City in West Bengal, India
Is Kolkata safe?
One of India's safer big cities for visitors, with low street crime and fewer touts.
Is Kolkata safe?
One of India's safer big cities for visitors, with low street crime and fewer touts. Traffic, pickpockets in crowds and overcharging by taxis are the usual issues.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- 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 Kolkata at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing on buses and at New Market, overcharging by yellow taxis and autos, and occasional bag snatching near stations. |
| At night | Park Street, Salt Lake and Ballygunge stay comfortable into late evening. Use app cabs after midnight, since the metro closes around 10 pm. |
| Solo women | Considered one of India's easier cities for solo women, though staring occurs in crowds. Use the women-only metro coach and app cabs at night. |
| Other risks | Monsoon waterlogging, Jun–Sep; Winter smog from burning and traffic; Heat and humidity in April–June |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Taxis claiming meters are broken and quoting high flat fares
- Touts at Howrah station steering you to commission hotels
- Fake guides at Victoria Memorial and Kalighat temple
- Street money-changers offering rates that are too good
Take care
- Howrah Station area: crowds and touts
- Kalighat temple: pushy priests asking for donations
- Streets around New Market after dark
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 Kolkata 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 Kolkata safe for solo female travelers?
Considered one of India's easier cities for solo women, though staring occurs in crowds. Use the women-only metro coach and app cabs at night.
Is Kolkata safe at night?
Park Street, Salt Lake and Ballygunge stay comfortable into late evening. Use app cabs after midnight, since the metro closes around 10 pm.
What is the crime rate in Kolkata?
Pickpocketing on buses and at New Market, overcharging by yellow taxis and autos, and occasional bag snatching near stations. Nationally, India records 2.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Kolkata?
Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Fire 101 · Tourist police 1363 · All emergencies 112.
More about Kolkata
Going to Kolkata solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Kolkata Metro Railway
- West Bengal Tourism
- Kolkata Airport (Airports Authority of 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.