Capital city, India
Is Delhi safe?
Fine in daytime with common sense, but touts, scams and harassment are routine.
Is Delhi safe?
Fine in daytime with common sense, but touts, scams and harassment are routine. Women should take extra care after dark.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-06-15.
- Homicide rate in India: 2.8 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in India: 15.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Fire 101 · Tourist police 1363 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Delhi at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Pickpocketing in crowded markets and metro, tout scams around New Delhi station, taxi overcharging, and harassment or groping of women in crowds. |
| At night | Central and south Delhi are fine until late with an app cab. Avoid walking alone on dark streets and use pre-booked rides after the metro closes near 11 pm. |
| Solo women | Staring, comments and groping occur. Use the women-only metro coach, dress modestly, book app cabs with trip sharing and avoid empty streets at night. |
| Other risks | Severe smog Nov–Jan; AQI often above 300; Chaotic traffic with few working crossings; Heat above 42°C in May–June |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Touts say your hotel or the metro is closed and steer you to an agency
- Fake tourist offices near New Delhi station selling overpriced tours
- Autos and cabs refusing the meter or taking you to commission shops
- Gem or carpet export schemes promising resale profits abroad
Take care
- Paharganj and the station area at night: touts, drunks, pickpockets
- Old Delhi lanes in crowds: bags and phones are targets
- Empty roads and parks after dark, especially for women
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Satellite phones and satellite messengers like Garmin inReach are illegal without a licence; travelers have been arrested at airports.
- Alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and Mizoram; beef is illegal in many states.
- Drones need registration and permission; photographing military sites, airports and bridges can lead to detention.
How Delhi compares in India
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Rishikesh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kochi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kolkata | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hyderabad | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dharamshala | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Leh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chennai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pondicherry | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Varkala | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hampi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Amritsar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jodhpur | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jaisalmer | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pushkar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Palolem | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Darjeeling | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Munnar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alleppey | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Andaman Islands | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Shimla | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Delhi | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Goa | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Mumbai | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Jaipur | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Agra | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Varanasi | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Bangalore | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Udaipur | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Manali | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Anjuna | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Delhi safe for solo female travelers?
Staring, comments and groping occur. Use the women-only metro coach, dress modestly, book app cabs with trip sharing and avoid empty streets at night.
Is Delhi safe at night?
Central and south Delhi are fine until late with an app cab. Avoid walking alone on dark streets and use pre-booked rides after the metro closes near 11 pm.
What is the crime rate in Delhi?
Pickpocketing in crowded markets and metro, tout scams around New Delhi station, taxi overcharging, and harassment or groping of women in crowds. Nationally, India records 2.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Delhi?
Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Fire 101 · Tourist police 1363 · All emergencies 112.
More about Delhi
Going to Delhi solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Delhi 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
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
- Delhi International Airport
- Incredible India
- 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.