City in Western Cape, South Africa
Is Cape Town safe?
Fine in busy tourist areas by day with normal care; real precautions needed at night, on trails and outside the core.
Is Cape Town safe?
Fine in busy tourist areas by day with normal care; real precautions needed at night, on trails and outside the core. Use Uber rather than walking after dark.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-26.
- Homicide rate in South Africa: 43.7 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in South Africa: 22.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 10111 · Ambulance 10177 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Cape Town at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone snatching, car break-ins and armed muggings, including on quiet Table Mountain trails and beaches; carjacking and smash-and-grab at intersections. |
| At night | Take Uber or Bolt door to door, even for short trips. Long Street, Kloof Street and the Waterfront stay lively, but avoid walking between them late. |
| Solo women | Many solo women travel here, but sexual violence is high nationally. Avoid walking alone at night, watch drinks, share your trip with someone and meet dates in public. |
| Other risks | Strong southeaster wind can close Table Mountain cable car; Rip currents and cold water at most beaches; Fast-changing mountain weather and fires in dry summer |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- ATM 'helpers' who watch your PIN or swap cards
- Informal 'car guards' demanding payment before you park
- Fake charity or petition collectors who distract you
- Dating-app meetups used to set up robberies
Take care
- Cape Flats, Nyanga, Khayelitsha and Philippi: go only with a guide
- Table Mountain and Lion's Head trails: hike in groups, early
- CBD side streets and Bo-Kaap hill after dark: empty and risky
- Metrorail trains: unreliable and unsafe for visitors
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking alcohol in public places, including most beaches, is illegal and fined.
- Cannabis is legal only for private use at home; buying, selling and public use are not.
- Drink-driving limit is 0.05%; roadblocks are frequent, especially on weekends and holidays.
How Cape Town compares in South Africa
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Kruger National Park | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Stellenbosch | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hermanus | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Knysna | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Plettenberg Bay | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Franschhoek | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Umhlanga | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jeffreys Bay | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cape Town | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Durban | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Pretoria | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Port Elizabeth | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Johannesburg | 2/5 · High risk |
Quick answers
Is Cape Town safe for solo female travelers?
Many solo women travel here, but sexual violence is high nationally. Avoid walking alone at night, watch drinks, share your trip with someone and meet dates in public.
Is Cape Town safe at night?
Take Uber or Bolt door to door, even for short trips. Long Street, Kloof Street and the Waterfront stay lively, but avoid walking between them late.
What is the crime rate in Cape Town?
Phone snatching, car break-ins and armed muggings, including on quiet Table Mountain trails and beaches; carjacking and smash-and-grab at intersections. Nationally, South Africa records 43.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Cape Town?
Police 10111 · Ambulance 10177 · All emergencies 112.
More about Cape Town
Going to Cape Town solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Cape Town meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- MyCiTi
- Airports Company South Africa
- Cape Town Tourism
- 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.