25 Cities Most Dangerous for Tourists, Travelers Take Note
The world can feel like a traveler’s oyster. But in some cities, globetrotters need to be extra careful.
That said, Americans don’t even need to go overseas to encounter cities with some of the highest homicide rates in the world; two are in the United States. Can you name them?
Dangerous Cities Methodology
Insider Monkey examined safety data from government agencies, news reports, and international organizations to determine the most dangerous cities in the world. They took into consideration the following factors:
- Homicide rates
- Drug trafficking
- Gang activity
- Political instability
While Insider Monkey used four factors to determine the world’s most dangerous cities, they chose homicide rates as the ultimate ranking factor. The cities that follow are in order of danger according to the most to least homicide rates.
1: Tijuana, Mexico
America’s neighbor of Tijuana (TJ) is the most dangerous city in the world. Tijuana has a rate of 138 homicides per 100,000 people. Organized crime plagues TJ, and Tijuana made the news in August 2022 for cartel conflict at the U.S./Mexico border crossing.
2: Acapulco, Mexico
Acapulco doesn’t sit much better than Tijuana in the safety department, with just over 110 homicides per 100,000 residents. The Mexican beach resort city may make some tourist wannabes rethink their trip, given its presence of gangs and violence.
3: Caracas, Venezuela
Once thriving Caracas has caused tourists and locals alike to flee a crumbling socio-economic situation at the hands of socialist president Nicolás Maduro. Between bad people being bad and good people being desperate, Caracas has become the third most dangerous country in the world from a homicide rate perspective.
4: Ciudad Victoria, Mexico
Sitting in the northeast part of Mexico at the Sierra Madre Oriental foothills, Ciudad Victoria isn’t a booming tourist hotspot like certain other destinations like Cancun. And given its 86.01 homicide rate per 100,000 individuals, tourists may not be chomping at the bit to visit it anytime soon.
5: Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Ciudad Juárez rounds out the top five most dangerous cities in the world by homicide rates, placing Mexico in the spotlight yet again. Bordering El Paso, Texas, Ciudad Juárez offers museums and a hands-on science exhibition for vacationing families. Unfortunately, a visit to Ciudad Juárez comes with a higher-than-average threat of falling victim to organized crime; according to El Paso Times, about 88% of all homicides are at the hands of it.
6: Irapuato, Mexico
Irapuato is located in the beautiful Guanajuato state. But danger lurks between the city’s scenic mountain views and colonial architecture, for Irapuato suffers from high crime and a homicide rate of 81.44 per 100,000 people.
7: Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela
In its heyday, Ciudad Guayana was a thriving city famous for its iron and steel production. Nowadays, it’s known for being one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Arbitrary enforcement of local laws is one of several reasons the U.S. Department of State implores travelers to avoid Venezula, and Ciudad Guayana in particular has a high homicide rate of 78.3 per 100,000 residents.
8: Natal, Brazil
Natal is a tourist destination for travelers in the know, for it has an agreeable climate and beaches framed by sand dunes. Nevertheless, visiting Natal comes with higher risk than many cities in the world, with its citizens even becoming victims of coordinated attacks on public property run by skilled criminal groups.
9: Fortaleza, Brazil
Fortaleza is among Brazil’s most popular tourist spots, thanks to its stunning beaches. In 2023, Fortaleza became the fourth-largest city in the country, outranking Salvador. Unfortunately, Fortaleza’s criminal population is thriving, with drug gangs that often operate in the city’s favelas (slums).
10: Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is the first city on this list to take the limelight away from South America. The South African coastal city is a sought-after tourist spot. But with a homicide rate of over 66 per 100,000 people, travelers must use increased caution.
11: Belém, Brazil
Tourists wanting to escape the crowded streets of the Amazon hub of Manaus often choose Belém. The problem? Belém has a high crime rate. The gateway to Brazil’s lower Amazon area is notorious for crime at the hands of drug gangs, and Aljazeera reported that there are cop-run militias known for making their own laws.
12: Cancún, Mexico
Cancún is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico for tourists, boasting sandy white beaches and all-nighter parties. But the Caribbean city has a dark side, including violent conflicts between local taxi and Uber drivers. Using heightened caution in Cancún is advised, for travelers have reported everything from pickpocketing to violent crimes.
13: Feira De Santana, Brazil
Feira De Santana is rich in cultural festivals and, unfortunately, crime as well. The northeastern Brazilian city has a gut-wrenching 63.29 homicide rate per 100,000 residents, with Sobradinho and Queimadinha being especially notorious for high crime.
14: St. Louis, United States
The United States is the fifth country to appear on this list of the most dangerous cities in the world. St. Louis, Missouri, has a homicide rate of 60.59 per 100,000 residents. There’s a silver lining, though. According to the FBI’s 2022 crime report, violent crime in St. Louis was at a 10-year low.
15: Culiacán, Mexico
All eyes are back on Mexico, with the city of Culiacán calling the notoriously drug-rampant state of Sinaloa home. The northwestern city sits in the heart of the land where cartels grow illegal drugs, and the violence from organized crime that stems from it is a huge reason that Culiacán ranks as the top 15 most dangerous countries in the world by homicide rates.
16: Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
Ciudad Bolívar is yet another once-thriving Venezuelan city that’s fallen victim to Maduro’s poor leadership. Back in 2018, it was estimated that it would take approximately 98 times the minimum wage to fund a basic food supply for a family. Desperation can breed crime, and Ciudad Bolívar has a homicide rate of just over 60 per 100,000 people.
17: Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Similar to the Venezuelan cities on this list before it, Barquisimeto struggles with high crime. The city is traditionally a hub for commerce activity in Venezuela. However, lots of violent crime and a homicide rate of 56.67 per 100,000 residents make it a rather dangerous place for tourists to visit.
18: Uruapan, Mexico
Uruapan doesn’t make as many tourist bucket lists as Cancún, but its mountainous scenery and colonial architecture draw in the adventurous. Unfortunately, the chances of being greeted by violent crime are high in Uruapan, with even prominent Mexican people prone to becoming victims of homicides there.
19: Kingston, Jamaica
Tourists may envision Bob Marley and snorkeling in clear blue water when they think of Jamaica, but Kingston paints a different tale. The country’s capital struggles with poverty, causing some locals to become involved in drug trafficking and gangs, which wreak havoc on the city’s safety.
20: Ciudad Obregón, Mexico
Ciudad Obregón calls southern Sonora home, a Mexican state that primarily borders Arizona. Unlike much of Arizona, Ciudad Obregón is notorious for high violent crime rates, with over 52 homicides per 100,000 people.
21: Maceió, Brazil
Although Maceió is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, its homicide rate is declining. In 2011, there were 110 homicides per 100,000 people. Now, the rate is less than half of that, at 51.46.
22: Vitória da Conquista, Brazil
People from organized crime groups butt heads with law enforcement in Vitória da Conquista, sparking already dangerous circumstances to be even worse. Due Vitória da Conquista’s high violent crime rates, many tourists may choose not to experience its multicultural historic center.
23: Baltimore, United States
Homicides are higher than the U.S. average in Baltimore, Maryland, with over 50 occurring per 100,000 residents. That said, 2023 was a big year for Baltimore; the city experienced a nearly 21% drop in homicide rates from 2022, the first time Baltimore had fewer than 300 homicides in a year since 2014.
24: San Salvador, El Salvador
The capital of El Salvador may not be on this list for long; thanks to President Nayib Bukele’s coming down hard on criminal groups, many gangs no longer have the stronghold they formerly had in San Salvador (and other parts of the country, for that matter).
25: Aracaju, Brazil
Aracaju sits in the northeastern part of Brazil and is the perfect storm for crime; corruption in local law enforcement and poverty among locals make it a breeding ground for high crime, as shown by its homicide rate of 48.77 per 100,000 people.
Know Before You Go
The U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) country-by-country travel advisory is an excellent resource before planning a trip abroad. The DOS ranks countries and regions on a safety scale of one to four, with four being the most dangerous.
Better To Be Safe Than Sorry
Before traveling abroad, sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This will allow the U.S. government to know your whereabouts, aiding them in getting you help faster should there be a safety emergency where you’re visiting.
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