Is Dundee Safe for Travel RIGHT NOW? (2024 Safety Rating)

Safety Index:

* Based on Research & Crime Data

Dundee offers an interesting mix of history, art, culture, and friendly locals.

It was declared the UK’s first-ever UNESCO City of Design in 2014.

The Tall Ship is one of the city’s notable attractions.

You’ll also find restaurants, pubs, museums, and plenty of natural beauty in Dundee.

Warnings & Dangers in Dundee

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Dundee gets an overall risk of medium because it has the highest crime rate in Scotland. However, it's important to remember that this is relative. Overall, Scotland is a very safe place to visit, so the risk in Dundee is not as high as in many other locations. There are a total of 830 crimes per 10,000 people in Dundee. This is a bit lower than London, which has 1,000 crimes per 10,000 people. Most crimes in Dundee occur between residents, which further lowers the risk to travelers. Of course, there are some things you should be aware of before setting off for Dundee.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Public transportation in Dundee is considered reliable and safe. Dundee has CCTV cameras on all buses, and has emphasized that they do work. This has gone a long way towards increasing safety on public transport. With only half the city's residents owning a car, public transportation is very important. Dundee is said to lead the way in the U.K.'s public transportation, with other cities using it as a model for their own systems.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

The risk of pickpockets in Dundee is low. It's so uncommon that two pickpocketing ladies made the news in 2022. Pickpocketing is possible in the city, but the authorities take the crime seriously and it doesn't happen often. Other crimes of dishonesty, including theft and home break-ins, are more common, however.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

The risk of a natural disaster in Scotland is medium. The most common issue is flooding, with nearly 2,000 residential and commercial properties at risk of flooding due to coastal or surface water. Dundee had significant flooding after Storm Babet. Landslides can also occur. Other potential natural disasters include tornadoes, hurricanes, and snow.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Like other crimes, mugging does occur in Dundee. However, it doesn't happen often. Car theft and home break-ins are more common. Numbeo compiles statistics based on user data and opinion, rather than actual crime statistics. They rate Dundee as having a low mugging risk. The statistics back this up, with robbery accounting for only 2% of violent nonsexual crime in Dundee.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

The UK has a terrorism risk of "substantial", which means a terrorist attack is considered likely. This may seem scary, but it's essentially the same as the current level in the U.S., which is "heightened". Of course, the risk applies to the U.K. as a whole. The risk of being in an area affected by a terrorist attack is much lower than the overall risk of an attack in the U.K. as a whole.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

These days, there's no place that is completely safe from scams. Online scams can affect you no matter where you are. However, other scams are localized. Telephone scammers often target Dundee international students, and obtain personal information or have the victim send money. Recently, a scammer pretended to work for the housing authority and offered mold inspections.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: HIGH

Dundee gets a high rating for a few reasons. First, it does have the highest overall crime rating in Scotland. It's also rated the worst place in the U.K. to be a girl. Some of the issues girls face, like classroom inequality, will not have a direct effect on female travelers. However, there's a culture that seems to undervalue women. Women don't feel safe in the city alone and believe that their voices aren't heard. Residents say that men are not brought up to respect women. This lack of respect puts women at a higher risk of being the victim of a crime or harassment.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The tap water in Dundee and the rest of the UK is highly regulated. It's been declared some of the best tap water in the world. In addition to high standards, Scotland has plenty of lakes and reservoirs that supply the water. It's then treated before being piped into homes and businesses.

Safest Places to Visit in Dundee

Like any city, Dundee has some areas that are safer than others.

Generally speaking, areas with wealthier residents will be safer than areas with lower income.

In Dundee, West End, Blackness Road, Blackness Avenue, Westfield Place, and the City Center are all considered safe areas.

Other areas to visit include Balgay, Ninewells, Perth Road, and Step Row.

Places to Avoid in Dundee

Residents of Dundee say that Hilltown and Craigie are the roughest areas in the city, so it’s a good idea to avoid these areas.

Kirkton, Charleston, Logie, Lochee, Whitfield, and Menzieshill are also areas with higher crime rates.

If you don’t have to go to these areas, particularly Hilltown and Craigie, it’s best to skip them.

If you must go to these areas, it’s best to go during the day and travel as part of a group.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Dundee

Water Safety. Scotland has more than 6,000 miles of coastline. In addition to coastal areas, there are lots of streams, rivers, and lakes. It’s important to use good decision-making and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Tides and water levels can change quickly, which can quickly leave you in dire straits. Many visitors have been stranded due to these issues. Scotland also has the highest accidental drowning rate in the UK, so be careful when enjoying the pristine lakes in Dundee.
Be Prepared for the Weather. Weather can change quickly in Dundee. It can go from warm and sunny to cold and rainy with very little notice. Temperatures can also drop quickly. When in Dundee, be sure to bring plenty of weather gear, including rain gear and extra layers or coats.
Don’t Look Like a Tourist. Looking like a tourist makes you an easy target for robbers or scammers. It also marks you as an outsider, which will affect your experience of Dundee. For these reasons, it’s best to not look like a tourist. Avoid stopping on the sidewalk, or pavement as it’s known in Scotland. If you want to stop to take pictures, move out of the way of foot traffic. Try to avoid looking amazed or lost when out and about. You should also avoid purchasing cliche outfits. Buy a few quality items and you’ll fit in much better. It’s also a good idea to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention to yourself. This means blending in with the crowd whenever possible.
Keep Valuables Safe. When traveling, it’s important to keep your valuables safe. Keep any expensive or important items in your hotel safe. This includes jewelry, extra cash, and your passport. Do not leave them in plain sight in your hotel room, and don’t carry unnecessary items when you are out and about. In fact, you should leave any valuables, including grandmother’s pearls or your antique pocket knife, that you don’t need at home.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings. This is important when visiting, or living in, any city. Be sure to keep an eye on what’s going on around you. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, beautiful views, and classic architecture in Dundee, but don’t forget to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. This is the best way to have a good, and safe, time. This also helps to deter criminals, who are on the lookout for easy, and oblivious, targets.
Travel with Others. It’s best to travel as part of a group. If you are traveling with friends or family, have at least one other person with you when you go out. Traveling is more fun with someone to share it with, and it also helps to keep you safe. This is particularly important for women. Women should avoid walking around alone in Dundee, particularly at night. If you are traveling alone, try to avoid areas where there are few people. Crime is more likely to occur in deserted areas with few witnesses.
Guard Your Personal Information. You should guard your personal information carefully. If an official asks to see any documents, ask to see their credentials before providing them. This will prevent you from giving your information to a scammer. You should also be careful not to leave your I.D. or passport where others can take a look at it.
Stay in Touch With Loved Ones. If you are traveling alone, this is essential. You should have a loved one at home that you check in with at least once a day. If they don’t hear from you, they will know something is wrong and get help. Even if you are traveling with others, it’s a good idea to stay in touch with someone at home, just in case there’s an issue.
Enroll in STEP. STEP stands for Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. It’s a free service provided by the U.S. government. Before you leave the country, you should register. This will allow the authorities to contact you in case of an emergency, provide travel alerts, and help loved ones contact you if necessary. The program also connects you with the nearest U.S. Embassy.

So... How Safe Is Dundee Really?

As mentioned previously, Dundee has the most crime of any city in Scotland, but less crime than some areas of the UK, including London.

Residents of Dundee consider their city safe.

They give Dundee an overall crime rating of moderate.

They rate the rise in crime and people using drugs as high, but all other types of crimes are low or moderate based on their perceptions.

This is a good indication that Dundee is not as dangerous as it seems at first glance.

The city is more risky for women, because of an overall attitude of gender inequality.

However, as long as you follow the safety tips listed above, you can enjoy Dundee relatively safely.

How Does Dundee Compare?

City	Safety Index
Dundee	60
London	68
Northern Ireland	56
Belfast	56
Edinburgh	70
Glasgow	55
Scotland	71
Vienna (Austria)	88
Hong Kong (China)	70
Manama (Bahrain)	54
Tianjin (China)	67
Brussels (Belgium)	60
Shanghai (China)	66

Useful Information

Visas

You won't need a visa to travel to Dundee if you are a U.S. citizen. However, you will need a valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least 2 months to ensure it doesn't expire when you are there. If you plan to stay in Scotland for more than 6 months, then you will need a visa.

Currency

The pound sterling, usually known as the pound, is the U.K. currency. You can exchange your currency at post offices, banks, and American Express locations. You can also use major debit and credit cards at most places, but you may be subject to unfavorable exchange rates and foreign transaction fees.

Weather

Summers in Dundee are cooler and mild. Winters are cold, windy, and wet. The average summer temperature is 65, with temperatures rarely exceeding 72 degrees. The average winter temperature is 33 degrees, with temps rarely falling below 24 degrees. Dundee gets a lot of rain, and weather conditions can change very quickly. Warm clothing, plenty of layers, and rain gear are essential travel accessories.

Airports

Dundee Airport is located near the city center and offers a convenient way to get to Dundee. You can reach destinations like Heathrow and Belfast from the airport.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is recommended before heading to Dundee. You can choose travel health insurance because your U.S.-based health plan likely won't provide coverage overseas. You can also get coverage for cancelations, delays, lost luggage, and more.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Dundee Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 5° C

Feb 5° C

Mar 7° C

Apr 9° C

May 12° C

Jun 15° C

Jul 17° C

Aug 16° C

Sep 14° C

Oct 11° C

Nov 7° C

Dec 5° C

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	6	7	9	12	15	17	19	19	17	13	9	6
Low °C	3	3	4	6	9	12	14	13	11	8	5	3
High °F	43	45	48	54	59	63	66	66	63	55	48	43
Low °F	37	37	39	43	48	54	57	55	52	46	41	37

United Kingdom - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Aberdeen	63
Bath	81
Belfast	56
Birmingham	44
Bradford	42
Brighton	67
Bristol	58
Cambridge	78
Canterbury	79
Cardiff	64
Coventry	41
Dundee	60
Edinburgh	70
Exeter	77
Glasgow	55
Inverness	73
Leeds	56
Leicester	43
Liverpool	56
London	68
Manchester	44
Newcastle upon Tyne	72
Northern Ireland	56
Nottingham	56
Oxford	66
Peterborough	70
Salford	43
Scotland	71
Sheffield	74
Southampton	65
Surrey	77
York	83

Is Dundee Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

United Kingdom : Safety by City