Exercise Normal Precautions
“Exercise normal precautionin Poland. Poland is generally a safe destination for travelers.”
Updated Thu, 05 Jun 2025
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Is Gdansk safe? 🇵🇱
Poland · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Gdansk scores 85/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — very safe. Yes. Gdańsk is very safe for visitors with low violent crime and manageable petty theft in tourist areas. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and tourist-targeted scams. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Gdansk 🇵🇱
Poland · Assessed 16 October 2026
85
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime78/100GoodCrime index 31.2 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment83/100GoodMostly positive
Advisories100Good
Stability79Good
Health87Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
No advisory against travel
“Ukraine-Poland border Russian military strikes have taken place in Ukraine within 20km of the Polish border. Access to the border is restricted.”
Updated 2026-10-07T12:47:18Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for Poland: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-10-14T09:05:55.130000-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Good
Urban scale factor
487k residents
76
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
0.8 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6Poland0.8World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
96
Robbery / mugging
LowMugging and armed robbery are uncommon; isolated incidents may occur late at night in poorly lit areas away from the centre.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching happen in tourist hotspots, especially around the Main Town, Motlawa River embankment, and train station during peak hours.
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
83/100
Reported feel74Mostly positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Recent visitor reports indicate travelers feel safe walking in Gdańsk during the day and evening, citing low harassment and a relaxed atmosphere in the Old Town.
Yes. Gdańsk is very safe for visitors with low violent crime and manageable petty theft in tourist areas.
Gdańsk ranks among Poland's safest major cities, with a homicide rate of 0.8 per 100k and strong police presence. Violent crime against travelers is uncommon, but petty theft occurs in crowded areas like the Old Town and transport hubs. Visitors generally report feeling safe during the day and evening, especially in well-patrolled districts.
Recent developments
- Sep 2026Polish train drivers' go-slow safety protest causes travel chaos— Reuters
- Sep 2026Polish train drivers announce go-slow protest after deadly crash at rail crossing— Notes From Poland
- May 2026Assault on Ukrainian teenager in Poland sparks hate crime investigation— UNITED24 Media
- Apr 2026Gdańsk consul refutes claims that Ukrainians cause high crime in Poland— mezha.net
Common scams
- Inflated bar tabs in clubs on ul. Szeroka
- Currency exchange scams at Old Town kantors
- Unlicensed taxi overcharging near transport hubs
Full briefing
Gdańsk remains one of Poland's safest major cities, with violent crime against visitors rare and most trips trouble-free. The bigger concern is petty theft, particularly pickpocketing in crowded areas like Dlugi Targ (Long Market) when cruise ships are in port and on trams 2, 6, and 8. Recent visitor reports highlight a relaxed atmosphere in the Old Town and strong police presence, contributing to a mostly positive sense of safety during both day and evening.
Scams targeting tourists include inflated bar tabs in clubs on ul. Szeroka, where unsigned card tabs lead to mystery rounds at closing, and currency exchange tricks at Old Town kantors that add hidden service fees. Unlicensed taxis near transport hubs also pose a risk of overcharging. To stay safe, keep bags zipped and phones off café tables in high-traffic zones, use official taxis or ride apps with confirmed fares, and always pay per round at bars while requesting an itemized bill.
While the city itself is secure, regional disruptions have affected travel. In September 2026, Polish train drivers launched a go-slow safety protest following a deadly rail crossing crash, causing nationwide travel chaos. Additionally, a May 2026 assault on a Ukrainian teenager in Poland sparked a hate crime investigation, though such incidents remain isolated and not reflective of Gdańsk’s overall safety. The Gdańsk consul has publicly refuted claims linking Ukrainians to high crime in the country. Standard urban awareness, especially at night and in less touristy areas like Dolne Miasto or Orunia, is advised. Emergency services are reachable via 112.
Was this Gdansk, Poland report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Gdansk districts for visitors: 4 safer, 3 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Gdansk safety map.
Nowy PortavoidHigher crime rates and less tourist-friendly; avoid especially at night due to safety concerns.
Dolne Miasto (Lower Town)cautionEconomically neglected area; higher petty theft risk, especially at night—avoid poorly lit streets after dark.
OruniacautionSimilar to Dolne Miasto; economically disadvantaged with increased pickpocketing and bag-snatching after dark.
Śródmieście (City Centre)cautionBusy tourist area; pickpocketing hotspots on trams 2, 6, 8 and Długi Targ during cruise ship arrivals.
Główne Miasto (Main Town)saferHistoric centre with strong police presence, well-lit streets, and constant foot traffic; safest area day and night.
Stare Przedmieście (Old Suburb)saferModern residential district near the beach with good infrastructure and low crime rates; popular with families.
WrzeszczsaferUniversity district with active nightlife and good safety levels; well-connected by public transport.
OliwasaferHistoric district with cathedral and park; generally safe with good public transport connections.
07 · After Dark
Is Gdansk safe at night?
70% of people in Poland say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2019).
Mugging and armed robbery are uncommon; isolated incidents may occur late at night in poorly lit areas away from the centre.
After dark, be most careful around Nowy Port, Dolne Miasto (Lower Town), Orunia, Śródmieście (City Centre). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Gdansk safety FAQ (2026)
Is Gdansk safe right now (2026)?
Yes. Gdańsk is very safe for visitors with low violent crime and manageable petty theft in tourist areas. Gdańsk ranks among Poland's safest major cities, with a homicide rate of 0.8 per 100k and strong police presence. Violent crime against travelers is uncommon, but petty theft occurs in crowded areas like the Old Town and transport hubs. Visitors generally report feeling safe during the day and evening, especially in well-patrolled districts. (Assessed 16 October 2026.)
Is Gdansk safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Gdansk report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Gdansk should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Nowy Port as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Gdansk (2026)?
- Inflated bar tabs in clubs on ul. Szeroka
- Currency exchange scams at Old Town kantors
- Unlicensed taxi overcharging near transport hubs
How does Gdansk compare with other places in Poland (2026)?
Gdansk ranks #5 of 9 Poland destinations we've assessed, scoring 85/100. See the Poland safety overview for the full list.
How is this gdansk safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: gdansk.json (CC BY 4.0).