France : Safety by City
France is a country consisting of metropolitan France in western Europe, and several overseas regions and territories.
Metropolitan France stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean.
The overseas regions consist of French Guiana in South America and several islands in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
There aren’t many things not to like in this dreamy European country.
It is one of the most popular tourist destinations, both in Europe and the rest of the world.
Its joie de vivre has been described for years in many books, movies, legendary paintings, and you can feel it when passing its countless restaurants, villages and enjoying its world-famous gastronomy.
Others enjoy France’s considerable cultural heritage, what’s left behind its great philosophers, writers, and artists, and some just walk the streets and enjoy the music of this country’s beautiful language.
Not to mention its long coastlines, massive mountain ranges, and breathtaking farmlands and vineyards.
Warnings & Dangers in France
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
France is very safe to travel to. There is the heightened risk of pickpockets and scammers, though, and you should remain vigilant for any suspicious activities since this country has been targeted by terrorists many times. However, if you apply basic precaution rules, that should minimize the risk of something going wrong.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Transportation and taxis are generally safe and reliable in France, though there are many pickpockets in Parisian subway, and in other forms of public transport. Taxis are usually your safest bet.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
As in any European top destination, there are pickpockets at popular tourist landmarks in France. They are your biggest worry when traveling to this country. Follow your common sense and remain vigilant at all times, especially in public transportation and at crowded stations.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There is no particular threat of natural disasters in France, except for the threats from avalanches that can be a considerable risk when going skiing in the Alps.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
There are low chances of getting mugged or kidnapped in this country, although it is advised to remain cautious and avoid poorly lit and deserted streets and areas. If you find yourself in such a situation, hand over your belongings immediately.
TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
Since this country has been targeted by terrorists numerous times, (as well as some countries near France, such as Denmark or Belgium) there is reason to believe that this country can be targeted again. This is why it is important to remain aware of your surroundings at all times, and report any suspicious activity.
SCAMS RISK: HIGH
As in any country, especially a top tourist destination, there is risk of getting scammed. In France, Paris and Marseilles are especially notorious for being scam hot-spots. Be wary of people trying to distract you or offering you unwanted help, check your change twice and always negotiate every service beforehand.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
France is very safe to travel to, if you are a female traveling solo. Apart from a few general precaution rules you should apply, such as not walking alone in poorly lit and deserted areas, not finding yourself in strange company at night, etc, you can relax because France is very safe in this respect.
So... How Safe Is France Really?
France is generally a safe country to visit, though its safety has been mildly compromised during the last couple of years, due to numerous terrorist attacks.
However, disregarding this, the precaution measures you will have to take are on par with those you would have to take in any other popular tourist destination, so that shouldn’t stop you from traveling to this gorgeous country.
France is generally a low-crime area, and the inner city areas and few selected suburbs are completely safe at all hours, but the problem persists in larger cities, especially Paris: there, the murder rate is about the double of the surrounding countries, and larger cities are literally filled with pickpockets and petty theft.
Violent crime, especially against tourists or strangers is rare, but you should bear in mind that purse snatching and pickpocketing is extremely common.
Another major issue in France is the terrorist attacks that have been happening during the last couple of years.
Due to this, police and France’s military units are patrolling the important landmarks, the Paris subway, train stations, and airports.
It is not uncommon and almost expected, to see armed patrols in those areas.
However, this is a good thing for tourists, since their presence scares away any pickpockets or bag snatchers that might be in the vicinity.
How Does France Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| France | 64 |
| Morocco | 54 |
| Switzerland | 89 |
| South Korea | 82 |
| Oman | 76 |
| Canada | 88 |
| Estonia | 82 |
| Albania | 75 |
| Czech Republic | 88 |
Useful Information
Visas
Most countries do not need a visa in order to enter France, for any stays shorter than 90 days. Any longer than that, you might need to acquire a visa. EU nationals can stay (and work) in France for as long as they like. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your planned date of return. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
Euro is the official currency for France and most of Europe. You can find ATMs at every airport, most train stations and on every other street corner in all towns and cities. Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the country.
Weather
The weather in France is generally cold in winter and mild in summer, though along the French Riviera you can expect mild winters and hot summers, and this applies to the South West of France, too. Along the Rhône Valley you can experience wind known as the mistral and its strong, cold and dry force. In Paris, July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 20°C and the coldest is January with temperatures as low as 5°C.
Airports
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, sometimes referred to as Roissy Airport, is the largest international airport in France. It is located about 25 km to the northeast of Paris. Other large airports in France are in Nice, Lyon and Marseille.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to France, since it covers not only medical problems, but also theft and loss of valuables.
France Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 7 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 11 | 8 |
| Low °C | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| High °F | 45 | 46 | 54 | 59 | 66 | 73 | 77 | 77 | 70 | 61 | 52 | 46 |
| Low °F | 37 | 37 | 41 | 45 | 52 | 57 | 61 | 61 | 55 | 50 | 43 | 37 |
France - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Bordeaux | 63 |
| Le Havre | 63 |
| Lille | 56 |
| Lyon | 70 |
| Marseille | 59 |
| Martinique | 71 |
| Montpellier | 48 |
| Nantes | 56 |
| Nice | 75 |
| Nimes | 65 |
| Paris | 68 |
| Reims | 68 |
| Rennes | 65 |
| Strasbourg | 74 |
| Toulon | 64 |
| Toulouse | 57 |
Safe in Paris
Much safer here than USA because police aren’t likely to kill citizens There are fewer incidents of white terrorism. I am living in Central Paris in a ground floor studio and I feel very secure.
Frances Charteris – you must be watching too much liberal left american tv from the confines and safety of your studio apartment. The likelihood of being killed by police is high only if you are trying to kill them or another human being. It would be considered a natural consequence for your actions.
Haha “white terrorism”. Blacks commit crime disproportionately to their percent of the population. You sound like a liberal suffering from white guilt.
Ignorance
**** ****, you have no idea, so don’t make a statement like that if you have no clue what you’re talking about, Frenchy.
France is very safe
I’ve been going to France since I was 8. Far less dangerous than the USA with its endemic gun crime and poverty. Get over yourselves.
Europe is safe
Anywhere I’ve been in Europe, and I’ve been to a lot of places, never had any problems. Outside Europe you are more likely to have problems
Black and North africans are the only one that you may pay attention for your safety.
Around ethnic french and europeans…. well it is very civilized.
It is not about being racist, you just have to see reality for what it is.
Good country,Defecate language
THATS RACIIIIIIIIST
**** you. I’m north African and I visited this country many times and I never had any intention to harm anyone. Let us enjoy the country without making us look like terrorists for god’s sake
Wow your are ready
In general most the problems are caused by new illegal immigrants, this in most of Europe. Not because of race but because of the culture of their countries of origin and because of poverty. Hopefully in a few years/decades they get integrated too and they’ll become normal civil people
France is good
France is safe i have been many times and had no problems except it is quite hard to find a toilet if you don’t speak French
There’s a hack for that:
Go to any cafe, stand at the bar, order a coffee (1.50€), and ask to use the restroom. (But don’t actually drink the coffee, as in France they usually use bitter, robusta coffee.)
Not safe for a woman by herself, especially at night. As soon as you get there you will know what kind of guys you should avoid at all times. They stare at you, some will even approach. Just ignore and make sure to stay around the native french instead.
thats interesting because i notice men not staring as much as in the US. It felt better there.
Was pushed on the escalator of the louve whilst heavily pregnant as a distraction technique so a pickpockets could take my phone. Police were useless and couldn’t care less.
Dog poo seems to be a big problem in paris. Been three times, wont be returning.
Well as It is said, Paris is not France. Go to the Loire Valley, French Alps, Provence or Alsace instead, it’s much safer, and people are more welcoming.
Stick to tourist attractions in cities
“Paris is not France.”
Very good point, as I know the same can be said for the people of London mostly not being English.
Paris ...
Native French are fine as to be expected and were actually very polite and helpful despite the stereotype. Just be respectful and understand you are not at Disney World, this is a real working city. However, there aren’t many native French around. You will be accosted by north africans and eastern europe immigrants that will try to scam and pick pocket at every landmark. There was a group of them hanging around the eiffel tower shining lasers in the eyes of tourists. Police won’t do a thing about it as they spend their time looking for AK toting terrorists. Only been to Paris but want to see other areas of the country, not sure I will ever go back to Paris.
Not that great
Im going to be honest, The capital (Paris) sucks. Ive lived there for more than a decade now, ive gone to the rich districts and the poor districts and everything in between. Dont get me wrong, Paris is a treasure of cultural history but its habitant make it a crappy place. Im POC (mostly on the asian side) and I have to warn you about immigrants, be careful around them, you have to differentiate between the french pocs (the ones whove been working all their lives here) and the recent ones whove come here in the past 5 years or so.
They will scam you, beat you to get anything worth on you, and steal from you. Women please do not go outside at night ALONE it is not safe. There is a lot of rape and sexual aggression and many many verbal aggressions too. Cat Calling is a huge issue and minors will get it too so dont let your teens out of your sight. What else… Paris is pretty dirty depending on where you go. Its overly expensive too. I dont want to end this with a negative note so ill just tell you all that theres good and bad ppl everywhere! (also always put your bags/backpacks on the front and keep an eye on them and your phones. Most likely places to get robbed is in metro. Be wary of poorly clothed ppl and if they smell bad.) I hope youll have a better stay. And Good Luck!
French woman born and raised in Paris. Do believe the reports you see on Youtube. Paris has become dirty, smelly, and above all, dangerous if you are not 100 of the time aware of your surroundings. The northern parts of Paris (18th district) is rife with drugs, violence, weapons. Last week, May 2021, 2 rapes in broad daylight. And Anne Hidalgo can sue and sue again, the Paris northern suburb is a no-go zone. If you look or behave like a tourist, do not go to this 93 area. Tourist areas are full of individuals who will do anything to get your money: and I mean ANYTHING. Go to official exchange stores to get euros, dont do it on the street, no matter the temptation. Do not take lots of money out, just coins if you can prepare in advance. Generally speaking, always be aware. And yes, most crime comes from North Africans and Blacks. Sorry to say, but FACTS CANNOT BE RACIST. One last suggestion: Dont spend too much time in Paris. Do Versailles, Eiffel, Louvre, etc and then head to Chantilly, and to the Loire Chateaux. Waaaayyy more beautiful and less touristy.
Stop confusing Paris and France
You guys talk about France like it’s all about Paris. Stop it for god sake, Paris is just a tiny portion of what France can offer. What you are talking about (scams, pickpokets) all those don’t apply to all parts of France. South of France, Provence, French Riviera, Loire Valley, Normandy, French Alps… All are nothing to do with Paris and its own problems.
How the hell the risk of pickpockets and scam could high in Loire Valley or in a village of Provence ? Nonsense.
Stop confusing Paris and France !
Pick better locations, people
If we’re being honest there’s no way France could be rated lower than 4 starts. Marseille and Paris are just two cities, you can’t rank a whole country based on them. I’ve spent a dreamy month In Provence with my fiance, it was just like in those cheesy romance movies; winery tours, great food and sunny days. No scams, no thiefs, no car robberies. If you visit extra populated cities that attract a lot of tourists you are bound to run into several bad apples.
France is an amazing country
I find it rather unfair to rate a whole country based on just one experience, let alone after you’ve visited Paris. While Paris will always have its special place in my heart since this is where we spent our honeymoon, the current city has very little in common with the vibrant and cozy city we fell in love with.
This rant aside, France is a huge country with cities, especially in the rural area, that will make you want to move here when you retire or even before that, if you’re crazy enough.
You have the classics, just like @southernerfrench said, South of France, Provence, French Riviera, Loire Valley, Normandy, French Alps, which are huge tourist destinations but a far cry from Paris.
Then there’s less popular aka crowded destinations like Gorges du Verdon. When we got there I couldn’t believe my eyes, the view and the water were amazing. No sign of petty theft, no beggars, no homeless people.
Avignon is a city full of history, packed with museums. Saint Tropez is known for its nightlife and busy atmosphere. Safe, but you need to mind your drinking, don’t let it out of your sight. These are only the cities I’ve visited but have a ton more on my list.
It’s fair to say that Paris is not as glamorous as it once was but as a country, France has a lot more to offer. Personally, I kind of tend to avoid popular, overcrowded cities if I want to explore more.
Never have I felt threatened, felt the need to double check my phone or bag while visiting the places above. If we’re being honest even Paris has hidden gems but if you’re googling for cool things to do in Paris chances are you won’t stumble upon them.
Do your research right and you won’t be disappointed!
I have been to France many times and have never had any negative experiences, not even in Paris. I grew up in a large city, so cities like Paris don’t intimidate me; in fact, I always feel very at home there, and I always found the native French people living there very civil. My favourite places in France are the Occitanie region, Avignon and Arles.
France scores a 64, yet the US is 68?? On its face, everyone knows that’s ludicrous.
I love my country, but when I go back home to the States, I need to be MUCH more vigilant and careful about who I might offend or get into a confrontation with while driving. (Never mind the near-daily mass shootings.)
By contrast, I’ve been living here in France for 20 years and have visited most of the cities (day and night), and have never felt threatened or witnessed any crime apart from petty theft.
That said, obviously northern Paris suburbs, Marseille, and a few other big city suburbs are exceptions.
"Terrorism risk" is not high
Come on, writing “TERRORISM RISK: HIGH”, just like for Yemen and Afghanistan, is ridiculous. Pickpockets, scams and traffic accidents much bigger concerns than terrorism.
Most of the cities are okeish, but every one of them have shady areas