City in Baja California, Mexico
Is Tijuana safe?
Tourist and business areas work normally, but Tijuana has one of Mexico's highest homicide counts, mostly targeted cartel killings.
Is Tijuana safe?
Tourist and business areas work normally, but Tijuana has one of Mexico's highest homicide counts, mostly targeted cartel killings. Stay in main zones and use apps.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-08-11.
- Homicide rate in Mexico: 24.9 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Mexico: 12.8 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · Tourist police 078 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Tijuana at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Petty theft, car break-ins and robbery are common; cartel violence rarely targets visitors but can occur near nightlife and border zones. |
| At night | Revolución and Zona Río bars are busy but robbery and fights happen. Take Uber door to door and avoid walking between bars. |
| Solo women | Solo women travel here mostly for food and cross-border trips. Stick to Zona Río or Playas, use app rides, and avoid Zona Norte. |
| Other risks | Long border waits and heavy traffic; Air pollution in some districts; Earthquakes, as in the wider Baja region |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Taxi touts at the border or Revolución charging inflated fares
- Street money changers offering poor rates
- Bar staff adding charges or pushing expensive drinks
Take care
- Zona Norte and the red-light district
- Avenida Revolución and bars late at night
- Neighbourhoods east of Zona Río and hills outside tourist zones
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Carrying any firearm or even a single bullet can mean prison.
- Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned and can be confiscated.
- Drinking in the street is illegal in most cities and brings fines or arrest.
How Tijuana compares in Mexico
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Mérida | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Miguel de Allende | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cozumel | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Isla Mujeres | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Holbox | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bacalar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Guanajuato | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Monterrey | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Valladolid | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| La Paz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puebla | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Querétaro | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puerto Morelos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mazunte | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Todos Santos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ajijic | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mexico City | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Cancún | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Tulum | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Playa del Carmen | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Puerto Vallarta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Cabo San Lucas | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Oaxaca | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Guadalajara | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Puerto Escondido | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Sayulita | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Cristóbal de las Casas | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Mazatlán | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Tijuana | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Acapulco | 2/5 · High risk |
Quick answers
Is Tijuana safe for solo female travelers?
Solo women travel here mostly for food and cross-border trips. Stick to Zona Río or Playas, use app rides, and avoid Zona Norte.
Is Tijuana safe at night?
Revolución and Zona Río bars are busy but robbery and fights happen. Take Uber door to door and avoid walking between bars.
What is the crime rate in Tijuana?
Petty theft, car break-ins and robbery are common; cartel violence rarely targets visitors but can occur near nightlife and border zones. Nationally, Mexico records 24.9 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Tijuana?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · Tourist police 078 · All emergencies 911.
More about Tijuana
Going to Tijuana solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Tijuana meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Tijuana International Airport (Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico)
- Cross Border Xpress
- US CBP border wait times
- 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.