City in Northwest Territories, Canada
Is Yellowknife safe?
Safe for visitors on aurora tours and in town.
Is Yellowknife safe?
Safe for visitors on aurora tours and in town. Cold, ice and remote roads are the main risks; downtown has street intoxication and the territory reports high per-capita crime.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-06-10.
- Homicide rate in Canada: 2.0 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Canada: 5.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Yellowknife at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Property theft and street intoxication or disorder downtown, mostly at night; violent crime rarely involves tourists. |
| At night | Streets are quiet at night and cold enough to be hazardous. Take a taxi or a tour shuttle rather than walking far in winter. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women. Normal city precautions apply downtown at night; tour groups are safe and common. |
| Other risks | Extreme cold, frostbite and black ice in winter; Wildfire smoke or road closures in summer; Wildlife on highways, including bison and bears |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake aurora-tour deals sold through social media for large upfront payments
- Rental listings asking for deposits before viewing
- Roadside sales offering unlicensed fishing or snowmobile tours
Take care
- Downtown core at night: intoxicated crowds near some bars
- Walking in −30°C: frostbite risk within minutes
- Frozen lakes and ice roads: do not go alone
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Cannabis is legal domestically, but carrying it across the international border is a serious crime.
- Drinking age is 18 or 19 depending on province; open alcohol in public is mostly illegal.
- Holding a phone while driving brings heavy fines in every province.
How Yellowknife compares in Canada
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Banff | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Quebec City | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Whistler | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ottawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Victoria | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Jasper | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Tofino | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Mont-Tremblant | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Prince Edward Island | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Toronto | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Vancouver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Montreal | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Niagara Falls | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Calgary | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Halifax | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Edmonton | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kelowna | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yellowknife | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Yellowknife safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women. Normal city precautions apply downtown at night; tour groups are safe and common.
Is Yellowknife safe at night?
Streets are quiet at night and cold enough to be hazardous. Take a taxi or a tour shuttle rather than walking far in winter.
What is the crime rate in Yellowknife?
Property theft and street intoxication or disorder downtown, mostly at night; violent crime rarely involves tourists. Nationally, Canada records 2.0 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Yellowknife?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Yellowknife
Going to Yellowknife solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- City of Yellowknife Transit
- Spectacular NWT (tourism)
- NT Health and Social Services Authority
- 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.