Denmark

Is Denmark safe to visit?

Yes, very. Denmark had 0.87 homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary people in 2024 (Eurostat), about 2.3 road deaths per 100,000 in 2025, and ranks 11th on the 2026 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary. We score it 90, level with Norway and ahead of neighbouring Germany. What visitors actually run into is the pickpocket in Copenhagen's centre and the rule-bound bike traffic. The terrorism threat is rated serious, and Copenhagen has occasional gang violence, but neither touches most trips.

Copenhagen pickpockets: where and how

Theft is the most common crime against visitors, and it is concentrated in a handful of places. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary names Copenhagen Central Station, Nørreport Station, the main shopping street Strøget, Nyhavn, Kongens Nytorv, Christiania and Kastrup Airport. Thieves use distraction on crowded buses and metros, and they also work in hotel lobbies, cafés and restaurants, where a phone left on the table or a bag on a chair back is easy to take. Luggage in the overhead racks of airport trains is another target.

What works:

• Keep your phone in a front pocket on Strøget and in Nyhavn, and off café tables.
• On the airport train, keep your suitcase where you can see it.
• Lock rental bikes every time. Bike theft is extremely common in Copenhagen.

Outside the capital, in Aarhus, Odense or along the coast, theft is a much smaller problem.

Gangs, Christiania and Nørrebro

Copenhagen has an organised crime scene, and conflicts between gangs lead to shootings from time to time, mostly in residential parts of Nørrebro and the western suburbs. When that happens, police set up temporary stop-and-search zones until things calm down. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary advises extra care in Christiania and Nørrebro late at night, where there have been instances of gang violence.

For a visitor this means little more than common sense. Christiania is fine to walk through in daylight. Do not buy drugs there or anywhere else: cannabis is illegal in Denmark, and the FCDO warns of long sentences for drug offences. Respect signs asking you not to take photos. Nørrebro's cafés and Assistens Cemetery are worth the trip by day; late at night, stick to busy streets.

Terrorism

Denmark's security service PET rated the terrorist threat as serious, 4 on its 5-step scale, in its April 2025 assessment. It names militant Islamists as the main threat and warns that criminals are increasingly hired to carry out attacks on behalf of others. The US rates the Kingdom of Denmark Level 2 for terrorism, and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says attacks cannot be ruled out. In practice, that means visible police at Jewish sites, some embassies and big events, and the occasional cordon. Denmark ranks 11th on the 2026 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary, down two places; the index notes that Denmark had the largest worsening of any country on militarisation, which reflects defence spending, not danger to visitors.

On the road and in the bike lane

Denmark recorded 136 road deaths in 2025 (provisional), about 23 per million people against an EU average of 43, and 32% fewer than in 2019. The European Transport Safety Council gave Denmark its 2026 award for road safety progress.

For visitors, the challenge is bikes, not cars. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary notes that cyclists often have right of way and that many crashes involve pedestrians stepping into bike lanes. If you drive, always check the cycle lane before turning right, and let pedestrians cross first when you turn at lights. E-scooters fall under traffic law, and riding one after drinking can be prosecuted as drink-driving. If you rent a bike, ride in the lane, keep right so faster riders can pass, and walk the bike across busy squares.

Health and nature

Healthcare is excellent, and tap water is safe. In the capital region, call the medical helpline 1813 before turning up at an emergency department, unless it is life-threatening, in which case call 112. Ticks are common in woods and dunes in summer; check your skin after walks. North Sea beaches on the west coast have strong currents in places, so swim where there are lifeguards and obey red flags.

Natural hazards are mild. Autumn storms can close bridges such as the Great Belt link to high-sided vehicles, and cloudbursts sometimes flood Copenhagen streets in summer. Low coasts are exposed to storm surges, which the Danish Meteorological Institute forecasts well.

How we scored it

Road safety (95) and violent crime (94) are Denmark's strongest factors. Petty crime (80) is the weakest, because of Copenhagen's pickpockets, followed by conflict (85), where the serious terrorism threat rating weighs more than the low number of actual attacks. Compare Sweden, which has far more gang shootings and bombings across the Øresund.