City in Washington, United States
Is Seattle safe?
Most visitor areas are fine with normal care, but car break-ins are common and parts of downtown have open drug use.
Is Seattle safe?
Most visitor areas are fine with normal care, but car break-ins are common and parts of downtown have open drug use. Be alert around Third Avenue and Pioneer Square at night.
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 Seattle at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Car break-ins are widespread; also phone snatching, bike theft and theft from hotel cars. Violent incidents cluster in downtown and Capitol Hill late at night. |
| At night | Capitol Hill and Belltown stay busy; Pioneer Square and parts of downtown empty out. Use rideshare to get home late. |
| Solo women | Comfortable in most areas with normal care. Avoid empty downtown streets at night, use rideshare late and watch drinks in bars. |
| Other risks | Wildfire smoke in late summer; Earthquakes: know the drop, cover and hold on rule; Wet roads and cold water at Puget Sound beaches |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Street 'charity' collectors near Pike Place Market
- Unlicensed drivers offering rides outside the airport
- Fake ticket sellers outside stadiums and concerts
- Parking lot attendants charging steep cash fees
Take care
- Third Avenue downtown and Pioneer Square at night
- Leaving anything visible in a parked car
- Late-night Capitol Hill bar crowds: fights and drink spiking
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 Seattle 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 Seattle safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable in most areas with normal care. Avoid empty downtown streets at night, use rideshare late and watch drinks in bars.
Is Seattle safe at night?
Capitol Hill and Belltown stay busy; Pioneer Square and parts of downtown empty out. Use rideshare to get home late.
What is the crime rate in Seattle?
Car break-ins are widespread; also phone snatching, bike theft and theft from hotel cars. Violent incidents cluster in downtown and Capitol Hill late at night. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Seattle?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Seattle
Going to Seattle solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Seattle meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- Sound Transit (Link light rail)
- King County Metro
- Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
- Washington State Ferries
- 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.