Is Lomé safe?
Manageable with care. Bag snatching and night muggings occur; violent crime against visitors is uncommon. The far north has militant risk.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-03-08.
- Road deaths in Togo: 28.7 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 117 · Fire 118.
Safety in Lomé at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Bag and phone snatching from motorbikes, pickpocketing at Grand Marché, and muggings on dark beach streets. |
| At night | Use Gozem or a hotel taxi after dark. Avoid the beach and unlit streets on foot. |
| Solo women | Generally okay with common sense. Expect catcalls; dress modestly, avoid empty beaches and take Gozem or hotel taxis at night. |
| Other risks | Zemidjan crashes; Rip currents at the beach; Malaria |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fixers at the Aflao border charging 'fees' to cross
- Street money changers using rigged calculators
- Zem drivers quoting tourist prices
Take care
- Grand Marché: dense crowds and pickpockets
- Beach after dark: muggings
- Aflao border area: touts and chaos
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Same-sex acts are criminalised
- Photographing government buildings, the military and the airport is restricted
- Drug offences are prosecuted
Quick answers
Is Lomé safe for solo female travelers?
Generally okay with common sense. Expect catcalls; dress modestly, avoid empty beaches and take Gozem or hotel taxis at night.
Is Lomé safe at night?
Use Gozem or a hotel taxi after dark. Avoid the beach and unlit streets on foot.
What is the crime rate in Lomé?
Bag and phone snatching from motorbikes, pickpocketing at Grand Marché, and muggings on dark beach streets.
What number do I call in an emergency in Lomé?
Police 117 · Fire 118.
More about Lomé
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Gozem
- 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 Spotted something out of date?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.