The most peaceful places to live in Europe

Everyone has a dream place they want to live in. For many Americans, that place is somewhere in beautiful Europe. Apart from it being one of the most stunning places to live in, it’s also an ideal location for those who want to move somewhere peaceful and safe. If you are currently living in one of the big bustling cities of the US, moving to Europe will be an ideal choice for you. That’s why Transparent International NYC is here to show you some of the most peaceful places to live in Europe.

Oslo, Norway

Oslo is the third-largest city in the whole of Scandinavia and the capital of Norway with about 5 million inhabitants. It’s considered to be a very modern city with a high standard of living. Not only that, but Norway also ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world in recent years. Apart from that, Oslo is one of the safest cities in Norway with a very low risk of serious crime according to Statistics Norway. The proof of this statement lies in the fact that about 80% of its residents feel safe living in it. There are no specific areas in which people feel the safest living in this country, so you can pretty much choose whatever part you like. 

If we talk about the crime rate in Oslo specifically, according to Statistics Norway, it was 38.71 per 1000 residents in 2021. This is also a very important factor that determines the safety of a city. Therefore, we can confirm that Oslo is more than safe if you are considering a move there. And if you decide that moving to Norway from USA is the right choice for you make sure to visit some of the suggested places where you would be able to relax after the relocation:

• The National Gallery,
• Natural History Museum,
• Norwegian Opera and Ballet House,
• Holmenkollen Ski Museum, and
• City Hall which is the main landmark of one of the most peaceful places to live in Europe – Oslo.

Vienna, Austria

Since we are talking about the most peaceful places to live in Europe, Vienna has to be on the list. To start, Austria is considered to be the fifth safest country in the world, preceding Sweden and Switzerland. According to this rating, homicides and violent crime made up the smallest amounts of crime and were hardly apparent when compared to the rest of the world. In addition, the nation has very good relations with the neighboring countries. This is something that upholds its independence and prevents regional instability.

As for Vienna itself, the crime rate is something you don’t have to worry about. The rate of serious crimes like homicides and robberies is considered to be pretty low. The reason for this and something that prevents any problem from turning into crime are regular police patrols that maintain the city’s peace. Not only that, but there is a huge number of police officers in general, and you can reach out to them at any part of the day. For those who are using the metro and frequently use public transport, there are even emergency buttons that you can press if you think you’re in danger. Therefore, if you are thinking of moving from USA to Austria, there is nothing to worry about. You can rest assured that you would live in one of the safest and most peaceful places in Europe. 

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a city with a stable political situation. This means that there is no risk of any conflict between the country of Luxembourg and its neighboring countries. This is a city that is home to many important European institutions so some people fear that there might be a risk of terrorist attacks. However, the risk of this happening is very low and shouldn’t concern anyone considering moving to Luxembourg from US. When it comes to protests, there is not much protestant activity present in the city of Luxembourg. As for the times when the protests occur, they are mostly peaceful with no major incidents. They are usually held around important EU buildings, so make sure to be careful about that. 

As we mentioned before, the risk of a serious crime is very low in Luxembourg. However, there is still a considerable risk of small crimes like pickpocketing since it’s a destination that’s very popular with tourists in general. Therefore, all you need to do is secure your belongings while going out and you’ll be free of any worries while living in Luxembourg.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is among the safest cities in the whole of Europe, therefore, there is no need to be concerned about your safety when moving to Portugal from US. However, this doesn’t exclude the possibility of crimes such as pickpocketing and robberies happening. The chances of these crimes occurring are still pretty low, but being careful is always a given wherever you go.

Lisbon has a considerably low crime rate of only 29.63 per 1000 residents, and a safety rate of 70.37, according to Numbeo. This means that Lisbon residents feel safe living in the capital of Portugal without being worried about being mugged, robbed, etc. They feel safe walking on the streets, even at night. However, just like any other city, Lisbon has a few areas you should probably avoid both during the day and night. Some of these include Baixa, street Martin Moniz, Avenida Reis e Praca da Alegria, Monsanto Park, and Barrio Alto.

Apart from Lisbon being a safe city, there are some places where you can feel extra relaxed.  One of them is Casa do Alentejo. It’s a beautiful restaurant you can find in an old castle from the 17th century. You can choose to spend your time in a grand dining room with candles and chandeliers or a relaxed tavern for more casual meetings with your friends. Whatever you choose, this place is going to leave a big impression on you. Some other places you can visit include Jardim do Torel, Largo do Intendente, and Pastelaria Aloma.

Munich, Germany

Munich is a city in Germany with around 1.5 million residents. Because it’s a big city, you may be wondering how safe it really is. However, Munich is considered to be the 8th safest city in the whole world, according to Numbeo’s research carried out in 2021. The rate of violent crime is 2.43 per 1000 residents which is considered pretty low, especially when compared to the US (16.5 per 1000 residents). Another thing that makes Munich so safe is the fact that it’s completely safe for women travelers. Being a woman means that you need to be careful wherever you go, especially when traveling. Therefore, the fact that Munich is the safest city in Germany is a relief for solo female travelers who want to visit this beautiful country.

Just because it’s one of the safest cities in the world, it doesn’t mean that you will be completely safe from petty crimes such as pickpocketing. If you think about it, Munich is one of the biggest cities in Germany with lots of tourists. Therefore, crimes like this are bound to be present.

Bergen, Norway

Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway, but also one of the most interesting ones. It’s surrounded by mountains, and as a result of that it got the nickname “the city of 7 mountains”. Most concerns people have while moving to a certain country regarding their safety are things like risks of natural disasters, using public transport and taxis, mugging risk, etc. If you are a person that’s planning on moving to Bergen, we have good news for you. All these things are at a very low risk of happening in this city.

It has a well-developed transportation system, natural disasters are not a problem, and there is almost no risk of serious crime. This is one more reason for you to contact moving overseas companies and move to Norway. According to Numbeo, the crime rate is 21.38 per 1000 residents. This is considered to be very low and you shouldn’t be concerned about it. 

However, there is still some kind of risk when it comes to less serious crime. In some areas of Bergen, you might witness big gangs of pickpockets usually targeting tourists. In most cases, they are present around the fish market and Bryggen areas, so pay special attention to the safety of your belongings around these areas.

Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg is one of the safest cities in Germany, which is why it made its way to our list of the most peaceful places to live in Europe. The residents of this city, Hamburgers, are very kind and welcoming when it comes to helping strangers out. So when you first come to Germany after moving there, you don’t have to worry so much about fitting in. 

The main reason why Hamburg is one of the most peaceful places to live in Europe is because of the strict rules. Germany in general, and especially Hamburg, have very strict rules regarding the punishment of those who try to commit any kind of crime. This goes from banal things like crossing the street when the light is red, to serious crimes like robberies and homicides. People who visited Hamburg stated that they didn’t feel much different about their safety while walking at night. This is especially important to those who are planning on hiring moving companies to Germany and moving to Germany. You will feel safe walking during the day and night in Hamburg whether you are with a friends or alone. 

Copenhagen, Denmark

For a few years now, Copenhagen has been at the top of every list of the safest places in Europe. Finally, in 2021, Copenhagen ranked as the safest city in Europe, according to SCI (Safe Cities Index). Every year, SCI issues a report that ranks the safety of a certain city in multiple categories. Copenhagen was the first in the personal security category with a score of 86.4. Compared to the cities in the US, Copenhagen is much safer. We can take New York for example with a score of 66.9. So moving to Denmark from the US might seem like a good idea. Especially for those wanting to move somewhere more peaceful. All you need to do is contact overseas moving services and plan your move.

From all this information, Copenhagen might seem like a completely crime-free area. Of course, that’s nowhere near the truth. Even though the crime rate is extremely low, petty crime will always be present in every city. This mostly occurs during tourist season when there is a bigger concentration of people in the city. In this situation, stealing becomes easier for pickpocketers, so you need to have your eyes wide open during this season. Areas like these include busy train stations such as Copenhagen’s Central Station, Nørreport, and Vesterport.

Even though residents of Copenhagen use public transport, the most popular way of transportation is riding a bike. Copenhagen is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. With over 600,000 bikes, it is certain that every resident owns one. Therefore, it’s only easy to get to the conclusion that the most common crime in Copenhagen is bike theft. Unluckily, most of these thefts go unpunished, so keep an eye on your bike in Copenhagen!

Zurich, Switzerland

The largest city in Switzerland, Zurich, is another place in Europe that is very peaceful. Zurich received a very good ranking in a report by the European Commission on the quality of life in several European cities. The fact that more than 50% of local respondents strongly agree with the statement that they felt secure strolling alone at night. More than 60% of respondents felt safe doing so in their particular neighborhood suggests that safety in this city is not limited to the downtown area.

In addition, the air quality in Zurich definitely deserves some praise. It’s one of the reasons why Zurich is on our list of the most peaceful places to live in Europe. Throughout the last ten years, Zürich has been ranked highest among the Sootfree Cities, making it the best performer in terms of lowering air pollution. There is also a lot to be said about the incredibly effective public transit system, which mixes trams, trolleybuses, and tons of designated bike paths to keep it as green as the distant Alpine foothills. Just be careful, pickpockets are lurking around all the big cities, especially when you’re using public transport.

References:

https://www.thelocal.no/20230119/living-in-norway-how-safe-is-oslo

https://www.numbeo.com/crime/in/Lisbon

https://www.numbeo.com/crime/in/Munich

https://www.numbeo.com/crime/in/Bergen