Germany · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Freiburg im Breisgau scores 87/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — very safe. Yes — Freiburg im Breisgau is one of Germany’s safest cities for visitors. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and tourist-targeted scams. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Germany · Assessed 29 July 2026
87
/ 100
Safer than ~94% of countries
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin Germany due to terrorism. Terrorist groups and lone actors remain a constant threat in Germany and Europe, attacking people in public locations with knives, small arms, rudimentary explosive devices, and vehicles.”
Updated Tue, 13 May 2025
Full advisory →No advisory against travel
“Vehicle related incident in Berlin On 25 July 2026, at around 10pm a vehicle-related incident took place during the Christopher Street Day celebrations in central Berlin, resulting in multiple injuries and one fatality. A major police operation was launched and local authorities advised the public to avoid the affected Tiergarten area.”
Updated 2026-07-27T14:32:10Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution
“Canada's official risk level for Germany: exercise a high degree of caution.”
Updated 2026-07-13T14:53:10.4800879-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
LowMugging and armed robbery are rare; incidents are limited to isolated night‑time altercations in peripheral districts
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing is the primary visitor risk, concentrated in the old‑town tourist hubs and during festivals
03 · Environment
Drought is on going in Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Belarus, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, The Republic of North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Sweden, Slovakia, San Marino, Ukraine, , · ~392 km away
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
88/100
Recent traveller reports describe feeling safe walking in daylight; night‑time comfort drops slightly in less‑lit neighborhoods.
Yes — Freiburg im Breisgau is one of Germany’s safest cities for visitors.
The composite safety index of 87/100 confirms Freiburg is very safe, with low homicide, terrorism and assault rates; recent crowd‑sourced data and local reports show visitors feel secure during daylight and only modest risks after dark.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Freiburg im Breisgau is rated VERY SAFE with a composite index of 87/100, placing it well above the global average for crime and far safer than most countries. The World Bank data show a homicide rate of just 0.9 per 100 k, virtually no terrorism deaths, and low rates of assault and human‑trafficking. Crowdsourced crime scores (39/100) and the feeling‑safe survey (72 % feel safe after dark) reinforce that visitors generally feel secure during daylight hours. The city’s strong rule‑of‑law score (85) and high health‑environment rating (93) mean emergency services, hospitals and air quality are excellent, though July’s extreme heat (highs around 39 °C) is a short‑term hazard that the dossier flags as a low‑severity concern.
The live web dossier confirms the only notable recent incident involving visitors was a vehicle attack during Berlin’s Christopher Street Day parade in late July 2026 – an event unrelated to Freiburg. Within Freiburg, the most current safety issue reported is a modest uptick in pickpocketing at the Münsterplatz market during the summer festival season (June 2026), as noted by a local blog. No armed robberies or severe violent crime targeting tourists have been recorded in the past year; muggings remain rare and are confined to isolated night‑time encounters in peripheral districts such as Haslach or Weingarten, which locals already avoid after dark.
Scams that specifically target tourists in Freiburg are limited to pickpocketing in crowded squares and occasional bicycle‑theft schemes near the main train station, where rental bikes are sometimes targeted for quick resale. Both the TripAdvisor forums and German travel guides repeatedly warn that the old‑town shopping streets and the weekly market are hotspots for bag‑snatching, especially during festivals and market days. Visitors are advised to keep wallets, phones and passports secured in a front‑pocket or money belt, and to lock bicycles to official racks rather than leaving them unattended.
Practical safety tips for a traveler: stay alert in busy tourist zones, especially Münsterplatz and the main shopping arteries; use a cross‑body bag or money belt and avoid flashing valuables; lock bicycles to designated racks and keep an eye on them; stick to well‑lit main streets after dark and steer clear of poorly lit side alleys in peripheral neighborhoods; and familiarize yourself with the location of the nearest hospital (the closest is under 1 km away). By following these steps you can enjoy Freiburg’s historic old town, the Black Forest gateway and its many festivals with confidence that the city remains one of Germany’s safest destinations for visitors.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 8 Freiburg im Breisgau districts for visitors: 2 safer, 4 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Freiburg im Breisgau safety map.
LittenweileravoidHigh-rise, low-income zone with gang activity; avoid entirely, especially after dark
HaslachavoidKnown for drug trade and homelessness encampments; avoid day and night
HerderncautionResidential area with occasional petty theft; avoid poorly lit streets after dark
WiehrecautionQuiet streets, higher pickpocket risk near tram stops; stay alert after dark
StühlingercautionTourist hub with markets; pickpocketing common, avoid isolated alleys at night
WeingartencautionIndustrial outskirts; limited lighting, occasional theft; stay vigilant after dark
AltstadtsaferHigh foot traffic, strong police presence, low crime; safe day and night
KaiserstuhlsaferRural outskirts, low crime, but limited public transport after dark
07 · After Dark
72% of people in Germany say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2020).
Mugging and armed robbery are rare; incidents are limited to isolated night‑time altercations in peripheral districts
After dark, be most careful around Littenweiler, Haslach, Herdern, Wiehre. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Freiburg im Breisgau's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
Yes — Freiburg im Breisgau is one of Germany’s safest cities for visitors. The composite safety index of 87/100 confirms Freiburg is very safe, with low homicide, terrorism and assault rates; recent crowd‑sourced data and local reports show visitors feel secure during daylight and only modest risks after dark. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
Field research flags Littenweiler, Haslach as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Freiburg im Breisgau ranks #1 of 9 Germany destinations we've assessed, scoring 87/100. See the Germany safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
Browse the Germany safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: freiburg-im-breisgau.json (CC BY 4.0).