Is Ireland safe for tourists, expats and people moving to the country? Ireland has a well-established police service, emergency services and public infrastructure, but, like any country, it has crime and other risks that visitors and residents should understand. Safety also varies according to location, time of day and circumstances.
For most people, ordinary travel and daily life in Ireland involve straightforward precautions: look after valuables, be aware of your surroundings, take care around nightlife areas and roads, and know how to contact An Garda Síochána in an emergency.
Ireland is not crime-free, but current official statistics show a mixed picture across different offence categories. In the year to Q2 2026, recorded sexual offences fell by 19% and homicide-related offences fell by 9%, while fraud increased by 9% and dangerous or negligent acts increased by 11%. Recorded-crime statistics should not be interpreted as a complete measure of all crime because they cover incidents reported to and recorded by Gardaí.
The latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) Recorded Crime Q2 2026 release, published on 1 October 2026, compares recorded incidents in the year to Q2 2026 with the corresponding period to Q2 2025.
The figures show that crime trends differ considerably depending on the type of offence.
Recorded incidents in the year to Q2 2026.
Recorded incidents in the year to Q2 2026.
Recorded incidents in the year to Q2 2026.
Recorded incidents in the year to Q2 2026.
These are national recorded-crime trends rather than a prediction of what an individual visitor will experience. Crime also varies by location and offence type. The CSO specifically notes that recorded crime statistics represent incidents reported to and recorded by An Garda Síochána and there can be under-reporting for some crimes. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Tourists and new residents should not focus only on serious violent crime. Everyday risks can include theft, fraud, property crime, public-order incidents and problems associated with nightlife.
Dublin is Ireland's largest city and has busy shopping streets, transport hubs, nightlife districts, residential neighbourhoods and tourist attractions. As in other large European cities, safety conditions can vary considerably from one area and time of day to another.
Visitors should use normal urban precautions, especially around crowded locations and late-night entertainment areas.
Dublin should not be treated as one uniform safety environment. Conditions can differ between neighbourhoods and even between individual streets.
Cork is Ireland's second-largest city and combines a city centre with residential areas and suburban communities.
Visitors should use normal precautions around busy streets, transport areas and nightlife locations.
Galway is a major tourist and student destination. Its compact centre can become particularly busy during evenings, weekends and major events.
Keep valuables secure and take care when travelling home late at night.
Limerick has a mixture of city-centre, suburban and university areas. As elsewhere, safety can vary by location and time.
Use normal urban precautions and avoid unnecessary risks late at night.
Waterford is a smaller city with a substantial historic centre and residential areas. Visitors should follow the same basic precautions used in other Irish cities.
Smaller Irish towns often have different environments from the major cities, but lower population density does not mean that crime is impossible.
Rural areas generally have different safety considerations, including long distances, limited public transport and road conditions. Weather can also affect travel.
Families living in Ireland should consider the same everyday issues as families elsewhere: traffic, online safety, child supervision, household security and local community conditions.
Parents moving to Ireland may also want to investigate the specific neighbourhood surrounding a home, school or childcare facility rather than relying only on national safety statistics.
Ireland has a large international student population, particularly in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and other university towns.
Students should pay particular attention to accommodation scams, theft, nightlife, transport and travelling alone late at night.
For more information, see our Ireland Student Guide .
Ireland is home to people from many countries, particularly in larger cities and areas with international employers and universities.
Expats should take the same practical precautions as Irish residents. When moving to a new city, it is particularly useful to understand the neighbourhood around your accommodation, workplace, transport route and local services.
For people planning a move, safety should be considered together with rent, employment, transport, healthcare, schools and local amenities.
You can explore our Life in Ireland for Expats guide for additional relocation information.
Call 999 or 112 when there is an emergency requiring an immediate response, including danger to life, serious injury, a crime in progress or an offender still at or near the scene.
The emergency service can dispatch the appropriate response, including Gardaí, ambulance, fire service or other emergency services. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
An Garda Síochána provides the Garda Confidential telephone service at 1800 666 111. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
For a crime that is not an emergency, contact your local Garda station or report the matter in person. Garda provides a station directory and information for reporting crimes. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
An Garda Síochána is the national police and security service of the Republic of Ireland.
Garda provides local stations, crime reporting services, community policing and crime-prevention resources. The Garda website also provides a station directory and local services information.
If you are living in Ireland, it is useful to know the location and contact details of your nearest Garda station before you need them. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Night-time safety depends heavily on location and circumstances. Busy central areas can remain active late into the evening, while quieter streets and rural locations may have little activity after dark.
If you are unfamiliar with an area, avoid isolated routes and consider travelling with friends or using reputable public transport or taxi services.
People who have been drinking should take particular care because alcohol can increase the risk of accidents, poor decisions and becoming separated from friends.
Road safety is an important consideration for visitors. Ireland drives on the left-hand side of the road.
Visitors renting a car should become familiar with Irish road signs, speed limits and local driving conditions before setting out.
Ireland's weather can change quickly. Outdoor safety therefore involves more than crime prevention.
Hikers, cyclists and visitors exploring coastal areas should check weather conditions before setting out. Strong wind, heavy rain, poor visibility and changing coastal conditions can create risks even when conditions appeared suitable earlier in the day.
If you are visiting mountains, cliffs, beaches or remote countryside, tell someone about your plans and carry appropriate clothing and equipment.
People moving to Ireland can take several straightforward steps to improve household security.
Safety in Ireland also includes digital security. The CSO's 2025 Crime and Victimisation survey reported that 11% of respondents experienced fraud, compared with 4% in 2019, with card-payment fraud accounting for 45% of reported fraud experiences in the survey. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
New residents and tourists should be especially cautious about:
Never provide banking passwords, one-time authentication codes or card details to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Crime statistics and people's perception of safety are not exactly the same thing. The CSO's Crime and Victimisation Survey measures both experiences of crime and people's perceptions of crime and safety.
The 2025 survey found that concern about becoming a victim of crime increased compared with 2019, while reporting rates for personal and household crime declined. This illustrates why official recorded-crime figures and people's personal experiences should be considered separately. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
A rise or fall in recorded crime does not necessarily mean that the underlying prevalence of crime changed by exactly the same amount. Reporting behaviour, Garda recording practices and other factors affect recorded-crime data. The CSO therefore provides both recorded-crime statistics and victimisation survey data for different perspectives.
If you are moving to Ireland, avoid choosing an area based solely on a national crime statistic. The practical environment around your actual home is often more relevant.
Before renting or buying, consider:
Visit a potential neighbourhood at different times of day before signing a long-term rental agreement whenever possible.
| Location | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Dublin | Large and busy capital city. Pay attention to crowded areas, nightlife districts, transport hubs and your specific neighbourhood. |
| Cork | Major regional city with a mixture of central, suburban and university areas. Use normal urban safety precautions. |
| Galway | Popular tourist and student city. The centre can become busy at night and during major events. |
| Limerick | A regional city with university, residential and commercial areas. Conditions vary by location. |
| Waterford | Smaller urban environment with a historic centre and residential districts. |
| Rural Ireland | Lower population density but different considerations such as roads, weather, limited transport and distance from services. |
Before travelling, keep copies of important documents and make sure you know how to contact your bank, insurer and emergency services.
If you are the victim or witness of a crime, report it to An Garda Síochána. For an immediate emergency, call 999 or 112. For non-emergency incidents, contact your local Garda station. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
If your passport is stolen, contact your country's embassy or consulate for assistance with travel documentation.
If a bank card is stolen, contact your bank immediately and cancel or freeze the card where possible.
If you are a tourist and need additional assistance after becoming a victim of crime, tourist support services are also available. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Ireland has established police and emergency services, but tourists should still use normal travel precautions. Protect valuables, be careful around nightlife, take road safety seriously and know how to contact emergency services.
Expats should consider Ireland's safety in the context of their specific city and neighbourhood. Crime exists, but everyday safety also depends on transport, housing, roads, local services and personal circumstances.
Dublin has the typical safety considerations of a major city. Conditions vary between neighbourhoods and times of day, so visitors should take extra care with valuables in crowded areas and around nightlife.
Night-time safety varies by location. Avoid isolated routes when possible, stay with friends during late-night outings and use appropriate transport.
The emergency numbers in the Republic of Ireland are 999 and 112. Garda guidance says these numbers should be used for emergencies requiring an immediate response, including danger to life, serious injury and crimes in progress. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
The police service is An Garda Síochána. Call 999 or 112 for emergencies. For non-emergency matters, contact your local Garda station. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
Families should use normal precautions involving roads, children, household security, online safety and local neighbourhood conditions. Researching the area around your home and school is particularly useful when relocating.
Ireland has major international student communities. Students should pay particular attention to accommodation scams, theft, nightlife, transport and keeping important documents secure.
It depends on the type of crime and the period being measured. In the CSO's latest Recorded Crime Q2 2026 release, recorded sexual offences decreased 19% and homicide-related offences decreased 9% in the year to Q2 2026, while fraud increased 9% and dangerous or negligent acts increased 11%. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
Rural Ireland has different safety considerations from cities. Visitors should pay particular attention to road conditions, weather, limited public transport, long distances and access to services.
If there is immediate danger or a crime is happening now, call 999 or 112. For non-emergency incidents, contact the local Garda station. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
Ireland has functioning national police and emergency services, but it is not appropriate to describe any country or city as completely crime-free. The practical approach for tourists, students, expats and residents is to understand the local area, protect valuables, take care around nightlife and roads, be alert to scams, and know that 999 and 112 are the emergency numbers in the Republic of Ireland.
Crime statistics change over time. This page uses the latest CSO recorded-crime information available at the time of publication and should be supplemented with current official Garda guidance for specific incidents.