Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin South Africa due to crime, terrorism, unrest, and kidnapping. Violent crime is common and includes robbery, rape, carjacking and mugging.”
Updated Tue, 27 May 2025
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Is Cape Town safe? 🇿🇦
South Africa · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Cape Town scores 40/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: caution advised. Yes, Cape Town is safe for tourists who stay in the main visitor corridor and exercise urban awareness. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Cape Town 🇿🇦
South Africa · Assessed 19 October 2026
40
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime27/100ElevatedCrime index 73.6 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment62/100FairMostly positive
Advisories75Good
Stability64Fair
Health72Good
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 2026-10-07T10:15:33Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution
“Canada's official risk level for South Africa: exercise a high degree of caution.”
Updated 2026-10-15T08:49:57.791559-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Elevated
Urban scale factor
4.8M residents
49
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
43.7 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
7
Robbery / mugging
ModerateArmed robbery and carjacking occur mainly in township areas and isolated routes; rare in tourist zones if precautions taken
Pickpocketing
HighFrequent in crowded tourist spots like Long Street, Greenmarket Square, and V&A Waterfront; use anti-theft bags
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
62/100
Reported feel65Mostly positive
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk58High risk
Most tourists report feeling safe in visitor areas when staying alert; anxiety rises when venturing into unfamiliar neighborhoods or at night.
Yes, Cape Town is safe for tourists who stay in the main visitor corridor and exercise urban awareness.
Violent crime remains high in South Africa overall, but is concentrated in townships like the Cape Flats, not tourist zones. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching occurs in busy areas like the V&A Waterfront and City Bowl, requiring vigilance. Recent mass shootings in September 2026 were township-based and did not target visitors.
Recent developments
- Sep 2026Two mass shootings in South African townships killed at least 27 people in one night— NBC News
- Sep 2026At least 27 dead after two mass shootings in South Africa, police say— The Guardian
- Oct 2026U.S. Embassy issued security alert for Pretoria due to heightened crime and unrest ahead of local elections— U.S. Embassy & Consulates in South Africa
- Aug 2026Viral video showed distraction pickpocket scam in Cape Town, prompting public warnings— Cape Town ETC
Common scams
- Fake parking attendants demanding payment
- Distraction pickpocketing in markets and tourist sites
- ATM skimming or card trapping
- Fake tour guides offering unsolicited help
- Accommodation booking fraud via cloned websites
Full briefing
Cape Town’s safety hinges on location. The vast majority of violent crime, including the mass shootings reported in September 2026, occurs in township areas like the Cape Flats, where gang warfare drives murder statistics but tourists have no reason to go. In contrast, the tourist corridor — covering the V&A Waterfront, City Bowl, Atlantic Seaboard, and Constantia — sees levels of petty crime comparable to other major global cities, with violent incidents against visitors being rare when basic precautions are taken. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching remain the most common threats to travelers, particularly in crowded spots such as Long Street, Greenmarket Square, and market areas, as highlighted by a viral distraction scam video in August 2026. Scams like fake parking attendants, ATM skimming, and unsolicited 'helpful' tour guides are frequently reported, so visitors should use official services, keep valuables concealed, and verify booking sites. While the U.S. Embassy issued an October 2026 security alert for Pretoria due to election-related unrest, no such alert was in effect for Cape Town, and local advisories emphasize situational awareness over broad warnings. Most tourists who stay in visitor areas and avoid isolated walks at night report feeling safe, with many describing their trips as wonderful and incident-free. The key is treating Cape Town like any large city: enjoy its beauty, but stay in well-traveled zones, use ride-hailing after dark, and keep your wits about you.
Was this Cape Town, South Africa report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Cape Town districts for visitors: 4 safer, 2 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Cape Town safety map.
Cape Flats (e.g., Khayelitsha, Nyanga)avoidHigh violent crime and gang activity; not on tourist routes; risk of robbery and shootings.
Klipfontein/Mitchells PlainavoidPart of Cape Flats with elevated gang violence and carjacking; avoid unless with trusted local guide.
Bo-KaapcautionPopular cultural area; daytime visits safe; avoid walking alone after dark due to opportunistic theft.
WoodstockcautionGentrifying area with mixed safety; day visits to markets okay; avoid side streets at night.
V&A WaterfrontsaferHeavily patrolled tourist hub with low violent crime; petty theft possible in crowds.
City BowlsaferCentral business and hotel district; strong police presence; watch for pickpockets and bag snatching.
Atlantic Seaboard (Clifton, Camps Bay)saferAffluent coastal suburbs; generally safe by day; avoid isolated beaches after dark.
ConstantiasaferLeafy southern suburbs; low crime; safe for wine tours and daytime visits.
07 · After Dark
Is Cape Town safe at night?
37% of people in South Africa say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2022).
Armed robbery and carjacking occur mainly in township areas and isolated routes; rare in tourist zones if precautions taken
After dark, be most careful around Cape Flats (e.g., Khayelitsha, Nyanga), Klipfontein/Mitchells Plain, Bo-Kaap, Woodstock. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Cape Town safety FAQ (2026)
Is Cape Town safe right now (2026)?
Yes, Cape Town is safe for tourists who stay in the main visitor corridor and exercise urban awareness. Violent crime remains high in South Africa overall, but is concentrated in townships like the Cape Flats, not tourist zones. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching occurs in busy areas like the V&A Waterfront and City Bowl, requiring vigilance. Recent mass shootings in September 2026 were township-based and did not target visitors. (Assessed 19 October 2026.)
Is Cape Town safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Cape Town 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 Cape Town should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Cape Flats (e.g., Khayelitsha, Nyanga), Klipfontein/Mitchells Plain as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Cape Town (2026)?
- Fake parking attendants demanding payment
- Distraction pickpocketing in markets and tourist sites
- ATM skimming or card trapping
- Fake tour guides offering unsolicited help
How does Cape Town compare with other places in South Africa (2026)?
Cape Town ranks #9 of 9 South Africa destinations we've assessed, scoring 40/100. See the South Africa safety overview for the full list.
How is this cape-town safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 15+ 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: cape-town.json (CC BY 4.0).