A land of beaches, hills, islands, and mountains, Portugal is a great idea for anybody looking for a slice of nature. Add to that Portugals former colonial riches, which are reflected in the stunning architecture of Lisbon and Porto, and theres even more reason to go.

But theres one problem: petty theft. Its a huge issue in Portugal, especially around tourist areas. The steady influx of visitors and a layer of unseen poverty collide here, and, for thieves, its an opportunity.

To help you steer clear of these thieves and to prove thatPortugal is safe,in fact, weve created this epic insiders safety guide.

Were going to be sharing a ton of ways to stay safe in Portugal. Well talk about the safety of the roads in Portugal (and if you should be driving on them), how safe it is for female travelers, and just about everything else in between.

You may be wondering if Portugal is a good destination for you as a solo traveler, you may be wondering if Portugal is a good place to travel with children you may just be wondering how safe Portuguese food is. Whatever your concerns are, were here to help.

Sign up for our newsletter and get the best travel tips delivered right to your inbox.

Name*Email*I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke BackpackersPrivacy Policy(Required)Sign Me Up!

With a ton of history to learn about, some pretty stunningarchitecture to gawk at, andplentiful beaches,were all for a trip toPortugal.

And actually?Its one of the safest countries in Europeas crime levels areverylow.

But thats not to say that it doesnt come without the usual annoyances you find in tourist areas. Cities like Lisbon and other cities have higher crime rates than rural areas, for example. In urban areas, petty theft isa serious issue.Pickpocketing and bag snatching is common, unfortunately, which always sucks.

With the rising numbers of visitors, would-be thieves are having a field day withunsuspecting tourists.So basically, it pays to not be unsuspecting and you have to bevigilantin busy areas.

There are alsoseedy sidesto Portugals towns and cities, too. Drugs and prostitution arent exactly rare in certain neighbourhoods.

Nature-wise, the hot weather can be actually dangerous. Not only for stuff like sunstroke, butforest fires in the summer are a real threat.

All that being said, wed say Portugal is absolutely safe on the whole.

There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. The question of Is Portugal Safe? will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. But this article is written for savvy travellers from the perspective of savvy travellers.

The information present in this safety guide was accurate at the time of writing, however, the world is a changeable place, now more than ever. Between the pandemic, ever-worsening cultural division, and a click-hungry media, it can be hard to maintain what is truth and what is sensationalism.

Here, you will find safety knowledge and advice for travelling Portugal. It wont be down to the wire cutting edge info on the most current events, but it is layered in the expertise of veteran travellers. If you use our guide,do your own research,and practise common sense, you will have a safe trip to Portugal.

If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). Otherwise, thanks for your ear and stay safe!

Its a wild world out there. But its pretty damn special too.