Is Paris Safe? Safety for Tourists in 2026

The level of risk in 2026: what the figures say

Paris welcomes tens of millions of visitors every year and most of them leave without the slightest incident. Recent official data point to a stable situation, and even an improving one where theft is concerned.

• Property crime is falling: according to the Préfecture de Police's 2025 report, published in February 2026, it fell by 2.7% in Paris compared with 2024. Across the Paris conurbation, violent thefts fell by 3.2% and armed robberies by 15.4%.
• Physical assaults are slightly up: the same source reports a 4.9% rise in intentional physical assaults across the conurbation. These figures cover all recorded violence, including domestic violence, and do not relate specifically to visitors.
• Public transport: the Ministry of the Interior's statistics department published its 2025 report in September 2026. In France, 104,880 victims of theft, violence or fraud were recorded on public transport, the lowest level since 2016. Thefts without violence account for 77% of these victims. In Île-de-France, there are 13 recorded victims per million journeys.

The terrorist threat is still taken into account: the Vigipirate plan has been at the "heightened vigilance" level since 22 June 2026, with particular attention paid to tourist sites and places where crowds gather. For visitors, this mainly means bag checks at the entrance to many museums, department stores and venues, and a visible police and military presence.

The real risk: pickpockets and petty scams

Pickpocketing is by far the most common problem for tourists. UK travel advice points out that thieves operate on the métro, on RER trains and in the main railway stations. The US Embassy, for its part, stresses that pickpockets often work in pairs or groups: one distracts you while the other takes your wallet.

Where to be most careful

Pickpockets go where there are crowds and where people let their guard down:

• the main railway stations: Gare du Nord (arrival point for the Eurostar and the RER B from Roissy), Gare de Lyon, Gare de l'Est, Châtelet–Les Halles;
• the lines serving the major sights: line 1 (Louvre, Concorde, Champs-Élysées), line 4 (Gare du Nord, Châtelet, Saint-Michel, Montparnasse), the RER B and the RER C (Eiffel Tower, Versailles);
• around the monuments: Sacré-Cœur, the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro, the Louvre, Notre-Dame and the Latin Quarter;
• café terraces and restaurants: a phone left on the table or a bag hung on the back of a chair is an easy target.

The habits that are enough in most cases

The Préfecture de Police advises keeping nothing in your back pockets, choosing a small cross-body bag worn in front of you rather than a backpack, and not letting anyone follow closely behind you through the métro ticket gates. Spread your cash, cards and passport across several places, and leave the essentials in the hotel safe.

Street scams (the bracelet tied round your wrist, the fake petition, the "found" ring, the shell game) are not violent but are often used to distract you or extract money. They are described in detail in our guide to scams to avoid in Paris. The right response remains the same: don't stop, don't take out your wallet and politely decline.

Métro, RER and taxis: getting around without worry

The métro and RER remain the most practical way to explore Paris, by day and in the evening. A few precautions eliminate most of the risk:

• near the doors: this is where snatch thefts happen just before the doors close. Keep your phone in your hand or put it away;
• at rush hour: in a packed carriage, wear your bag in front of you and keep a hand on it;
• if something goes wrong: stations are fitted with emergency call points, and 3117 (call) or 31177 (text) lets you report an assault or harassment on the Île-de-France network 24/7.

The RER B, which links Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports with Gare du Nord and Châtelet, accounts for a share of reported incidents. The British authorities mention a few cases of serious assault on this line and on the RER D. Such incidents remain rare, but when arriving with luggage it is sensible to stay in a busy carriage and keep your belongings within reach. The other ways of getting into the centre are compared in our guide to getting from the airport to central Paris, and how the network works is explained in our métro and RER guide.

For taxis, use only official taxi ranks or a recognised app, never a driver who approaches you in the concourse of a station or airport. Fares and good practice are covered in our guide to taxis in Paris.

In the evening: a few areas to approach with common sense

Walking around the central neighbourhoods in the evening (the Marais, Saint-Germain, the Latin Quarter, the livelier banks of the Seine, Montmartre) poses no particular difficulty. As in any big city, some areas simply call for more attention late at night:

• around the major north-eastern stations (Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est) and the Châtelet–Les Halles hub, very busy during the day but less pleasant after midnight;
• Pigalle: the Préfecture de Police recommends avoiding establishments whose staff tout for customers on the pavement and choosing venues that display their prices;
• the lower quays and poorly lit parks once night has fallen.

Last métro times, night buses and advice on walking home are gathered in our article Is Paris dangerous at night?, so we won't repeat them here.

Travelling alone as a woman: what you need to know

Many women travel alone in Paris and the city presents no specific risk compared with other European capitals. A few useful services:

• stops on request: since September 2023, on all RATP buses in Paris and the inner suburbs, including Noctilien night buses, you can ask the driver from 10pm onwards to let you off between two stops, at a well-lit point on the route;
• 3117 and 31177: the Île-de-France transport alert number and text service also deal with harassment, whether you are a victim or a witness;
• drinks: the British authorities warn about spiked drinks in bars and at parties. Keep your glass in sight and only accept a drink poured in front of you.

What to do after a theft or assault

In an emergency or immediate danger, call 17 or 112. For a theft without violence, there are several options depending on your situation.

Reporting a crime

• At the police station: the 20 central arrondissement police stations are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thanks to the SAVE software, officers can record a complaint from a foreign visitor and issue a receipt in their language. Bilingual officers are on duty at the front desk of some stations.
• Online: the Ministry of the Interior's official online complaint service, on the Ma Sécurité website, accepts thefts, criminal damage and fraud where the perpetrator is unknown. It is free, open to foreign nationals by creating a personal account, and the form can be filled in in English. Beware of private websites offering the same procedure for a fee.
• On the RATP network: if you do not live in Île-de-France and the theft took place without violence on the métro or RER, for a loss of less than €1,000, you can report it directly to staff at the ticket offices of Paris stations, in French or in English. You are given a copy for your insurer.

Documents, cards and lost property

• Passport: the receipt for your complaint or declaration of loss serves as temporary proof. Then contact your country's embassy or consulate in Paris to obtain an emergency travel document.
• Bank cards: cancel them immediately through your bank's app or emergency service.
• Lost property: the Préfecture de Police's lost property office, 36 rue des Morillons, 75015 Paris, requires a declaration of loss to be made online. If the item is found, you are notified by email; storage fees are €11 (prices noted in September 2026) and the item can be sent on at your expense, including abroad.

The emergency numbers to know

Free numbers, available 24/7, checked in September 2026.

For health emergencies, duty pharmacies and care for foreign visitors, see our guide to emergencies and healthcare in Paris.

Further reading

To plan your evenings, our guide to Paris at night presents the neighbourhoods and venues to choose depending on the atmosphere you are after. And to avoid unpleasant surprises at the table, read our article on tourist traps in restaurants. With these few habits, a stay in Paris passes without incident in the vast majority of cases.