dordogne safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women, though rural isolation means planning transport back after dinner.
Is Dordogne safe at night?
Towns are very quiet after about 22:00 and villages shut early. Taxis are scarce, so arrange rides ahead.
What is the crime rate in Dordogne?
Rare theft from cars at caves and castles, and occasional house burglary of empty holiday rentals. Violent crime against visitors is very uncommon. Nationally, France records 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Dordogne?
Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18 · All emergencies 112.
More about Dordogne
Going to Dordogne solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Bergerac Airport
- CH Périgueux
- CH Sarlat
- Bolt cities in France
- Dordogne-Périgord tourism
- 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.