Norway : Safety by CityThe capital city of Norway is at the same time the third-largest city of Scandinavia. Oslo’s history is 1,000 years old.
After the devastating fire in 1624, Olso developed quickly into a modern cosmopolitan city.
Nevertheless, the remains from the city’s history can still be found in parks such as St. Hanshaugen.
On the other hand, Oslo has modern architecture and landmarks designed by world-class architects can be seen in recent years.
To fully experience this amazing city, tourists are offered bus sightseeing, boat trips, tours of the museums, and much more.
Warnings & Dangers in Oslo
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Olso is a safe city and the whole country is a very safe one, too. Still, there are some areas, such as Gronland, Toyen, Kuba or Karl Johan street that is best to be avoided, particularly at night. Illegal and unlicensed taxis around nightclubs should never be used.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Oslo has a very safe transport network, and official taxis are considered safe in Norway. The only bad thing is that they are expensive. You can feel free to get one from the street, which is not common in other major cities. If you are a pedestrian, you should know that trams are not obliged to stop pedestrians, while cars must.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Pickpocket-related risk in Norway is not so low since it is a huge city that attracts numerous thieves and bag snatchers. The chances of being pickpocketed in Oslo are medium, and airports and railway stations are the places where they mostly operate.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
The capital city of Norway is prone to avalanches and rockslides since extreme weather can occur. Flooding and landslides happen frequently during the rainy season.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
The chances of being mugged or kidnapped in Oslo are possible in dangerous areas which should always be avoided. Travelers need to be watchful since sexual assaults have occurred. Gangs operate in various areas, and they usually attack people to get their money. They often work in groups and use various tactics to attack you.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Even though Norway was not targeted for terrorist attacks, terrorism is a threat throughout the world and European capital cities are dangerous. You will need to be careful when in public places frequented by foreigners since several planned attacks happened there.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Scammers in Oslo operate and they aim to get the money from you. A common scam is when they try to get tourists involved in street-betting. Be aware of the strangely looking people approaching you.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women travelers can feel completely free when coming to Oslo because it is a very female-friendly city. Women have not reported any kind of incidents against them there.
So... How Safe Is Oslo Really?
Oslo is not a dangerous city, but you still need to be vigilant and avoid getting too dangerous areas where instances of rape, muggings and drug dealing happen.
They have been reports of rape in Oslo, which lead to an increased number of patrols around the city.
Public transportation is regularly used by tourists and is considered to be safe.
Nevertheless, there are areas where pickpockets operate.
That is a relatively visible problem in some parts of Oslo.
Tourists are advised never to leave their belongings unattended and be especially vigilant after dark.
People traveling to Oslo do not have to be concerned with their safety because a crime against tourists is rare.
Still, everyone needs to practice common sense and keep an eye on belongings in crowded places, to make sure that he/she will not encounter any serious trouble.
How Does Oslo Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Oslo | 78 |
| Trondheim | 86 |
| Stavanger | 80 |
| Bergen | 71 |
| Kristiansand | 81 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
| Sao Paulo (Brazil) | 45 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
Useful Information
Visas
Norway belongs to the Schengen area and people from many European countries can visit it without obtaining a visa. You will need a valid passport to enter. If you are interested in more information about entry requirements, you should contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Norway.
Currency
Norway is not a member of the Euro-zone, which means that the official currency is not Euro, but the Norwegian Kroner. Credit cards are accepted but bear in mind that there might be some ATMs or vendors that will not accept it, so it is better to have cash on you. Oslo is a very wealthy city and one of the most expensive in Europe.
Weather
Winters in Oslo are very cold with a lot of snowfall, but the summer weather is usually mild and pleasant. There are plenty of long sunny days which make summer the perfect season for visiting Oslo.
Airports
There are three airports in Oslo: Oslo Airport, Sandefjord Airport, and Moss Airport. The major one is the Oslo Airport with the main international flights to and from Norway. It is located 47 kilometers northeast of Oslo. Other major airports in Norway are in Bergen and Bodo.
Travel Insurance
Whichever country you are going to, a travel insurance policy should be obtained, and it should cover both medical problems and theft.
Oslo Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Low °C | -5 | -5 | -2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | -4 |
| High °F | 34 | 34 | 41 | 52 | 63 | 70 | 73 | 70 | 61 | 50 | 39 | 34 |
| Low °F | 23 | 23 | 28 | 36 | 45 | 52 | 55 | 55 | 48 | 39 | 32 | 25 |
Norway - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Bergen | 71 |
| Kristiansand | 81 |
| Oslo | 78 |
| Stavanger | 80 |
| Trondheim | 86 |
Truthful
I just got back from Oslo a week or so ago and my entire family was worried the whole time. I think this rating is spot on. Yes, there are some risks with pickpockets and what not but most area that get a lot of visitors from outside the country will have this. I felt perfectly safe myself and plan on going back next year with my brother and a group of friends.
Wonderful Country
From my experience, Oslo, and Norway entirely are very safe. I was expecting to see low risk across the board, except for maybe the natural disasters. It seems Norway is one of the safest countries in Europe. I’ve been to Oslo for business and Trondheim for vacation and both cities were wonderful. Will go again!
Very safe country
Norway is my home country, but I’ve lived in Scotland for the past 17 years. I travel to Arendal twice a year to see my parents and it is always a great time. No issues at all. Of course, the risk of muggings and scams are higher in Oslo, as is the case with most capital/big cities but, overall, Norway is very safe to visit. Give it a go!
False sense of security
I don’t know where they get these safety records from and whether they are this good because they get falsified by politically correct non-reporting of migrant crimes as seen in Sweden and Germany.
Truth is that there are many violent sexual attacks on young women after dark and brutal attacks of transgender people. These attacks are carried out by not so tolerant Muslim youth that were welcomed by western countries. It has gone as dar as now telling native Norwegian women to cover up so they lower their risk of being assaulted. Yet nobody speaks the truth. Go figure.
I do think it is important to talk about these issues and I think it is a disservice to people, especially women, who are attacked this way. The problem is.. We have people who will say nothing and call you a racist over your worries, or we have people who will blame immigrants for everything. There is no winning here. While Oslo is a beautiful place, it hasn’t felt safe to me in some time and I visit often to see family.
Be safe
Not safe. These above reports are not true. Ratings are also screend. Rape is rampant in all of skandinavia due to mass migration
Not too bad
Well it is not the safest city, but it is ok. I would recommend to avoid whole eastern part of the city… Groenland, Toyen, Grunerlokka, Alna, Furuset… those parts are a bit rough and can be dangerous at night (occasional gang related shootings, stabbing, rape, vandalism, hate crime- pride parade shooting 2022). I would strongly recommend renting your room a bit outside the city center, but it needs to be on the west-side…. Majorstuen, Ulleval, Frogner, or even better- Ullern ,Skoyen, Smestad, Montebello , Ris, Bygdoy, Roa, Holmenkollen- typically norwegian, quiet, clean and safe . You will be able to enjoy beutiful nature and still be able to reach the city center in no time (public transport is amazing).
Honestly
Horrible experience