Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin Indonesia due to risk of natural disasters, unrest, and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk.”
Updated Tue, 07 Jul 2026
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Is Balikpapan safe? 🇮🇩
Indonesia · Safety report last updated
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Balikpapan 🇮🇩
Indonesia · Assessed 30 October 2026
73
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime71/100GoodCrime index 46.2 / 100
Sentiment79/100GoodGenerally positive
Advisories75Good
Stability61Fair
Health73Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
No advisory against travel
“Volcanic eruptions Volcanic eruptions occur frequently across Indonesia. In the event of a volcanic eruption, follow the latest advice issued by the local authorities, including on areas to avoid, exclusion zones and actions to take if air quality is affected.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:44:39Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Indonesia: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-10-27T06:53:23.8083568-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Good
Mugging & robbery risk
Low risk
92
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Moderate risk
78
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
63 / 100 (Generally positive)
63
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
695k residents
72
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
0.3 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Indonesia0.3Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
100
Robbery / mugging
LowViolent crime is rare, and the risk of armed robbery is very low.
Pickpocketing
ModerateOpportunistic theft and pickpocketing are common in crowded areas like markets and transport hubs.
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Generally positive
79/100
Reported feel63Generally positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Most travelers report feeling safe in Indonesia when taking normal precautions, with safety perceptions generally positive.
Balikpapan is a moderately safe city for travelers, with risks primarily related to opportunistic crime and environmental factors.
While Balikpapan has a low violent crime rate, visitors should be aware of petty theft and scams, particularly in crowded areas. Environmental concerns such as air quality and natural hazards are also present, though currently no major disasters are active.
Recent developments
- Feb 2024A 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia's South and Central Kalimantan Provinces.— Tempo.co English
- Apr 2018An oil spill spread, leading Indonesia to declare a state of emergency.— BBC
- Apr 2018Detained Afghan refugees cried for help in Balikpapan.— Al Jazeera
Common scams
- Pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded areas
- Smartphone snatching
- Laced drinks from strangers
Full briefing
Balikpapan presents a moderate safety risk for travelers, with its primary concerns being petty theft and environmental factors rather than violent crime. The city's low homicide rate and infrequent reports of serious incidents suggest a generally secure environment for visitors who exercise standard precautions.
Recent news indicates that while major disaster alerts are not currently active, Indonesia as a whole faces risks such as earthquakes, as evidenced by a 4.7 magnitude tremor in Kalimantan in February 2024. Environmental concerns like air quality can fluctuate, and travelers should monitor local conditions. The dossier also notes past incidents, including an oil spill emergency in April 2018 and refugee protests in Balikpapan during the same period.
To ensure a safe visit, travelers should remain vigilant against opportunistic theft, particularly in crowded public spaces like markets and transportation hubs, where pickpocketing and bag-snatching can occur. It is advisable to avoid displaying expensive items and to secure valuables in hotel safes. Be cautious of unsolicited offers of drinks from strangers, as they may be laced with drugs. While Balikpapan is considered one of Indonesia's safer cities, awareness of your surroundings is key.
Was this Balikpapan, Indonesia report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 5 Balikpapan districts for visitors: 3 safer, 2 needing caution. See them plotted on the Balikpapan safety map.
North BalikpapancautionIndustrial areas may have higher traffic and less developed tourist infrastructure; exercise standard precautions.
South BalikpapancautionCoastal areas can be busy; be aware of surroundings, especially in crowded spots.
Central BalikpapansaferGenerally considered safe with robust infrastructure and a friendly community.
East BalikpapansaferResidential and industrial areas, generally safe for visitors.
West BalikpapansaferSimilar to East Balikpapan, with a mix of residential and commercial zones.
07 · After Dark
Is Balikpapan safe at night?
63% of people in Indonesia say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2020).
Violent crime is rare, and the risk of armed robbery is very low.
After dark, be most careful around North Balikpapan, South Balikpapan. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Balikpapan safety FAQ (2026)
Is Balikpapan safe right now (2026)?
Balikpapan is a moderately safe city for travelers, with risks primarily related to opportunistic crime and environmental factors. While Balikpapan has a low violent crime rate, visitors should be aware of petty theft and scams, particularly in crowded areas. Environmental concerns such as air quality and natural hazards are also present, though currently no major disasters are active. (Assessed 30 October 2026.)
Is Balikpapan safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Balikpapan report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Balikpapan should tourists avoid?
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
What are the most common scams in Balikpapan (2026)?
- Pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded areas
- Smartphone snatching
- Laced drinks from strangers
How does Balikpapan compare with other places in Indonesia (2026)?
Balikpapan ranks #4 of 9 Indonesia destinations we've assessed, scoring 73/100. See the Indonesia safety overview for the full list.
How is this balikpapan safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: balikpapan.json (CC BY 4.0).