Prague: The European safest city for travellers

Prague stands out as an exceptionally secure destination for visitors, considering that the Czech Republic ranks as the 8th most peaceful country in Europe and the 9th globally, according to the latest Global Peace Index.

This charming capital is unquestionably one of the safest destinations in Europe, ensuring that travelers can explore its picturesque cultural and natural wonders without encountering any safety concerns or threats. With low crime rates and a well-trained police force, Prague has been named the third safest city in the world for visitors, experiencing a renaissance as a tourist destination welcoming millions of travelers from all over the world. In fact, it has been universally recognized as particularly safe thanks to the constant presence of the police, whose surveillance also extends to the suburbs. According to a study conducted by the British insurance company William Russell, Prague ranks as the third safest city in the world for travelers, and surprisingly, the safest in Europe. Although obviously not entirely immune to crime, its rates are considerably lower than in other European cities. Nevertheless, it remains essential to use common sense while in the Czech capital.

The analysis assessed the safety of various cities, taking into account perceived crime rates by the Numbeo crowdsourcing database. Prague scored a ‘safety index’ of 75.43 out of 100, thanks to its low crime levels and well-trained police force. In fact, the likelihood of being attacked or robbed, suffering a physical attack or having one’s home broken into, is rated as ‘very low’. Of the 156 European cities surveyed, Prague is among the top 20 cities with the lowest number of crimes and since 1994, Prague’s crime rate has fallen from 2 (per 100,000 inhabitants) to 0.72 in 2020.

Crime level		16.63	Very Low
Increase in crime in the last 3 years		43.30	Moderate
Fear of housebreaking and theft		17.97	Very Low
Fear of being mugged or robbed		17.98	Very Low
Fear of having the car stolen		21.19	Low
Fear of having objects stolen from the car		33.90	Low
Fear of being attacked		18.17	Very Low
Fear of being insulted		22.42	Low
Fear of being physically assaulted because of skin colour, ethnicity, gender or religious beliefs		16.97	Very Low
Problems of people using or selling drugs		38.01	Low
Problems of crimes against property including vandalism and theft		36.54	Low
Problems with violent crime including assault and armed robbery		14.14	Very Low
Problems of corruption and bribery		51.86	Moderate

In terms of safety when walking alone during the day, Prague scored 91.2 out of 100, while at night it still received a high score of 74.

While achieving a completely crime-free area is an unrealistic goal, several neighbourhoods in Prague are characterized by remarkably low crime rates and an exceptional quality of life. Among these neighbourhoods, we can name the following:

• Čakovice, which stands out as a quiet neighbourhood located in the Prague 9 district, is known for its safety and peace with incidents of violent crimes being very infrequent;
• Letná, which is recognized as one of the trendiest districts in Prague,  proves to be an ideal location for families and outdoor enthusiasts seeking recreational spaces;
• Malá Strana, standing as one of the oldest districts in the city, offers an impressive array of clubs and bars. Yet, strolling through the neighbourhood doesn’t evoke a sense of insecurity.

Although Prague is technically the least safe city in the Czech Republic and experienced an increase in the crime rate in 2022, it remains extremely safe compared to other European cities. However, visitors should remain vigilant as the constant flow of tourists leads to the proliferation of pickpockets, thieves and expert scammers. A recent study ranked Prague as the fourth worst city in Europe for theft.

The places where people need to be most careful are those typically crowded such as Charles Bridge, tram 22 connecting the city centre to the majestic Castle, the Clock Square, and in general the public transportation connecting the airport to the centre of Prague.

Prague remains a safe city even at night, as public transport continues to be well monitored, the metro included. The areas that we recommend avoiding at night, however, are the following:

• Vrchlického sady, also known as ‘Sherwood Park’, is located opposite Prague Central Station ;
• Ve Smečkách Street, near Wenceslas Square, is renowned for essentially hosting dating houses;
• The surroundings of the Anděl metro station.
• Discos with slot machines open all night in the Žižkov district.

Sources: https://www.expats.cz/; https://usebounce.com/; https://it.numbeo.com/