Capital city in Île-de-France, France
Is Paris safe?
Safe for a big capital; violent crime against visitors is uncommon.
Is Paris safe?
Safe for a big capital; violent crime against visitors is uncommon. Pickpocketing, phone snatching and transport strikes are the everyday problems.
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 Paris at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpockets on busy Métro lines, at the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, and phone snatching from café tables and by passing e-bikes. |
| At night | Central areas stay lively and fine on foot. After the Métro closes (about 1 am, 2 am on weekends) use Uber, Bolt or Noctilien night buses. |
| Solo women | Generally fine alone. Catcalling happens, especially around Gare du Nord and the north-east; ignore it, use busy carriages and book rides late at night. |
| Other risks | Heatwaves in summer; few homes have air conditioning; Cyclists and e-scooters on pavements; Transport strikes can close Métro lines |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Petition clipboards near sights cover for pickpockets
- Bracelet sellers at Sacré-Cœur tie threads then demand money
- 'Found' gold ring handed to you near the Seine
- Shell game on Pont Neuf-area streets and Montmartre steps
Take care
- Gare du Nord and Châtelet–Les Halles stations: dense crowds, thieves
- RER B and D at night: harassment and occasional assaults
- Porte de la Chapelle and Stalingrad area late at night: 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 Paris 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 Paris safe for solo female travelers?
Generally fine alone. Catcalling happens, especially around Gare du Nord and the north-east; ignore it, use busy carriages and book rides late at night.
Is Paris safe at night?
Central areas stay lively and fine on foot. After the Métro closes (about 1 am, 2 am on weekends) use Uber, Bolt or Noctilien night buses.
What is the crime rate in Paris?
Pickpockets on busy Métro lines, at the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, and phone snatching from café tables and by passing e-bikes. Nationally, France records 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Paris?
Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18 · All emergencies 112.
More about Paris
Going to Paris solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Paris 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
- RATP
- Île-de-France Mobilités
- Paris Aéroport
- Paris tourist office
- 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.