Chapter IV

Safety & scams

Is Poland safe? What visitors should know about each city, getting around safely, and the scams worth recognising – from ATM fees and taxi meters to bar tricks and phishing texts.

Poland in numbers: how safe is it compared with Europe?

Poland is one of the safest countries in the EU when it comes to everyday crime. Here is how it compares with the rest of the EU.

22ndof 163 countries in the Global Peace Index 2026 – the biggest improvement of any country

2.8%of Poles report crime or vandalism near home – EU average 10%

0.8homicides per 100,000 people (2023) – below the EU average of about 0.9

1. Croatia 1.2%
2. Lithuania 2.7%
3. Poland 2.8%
4. EU average 10.0%

1. Italy 0.6
2. Germany 0.8
3. Poland 0.8
4. EU average 0.9
5. France 1.3

What the numbers say

Crime is low. Only around one in 35 Poles reports crime, violence or vandalism where they live – one of the lowest shares in the EU and well under the EU average. The homicide rate is in line with Germany and below France.

For visitors, the main risks are the everyday ones of any popular destination: pickpockets in crowds, overcharging taxis and a few bar scams. The guides below explain how to avoid them.

Sources: Eurostat – neighbourhood crime, violence or vandalism, 2023; TVP World – Poland’s figure (2.8%); Eurostat – intentional homicides in the EU, 2023; countryeconomy.com – Poland homicide rate, 2023; Notes from Poland – Global Peace Index 2026. Homicide rates for Italy, Germany, France and the EU are our calculation from Eurostat’s 2023 counts and population.

Safety guides

• Is Poland safe? What visitors should know right nowIs Poland safe for tourists in 2026? Crime figures compared with the EU, current government travel advice, the border areas to avoid, and practical tips for a trouble-free trip.
• Is Kraków safe? Areas, nights out and scams to avoidIs Kraków safe for tourists? Yes – but here is where pickpockets work, how the bar and strip club scams operate, which taxis to use and what to know before a night out.
• Is Warsaw safe? Neighbourhoods and night-time tipsIs Warsaw safe for tourists? Yes – it ranks among Europe's safest capitals. Here are the neighbourhoods, where pickpockets work, the nightclub scam to avoid, taxis, public transport and emergency numbers.
• Taxis in Poland: airport rides, apps and fair pricesHow to get from Kraków, Warsaw and Gdańsk airports to the centre, what a taxi should cost, Uber and Bolt in Poland, and how to avoid being overcharged by a taxi driver.
• Common scams: ATMs, kantors, bars and fake souvenirsIn preparation
• SMS, parcel and BLIK scams (for longer stays)In preparation