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Crime Statistics in Gdańsk: Is It Getting Safer? Or Just Less Visible?

@Ava Morales2/13/2026blog

well, i’ve been here for a few months now and i keep hearing these numbers thrown around like they’re some sort of secret. like everyone here is either hiding or sharing stats with a side of skepticism. maybe because gdansk isn’t some postcard city? sure, it’s got that old-world charm, but it’s also got a lot of concrete and a population that lives like we’re all in a budget thriller. let me tell you, people. crime stats here are all over the place, and not just because someone’s been squirreling away their data.

last month, i saw a report that said property crimes dropped by 12% compared to last year. but then i overheard two guys at a café arguing about whether that’s because the police are doing a better job or because no one’s reporting anymore. one of them mentioned something about a new app where you can file reports anonymously. cool, i guess? but then the other guy said it’s a scam. you know, like those fake tax apps you see on the app store. i don’t know. i haven’t downloaded it.

here’s the thing: the data is real, but it’s messy. gdańsk’s official crime stats come from the local police department, and they release reports every quarter. the numbers for violent crime? they’re low. like, really low. but then there’s the non-violent stuff-burglaries, thefts, that sort of thing. and even then, it’s not a straight line. some months are calm, others feel like a thriller. last week, there was a string of bike thefts near the train station. i saw a post on a local forum about it. someone said they found their bike unlocked with a note that said ‘just a joke.’ was it a joke? maybe. but i didn’t take the risk.

now, let’s talk about the cost of living. it’s not cheap, but it’s not a nightmare either. a one-bedroom apartment in the city center? around 500-700 zł. outside the center? maybe 300-500. but here’s the catch: rent prices are all over the place too. i heard from a landlord that if you don’t have a good credit score, you’re basically a tenant in a world with its own rules. one guy said he paid 200 zł for a place that was technically legal but lived in a basement with no proper drainage. i don’t know. i’m still trying to decide if that’s cheaper than a hostel.

the weather here? it’s that weird in-between thing. like, it’s not winter yet, but the air feels like it’s trying to freeze your soup. and the neighbors? they’re either really nice or really loud. the one down the street plays polka music at 3 a.m. but then again, they’re a 20-minute walk from the sea. so maybe it’s a trade-off. or maybe it’s just paris. i don’t know.

here’s some gossip i overheard. one person said if you walk alone in ciertos areas, you’ll get robbed. another said the university campus is safer than the city center. i don’t know. i’ve been walking around at night, and nothing’s happened. maybe it’s just luck. or maybe i’m not that obvious. either way, i’ve heard people say to stay away from the old districts. like, the ones with the crumbling buildings. but then again, i saw a street artist there last week. he was painting a mural of a cat. it was weird. but also kind of cool.

here’s the data, but presented like we’re having coffee. according to the latest stats, gdańsk has a crime rate of about 30 incidents per 1,000 people. that’s low compared to cities like warsaw or lisbon. but again, it’s not zero. and it’s not just about numbers. it’s about how you experience it. like, i’ve never been mugged, but i’ve seen people get their phones stolen in the middle of the street. and no one seemed to care. it was like it was normal. which is weird.

i also found a map of crime hotspots. it’s a thing now? some local group made a google my maps thing with pins. it’s not official, but it’s useful. i checked it before going out last night. there was a cluster near the old harbor. but then again, that’s where all the bars are. so maybe it’s a coincidence. or maybe it’s a pattern. who knows.

here’s the thing about safety: it’s not just about the crime stats. it’s about the vibe. gdańsk feels safe, but that’s not always the case. i’ve had people warn me about certain areas, and i’ve had others say it’s fine. one local even told me, ‘if you’re not from here, you don’t know what’s safe.’ which is fair. but then another person said, ‘just don’t look like you have money.’ which is also fair. i don’t have much money, but i still feel watched sometimes. like, are you judging me? are you going to steal my water bottle?

i checked a few sources, including a tripadvisor review that said, ‘gdańsk is safe, but don’t walk alone at night.’ another yelp page mentioned that the city center is okay, but the outskirts are ‘a bit sketchy.’ and a reddit thread where someone asked about safety, and the top comment was, ‘it’s safe if you’re not a tourist. tourists are easier to scam.’ which is sad. but also true.

here’s a pro tip: if you’re someone who needs a bike, rent one from a local shop. they’re cheaper than a hostel, and you can lock it up. but be careful where you lock it. i saw a guy lock his bike to a lamppost, and then a few minutes later, it was gone. so maybe don’t trust lampposts.

the job market? it’s okay. not great, but not terrible. there’s a lot of tech jobs, and the government is trying to attract more companies. but the competition is tight. i heard from a friend that if you show up for an interview with a suit, you’ll be seen as a tourist. if you wear a t-shirt and jeans, you’re a local. or a desperate foreigner. either way, you don’t get the job.

in terms of neighbors, i’ve got a mix. some are friendly, others are just… there. the one across from me plays bass at 2 a.m. but then again, they’re a 10-minute drive from the beach. so maybe it’s a trade-off. or maybe i’m just bad at sleeping.

here’s a story i heard from a drunk at a bar. he said a guy came into a café and asked for a drink, then pulled a gun. everyone jumped on him. he wanted to rob them. but the guy had a fake gun. and no one believed him. so he just left. it’s wild. but also, it’s a reminder that things can go wrong. even here.

so, is gdańsk safer? maybe. or maybe it’s just not as dangerous as people think. or maybe the data is just incomplete. i don’t know. what i know is that if you walk around with your head on straight, you’ll probably be fine. but if you’re distracted, like, texting while walking, then yeah, you might get robbed.

here’s the thing about crime stats: they don’t tell the whole story. they don’t tell you about the guy who stole your bike and left a note. they don’t tell you about the time you saw a thief running across the street and didn’t know what to do. they just tell you numbers. and numbers can be reassuring, but they can also be misleading.

i’ve attached a map below. it’s not very pretty, but it shows the city. you can zoom in and see the areas where crime is reported more often. but don’t take it as a guide. just a starting point.

here are some links if you want to dig deeper. tripadvisor has a section for safety tips. yelp has reviews from people who’ve been there. and there’s a local subreddit where people talk about everything from crime to the best coffee shops. i’ve seen arguments about whether the coffee is worth the price, but that’s another story.

so, what’s the takeaway? gdańsk isn’t perfect. it’s not the safest city in the world. but compared to some places, it’s not bad. and if you’re from somewhere with a high crime rate, it might feel like a paradise. if you’re from a safe city, it might feel like a risk. either way, it’s a place. and places are weird. they change. and sometimes they surprise you.

(ps: if you’re thinking of moving here, don’t. just kidding. maybe.)

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About the author: Ava Morales

Fascinated by how things work—and why they sometimes don't.

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