Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Europe

The Top Ten
1 Napoli (Italy)

I lived in Naples for several years.

Although it's dirty and deteriorating, the city itself is very beautiful, and some places are truly special.

By the way, I must admit that many people are arrogant. They claim to be friendly and warm, but I encountered a lot of rude and impolite individuals who were often extremely intrusive.

The level of ignorance here is rare in other European cities, and it's very difficult to find people who can speak English, even at a basic level. Italian itself can be a problem for some, especially in certain neighborhoods.

Episodes of racism and xenophobia, sometimes even leading to violence, are quite common. These are based on personal and friends' experiences. I have seen people insulted or even attacked for having disabilities or physical challenges.

I have personally never had problems with robbery, but I am aware of many who have, and it's not unusual to see tourists robbed or victims of bag-snatching.

In my view, Naples is probably one of the most challenging cities to live in Europe due to poverty, unemployment, a lack of opportunities and services, and high levels of crime and pervasive violence. Despite all this, I still think the city is worth visiting, as I don't believe you would encounter major problems going there as tourists. Just avoid carrying too much money or expensive devices with you and stay alert.

2 Moscow (Russia)

In Russia, it is advisable for anyone within a city with a population over 100,000 to be indoors by 7 PM. Drinking in public is permitted, and to a Russian enduring a 9-month winter, beer is as commonplace as Kool-Aid is to someone from the USA.

Each March, Russian girls looking for extra vacation money for the summer often send love letters to romantics and spouse hunters on the internet. Scammers are not sentimental. It is purely about the money.

As for food, do not expect fine dining unless you are Andrew Zimmern. If you do not speak Russian, you may very well be refused service. However, international fast-food chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut will generally serve you well all over Russia.

It is best to purchase all your alcoholic beverages in a market. Never from a street kiosk. Furthermore, avoid drinking in a bar, even if it is run by Hindus, as they may quickly separate you from your cash.

3 Belgrade (Serbia) Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, lies at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. The city has a rich history reflected in its architecture, including the Belgrade Fortress and St. Sava Temple. Belgrade's bustling nightlife and vibrant music scene contribute to its dynamic atmosphere. Kalemegdan... read more

People will tell you it's safe, but the matter of fact is that it's really not THAT safe. People get beaten up by the police and the authorities all the time, and God forbid any homosexuals openly show their affections. They might get killed on the spot by someone. They would certainly get beaten up at some point. Murder is not as common compared to other post-communist countries, but it still does happen. Robbery, on the other hand, is more common, but the thing that is most troubling is larceny, and Belgrade does suffer from it very much.

4 Sofia (Bulgaria) Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria, located in the western part of the country. Founded thousands of years ago, it is one of the oldest cities in Europe with a rich history reflected in its diverse architecture, including Roman, Ottoman, and Soviet influences. The city is known for its... read more

As a 16-year-old Sofian, I can tell you that I loathe this hole with all my heart. You can get robbed at every corner. You can step over fresh dog excrement on every street, even in the city center. Everywhere there are these unbeatably ugly Stalinist high-rise apartment blocks from the communist era that look as if they were part of a horror film set.

Worst sidewalks in the entire universe, dirtiest air in Europe, dumbest mayor ever, and of course, as everybody here has said, gypsies. Tsigani in Bulgarian, these people live on the edge of the acceptable, frenetically building illegal houses around Sofia's outskirts. The corrupted pseudo-police never do anything against them. That's why they terrorize the people, they steal, and also ride for free in the messy public transport. All of these unfixable issues contribute to the ridiculously harsh, prison-like atmosphere for those like me who just wait for the day when we'll get out of this hell on Earth.

5 Kaliningrad (Russia)

Organized crime haven. Very dangerous.

6 Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herezgovina) Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated along the Miljacka River. The city is famous for its cultural diversity, often referred to as the "Jerusalem of Europe" due to its mix of Islamic, Orthodox, Catholic, and Jewish influences. It was the host city for the 1984 Winter Olympics... read more

Sarajevo is a nice city, however, it is true that you can get robbed easily. Whoever does visit the city should keep themselves in the downtown area and should not walk around the suburbs. The city is full of historical buildings, and I would call it the European Jerusalem. There is a diversity of different religions in one place, a city with good people ready to help at any given time. Like any other big city, yes, there are gangs, however, it is safe if you keep yourself in the old town. It is a beautiful city with a nice nightlife, nice restaurants, and nice food. You just need to get in contact with someone local and then you will discover the beauties of the city itself and the people that live there. True, it was much nicer before, but the war has done its damage. Many local people are not really from Sarajevo. A huge population migration happened during and after the war. In my opinion, it is a must-see city.

7 Malmö (Sweden)

Been there several times, and the bad rap is exaggerated. There are parts of the city where you don't want to go at night, but that's the same with a lot of cities, even smaller ones. It's not beautiful, but cozy. And there are a lot of creative designers, musicians, good shopping, great food from all over the world. In the central parts, there is a "bohemian" neighborhood which is multicultural, young, cool, and I would say rather safe to go even at night.

A lot of immigrants, aka "youth," in this city in Skåne. It's a real shame. Malmö used to be a great city, but ever since the social-democrats and moderates decided to enrich it, it's been crap. Here in Sweden, you always hear it mentioned when talking about crime, immigration, and violence. I recommend everyone to keep away from this hellhole of a city.

And to my fellow Swedes, I recommend voting for a party that actually cares about the Swedes and not just about the "New Swedes" next election, or you'll have yourself to blame when it spreads to your town.

8 Glasgow (UK) Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is renowned for its industrial heritage and vibrant cultural scene. The city is home to impressive Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture, as well as modern landmarks like the Riverside Museum. Glasgow's music and arts scene thrives in venues like the Glasgow Royal... read more

Some total nonsensical comments on here. Glasgow's dangerous reputation comes from historical gang crime between youths that live on housing estates in the city's suburbs. Those who complain about growing up around crime are likely to live in areas like this, particularly in the east of the city. They are notorious to locals. The city itself continues to offer high levels of quality of life, particularly in the west of the city which has some of the most affluent areas in Scotland. Glasgow is rich in culture and beauty and was visited by over 3.2 million tourists in 2018. Do not believe everything you see in the media.

9 Tirana (Albania) Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania, located in the central part of the country. Known for its colorful Ottoman-, Fascist-, and Soviet-era architecture, the city is a blend of different cultural influences. Tirana serves as the economic, political, and cultural heart of Albania, housing... read more

Honestly, Tirana is not even that bad. Most of the people saying bad things usually are just people that don't like Albania. But obviously, there is the very strong Albanian Mafia. They are very similar to the early Sicilian mafia, very violent, hypersensitive, and hate traitors. I go to Albania every year, and I have never encountered the Albanian Mafia because I have no business with them. This is the same for anyone who goes there. You are not in danger unless you have business or bad history with the Mafia. Overall, since Albania's new prime minister has come into place, things have got a lot better. Crime rates have decreased, the city is looking better, and you can feel safe walking at night. The nightlife in Tirana is very nice.

10 Pristina (Kosovo)

This place should be higher on the list. When I went two years ago, people randomly asked me on the streets if I was American and wanted to be f'ed. I felt extremely vulnerable everywhere I went. It may be safe for the locals, but not for tourists. Travel with men and a large group if you go. (And I dressed conservatively, so don't even try to think I deserved to be harassed by these scary people... And I'm Canadian.)

Considering that members of the Albanian mafia and the former Kosovo Liberation Army continue to dabble in organ harvesting, prostitution, and drug trafficking, it is not surprising that this city is on the list.

Modern Kosovo is the most dangerous place in all of Europe anyway.

The Contenders
11 Donetsk (Ukraine)

It makes me worried to hear that my grandmother's hometown is so deadly. She says the crime is terrible there. Also, a war with Russia and Ukraine doesn't help.

Nothing dangerous in Donetsk, really... Just an average industrial city in Eastern Ukraine. Not much to see, but not dangerous, unless you go to the suburbs at night and show you are a tourist.

Do you know what is happening in East Ukraine? With the war going on in Ukraine, it is certainly one of the most dangerous cities in Europe.

12 Odessa (Ukraine)

Odessa is a very beautiful, but also a very dangerous city. There are a lot of robbers, drug addicts, and other unfavorable people in Odessa. Never walk here at night.

It's one of the most mafia-dominated cities I've ever seen. I had a terrible experience and got robbed by police mafia.

I never had problems in Odessa. The only problems are corrupt cops wanting to steal your cash.

13 London (UK) London is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames in the south eastern part of the island of Great Britain, London has been a major settlement for two millennia. London is one of the world's most important global cities. It exerts considerable... read more

I have seen several murder scenes on my way to work or while going out over the years. I have witnessed stabbings, football hooligan fights, gang fights, street robberies, crack smoking, and smack injecting on a monthly basis. If you live in zones 1 and 2 in London, then this is part of city life. I was attacked by six youths after my phone, managed to fend them off but got a black eye, cuts, and bruises. I was also attacked on my way home by two drunken men because they said I was giving them a dirty look. But that's nothing compared to a 17-year-old boy who was shot in the head over a bad drug deal while sitting in his car at the end of my street last year. Just one of many I can think of. Great city, but beware.

14 Istanbul (Turkey) Istanbul, formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, is the most populous city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural and historic center. The city straddles the Bosphorus strait, and lies in both Europe and Asia, with a population of over 15 million residents, comprising 19% of the population... read more

This is the worst city and the worst people I have ever encountered in my 10 years of traveling around the world. From the moment you leave the airport, you will regret going to that city. Though Istanbul is a very good city to visit as a tourist, the people there are not nice. The taxi drivers will definitely cheat you around tourist areas like Taksim. I enjoyed the city but had a very negative experience with the people. I have been to a club in Istiklal and, because I am black, one foolish bouncer asked me to stay only by the bar. I nearly punched his face, but, man, he was stronger than me. I wouldn't take the risk. That was the first time I experienced racism in my life.

15 Milano (Italy) Milan, located in northern Italy, is a global fashion and design capital. The city's stunning Gothic cathedral, the Duomo, is a masterpiece of architecture. Milan is also home to world-renowned artworks like Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." The Teatro alla Scala is one of the most famous opera... read more

Gypsies and clandestine immigrants, whom I believe entered the country when their Labour Party was in charge, are selling drugs, pickpocketing, and the African lucky lucky men molest girls, but I heard that they are sending them back to their country now!

I have never experienced any problems in Milan. There are pickpockets, so watch out, but it's nothing more than that. It is a busy city and a bit overcrowded with traffic, but also extremely interesting, inspiring, and elegant.

From my point of view, as a person whom they call an "Asian bitch".
I faced sexual harassment on the bus, a pickpocket, and I lost my Blackberry at Duomo. There was also a racist conversation and gesture on the Milan subway green line.
The way they celebrate Christmas Eve was by setting off dozens of super-loud firecrackers. Policemen chased teenage gangs all night. It was totally scary. I vote for this city from the deepest of my heart.

16 Palermo (Italy)

I was there a week ago with my girlfriend and it felt very similar to Mogadishu in almost all the streets, except for the few central commercial ones. It looked as if it had been bombed recently. Nothing wrong happened to us, but there were lots of people giving us strange looks in some streets. We felt like someone would assault us at any moment. We left in the evening. I wouldn't like to be walking there late at night.

I'm surprised this and Corleone weren't on the list already.

17 Pripyat (Ukraine)

No one even lives here! Everyone was evacuated due to the Chernobyl disaster, and now it's a dead zone! The only dangerous thing there is the radiation.

I don't understand why people would visit this place. I know that there's a limited amount of time that you can be in Pripyat, but you shouldn't risk it.

It's abandoned and overgrown. Did I forget to mention that it is full of radiation? No, nothing bad about this city.

18 Bucharest (Romania)

I lived in Prague for two years and was beaten up bi-weekly because of the colour of my skin (Indian). I lived in Bratislava for a year, and the people there were just as horrible, slightly better than in Prague. I have since lived in Bucharest for four years, and it is literally my favourite place on earth. The people are absolutely lovely here. They are not racist. It is a cheap, safe paradise. I should also mention that I was born and raised in the UK, where the people are not too racist but very violent. I was attacked racially as a child, but since I've grown up, it's not been too bad. I've been working as a Doctor in the UK for almost a year now, and the level of violent attacks is insane.

19 Rotterdam (Netherlands)

The city center of Rotterdam is safe. There's nothing wrong with it. However, as soon as you enter the Southside, it starts to get dangerous. Heroin and crack addicts are everywhere. I have never felt safe there. The big problem is that there are more drug dealers than drug users, which means there are more intimidating drug dealers wandering the streets. Don't worry about them. They usually don't do anything. This is just like the young people who swear at you and call you names. You won't get murdered in Rotterdam. It is a city known for fights, stabbings, and sometimes shootings. Just make sure not to make contact with the addicts. They are unpredictable.

20 Marseille (France)

Salut from an East European bloke living here... There's not only high crime and zombie-like, stupid Arab youths trying to sell drugs, not only stupid car music and annoying street noise... there are also quite pretty small beaches and the Med Sea, nice parks with peacocks, wild parrots, and turtles!

France's elegance is mixed with almost third-world chaos, ghetto-like, yes. But this is a port town, a harbor, multicultural.

Too many migrants, yes, especially the North Africans, and this city is too crowded, but there's a lot of sunshine and nice panoramas from hilltops... For vegetarian people, it is a hard place, with little vegetarian or vegan culture, though...

21 Dublin (Ireland)

Have you ever seen the inner city Flats in Dublin? It is reckoned that about 40% of the people living there are Drug Dealers. There is also serious poverty in these areas, kids grow up in poverty wearing old clothes and eating little food and they see all these Drug Dealers around them who are becoming rich, so they see that as their only way out. There is a serious Fued going on in Dublin in the past few months, not too long ago, Two people dressed as police with AK47's went into a hotel ata a boxing weigh in and shot up the place killing one man and injuring others.

22 Nottingham (UK)

Still on the subject of car parking in Nottingham, I read in the local press (April 2017) that almost 40% of people who challenged car parking fines in the city last year (2,814 out of 7,247 challenges) successfully appealed them. This is quite unacceptable and indicates how traffic wardens are behaving in such an irresponsibly ticket-happy manner. Nottingham City Council needs to give them a refresher training course because if penalty notices are issued like this, it will certainly put people off visiting the city by car. I am sure that many other people who have obediently paid their fines would have found, if they had taken the time and trouble to challenge the notices issued to them, that their notices were also spurious. It's just that people pay the fines because they do not always have the time or the inclination to challenge them as they should.

23 Milan (Italy) Milan, located in northern Italy, is a global fashion and design capital. The city's stunning Gothic cathedral, the Duomo, is a masterpiece of architecture. Milan is also home to world-renowned artworks like Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." The Teatro alla Scala is one of the most famous opera... read more
24 Liverpool (UK) Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. As of 2018, the population is approximately 494,814.

I already think England is the worst country in Europe, and Liverpool is the worst city in England! The centre is being regenerated, but as soon as you leave the centre, you're greeted by slums in all directions, gloomy council tenements, and chavs. Everyone in Liverpool has a serious superiority complex and genuinely believes that because they're Scouse, they're God's gift to Earth. Arrogance prevails, and muggings are daily. And the worst accent in the world on top of it all! I'm from England and will never set foot in Liverpool again!

25 Minsk (Belarus)
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