Add organization

Is Norway safe for solo female travellers?

What travel advice and figures say, and where to get help day and night.

Answered at: Checked at:

Short answer

US travel advice calls Norway one of the safest countries in the world for women travellers, and help lines are open around the clock. In Statistics Norway's 2023 survey, 5.4 per cent of people aged 16 and over had been exposed to violence or threats in the past year. Call 112 for the police in an emergency.

Safety and accessibility in Norway a shield icon with a check mark next to a tent and a small no-campfire sign on a green hillside

Why

  1. The US State Department's country page for Norway says it is one of the safest countries in the world for women travellers and that violent crime is uncommon.
  2. Statistics Norway's 2023 survey found that 5.4 per cent had been exposed to violence or threats in the past 12 months, up from 4.7 per cent in 2018, and that 6.9 per cent had recently worried about violence or threats when walking alone where they live.
  3. Kirkens SOS, listed on the government-backed help site dinutvei.no, offers a free phone line (22 40 00 40) and chat that are open 24 hours.

Details

In Oslo, the municipality lists the emergency clinic (116 117) and the sexual assault centre Overgrepsmottaket (23 04 05 00) among its 24-hour services, and Oslo krisesenter, the crisis centre, can be reached on 22 48 03 80. The US State Department also lists 116 006 as a free helpline for domestic violence.

Tip

UK government advice for women travelling abroad is not to leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers, and to seek help if you feel strange or unwell after drinking only a small amount.

What may differ

The SSB figures cover everyone aged 16 and over, and the published summary does not split them by gender, so they do not show the risk for women travelling alone on its own.

People also ask

  • Is Norway safe for women?
  • Is it safe to travel alone in Norway as a woman?

Sources

Information checked on 15 October 2026.

Safety and accessibility in Norway

  • Are there mosquitoes and midges in Norway?

    Mosquitoes and biting midges are common in Norway in summer, but in Norway their bites are harmless, although they itch and can swell.

    Checked at:

  • Is dumpster diving legal in Norway?

    Dumpster diving is generally not legal in Norway, because the bins usually stand on private property and the waste belongs to the business until it is collected.

    Checked at:

  • Do police officers in Norway carry guns?

    Yes, Norwegian police officers have generally carried firearms on duty since 1 July 2025, within limits set by the Norwegian Police Directorate (Politidirektoratet).

    Checked at:

  • Are there many homeless people in Oslo?

    The City of Oslo counted 1,459 homeless households in its own survey in late 2024, using the national definition of homelessness.

    Checked at:
Help