Ireland is one of Europe’s safest countries. The rural areas and small towns have virtually no violent crime, and even though Waterford is among the larger cities in Ireland, crime is low. Pickpockets and carjackers are the most common forms of criminals, but even these are exceedingly rare. As long as you lock your doors and use common sense, you should avoid trouble.

If you venture out of doors at night, it isn’t criminals you need to keep an eye out for, but drunks. Many locals and tourists come to Waterford to “ pub crawl,” which is to walk or take a bus from pub to pub with friends or with an organized tour group. After a few stops these groups can get quite rowdy and sometimes engage in reckless behavior. If you are planning on doing a pub crawl, be sure not to accept rides from anyone who has been drinking, and stay on the sidewalk if you are on foot.

A final word of safety advice regards seasickness. Many visitors to Waterford take the ferry from the United Kingdom to Ireland, and the Irish Sea has notoriously rough waters. Pharmacies sell preventive pills such as Dramamine, so if you are at all susceptible to motion sickness you should take one before the ferry starts moving.