While it does facilitate free movement for citizens of the member states, it also provides opportunities for criminals to evade justice since law enforcement authorities are limited to the borders of their respective countries. However, when it comes to Europe, you can be assured that the continent is much safer crime wise than most other continents like Asia, Africa and America.
There are cities in Europe that are criminally dangerous. Bear in mind though that these cities are only dangerous when you compare them to other European cities. Photo by Peter Scherbatykh on Unsplash. Cost Abroad lists the city as one of the most dangerous cities to live in and travel to. The report claims that the city is rife with criminals involved in drug smuggling, loan-sharking, extortion and human trafficking.
As for organized crime, the report suggests the presence of at-least 4 criminal clans active in the city, overseeing major criminal activities. The city ranks 15th in the list of the most dangerous cities in Europe. While the city is relatively safer when it comes to crime, the threat of violence in the city is always hanging over like the Sword of Damocles.
However, the threat of violence in the city increased in the wake of civil war in Syria with the later sharing border with Turkey. The threats emanate not only as a result of political dispute with ethnic Kurds but also from radical extremist groups like Alqaeda and ISIS which have increased their intensity of operations in the wake of unrest in the middle-east.
Istanbul attracts targeted attacks in Turkey due to its historical and political significance. The city of Athens has a unique place on the world stage due to the historical monuments located in the city and its rich heritage going all the way back to ancient Greece. The city is known to be the cradle of western civilization.
However, lately, the country and by extension, the city of Athens, is going through a crisis brought on by a failed economy resulting in a debt crisis and refugee influx. While the crime rate in Athens was already on a gradual rise, the city was still generally considered safe. However, due to the above mentioned problems, the state of the city has become less than predictable. The city ranks 14th in the list of the most dangerous cities in Europe.
Another Italian city on the list is Naples, a city in southern Italy. Home to the criminal syndicate known as the Camorra, the city is known for organized crime. The Camorra collectively consists of hundreds of clans and thousands of associates.
High level of unemployment also helps the mafia recruit youngsters in their ranks that start out as petty criminals and later rise up the ranks for more serious criminal activities. The city ranks 13th in the list of the most dangerous cities in Europe. Let that sink in! All other variables constant, the homicide rate stands at 5. While crime is gradually on the decline in the city as well as in Scotland itself, the crime figures for the city are still way too high relative to other cities.
However, a safer future is promising for Scotland given the fact that crime rates in England and Wales are generally on the rise while declining in Scotland. It has to do with the fact that Scotland enjoys considerable autonomy from the UK which has allowed it to treat crime as a public health crisis rather than simply a law enforcement problem and given the above statistics, it seems to be working in its favour.
Tallinn is the largest city in Estonia, a country known to have one of the highest homicide rates in all of Europe. The city has a homicide rate of 5. Another Italian city in our list is Florence. The city recorded 6, crimes per , individuals and grabbed the number 2 spot, just behind Milan, in high crime rate.
The most prominent crime which Florence is known for among all other Italian cities is sexual offense. The report suggests the most common crimes foreigners are faced with when visiting Florence are usually petty crimes involving pickpocketing, bag snatching, scamming, etc.
Milan recorded an outrageous 6, number of cases per , individuals for theft. For qualitative comparison, this is the highest number of cases out of all Italian cities according to figures from Statista. The city grabbed the number 1 spot for its high crime rate. According to the US's Overseas Security Advisory Council OSAS , Milan is particularly troublesome for foreigners as petty criminal networks are quite active in tourist spots around the city looking to pickpocket, snatch valuables and scam foreign tourists.
Grozny is the capital city of Chechnya, Russia and lies in eastern Europe. The main safety-related things to keep in mind when traveling in Kosovo is to not go hiking on unmarked trails as there is still a risk of unexploded landmines and stay up to date on the latest news when traveling close to the Kosovo and Serbia border — there are still occasional skirmishes that can happen. You should also avoid entering Serbia from Kosovo as this will constitute illegal entry into Serbia.
Either way, I arrived in a place that is highly misunderstood and I never saw a gun the entire time. The locals tried chatting with me and everyone was so friendly and curious about why I was visiting their land.
Abkhazia has a horrific history, as does the entire Caucasus region, but the tourism opportunities are there. Abkhazia is a land of rugged mountains, beautiful beaches, tasty food, and extremely friendly people. By Allison Green — Eternal Arrival — facebook.
To summarize what a local once told me: The Albanian mafia has all left, after all, who would they steal from here? I spent three weeks in Albania, traveling entirely solo, and never felt a moment of danger. Albania has some of the most beautiful beaches and landscapes in all of Europe. The food is delicious, fresh, and always affordable, and has a lot in common with the food of its neighbor to the south, Greece. To stay safe in Albania, use normal precautions like not drinking to excess, watching when crossing the road Albanian drivers are crazy!
You may want to take a taxi rather than walking at night in the cities. Always ask before drinking tap water, as it is okay to drink in some areas but not in others, or stick to bottled water. Besides that, there are really no special concerns about traveling Albania. By Daniele Giannotta — Cycloscope. Romania has to struggle with a long-standing bad image, with the stereotypes of all Romanians being gypsies and all gypsies being criminal. During our three-weeks bicycle trip to Romania , the biggest problems we had were with stray dogs.
Romania seriously has a problem with that, and some areas might be dangerous at night or even during the day, especially for cyclists. Always face them, trying to use a low and loud tone of voice to scare them away.
As it goes for people, just exert the standard precautions, maybe even a bit more of that. If in Bucharest, choose a good hostel in a quiet neighborhood. Romania really is a beautiful and interesting country, with a rural lifestyle still tied to old traditions well, mainly because of poverty. As a Sicilian who also used to live in Naples, I consider myself quite an expert about Southern Italy.
There are so many stereotypes about Southern Italy as probably no other place in the world. Pickpocketing is less common than in Rome which is not a great achievement, considering that Rome ranks second after Barcelona for the number of petty theft , while it is not impossible to find people who want to scam you. There are just so many reasons to visit Southern Italy that mentioning them all will take another two or three articles! Just think of the amazing beaches, baroque architecture, volcanoes, food, fisherman hamlets, culture capitals, markets, and so on and on.
Oh, grow up! Subscriber Account active since. Europe may include some of the most popular travel destinations for Americans, but the US State Department advises that several countries on the continent may require extra caution for those looking to vacation abroad. The State Department uses four levels of travel guidance to offer Americans advice, set boundaries, and describe the risks of each country:. Eleven European countries are ranked Level 2, but apart from regions in Russia designated as Level 4, there are no countries the State Department warns against visiting altogether.
Here are the travel advisories for every country in Europe, ranked from most to least risky based on the State Department's designation levels. The US State Department warns American travelers that terrorist groups may "continue plotting possible attacks" in Germany. Since October , there have been 13 significant incidents regarding terrorism in Germany.
These include a high-profile December attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, when a lorry struck and killed 12 and injured Earlier that year, during one July week , a teenager hacked at train passengers with an axe and knife in Wuerzburg, and a bomb detonated outside a bar in Ansbach, injuring 15 people. The Islamic State claimed the above attacks, while others were orchestrated by right-wing German extremists against refugees and Kurdish extremists against Turks and Turkish organizations.
The US State Department advises caution in Italy due to potential terrorist attacks that may target popular tourist locations and both public and private spaces. In , a right-wing extremist terrorist seriously wounded six African immigrants in a drive-by shooting in Macerata.
In , Italian authorities arrested suspects in connection with a plot to attack the Vatican and Israeli Embassy in Rome on behalf of the Islamic State. The attack was never carried out.
The US State Department warns US citizens that terrorist groups may continue to plot attacks in Spain and asks tourists to exercise increased caution. In August , a jihadist terror attack in Barcelona resulted in 15 deaths. A van driven into pedestrian street La Rambla killed 13 and injured at least others, including one person who died of injuries later.
The attacker killed another person in order to steal the victim's car for escape. Later that day, a van operated by men believed to be part of the same terrorist cell drove into pedestrians in Cambriis, killing one and injuring six others. All attackers were killed by police. Since , the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for seven terrorist attacks in Belgium, including the three coordinated March Brussels bombings. Twin bombings in the Brussels airport and one at a metro station in central Brussels killed 32 civilians and injured over others.
The bombings were the deadliest terror attack in Belgium's history. Other terror attacks in Belgium include several stabbings , including in May when a prisoner on day release stabbed two police officers , took their guns, and shot and killed them.
The US State Department advises that American tourists exercise increased caution in France due to terrorism and civil unrest. The yellow vests movement is one major protest force in France supported by more than 80 percent of French citizens and, at its height, brought a quarter of million marchers into the streets. The movement started in October with provincial workers protesting a hike in fuel taxes, with literal yellow high-visibility vest-wearers camped at traffic circles.
The movement has since spread to wide swaths of French citizens protesting President Emmanuel Macron and perceived economic injustices. Protesters have include far-right extremists and known anti-Semites, according to CNN, but also far-left individuals. Macron has responded to some complaints, eventually abolishing the fuel tax rise.
Demonstrations in Paris and other major cities are expected to continue in the coming weeks and may result in property damage, including looting and arson, along with reckless disregard for public safety. Police have responded with "water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas," and the State Department advises visitors to avoid major French cities on the weekends. Since, the November terror attacks in Paris that left dead , the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for six other terrorist incidents.
A packet bomb explosion in May in a pedestrian zone of Lyon that injured 13 people has yet to be claimed. The US State Department suggests that tourists in Bosnia and Herzegovina should exercise increased caution due to the threats of terrorism and land mines. Minefields and land mines are present throughout the country, and while suspected hazardous areas are usually clearly marked, several people are killed and injured each year by land mines.
The war within the country from to resulted in around 2 million landmines and unexploded munitions left within the region in over 28, locations. Government agencies and NGOs along with NATO military units have been clearing mines since , with initial plans to rid the country of them by That goal has not been met, with over 80, uncleared mines left today. Experts predict at least another five years will be needed for the efforts.
The US State Department advises increased caution for Americans traveling to the Ukraine due to crime, civil unrest, and demonstrations that occur around elections. Tourists should take care not to travel to Crimea, due to "arbitrary detentions and other abuses by Russian occupation authorities," and should avoid the eastern parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts due to armed conflict.
The US government does not recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russian Federation forces and warns travelers that opposition forces within the region may suffer abuse from the Russian military. Crimes targeting foreigners are common in the Ukraine, and demonstrations throughout the country often turn violent, especially nearing elections.
Politically targeted assassinations, bombings, and violence by extremist groups have also occurred. The US State Department suggests that crime, terrorism, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws throughout Russia may put Americans in unsafe situations. The US government may have the delayed ability to provide services to US citizens in the Saint Petersburg area, and terrorist groups attack public and private spaces with little to no warning. Local gangs in the North Caucasus Region have kidnapped Americans and other foreigners for ransom, and there are "credible reports of arrest, torture, and extrajudicial killing of LGBTI persons in Chechnya allegedly conducted by Chechen regional authorities.
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