Is Tampa safe?
Safe in visitor areas with normal care. Car break-ins, lightning storms and rip currents at nearby beaches cause more trouble than 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 Tampa at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Car break-ins and package theft; occasional fights in Ybor City's nightlife, and some violent crime in neighborhoods away from tourist zones. |
| At night | Ybor City and SoHo are lively until about 2–3 am. Use Uber or Lyft rather than walking between districts. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable in busy areas. Use rideshare late, watch drinks in nightlife zones and park in lit lots. |
| Other risks | Hurricanes and storm surge, Jun–Nov; Afternoon lightning storms in summer; Rip currents at Gulf beaches |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Parking-lot attendants demanding cash for fake fees downtown
- Card skimmers at gas pumps and standalone ATMs
- Fake ticket sellers outside stadiums and concerts
Take care
- Ybor City 7th Avenue after 1 am: fights and car break-ins
- East Tampa and parts of West Tampa after dark
- Beaches during storms: rip currents and lightning
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 Tampa compares in United States
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Sedona | 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 |
| Tampa | 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 Tampa safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable in busy areas. Use rideshare late, watch drinks in nightlife zones and park in lit lots.
Is Tampa safe at night?
Ybor City and SoHo are lively until about 2–3 am. Use Uber or Lyft rather than walking between districts.
What is the crime rate in Tampa?
Car break-ins and package theft; occasional fights in Ybor City's nightlife, and some violent crime in neighborhoods away from tourist zones. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Tampa?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Tampa
Going to Tampa solo?
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Sources
- HART (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit)
- Tampa International Airport
- Visit Tampa Bay
- Tampa General Hospital
- 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.