Located in the north-west of France and the capital of the Brittany region, the city of Rennes reflects the country’s luxe. Lying within the city walls, this historic quarter offers an exciting mix of entertainment and culture. Given its size, Rennes is less inviting to many tourists who come to the region. But it is worth visiting and especially lovely in early July when the “Festival des Tombées de la Nuit” is held.

Rennes is safe for any kind of traveler at any time of the year. Violent crimes targeting tourists hardly make the news, and locals are particularly accommodating. Rue du Chapitre and Rue de la Psalette are must-see spots as they are famous for their half-timbered houses retained after the devastating 1720 great fire.

By air, you can come to Rennes through the Rennes-Saint-Jacques Airport. It is not a major international airport and just 6 km away from the city. Aer Lingus Regional, EasyJet, and Air France are only a few of the major airlines operating there.

Here is What You Should Know About Safety in Rennes:

Overall Safety

Generally, Rennes is a safe place to visit. People come from different parts of the world for vacation without any kind of trouble. However, travelers should naturally take safety precautions when visiting, as they cannot be careful enough. Rennes is known to experience demonstrations occasionally. These actions can certainly disrupt touristic plans, but it is better to be safe.

In the case that demonstrations are held when you visit, try to avoid such areas no matter how peaceful it seems. Things could escalate in a twinkle of an eye. You might move to the next item on the itinerary to still get something out of your day. If you already booked a ticket but won’t be attending given the protests, reach out to the establishment for available options (return policy, rescheduled dates, etc.).

>>Also Read: Is Rennes Worth Visiting?

Transport Risk

Several tourists take on long journeys in France to see most parts of the country. So, they are advised to plan their journey with care, consider weather conditions before going out, and avoid unknown roads. Rennes’ transport system is well connected, and the means are affordable.

When you board trains and buses, ensure your valuable items are properly kept. Do not keep your wallet or phone in your back pockets. Thieves can do away with it without you knowing. Alternatively, you can rent a car. It gives you more freedom to see the city as you want. Taxis are cheaper than car rentals. But ensure the cab is metered and in good condition. Generally, the transport risk level is moderate.

Pickpockets

To protect yourself from pickpockets who roam around in Rennes’ major streets, bus stops, in front of tourist attractions. You need to keep your valuables (wallets and purses) between your arms and body and do not leave them unattended on buses. You should be mindful of this when you are in crowded areas.

Many people tend to be unaware when they are in the middle of a crowd, so they lose their exposed items to pickpockets. Be mindful of bag snatchers too. Ensure your bag is closely held as possible to prevent unwanted incidents.

In addition, ensure that your bag is a strong one. Pickpockets are known to sometimes get into people’s bags with knives and other sharp objects. So, when shopping for your France visit, get bags that will be hard to get through. Then be wary of strangers who try to converse with you. Not every stranger, though, but part of the gimmicks of these thieves is to distract people while they steal their stuff.

This happens quite often in open-air cafes. The thieves target those who expose their phones and other items on the table. One walks up to a seat to ask a random question while their accomplices steal the victim’s items. Be careful with your items, especially at alfresco cafes, because things are easily misplaced in such settings. The pickpocket risk level is high in Rennes.

Natural Disasters

Before coming to Rennes, you need to be informed of potential flood risks. Check weather conditions and watch current news as often as you can. This is to be sure that no natural occurrence or disaster affects your holiday plans.

To stay on top of weather conditions in Rennes, stay connected to the Tourism Office. They have information on which environmental threat is peculiar to each area in the city. With that, you can plan your visit accordingly without wasting resources. The climate is warm in Rennes, and the temperature is typified by heavy rainfall. January is the coldest month, while July is the warmest one. The natural disaster risk level is low.

Muggings

As a tip, do not take along expensive accessories like jewelry on vacation. You can be an easy target for muggers in your flashy accessories. Do not carry stacks of cash around also. Move about with the little cash you need since many establishments accept card. Expensive jewelry and watches, as well as stacks of cash attract muggers.

They might attack with dangerous weapons and sometimes force one to withdraw money from the ATMs. In such a scenario, the police have suggested that it is not safe to resist. Do not fight back as you can be hurt. But report to the police as soon as you can.

While the mugging is happening, it will be helpful if you can note significant features. Tattoos, skin complexion, accent, beard, face shape, etc. are details you can give in identifying the muggers. But you will most likely not experience such. The mugging risk level is low in Rennes.

Terrorism Risk

Like in other French cities, the terrorism risk level is high in Rennes. It is not peculiar to France. In recent times, there have been terror threats across the continent, and tourists have been warned to be vigilant. However, you should know that tourists are hardly direct targets of terrorists but places that they frequent. So, do not stay in crowded areas for too long and report suspicious activities as soon as you get whiff of them. Most tourist attractions are highly protected by security personnel.

Common Scams

Nightlife is Rennes is great and eventful. But when you are out drinking, know your limits. You become a target for scammers and thieves if you get drunk. There have been reported cases of lost items after been drunk, so be careful. The scam risk level in Rennes is moderate.

Women Travelers’ Safety

Rennes is for the free-spirited, but extra caution is always required. Solo women travelers who are noticed to take a large stack of cash from ATMs or wear expensive and excessive quantity of jewelry can attract the attention of muggers and thieves. Be careful at all times and avoid going out alone late at night.

How Safe Rennes Is 

Given the possibility of the occurrence of natural disasters, visitors are advised to heed all warnings regarding avalanches. You should not start your adventure or any kind of trip if the current situation is not conducive. Be watchful, being that road conditions in mountainous regions can quickly become difficult in wintry periods, so you will need special gear for the trip.

If you have a car, park only on well-lit parking spaces and avoid traveling in late hours if you go to places that are not close to the main roads. You should also bear in mind that parking in a dark or isolated area is risky. Do not sleep in your vehicle as there have been reported cases of attacks on sleeping drivers.

Considering the increase in protests in recent times, especially the Yellow Vest movement, that are even held on weekends too across the country, tourists are advised not to join the demonstrations for safety concerns. You are expected to avoid areas where crowds are gathered to peacefully/violently air their grievances.

Protesters may be arrested or hurt without any reason, and because such gatherings can be an easy target for terrorist attacks, it is safer to avoid them. In the case of any emergency, promptly follow the recommendations of local authorities.

Is Rennes Safe? – Summary

Rennes is relatively safe for every kind of travelers at any given time of the year. This, however, does not excuse laxness, as there are many dangers that less careful people can be exposed to. Be vigilant at all times and observe your surroundings. Remember, flashy accessories like jewelry will only make you a prime target for muggers. You might also want to consider buying travel insurance policies for your trip to France; especially the ones that will cover emergency medical expenses, accidents, and loss of valuables.