Europe's Most Dangerous Cities

Countless parts of Europe are safe for tourists and other individuals who are traveling to the continent for both pleasure and business. However, there are several cities that you may want to avoid because they're not as safe as others. In addition, it's probably a good idea to keep some of Europe's most popular capitals and other destinations off your bucket list — at least for the short term.

The number one reason why you should avoid some of these cities is that they have been the targets of terrorist attacks in the past and could easily be targeted again. Some of these cities have also been subjected to ongoing armed conflict, which makes them particularly dangerous to travelers. Elsewhere, regions are gripped by high rates of COVID-19. And of course, many cities have a lot of street crime like pickpocketing and mugging, so it's a good idea to do your research before you jump on a plane and travel overseas for your next vacation.

While Italy is one of the most popular places to visit in the world, not every one of its cities is a tourist's paradise. Naples is a huge draw to pizza lovers who want the classic, wood-fired Neopolitan pizza that the city is known for. It's also renowned for other delicious food, including pasta, pastries, and seafood. The Museo di Capodimonte features works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and more, and there are plenty of other neat attractions to see.

Situated in the Mezzogiorno region in the south, one deterrent to visiting Napels is the local mafia known as the Camorra, according to Business Insider. And one of the things it has been doing since the '90s is illegally dumping industrial and nuclear waste and other toxic garbage in landfills. Notably, the surrounding towns have significantly higher rates of breast cancer and birth defects compared to the national average, which is a worrisome statistic.

In addition, the Camorra — referred to as "the system" by locals — is pretty much in charge of the city and has been known to open fire on the streets. It's a huge group of 100 clans and thousands of associates, and while the Camorra minimizes some street crime, it also creates its own. Plus, physical fights are common in the Piazza del Gesu due to the heavy bar scene, and tourists are often victims of pickpocketing. So, if you want to visit Naples, it's best to be aware of the dangers before making the trip.

Most foreigners aren't familiar with Kyzyl, Russia, which is the capital of the country's Tuva region. According to eTurboNews, it boasts that it's the "Center of Asia," and it features several monuments and Buddhist prayer wheels that make it an intriguing place to visit. Unfortunately, it's one of Russia's many dangerous hot spots. One of the problems is that the city is a leader when it comes to its murder rate, which is 35 deaths per 100,000 residents. Other cities that are dangerous in Russia include Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don, Shakhty, Chelyabinsk, Blagoveshchensk, Ulan-Ude, and Magadan.

The U.S. Department of State strongly urges Americans not to travel to Russia at all due to "terrorism, harassment by Russian government security officials, the embassy's limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law." COVID-19 is also an issue in the country, and there's a risk of kidnapping and civil unrest. In general, U.S. citizens may be subjected to harassment, mistreatment, and extortion by Russian officials. Plus, it can be hard to leave the country as visitors may be denied access to consular assistance. Even worse, terrorist groups and those with extremist ideology have been known to plot attacks in the country, making tourist locations a dangerous place to congregate.

Mitrovica, Kosovo, is probably not a city travelers think of visiting when they're planning a European vacation. The Ibar River runs through the city, and it has a bridge that separates the Serbs and Albanians. According to EuroNews, the bridge serves as "both a symbol of the town's division and its most popular tourist attraction." Yet, it's not the best place to be if you're a traveler. The U.S. Department of State has a "Level 4" advisory against visiting Kosovo due to terrorism risks and the high level of COVID-19 in the country.

When it comes to Mitrovica, the agency warns against visiting North Mitrovica and other areas specifically because there's a "potential for civil unrest due to ethnic tensions." While recent unrest is linked to political issues and hasn't targeted tourists or foreigners, bystanders can get stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is also a possibility that terrorist groups will plan an attack in the country, and they can do so with little to no warning. They may attack tourist spots, transportation facilities, shopping areas, government buildings, hotels, clubs, restaurants, local parks, places of worship, airports, and other public spots.

You're probably surprised to see London, England, on this list of dangerous European cities because it is one of the most popular places for tourists from all over the world to visit. There are a ton of attractions to see, including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the London Eye. And it's also where the British royal family hangs out, so it can't be too bad, right? According to Insider Monkey, London is not as safe as you'd think because it's known for mugging and knife attacks.

In fact, 30 percent of London residents have been assaulted or robbed at least one time, according to a Gallup/United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) survey. While the data is from 2004, crime has only gotten worse in the last 15-plus years. Notably, crime grew from 139,380 incidents in 2010-11 to 222,000 incidents by 2019-2020, per Statista.

According to Shergroup, the highest rate of gun and knife crime incidents occur in the boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth. According to 2021 data from the Metropolitan Police, violence against people is the most common type of crime. So far this year, 1,617 violent crimes were reported in Croydon, making it London's most violent borough. In addition, killings in the city increased by 100 for a sixth consecutive year in 2020. In the first three months of 2021 alone, six teenagers were stabbed to death.

National Geographic dubbed Tbilisi "The World's Most Bohemian City" due to its thriving social scene. The capital of Georgia has cobblestoned streets in the old town area and attractions such as the Narikala Fortress, which was initially erected in the fourth century. There's also a tramway to take in the city's scenic views and many other historic attractions to visit, according to Viator. But it's not the safest place to include on your bucket list, reports the Overseas Security Advisory Council. The U.S. Department of State has labeled it a "medium-threat location for crime," which increased 14.6 percent from 2018 to 2019.

Americans and Westerners have been victims of aggravated assault, sexual assault, credit card fraud, and robbery. It's not uncommon for hustlers to try to exhort large amounts of cash at small bars and nightclubs while threatening physical repercussions if not given what they want. The city has organized crime, and street gangs and drug dealers are common. It's also dangerous to drive in the country because it has the highest rate of traffic accidents in Europe. Its location near Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the North Caucasus region is also a little concerning because these areas have all experienced terrorist-related activities.

Paris is hugely popular with tourists and features several famous attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, and the Arc de Triomphe. It's known for its food and fashion and has been dubbed the "City of Love" because it's a great place for honeymooning and celebrating long-term relationships. Unfortunately, the city and other parts of the country have been subjected to some pretty terrible things over the past few years. In November 2015, Islamic State extremists carried out terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people, according to EuroNews. The bombings and shootings took place across Paris, including at the Bataclan concert hall.

Since 2014, 264 people have died, and 1,200 have been injured in France in terror attacks, per the country's domestic intelligence agency. And the threat is not over. According to Marc Hecker, Director of Research and Communications at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI): "The threat level is still very substantial in France right now, and we've had several attacks over the past months perpetrated by lone actors." In the past year and a half, there were seven jihadist attacks. Elsewhere, five attack plots were stymied before they occurred.