Is Iceland Safe for Women? Crime Rate in Iceland
Safety rating
Women living in Iceland consider the safety level to be very high, with an overall safety rating of 4.5 out of 5.
Crime rating
Women living in Iceland consider the crime rate to be very low, with an overall crime rating of 1.1 out of 5.
Travel and Meet new People
Get the Travel Ladies app to meet new people, find travel buddies and stay with local women for free through hospitality exchange.
Crime & Safety Statistics
Based on 10 experiences
Safety rating: | 4.5/5 | Safe |
Safety walking alone after dark: | 4.2/5 | Safe |
Safety using public transport: | 4.4/5 | Safe |
Crime rate: | 1.1/5 | Very Low |
Worries of being sexually harassed: | 1.1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being physically attacked: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of home broken and things stolen: | 1.1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being mugged or robbed: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being kidnapped or murdered: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
How safe is Iceland?
Iceland
I can walk alone late at night drunk at the club and be and feel safe. Men act like evrty lady out there. I can walk home alone late at night with no worries at all. No stress no worried at all. Men are jerks but stay in their lane.
Posted: December 27, 2024Iceland
Iceland is the safest place to live. I feel very safe when I come back from work, or alone in general. It is a small country, people are friendly, and the city is beautiful. It is a great place to live.
Posted: December 10, 2024Hvolsvollur
Hvolsvöllur is a very small town which is very safe. Not alot of people walking or driving around. Town is quite busy between 16 and 17 but other than that its very quiet and beautiful. I have worked in a hostel there and it is very safe and a good environment.
Posted: November 9, 2024Reykjavík
Reykjavík is definitely the safest city I've ever been to. I've lived there for 6 months and it felt very safe to be there as a woman and especially as a queer woman. Of course it is also not 100% safe, cause everywhere there can be bad people, but it's definitely the safest I've ever experienced.
Posted: July 29, 2024
Elín
Borgarnes
Borgarnes is a very safe small town. It's safe to walk there alone at night, there are hardly every ant break ins and the crime rate is about none existent. I'd be so bold to say that any crime that does happen is between people who know each other or teenagers doing petty crime.
Posted: July 20, 2024Reykjavík
Its safe if you use just common sense and watch your drinks :) We have to be on guard more the last couple of years because we have some more of creepy men at bar mostly foreign man who dont respect woman but only that they spike your drinks
Posted: July 6, 2024
Corinna
Reykjavík
Very safe and nice. No darkness in summertime, 24/7 hours brightness. You can walk around without worries. Keep an eye on your drink in the evening parties in downtown, there has been put drugs in. Very helpful people.
Posted: June 17, 2024
Monika
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is extremely safe, I never had any alarming situation walking alone at night or when alone at the bar. Sometimes I don't lock the door when I go to a grocery store. I never had anything stolen even when using my phone on the street and walking using Google maps.
Posted: June 4, 2024Reykjavík
Reykjavik is the safest city I have been so far. People are very open in general and everyone is welcomed, despite of the gender, orientation, religion, etc. as far as there is mutual respect. Reykjavik is a diverse city with a lot of foreigners living here. However the majority are Icelanders. In general, I feel welcomed by the community. When walking in the streets I am not concerned and feel really safe. The only place I would show some caution is in downtown area in the evening after 00:00 during fridays and weekends.
Posted: May 20, 2024Iceland
Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world. Harassment and violence is super rare. The tap water is safe to drink and is one of the best waters in the world. It is a very safe country for solo female travelers. These three things you should watch out for; •Be aware the nature can be dangerous specially “Reynisfjara” a popular tourist destination, do not go anywhere close to the sea where there can suddenly be giant crash waves that sweeps people out to sea and there is not much that can be done to save someone. •Pick pocketing is something that did not exist in Iceland until recently criminal groups from other countries come to target tourists at crowded tourist destinations like Gullfoss and Geysir to pickpocket, the scam is usually they will ask you to take a photo for them while another person steal’s, but this will not happen anywhere elsewhere else in Iceland. •In general no matter the country it is wise to watch your drink at a crowded bar. If you feel unsafe don’t hesitate to ask for help, Icelanders take woman’s safety at the bar or clubs very seriously.
Posted: March 20, 2024Is Iceland worth visiting?
Travel rating
based on 56 experiences from female travelers
Rachelle
Canada
Iceland, Solo travel
I absolutely adored Iceland, and I’m already planning to go back. I rented a car and drove around the ring road in 7 days, staying and hostels and guesthouses along the way. I felt completely safe travelling solo. In fact, I met many people from all over the world who were quite friendly. Locals were polite but not overly friendly unless you befriended them with a good chat or coffee. The food is quite expensive—I only ate out twice and bought items from grocery stores for the majority of my trip. I recommend finding accommodations where breakfast is included, if possible. The geographical and geological variety of this place is spectacular—you can drive down the main highway and find something breathtaking almost ever 5-15 minutes! A lot of beauty is right along the main road, but you can also take the F-roads for more untouched nature, but be sure to rent a 4x4 or AWD vehicle for these purposes. Volcanoes, lava fields, waterfalls, ice caves, black sand beaches, geysers, natural hot springs, basalt columns, fjords, lagoons and icebergs—the list goes on and on. I can’t wait to return!
Posted: January 3, 2025
Maria
Cyprus
Akureyri, Solo travel
I recommend whale watching on a floater, taking the Diamond Circle tour, and rafting on the nearby Whitewater River. My hostel overlooked a lively street with hot dog stands (overpriced), a bakery (worth a visit), and other food shops. I stayed in a capsule bed that allowed privacy.
Posted: December 30, 2024Meet locals in Iceland
Arnrún
About Me
Hi my name is Arnrún and I'm from Iceland. I'm traveling around world and I like to meet knew people 😊
Speaking
Ana
About Me
I'm Ana, a Portuguese lady living in Iceland for the past years. I'm on a travel journey as a digital nomad for 6 months. I'll be working remotely, so having access to good Internet on weekdays is important. Destinations in Europe: Sept to Dec Destinations outside Europe: Jan to Feb Looking forward to meeting like-minded women who love traveling, living life, building meaningful connections, create good memories 😊 if you wanna connect and plan something together somewhere send me a line 😁 All the best and safe travels!
Speaking
Safety in Iceland
Frequently asked questions
Is Iceland safe?
Is Iceland safe to walk alone at night?
Is public transport safe in Iceland?
What is the crime rate in Iceland?
What is the risk of being sexually harassed in Iceland?
What is the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped in Iceland?
What is the risk of being physically attacked in Iceland?
What is the risk of burglary in Iceland?
What is the risk of being mugged or robbed in Iceland?
What is the risk of being kidnapped or murdered in Iceland?
