City in Tennessee, United States
Is Nashville safe?
Safe in downtown and visitor areas with normal care.
Is Nashville safe?
Safe in downtown and visitor areas with normal care. Late-night bar crowds, drink spiking and car break-ins are the main risks; some outer neighborhoods see higher violent crime.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- 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 Nashville at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Car break-ins, phone and wallet theft in Broadway bars, drink spiking and occasional fights late at night. Violent crime concentrates in some northern and southern areas away from visitors. |
| At night | Broadway stays crowded until late and is generally watched; get home by rideshare rather than walking or accepting rides from strangers. |
| Solo women | Comfortable in downtown and central areas. Watch drinks on Broadway, avoid walking alone in quiet areas at night and use rideshare. |
| Other risks | Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in spring; Summer heat and humidity; Winter ice storms that close roads |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Pedicab and party-bus drivers quoting low fares, then adding charges
- Street 'charity' collectors near Broadway
- Overpriced parking lots downtown during events
- Unlicensed drivers offering rides outside bars
Take care
- Broadway between 1 and 3 am: fights and drink spiking
- Leaving anything visible in a parked car
- Parts of Dickerson Pike and Antioch after dark
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 Nashville 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 Nashville safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable in downtown and central areas. Watch drinks on Broadway, avoid walking alone in quiet areas at night and use rideshare.
Is Nashville safe at night?
Broadway stays crowded until late and is generally watched; get home by rideshare rather than walking or accepting rides from strangers.
What is the crime rate in Nashville?
Car break-ins, phone and wallet theft in Broadway bars, drink spiking and occasional fights late at night. Violent crime concentrates in some northern and southern areas away from visitors. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Nashville?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Nashville
Going to Nashville solo?
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Sources
- WeGo Public Transit
- Nashville International Airport
- Visit Music City (tourism)
- Nashville Metro Water Services
- 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.