Norway

Is Norway safe to visit?

Yes, very. Norway had 0.72 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 2023, about two road deaths per 100,000 in 2025, and the US rates it Level 1, its lowest advisory. Theft is uncommon outside Oslo's transport hubs. We score it 90. The danger in Norway is not other people but the mountains, the weather and the distances. Most visitors who die here die outdoors.

Mountains, avalanches and fast weather

Norway's steep terrain produces avalanches, rockfalls and landslides, and the US advisoryUS travel advisoryThe US State Department's rating of each country from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel).More in the glossary names them directly. NVE, the national water and energy agency, counted 5 avalanche deaths in winter 2024/25, a little below the average of 6.65 a year since 2008. All of that winter's fatal avalanches happened during outdoor recreation, not on roads or in buildings. In April 2026 two more skiers died in an avalanche in Hemsedal while the regional warning was at level 3 (considerable).

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 adds that weather can turn to Arctic conditions on exposed tops even in summer, and that winter can last into April with temperatures down to -25°C. Hikers on Trolltunga, Preikestolen, Besseggen and the Lofoten peaks need proper boots, layers and a map, and should turn back early.

Practical rules that work:

• Check Varsom every day in winter. It publishes avalanche, flood and landslide warnings for every region.
• At avalanche level 3 or above, stay off slopes steeper than 30° unless you are trained.
• Tell someone your route, and carry a charged phone and a power bank. Mobile coverage is good on main routes but patchy in valleys.
• In summer, police often ban campfires because of wildfire risk; obey the signs.

The FCDO warns that rescue is limited in the Arctic north, where almost half of Norway lies. In Svalbard, polar bears add a hazard of their own; go beyond Longyearbyen only with a licensed guide.

Driving: safe roads, hard conditions

Statens vegvesen counted 111 road deaths in 2025 (preliminary), up from 87 in 2024. That is still only about 2 per 100,000 people, one of the lowest rates in Europe and below Ireland or the UK. Motorcyclists made up 24 of the deaths, and pedestrian deaths rose from 6 to 10, half of them in December.

For visitors, the roads themselves are the challenge. Fjord roads are narrow and twisting, with long single-lane stretches and tunnels several kilometres long. In winter, mountain passes close or run in convoy, and winter tyres are compulsory when roads are icy. 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 the drink-drive limit is a quarter of England's and that police run frequent checks. Watch for moose and reindeer, especially at dusk in the north. Keep headlights on, dipped, at all times.

Crime is not the main worry

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 describes "a small risk" of petty theft, mainly at airports and stations in and around Oslo. The US mentions keeping an eye on wallets and phones in busy hotels and stations. That is about all. Tourist scams are uncommon, and violent crime against visitors is rare even late at night in Oslo or Bergen.

Terrorism risk is low. The FCDO says only that attacks cannot be ruled out, and demonstrations are usually peaceful. Norway sits 33rd 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, lower than its daily safety would suggest, because the index also weighs military spending and foreign relations.

Health

Healthcare is excellent, tap water is safe, and there are no tropical diseases. The limits are distance and cold. In Finnmark, Lofoten and the inland mountains, the nearest hospital can be hours away and air ambulance flights depend on the weather. Hypothermia is a risk on any boat trip or long hike. Fjord and sea water stays cold even in July, and a capsized kayak or a fall from a rock ledge can become serious within minutes. Rent kayaks only with a drysuit or wetsuit and a guide if you lack experience, wear a life jacket on small boats, and stay well back from waterfall edges and wet rock above the fjords. Ticks are common along the southern coast in summer, so check after walks. Call 113 for an ambulance.

How we scored it

Road safety (94), violent crime (95) and conflict (92) are excellent. Natural hazards (75) is the weakest factor, because of avalanches, landslides and Arctic weather, much like Iceland. Compare Switzerland, which has similar mountain risks but shorter distances to help.