Is Mendoza safe?
Safe city with normal care. Petty theft and phone snatching occur in the center; wine-country roads and summer heat are bigger risks.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2026-07-09.
- Homicide rate in Argentina: 4.5 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Argentina: 14.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 107 · Fire 100.
Safety in Mendoza at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing and phone snatching around Plaza Independencia and bus terminals, bag theft from cars at wineries, and occasional bike theft. |
| At night | Aristides Villanueva stays busy and feels fine. After midnight use Uber or a radio taxi rather than walking between neighbourhoods. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women. Catcalls are mild; avoid empty park paths after dark and take app taxis late. |
| Other risks | Earthquakes; Mendoza sits in a seismic zone; Zonda wind: hot, dry and dusty gusts; Drinking and driving on winery routes |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Tour touts offering cheap 'all-inclusive' winery tours with hidden extras
- Rental-car damage claims; photograph the car first
- Fake notes returned as change in markets and kiosks
Take care
- Mendoza bus terminal area at night
- Parks (San Martín) after dark
- Leaving valuables visible in parked cars
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Driving with any alcohol in your blood is illegal nationwide.
- Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces, including bars and restaurants.
How Mendoza compares in Argentina
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| El Calafate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| El Chaltén | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Mendoza | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bariloche | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ushuaia | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Salta | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puerto Iguazú | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puerto Madryn | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mar del Plata | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Quebrada de Humahuaca | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cafayate | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Buenos Aires | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Córdoba | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Rosario | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Mendoza safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women. Catcalls are mild; avoid empty park paths after dark and take app taxis late.
Is Mendoza safe at night?
Aristides Villanueva stays busy and feels fine. After midnight use Uber or a radio taxi rather than walking between neighbourhoods.
What is the crime rate in Mendoza?
Pickpocketing and phone snatching around Plaza Independencia and bus terminals, bag theft from cars at wineries, and occasional bike theft. Nationally, Argentina records 4.5 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Mendoza?
Police 911 · Ambulance 107 · Fire 100.
More about Mendoza
Going to Mendoza solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Mendoza Tourism
- Aeropuertos Argentina (Mendoza)
- Mendoza Metrotranvía
- 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.