City in North Sumatra, Indonesia
Is Medan safe?
Big-city caution applies: phone snatching and bag theft are common, traffic is chaotic and sidewalks are poor.
Is Medan safe?
Big-city caution applies: phone snatching and bag theft are common, traffic is chaotic and sidewalks are poor. Violent crime against visitors is uncommon in central areas.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-07-06.
- Homicide rate in Indonesia: 0.3 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Indonesia: 11.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Medan at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone and bag snatching from passing motorbikes, pickpocketing in markets and buses, and occasional taxi disputes. |
| At night | Malls and food streets stay busy until late. Use Grab or Gojek after dark; avoid empty side streets and keep phones out of sight. |
| Solo women | Manageable for solo women with care. Expect stares and some catcalling; dress modestly, avoid empty streets at night and use app taxis. |
| Other risks | Chaotic traffic with few pedestrian crossings; Street flooding in the rainy season; Seasonal haze from Sumatra fires, mostly Aug–Oct |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Taxi drivers refusing meters at the airport and station
- Becak and bentor drivers charging inflated tourist fares
- Touts selling Toba or Bukit Lawang tours at inflated prices
Take care
- Roadside phone use: snatchers on motorbikes target visible handsets
- Crowded markets such as Pasar Petisah: pickpockets and bag cutters
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- From 2026, sex outside marriage and unmarried cohabitation are crimes, prosecuted only on a spouse's, parent's or child's complaint
- Drug trafficking can bring the death penalty; even small amounts mean prison
- Disrespecting temples or sacred sites in Bali can lead to deportation
How Medan compares in Indonesia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Nusa Dua | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bali | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ubud | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Canggu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Seminyak | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Uluwatu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yogyakarta | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gili Islands | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Penida | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Labuan Bajo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sanur | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Raja Ampat | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mount Bromo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bandung | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Lembongan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lake Toba | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kuta Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Amed | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Batam | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bintan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Malang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bukit Lawang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Surabaya | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manado | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tana Toraja | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jimbaran | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jakarta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Kuta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Medan | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Medan safe for solo female travelers?
Manageable for solo women with care. Expect stares and some catcalling; dress modestly, avoid empty streets at night and use app taxis.
Is Medan safe at night?
Malls and food streets stay busy until late. Use Grab or Gojek after dark; avoid empty side streets and keep phones out of sight.
What is the crime rate in Medan?
Phone and bag snatching from passing motorbikes, pickpocketing in markets and buses, and occasional taxi disputes. Nationally, Indonesia records 0.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Medan?
Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
More about Medan
Going to Medan solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Wonderful Indonesia (Ministry of Tourism)
- KAI Bandara (Kualanamu airport rail)
- Siloam Hospitals
- 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.