Is Orlando safe?
Safe in tourist zones. Traffic, heat, lightning and drowning are bigger risks than crime; some areas away from parks and downtown have higher 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 Orlando at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Car break-ins at hotels and parking lots, theft from rooms, and ticket scams. Violent crime concentrates in some western and southern neighborhoods, not tourist corridors. |
| At night | I-Drive and downtown stay lively; elsewhere is quiet and car-dependent. Use rideshare rather than walking along wide roads after dark. |
| Solo women | Generally safe in tourist areas. Take rideshare at night, watch your drink downtown and avoid empty parking lots after dark. |
| Other risks | Afternoon thunderstorms and lightning, Jun–Sep; Heat index above 38°C in summer; Hurricane season, Jun–Nov |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Timeshare touts offering free tickets or breakfast for a presentation
- Discount attraction tickets from sidewalk sellers that turn out invalid
- Unlicensed shuttle or taxi drivers at the airport
- Hotel 'resort fee' surprises at check-in
Take care
- Parts of Orange Blossom Trail at night
- Leaving valuables in parked cars at hotels
- Walking on International Drive late: heavy traffic, few crossings
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 Orlando 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 Orlando safe for solo female travelers?
Generally safe in tourist areas. Take rideshare at night, watch your drink downtown and avoid empty parking lots after dark.
Is Orlando safe at night?
I-Drive and downtown stay lively; elsewhere is quiet and car-dependent. Use rideshare rather than walking along wide roads after dark.
What is the crime rate in Orlando?
Car break-ins at hotels and parking lots, theft from rooms, and ticket scams. Violent crime concentrates in some western and southern neighborhoods, not tourist corridors. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Orlando?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Orlando
Going to Orlando solo?
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Sources
- LYNX (Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority)
- SunRail
- Orlando International Airport
- Visit Orlando
- 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.