Is Stavanger safe?
Very safe. Petty crime is rare; accidents on Preikestolen, Kjerag and other cliff hikes are the main danger.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2026-07-05.
- Homicide rate in Norway: 0.7 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Norway: 2.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112 · Ambulance 113 · Fire 110.
Safety in Stavanger at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Low; occasional bike or phone theft and drunk disturbances near Øvre Holmegate on weekend nights. |
| At night | Safe on foot; the center is lively on weekends and buses run late. Wet pavements can be slick. |
| Solo women | Very safe for solo women; harassment is rare. Standard care late at night near bars. |
| Other risks | Unfenced cliff edges on popular hikes; Slippery trails in rain or snow; Sudden weather changes and fjord winds |
Scams, areas and local laws
Take care
- Preikestolen and Kjerag edges: unfenced drops and fatal falls
- Øvre Holmegate and Skagen late on weekends: crowds and drunks
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- The drink-driving limit is 0.2‰, and speeding fines are among Europe's highest.
- Open fires in or near forests are banned 15 April–15 September.
- Wine and spirits sell only at Vinmonopolet; supermarket beer sales stop at 20:00 (18:00 Saturday).
How Stavanger compares in Norway
Quick answers
Is Stavanger safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe for solo women; harassment is rare. Standard care late at night near bars.
Is Stavanger safe at night?
Safe on foot; the center is lively on weekends and buses run late. Wet pavements can be slick.
What is the crime rate in Stavanger?
Low; occasional bike or phone theft and drunk disturbances near Øvre Holmegate on weekend nights. Nationally, Norway records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Stavanger?
Police 112 · Ambulance 113 · Fire 110.
More about Stavanger
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Kolumbus
- Avinor Stavanger Airport
- Region Stavanger
- Stavanger University Hospital
- 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.