Exercise Normal Precautions
“Exercise normal precautionin Argentina. Argentina is generally a safe destination for travelers.”
Updated Fri, 10 Jul 2026
Full advisory →Is Buenos Aires safe? 🇦🇷
Argentina · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Buenos Aires scores 66/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Buenos Aires is safe for travelers who take standard big-city precautions against petty crime. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions).
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
No advisory against travel
“Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide.”
Updated 2026-05-08T08:33:37Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Argentina: exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-07-16T13:42:29.1371073-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Homicide rate
4.5 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6Argentina4.5World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
71
Armed robbery of tourists is rare, but moped-borne 'motochorro' snatch-robberies and occasional violent muggings occur, concentrated around Constitución, Once, and parts of the microcentro.
Pickpocketing and bag-slitting are the most common crime tourists face, especially in San Telmo, on the subte, and in crowded tourist clusters like La Boca and the Obelisco.
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03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Yes — Buenos Aires is safe for travelers who take standard big-city precautions against petty crime.
The data shows a moderate homicide rate (4.5/100k, below the world average) and Level 1 'Exercise Normal Precautions' advisories from the US, UK, and Canada. The real risk is petty and opportunistic crime — pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and scams — not violence, though drink-spiking robberies and moped-borne muggings ('motochorros') are a specific, documented threat visitors should know about.
Recent developments
- May 2026Motochorro suspect arrested in Boedo after high-speed chase; linked to an earlier arrebato (snatch-robbery) in Villa Crespo— Infobae
- Feb 2026Fourth general strike of Milei's term brought Buenos Aires to a near-standstill — subte shut, buses cut, flights cancelled, some clashes with police near Congress— Al Jazeera / Buenos Aires Times
- 2025US Embassy renewed 'Black Widow' alert after continued reports of drink-spiking robberies targeting male tourists in bars/nightclubs— Buenos Aires Herald / Mercopress
- Aug 2024US Embassy issued first formal alert after a weekend with four tourists robbed in two separate 'Black Widow' incidents— Buenos Aires Herald
Common scams
- 'Black Widow' scam — women approach (mostly older male) tourists in bars/nightclubs, gain trust, then spike drinks with clonazepam and rob them once incapacitated; US Embassy issued alerts on this in 2024 and 2025
- Distraction theft — mustard/cream sprayed on you while an 'helpful' accomplice robs you during the cleanup
- Fake 'free massage/show' touts on Corrientes, Florida St., and Lavalle Ave. who lure victims into brothels and extort large payments to leave
- Taxi overcharging/short-changing — hail cabs a block away from tourist sites, or use Uber instead
Full briefing
Buenos Aires is a safe city for visitors in the sense that matters most — violent, targeted crime against tourists is rare, backed by a homicide rate (4.5/100k) below the global average and unanimous "normal precautions" advisories from the US, UK, and Canada. The real risk profile here is petty and opportunistic: pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and scams are common enough that nearly every recent traveler account mentions them, even while describing the city as enjoyable and walkable, including solo at night in areas like Palermo and Recoleta.
Two threats stand out beyond the generic "watch your bag" advice. First, moped-borne "motochorro" snatch-robberies remain active in 2026 — a suspect was arrested in Boedo as recently as May after a high-speed chase tied to a Villa Crespo robbery — concentrated in microcentro and outer barrios rather than the core tourist zones. Second, and more specific to visitors, the US Embassy has repeatedly (Aug 2024, again in 2025) alerted citizens to a "Black Widow" scam pattern: women targeting men in bars and nightclubs, spiking drinks with clonazepam, then robbing them once incapacitated. This isn't folklore — it prompted a formal, renewed embassy warning, and the practical defense is simple: never accept a drink you didn't watch being poured.
On the political side, Argentina under Milei has seen recurring general strikes — the most recent major one in February 2026 shut down the subte, cut bus service, and led to clashes with police near Congress. These disrupt logistics (transport, flights) more than they threaten personal safety for a bystander, but it's worth checking local news before a travel day in case another is called. Neighborhood-wise, stick to Palermo, Recoleta, Puerto Madero, Belgrano, and Villa Crespo as your base; treat San Telmo, La Boca, and the Florida/Corrientes tourist strip as fine by day but requiring more vigilance; and actively avoid Constitución, Once/Balvanera, and Villa 31, all of which show up consistently in local reporting as concentration points for theft and robbery.
Practically: carry a crossbody bag worn in front, keep your phone out of sight on the street and subte, use Uber over hailed street taxis, and don't flash valuables in crowded tourist clusters. None of this makes Buenos Aires unusually dangerous — it makes it a big Latin American capital where ordinary street-smarts go a long way.
Sources: - Buenos Aires Herald — Four tourists robbed in two 'black widow' incidents - Mercopress — US Embassy 'black widow' travel alert - Al Jazeera — Strike over labour reforms brings Argentina's capital to a near-standstill - Infobae — Motochorro escapó por Boedo, mayo 2026 - Yahoo — The Dangerous Neighborhood Tourists May Want To Avoid (Villa 31) - Worldly Adventurer — Is Buenos Aires Safe? 2026 - Wander Argentina — Common Scams in Buenos Aires
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Buenos Aires districts for visitors: 3 safer, 3 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Buenos Aires safety map.
Once / BalvaneraavoidBusy train station area with concentrated petty crime and homelessness; best avoided, especially at night.
ConstituciónavoidMajor transit hub flagged repeatedly for robbery and petty crime; avoid lingering, especially after dark.
San TelmocautionCharming and touristy by day but a known hotspot for pickpocketing, bag-slitting, and distraction theft, especially around the Sunday market.
La Boca (Caminito area)cautionSafe within the fenced tourist strip by day; explicitly warned against after dark or off the main path.
Microcentro / Florida & CorrientescautionFake massage/show touts and pickpockets target tourists here; stay alert especially in the evening.
RecoletasaferUpscale, well-patrolled, popular with tourists and expats; low crime.
PalermosaferLively, walkable, one of the safest and most tourist-friendly barrios, though bag-watching still advised at night.
Puerto MaderosaferModern waterfront district with heavy security presence; among the safest areas in the city.
07 · After Dark
Is Buenos Aires safe at night?
48% of people in Argentina say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2016).
Armed robbery of tourists is rare, but moped-borne 'motochorro' snatch-robberies and occasional violent muggings occur, concentrated around Constitución, Once, and parts of the microcentro.
After dark, be most careful around Once / Balvanera, Constitución, San Telmo, La Boca (Caminito area). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Score by traveller type
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Buenos Aires's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
Solo travellerCrime +23% weight65
Solo, nightlife-focusedCrime +32% weight64
Family with kidsCrime +15% weight · Health & Air +12% weight68
Travellers 65+Crime +9% weight · Health & Air +16% weight · Stability +4% weight69
09 · Questions
Buenos Aires safety FAQ
Is Buenos Aires safe for tourists right now?
Yes — Buenos Aires is safe for travelers who take standard big-city precautions against petty crime. The data shows a moderate homicide rate (4.5/100k, below the world average) and Level 1 'Exercise Normal Precautions' advisories from the US, UK, and Canada. The real risk is petty and opportunistic crime — pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and scams — not violence, though drink-spiking robberies and moped-borne muggings ('motochorros') are a specific, documented threat visitors should know about. (Assessed 22 July 2026.)
Which areas of Buenos Aires should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Once / Balvanera, Constitución as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Buenos Aires?
- 'Black Widow' scam — women approach (mostly older male) tourists in bars/nightclubs, gain trust, then spike drinks with clonazepam and rob them once incapacitated; US Embassy issued alerts on this in 2024 and 2025
- Distraction theft — mustard/cream sprayed on you while an 'helpful' accomplice robs you during the cleanup
- Fake 'free massage/show' touts on Corrientes, Florida St., and Lavalle Ave. who lure victims into brothels and extort large payments to leave
- Taxi overcharging/short-changing — hail cabs a block away from tourist sites, or use Uber instead
How does Buenos Aires compare with other places in Argentina?
Buenos Aires scores 66/100 — see the Argentina safety overview for country-level data.
How is this Buenos Aires safety score calculated?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 75% of the weight, field research 25%. Full methodology.
Nearby destinations
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4 reportsBrowse the Argentina safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: buenos-aires.json (CC BY 4.0).