Is Buenos Aires safe?
Safe enough to enjoy with street smarts. Phone and bag theft is the everyday risk; violent crime against visitors is uncommon but robberies happen.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2026-07-09.
- Homicide rate in Argentina: 4.5 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Argentina: 14.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 107 · Fire 100.
Safety in Buenos Aires at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone snatching from hands, bikes and motorbikes, pickpocketing on the Subte, buses and in San Telmo, and bag theft from café tables and chairs. |
| At night | Streets stay busy until late, which helps. Use Uber or DiDi after dark rather than walking long stretches, and keep your phone away on the street. |
| Solo women | Solo women are common and comfortable in Palermo and Recoleta. Catcalling happens; use ride apps late and watch bags in crowded Subte cars. |
| Other risks | Flooding on streets after heavy storms; Drivers rarely yield to pedestrians; Heat waves in January and February |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Mustard or bird-mess squirt, then a helper 'cleans' you and steals
- Fake or worn notes returned as change; check bills
- Taxi drivers swapping a large note for a counterfeit one
- Street 'arbolitos' changers handing over fake pesos
Take care
- Using a phone at the curb or by a road
- La Boca beyond Caminito and the stadium
- Constitución and Once stations after dark
- Retiro station area at night
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Driving with any alcohol in your blood is illegal nationwide.
- Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces, including bars and restaurants.
How Buenos Aires compares in Argentina
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| El Calafate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| El Chaltén | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Mendoza | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bariloche | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ushuaia | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Salta | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puerto Iguazú | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puerto Madryn | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mar del Plata | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Quebrada de Humahuaca | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cafayate | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Buenos Aires | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Córdoba | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Rosario | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Buenos Aires safe for solo female travelers?
Solo women are common and comfortable in Palermo and Recoleta. Catcalling happens; use ride apps late and watch bags in crowded Subte cars.
Is Buenos Aires safe at night?
Streets stay busy until late, which helps. Use Uber or DiDi after dark rather than walking long stretches, and keep your phone away on the street.
What is the crime rate in Buenos Aires?
Phone snatching from hands, bikes and motorbikes, pickpocketing on the Subte, buses and in San Telmo, and bag theft from café tables and chairs. Nationally, Argentina records 4.5 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Buenos Aires?
Police 911 · Ambulance 107 · Fire 100.
More about Buenos Aires
Going to Buenos Aires solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Buenos Aires City Government
- Aeropuertos Argentina
- Hospital Alemán
- Hospital Italiano
- 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.