Help Is Europe really as dangerous as they say?

[sserafim]

My mom was searching up Western Europe travel videos on this app called Xiaohongshu and she told me that apparently it's very unsafe there. People's phones get stolen and snatched away in an instant. Is this true? Is Europe really this dangerous? Any tips to protect yourself and stay safe?

 

[Suicidebydeath]

Everywhere(in the whole world, I mean) is a little dangerous, especially for tourists. It depends on what parts of Europe you're talking about, because there are many different countries, and they're all different with different dangers imo. The degree of racism and xenophobia in each country likely varies as well.

 

[sserafim]

Everywhere(in the whole world, I mean) is a little dangerous, especially for tourists. It depends on what parts of Europe you're talking about, because there are many different countries, and they're all different with different dangers imo. The degree of racism and xenophobia in each country like varies as well.

Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Budapest, etc

 

[Suicidebydeath]

I would make the assumption that Munich is relatively safe, but I have not been to Germany in a while and could not give you a general impression. The only thing I've heard is a surprising animosity towards Muslims, but again, that may be no different from that in my country or anywhere else, it's purely anecdotal.

That may at least be in relation to the fact that Germany accepted a lot of refuges over the years along with pre-bias. Perhaps there's something to this and Germany is less safe in recent years, I don't mean to imply anything xenophobic though.

I can't speak for Austria, but it may be similar, nor Hungary. I do not know if Hungary is anything culturally similar to it's neighbour Romania, but if you've heard about Andrew Tate then he's given Romania at least a somewhat worse reputation as far as women are concerned.

As far as I know, Europe itself is not known for being especially, generally dangerous. Maybe there's more to it that I've not heard, but the stories you've heard sound like similar stories that apply to tourists in general to me.

 

[Blue Elephant]

I've traveled a good deal around Europe, I've been to those four cities (and others) and walked around during day and during nighttime and I always felt safe. Granted, I have dark skin and dark hair and if I don't shave I certainly don't look like easy prey. Still, I think that if you dress casual and keep to the main areas of the city you should be fine. I heard bad things about certain towns in France but I haven't been there much. Also, for the record, don't mind what it says on TV about Romania! With a few minor exceptions I would say that it's quite safe here.

 

[Agon321]

It depends.

For example, Paris is currently, in my opinion, the most overrated city in Europe.
It also has major security problems.
Among other things, by gangs of immigrants from Africa.

But generally all big cities have dangerous neighborhoods.
Of course, there are safer cities and less safe ones.

Do you live in the USA in a big city? If so, I guarantee it won't get much more dangerous.

As for other examples, there are many pickpockets and other people like that in Barcelona.
This is due, among other things, to the fact that it is a popular tourist destination.

If I can recommend something, it's not necessarily that you focus on the big cities.

Smaller towns can also be beautiful, pleasant and much safer.

For example, in France I would avoid Paris like the plague and look for some nice, picturesque towns.

Don't be afraid of Eastern Europe and the Balkans either.
We're not that bad ;).
Our countries also have beautiful architecture, beautiful landscapes, etc.

Just don't limit yourself to the mainstream.
This is a very big tourist mistake.

Of course, it all depends on what you are looking for and what you want.
An individual matter.

 

[Abhorrence2]

It's a bit overblown. Europe is generally safe outside of some bad neighbourhoods in big cities. You won't find as many pickpockets or burglars in someplace like Bavaria. The most dangerous regions of Europe are the poorest ones, unsurprisingly.

((Isn't Xiaohongshu like a Chinese version of Instagram? I swear I've heard it somewhere before))

 

[Havnis]

gangs of immigrants from Africa

Comme nous l'avons dit toujours, Algériens, Tunisiens et Marocains sont les nouveaux colons de certaines villes en France. Ce un peu raciste, tu ne penses pas ?

 

[sserafim]

It's a bit overblown. Europe is generally safe outside of some bad neighbourhoods in big cities. You won't find as many pickpockets or burglars in someplace like Bavaria. The most dangerous regions of Europe are the poorest ones, unsurprisingly.

((Isn't Xiaohongshu like a Chinese version of Instagram? I swear I've heard it somewhere before))

Yeah, it's like Instagram. My cousin in China told my mom and I about it. She also told me to be a TikToker or start posting videos on Xiaohongshu lol

 

[Agon321]

Comme nous l'avons dit toujours, Algériens, Tunisiens et Marocains sont les nouveaux colons de certaines villes en France.

Well, that's a gigantic problem.

I'll probably be called a racist, etc.
But I am a huge opponent of what is currently happening.

Of course, I'm not a huge racist, but for some people it doesn't take much to call someone that way.

European countries have lost their fangs and claws.

 

[Blue Elephant]

Labeling someone is a form of human training. They don't need to hit anymore, they tell you who you should be by applying social pressure. They make up new terms, they give those terms certain meanings and then they throw them around. Racism is a bad term, sexist is a bad term, feminist is a good one of course. Anyway, this is one way to lose our fangs. Killer is also a bad term. I think to kill is natural, you see it everywhere in nature but if I kill someone because they attacked me or because they attacked my family or because they tried stealing my food I should feel bad about myself. Nevermind that the system does genocide.

 

[Hvergelmir]

...very unsafe there. People's phones get stolen and snatched away in an instant.

I've never considered that "unsafe", and I didn't think it was specific to Europe.
But yes, in travel hubs, and immigrant communities, you really need to keep track of your things.

Actual "danger" is rare, if you stay out of the very worst neighborhoods.

To protect yourself from pickpockets, I'd recommend consulting youtube. When you know how they work, you can take measures to protect yourself - mainly not fall for distractions or ruses.
To protect yourself from actual danger, start by staying in populated areas where people will react if you start shouting for help.

 

[Agon321]

Labeling someone is a form of human training. They don't need to hit anymore, they tell you who you should be by applying social pressure. They make up new terms, they give those terms certain meanings and then they throw them around. Racism is a bad term, sexist is a bad term, feminist is a good one of course. Anyway, this is one way to lose our fangs. Killer is also a bad term. I think to kill is natural, you see it everywhere in nature but if I kill someone because they attacked me or because they attacked my family or because they tried stealing my food I should feel bad about myself. Nevermind that the system does genocide.

I don't know if I understood you correctly (I'm using a damn translator).

For example, I don't consider myself a racist.

Just because I don't like pointless and short-sighted immigration policies doesn't make me a racist.

The fact that I see a sharp increase in crime in places where there are immigrants does not make me a racist either.

Of course, some people will call me that. But I don't care.
I think they are making a logical fallacy, not me.

Just because I want to fight criminals doesn't make me a racist either.
I don't care about their skin color.
But I care that they can't behave properly.

They "escape" from "worse" countries where things are bad.
But they carry their shitty behavior to new countries, making those new countries worse.

I don't see racism here.

 

[Blue Elephant]

I don't know if I understood you correctly (I'm using a damn translator).

For example, I don't consider myself a racist.

Just because I don't like pointless and short-sighted immigration policies doesn't make me a racist.

The fact that I see a sharp increase in crime in places where there are immigrants does not make me a racist either.

Of course, some people will call me that. But I don't care.
I think they are making a logical fallacy, not me.

Just because I want to fight criminals doesn't make me a racist either.
I don't care about their skin color.
But I care that they can't behave properly.

They "escape" from "worse" countries where things are bad.
But they carry their shitty behavior to new countries, making those new countries worse.

I don't see racism here.

It's alright. I did not call you a racist and I did not imply that you are one but you taking a defensive stance just because you thought I did proves my point. Just to make it clear, I do not have anything against you!

 

[leavingthesoultrap]

I wouldnt travel to France, it seems really unsafe there (no offense to the french).
You have to be alert while visiting big western cities in general. Central European cities like Budapest and Prague are safer option. Salzburg is prolly not too bad

 

[Apathy79]

Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Budapest, etc

I'm going to all 4 of these this Summer. Have been to Vienna and Budapest before. Would consider them extremely safe generally. Expect Salzburg and Munich to be the same. Pickpockets are a possibility pretty much anywhere. I just walk with my hands in my pockets.

 

[Myforevercharlie]

Not much going on here in the flatlands ( Netherlands)
But then again, I avoid the big cities, but mainly because I can't stand crowds

 

[Arachno]

Can't speak for other countries but personally I'd say Czech Republic is a relatively safe place. But I heard a lot about all sorts of scammers going around in larger cities like Prague. I would also avoid bad looking neighbourhoods. But that's all I can say, I'm not much of a travel guide lol.

 

[Ferdinand Bardamu]

Is this true?

Maybe in the big cities. I live in a cozy village in UK and this has never happened

 

[untothedepths]

I have zero experience on this topic but the only thing I hear about are knives in the UK.

But really, USA has infamy over guns so at this point it's probably just best to operate on common sense when traveling.

Now if you are talking about countries under wars or conflicts, those will always be 1000% more dangerous for obvious reasons.

 

[Pluto]

 

[sserafim]

I wouldnt travel to France, it seems really unsafe there (no offense to the french).
You have to be alert while visiting big western cities in general. Central European cities like Budapest and Prague are safer option. Salzburg is prolly not too bad

I'm not going to France this time haha. I've been there before on a tour of Europe in 2013 and our tour guide got robbed by gypsies at a rest stop. We had to go to a police station and shit and I even had to testify. We also got robbed by gypsies on the metro in Paris in 2018. My mom said that we're easy targets because we're Asian. We went to the Camargue in 2019 and there was a car following us in the marsh when we drove back from the sea. It was pitch black and there was a car behind us and we drove as fast as possible to get out of the swamp. She thinks that it was probably gypsies going after us. She doesn't want me to bring my Longchamp bag this time and is forcing me to bring a backpack instead lol. Idk why she's aggy like that

 

[Havnis]

I'm not going to France this time haha. I've been there before on a tour of Europe in 2013 and our tour guide got robbed by gypsies at a rest stop. We had to go to a police station and shit and I even had to testify. We also got robbed by gypsies on the metro in 2018. My mom said that we're easy targets because we're Asian. We went to the Camargue in 2019 and there was a car following us in the marsh when we drove back from the sea. It was pitch black and there was a car behind us and we drove as fast as possible to get out of the swamp. She thinks that it was probably gypsies going after us. She doesn't want me to bring my Longchamp bag this time and is forcing me to bring a backpack instead lol. Idk why she's aggy like that

What was their language?

 

[Ironborn]

Maybe in the big cities. I live in a cozy village in UK and this has never happened

Used to drive trucks when I still worked, would take awkward out of the way runs in the countryside over inner city shitholes any day of the week.
Narrow lanes were stressful in an 18 tonne Mercedes but at least the hedgerows don't pull knives on me.

 

[Terry A. Davis]

I would personally avoid any major city in France. Specifically Paris, Bordeaux, Orleans and Marseille. There are lots of African migrants there who steal, batter and threaten people especially tourists. Women should especially avoid these places to avoid potential S.A. or r*pe. I am not French, I'm British but I will never be back to the major cities in France. Brittany is still safe though and very beautiful and cultured.

As for the UK, you can be quite safe in most places but I would do your research beforehand. Potential dangerous places include parts of Liverpool, Birmingham, London and Bristol. With British cities there are usually safe sections and unsafe sections. The more expensive places are safest. Edinburgh is also a very safe place though Glasgow can be unsafe in parts. Wales (Cardiff and Swansea) are reportedly quite safe though I've never been to Wales.

Others can give you more information as to their respective countries. Germany is quite safe though as people have implied, avoid heavily migrant occupied areas.

I think Poland might be very safe though they have their own issues. If you're checking out Spain, the holiday resort areas are exceptionally safe and very nice and warm.

 

[Placo]

I think that compared to the USA it is generally safer, excluding Ukraine obviously.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

Anywhere can be dangerous if you can't defend yourself. This also means that anywhere can be "safer" if you can.

The first Taken movie made me not want to go to Europe at all though.

 

[sancta-simplicitas]

I've lived in two of those areas that are considered dangerous. Much so that there's actually people who doesn't dare to go there, which is still surprising to me. Because while there is crime - mostly drug-related and I've seen a couple of shootings - that's not all there is. One of those areas I miss almost daily because of how nice it was to live there. The neighbours were really sweet, you got to know the local shop owners and given discounts (something that would never, ever happen in a rich part of town), the businesses and the streets were blooming with activity and there was a sense of belonging going on that I've never experienced anywhere else. One of my fondest memories is when I was at the psychiatric emergency room and this tiny, little lady saw me and for a second a smile broke out on her face. I had no idea who she was but she instantly recognized me from having been neighbours with her in one of those places, said I used to hold the door up for her. I was never hurt living there. My ex girlfriend - who's a trans woman - still lives there and she feels safer there than in other parts of town, because she is less harrassed there.

If I had been a drug lord, it's not unlikely that I had gotten shot sooner or later. But to a regular person, those areas aren't more dangerous than others.