Is Adelaide safe?
Safe and calm. Petty theft and some rowdiness in the CBD at night; natural hazards are heat and bushfire.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-29.
- Homicide rate in Australia: 0.9 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Australia: 4.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 000 · Ambulance 000 · Fire 000 · All emergencies 000.
Safety in Adelaide at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Car break-ins, bag theft, and occasional fights around Hindley Street and Rundle Street late at night. |
| At night | The CBD is quiet after 10 pm except around Hindley Street and Rundle Street. Trams run late; use Uber otherwise. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Avoid empty parklands at night and use rideshare for late trips. |
| Other risks | Extreme heat and bushfires, Dec–Feb; Strong UV; Rips at less-patrolled beaches |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake rental listings asking for a bond before any viewing
- Toll and parcel text messages with payment links
Take care
- Hindley Street late at night: fights and spiked drinks
- Remote hiking in summer heat
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Driving while holding a phone is caught by cameras and brings large fines
- Nicotine vapes are legally sold only by pharmacies
- Drinking alcohol is banned in many streets, parks and beaches (alcohol-free zones)
How Adelaide compares in Australia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Hobart | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Noosa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Blue Mountains | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sunshine Coast | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Great Ocean Road | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Port Douglas | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Canberra | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Margaret River | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Launceston | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Magnetic Island | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sydney | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Melbourne | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Brisbane | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gold Coast | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Perth | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cairns | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Byron Bay | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Adelaide | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bondi Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Whitsundays | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Uluru | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Darwin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| K'gari | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fremantle | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Broome | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Newcastle | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manly | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alice Springs | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Adelaide safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Avoid empty parklands at night and use rideshare for late trips.
Is Adelaide safe at night?
The CBD is quiet after 10 pm except around Hindley Street and Rundle Street. Trams run late; use Uber otherwise.
What is the crime rate in Adelaide?
Car break-ins, bag theft, and occasional fights around Hindley Street and Rundle Street late at night. Nationally, Australia records 0.9 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Adelaide?
Police 000 · Ambulance 000 · Fire 000 · All emergencies 000.
More about Adelaide
Going to Adelaide solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Adelaide Metro
- Adelaide Airport
- South Australian Tourism Commission
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.