City in California, United States
Is Los Angeles safe?
Fine in busy, touristed areas, but car break-ins, phone snatching and neighborhood variation call for care.
Is Los Angeles safe?
Fine in busy, touristed areas, but car break-ins, phone snatching and neighborhood variation call for care. Distances mean you often need a car or rideshare.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- Homicide rate in United States: 5.8 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in United States: 12.7 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Los Angeles at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Car break-ins are the most common issue; also phone snatching, bike theft and occasional street robberies. Tent encampments and panhandling are visible in parts of Downtown and Hollywood. |
| At night | Many areas empty out early and require driving or rideshare; Hollywood, Santa Monica and Silver Lake stay lively, but take Uber from bars rather than walking home. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable in busy areas. Use rideshare late at night, avoid empty transit stations and trailheads after dark, and watch your drink at bars. |
| Other risks | Wildfires and smoke, mostly Aug–Dec; Freeway traffic and fast driving; Strong rip currents at ocean beaches |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Costumed characters on Hollywood Boulevard demanding tips for photos
- Fake tour operators selling 'celebrity home' trips with no stops
- Unmarked taxi touts at LAX and Union Station
- Parking attendants charging high fees at unofficial lots
Take care
- Hollywood Boulevard and Skid Row area at night
- Leaving anything visible in a parked car
- Phone-in-hand on busy downtown streets
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking age is 21 everywhere; bars and shops check ID, so carry your passport.
- Open alcohol containers in public and in cars are illegal in most places.
- Cannabis is legal in some states but federally illegal; never carry it across borders or onto federal land.
How Los Angeles compares in United States
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Sedona | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Scottsdale | 5/5 · Very safe |
| New York City | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Orlando | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Honolulu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Boston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Diego | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maui | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nashville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Austin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Key West | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Denver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Portland | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Antonio | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Charleston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Savannah | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kauai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Big Island | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Los Angeles | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Miami | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Francisco | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Washington, D.C. | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Chicago | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| New Orleans | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Seattle | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Philadelphia | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Atlanta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Los Angeles safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable in busy areas. Use rideshare late at night, avoid empty transit stations and trailheads after dark, and watch your drink at bars.
Is Los Angeles safe at night?
Many areas empty out early and require driving or rideshare; Hollywood, Santa Monica and Silver Lake stay lively, but take Uber from bars rather than walking home.
What is the crime rate in Los Angeles?
Car break-ins are the most common issue; also phone snatching, bike theft and occasional street robberies. Tent encampments and panhandling are visible in parts of Downtown and Hollywood. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Los Angeles?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Los Angeles
Going to Los Angeles solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Los Angeles meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- LA Metro (fares and maps)
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Discover Los Angeles (tourism board)
- LA Department of Water and Power
- 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.