IsMyTripSafe.com

Is Kingston safe? 🇨🇦

Canada · Safety report last updated

As of July 2026, Kingston scores 91/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — very safe. Yes — Kingston, Canada is a very safe city for travelers. The main risks for visitors are tourist-targeted scams.

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Kingston 🇨🇦

Canada · Assessed 29 July 2026

91

/ 100

Yes — very safe

Safer than ~97% of countries

What drives this score

Crime86/100GoodHomicide 2.0 / 100k
Sentiment87/100GoodGenerally positive
Advisories97Good
Stability82Good
Health88Good

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Good

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 1

No advisory against travel

Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide.

Updated 2026-07-23T16:13:01Z

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Good

Mugging & robbery risk

Low risk
92

City SignalCity Web Research

Pickpocketing & theft risk

Low risk
92

City SignalCity Web Research

Visitor safety sentiment

75 / 100 (Generally positive)
75

City SignalCity Web Research

Urban scale factor

132k residents
85

City SignalCity Geocoding

Homicide rate

2.0 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6Canada2World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
86

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2023

Feel safe walking alone after dark

87.6%
93

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2019

Physical assault (past year)

2.5%
87

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2019

Robbery / mugging

Low

Worry about mugging or robbery is reported as low by residents, with violent crime seen as a moderate local problem.

Pickpocketing

Low

Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are not highlighted as significant issues for visitors in Kingston.

2 more indicators

Sexual violence (past year)

2.2%
75

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2014

Detected human-trafficking victims

1.15 / 100k
76

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2023

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Good

Air quality

US AQI 37 · Good

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

25 beds / 10k · country avg

WHO Global Health Observatory

Weather

July: highs ~27°C · no weather extremes

Open-Meteo

Road safety

4.7 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

2 active alerts · Flood (green)
92

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

Flood

flood alert in Canada · ~235 km away

Flood

flood alert in United States · ~237 km away

CDC travel health notices · 1 for this destination

Watch

Hepatitis A in Canada

Worldwide notices (not specific to this trip): Polio, Dengue, Measles

04 · Institutions

Stability

Good

Political stability & no terrorism

76/100
76

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0.10 / million
92

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

82/100
82

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

Control of corruption

81/100
81

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

86/100
86

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

Regulatory quality

76/100
76

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

Voice & accountability

83/100
83

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2024

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Stable

Traveller sentiment score

Generally positive

87/100

Reported feel75Generally positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk96Low risk

Most residents feel safe walking alone in daylight, though a notable portion express less confidence walking alone at night. Concerns about property crime and drug activity are present but do not appear to significantly deter visitors.

Yes — Kingston, Canada is a very safe city for travelers.

Kingston boasts a high composite safety index, with low rates of violent crime and terrorism. While general crime and drug activity are perceived as moderate local problems by some residents, official advisories are minimal, and visitors generally feel safe, especially during daylight hours.

Recent developments

  • Feb 2026Protest on the steps of Kingston's City Hall turned physical.The Kingston Whig Standard
  • Feb 2026Frustration mounts with property crime in C.B.N. six months after a Kingston fire.CBC
  • May 2020Statistics Canada released a 'Safe Cities' profile series including key indicators for Kingston, Ontario.Statistics Canada
  • Apr 2023Kingston Police strategic plan focuses on reducing crime and improving clearance rates.Global News

Common scams

  • While not specific to Kingston, be aware of common travel scams such as overcharging for taxis or inflated prices for goods and services in tourist areas.
Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map

Full briefing

Kingston, Canada, is a very safe destination for travelers. The city benefits from strong governance indicators, low homicide and terrorism rates, and minimal official travel advisories, all contributing to a high overall safety score. While some residents perceive property crime and drug activity as moderate local issues, these concerns do not appear to significantly impact the visitor experience.

On the ground, Kingston offers a generally positive environment for tourists. The majority of residents report feeling safe walking alone during daylight hours. While a smaller percentage express less confidence walking alone at night, this is a common sentiment in many urban areas and does not indicate widespread danger for visitors. Robbery and mugging are considered low risks, and pickpocketing is not a prominent concern.

Recent reports from the dossier indicate some localized incidents, such as a physical protest at City Hall in February 2026 and ongoing concerns about property crime in specific areas following a fire. However, these events are not indicative of a broader safety crisis for travelers. Kingston Police have also highlighted efforts to reduce crime and improve clearance rates, suggesting a proactive approach to public safety.

To ensure a safe visit, travelers are advised to exercise standard precautions, particularly when exploring at night or in less populated areas. Be aware of your surroundings and keep personal belongings secure. While no specific scams are frequently reported targeting tourists in Kingston, it's always wise to be cautious of common travel-related deceptions. Travelers should also refer to CDC advisories for general health recommendations applicable to travel in Canada.

IsMyTripSafe.com

Not legal or medical advice

Report generated 29 July 2026

Sources: U.S. State Dept · UK FCDO · World Bank · WGI · UNODC · WHO · UN SDG · Global Terrorism Database · Numbeo · OpenStreetMap · Open-Meteo · CDC. Composite index recomputed at request time.

Links:

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

5 districts

Our field research rated 5 Kingston districts for visitors: 3 safer, 2 needing caution. See them plotted on the Kingston safety map.

Kingston WestcautionSome reports of property crime and drug-related issues, be aware of surroundings.

East KingstoncautionMixed residential and commercial area; general awareness advised, especially after dark.

Downtown KingstonsaferGenerally safe with good visitor sentiment and low crime rates.

WaterfrontsaferPopular tourist area, well-patrolled and safe for daytime and evening strolls.

Queen's University DistrictsaferLively student area, generally safe, but exercise caution around late-night establishments.

07 · After Dark

Is Kingston safe at night?

88% of people in Canada say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2019).

Worry about mugging or robbery is reported as low by residents, with violent crime seen as a moderate local problem.

After dark, be most careful around Kingston West, East Kingston. 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 Kingston's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.

Solo female travellerCrime +35% weight89
Solo travellerCrime +23% weight90
Family with kidsCrime +19% weight · Health & Air +12% weight90
Nightlife-focused tripCrime +28% weight90
Travellers 65+Crime +13% weight · Health & Air +16% weight · Stability +4% weight90
Business tripCrime +14% weight · Stability +6% weight90

09 · Questions

Kingston safety FAQ

Is Kingston safe for tourists right now?

Yes — Kingston, Canada is a very safe city for travelers. Kingston boasts a high composite safety index, with low rates of violent crime and terrorism. While general crime and drug activity are perceived as moderate local problems by some residents, official advisories are minimal, and visitors generally feel safe, especially during daylight hours. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)

Which areas of Kingston should tourists avoid?

No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.

What are the most common scams in Kingston?

  • While not specific to Kingston, be aware of common travel scams such as overcharging for taxis or inflated prices for goods and services in tourist areas.

How does Kingston compare with other places in Canada?

Kingston ranks #4 of 9 Canada destinations we've assessed, scoring 91/100. See the Canada safety overview for the full list.

How is this Kingston safety score calculated?

The score blends 11+ 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 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.

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Browse the Canada safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: kingston.json (CC BY 4.0).