Is Lisbon safe?
Safe with normal city care. Pickpocketing and drug-dealer approaches in the centre are the main annoyances; violent crime against visitors is rare.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-03-02.
- Homicide rate in Portugal: 0.7 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Portugal: 8.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Lisbon at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpockets on tram 28, at viewpoints and on the Cais do Sodré line; phone snatching from café tables; bag theft from parked cars. |
| At night | Central streets stay lively and mostly feel safe. Trains and metro finish around 1 am; use Bolt or Uber afterwards. |
| Solo women | One of Europe's easier cities for solo women. Expect some persistent street sellers in the centre; use app rides after midnight. |
| Other risks | Slippery polished cobblestones, especially when wet; Summer heatwaves above 38°C; Strong rip currents at Cascais-line beaches |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Street dealers in Baixa and Bairro Alto offering fake drugs
- Fake rental listings asking a deposit before any viewing
- Rigged 'find the lady' games and petitions near Rossio
- Unlicensed tuk-tuk and taxi drivers quoting inflated tourist fares
Take care
- Tram 28 and Santa Luzia viewpoint: crowded, pickpockets work in packs
- Cais do Sodré and Bairro Alto late at night: drunken fights
- Parked rental cars: break-ins; leave nothing visible
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Personal drug use is decriminalised, not legal; police can fine you, and dealing or smuggling means prison.
- Sleeping overnight in campervans or tents outside authorised sites is banned and fined.
- Albufeira fines anti-social behaviour in public €150–1,800 under its code of conduct.
How Lisbon compares in Portugal
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Madeira | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Cascais | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Azores | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ericeira | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Coimbra | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Douro Valley | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Évora | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Braga | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Aveiro | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Silver Coast | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Tavira | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lisbon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Porto | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Algarve | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sintra | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lagos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Albufeira | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Faro | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nazaré | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Lisbon safe for solo female travelers?
One of Europe's easier cities for solo women. Expect some persistent street sellers in the centre; use app rides after midnight.
Is Lisbon safe at night?
Central streets stay lively and mostly feel safe. Trains and metro finish around 1 am; use Bolt or Uber afterwards.
What is the crime rate in Lisbon?
Pickpockets on tram 28, at viewpoints and on the Cais do Sodré line; phone snatching from café tables; bag theft from parked cars. Nationally, Portugal records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Lisbon?
Police 112 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
More about Lisbon
Going to Lisbon solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Lisbon 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
- Metropolitano de Lisboa
- Carris
- Lisbon Airport (ANA)
- CP Comboios de Portugal
- Visit Lisboa
- 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.