Capital city in Demerara-Mahaica, Guyana
Is Georgetown safe?
Real street crime, including armed robbery in daylight, and weak policing.
Is Georgetown safe?
Real street crime, including armed robbery in daylight, and weak policing. Stay alert, use taxis from hotels and keep valuables out of sight; interior tours are calmer.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 2/5, high risk.
- US travel advisory: Level 3: Reconsider travel, updated 2025-05-11.
- Homicide rate in Guyana: 19.1 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Guyana: 22.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 913 · Fire 912.
Safety in Georgetown at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 2/5 · High risk |
| Crime | Armed robbery and mugging, snatch-and-run theft, and car-following robberies; Stabroek Market and unlit streets are notorious, and tourists with phones or cameras are targeted. |
| At night | Take a hotel-booked taxi even for short distances. Streets are quiet after dark and walking is unsafe; do not use phones in the open. |
| Solo women | Catcalling is common and solo women should avoid walking at night. Use hotel-booked taxis; the interior with an organized tour is easier. |
| Other risks | Reckless minibus driving and unlit roads; Flooding during heavy rain; Dengue and malaria in the interior |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Offers of free flights if you carry a 'package'
- Taxis at the airport quoting inflated fares
- Street sellers steering tourists to shops for commission
Take care
- Stabroek Market and Water Street: robberies, avoid after dark
- Tiger Bay, Albouystown and Agricola: gang areas, no reason to go
- Walking at night anywhere: use a booked taxi
- Cheddi Jagan airport road after dark: robberies reported
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Sex between men is illegal, though rarely prosecuted
- Drug offences carry minimum three-year sentences; pack bags personally
- Water-taxi 'backtracking' to Suriname is illegal
Quick answers
Is Georgetown safe for solo female travelers?
Catcalling is common and solo women should avoid walking at night. Use hotel-booked taxis; the interior with an organized tour is easier.
Is Georgetown safe at night?
Take a hotel-booked taxi even for short distances. Streets are quiet after dark and walking is unsafe; do not use phones in the open.
What is the crime rate in Georgetown?
Armed robbery and mugging, snatch-and-run theft, and car-following robberies; Stabroek Market and unlit streets are notorious, and tourists with phones or cameras are targeted. Nationally, Guyana records 19.1 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Georgetown?
Police 911 · Ambulance 913 · Fire 912.
More about Georgetown
Going to Georgetown solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- 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.