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 Port Elizabeth safe? 🇿🇦
South Africa · Safety report last updated
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Port Elizabeth 🇿🇦
South Africa · Assessed 20 October 2026
37
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime29/100ElevatedCrime index 78.3 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment37/100ElevatedMostly negative
Advisories75Good
Stability64Fair
Health69Fair
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
1.1M residents
67
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
43.7 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
7
Robbery / mugging
HighArmed robbery and mugging pose a significant risk to visitors, particularly in isolated areas and after dark.
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in crowded places like markets, bus stations, and along the beachfront promenade.
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Fair
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Elevated
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly negative
37/100
Reported feel30Mostly negative
Robbery risk34High risk
Pickpocket risk58High risk
Recent traveller reports indicate widespread concern about safety, with many feeling uneasy walking alone at night and citing frequent encounters with aggressive begging or street crime.
No. Port Elizabeth remains risky for visitors due to high violent crime and theft despite some safer zones.
Official advisories urge increased caution due to widespread crime, and local data confirms armed robbery and mugging are significant risks, especially after dark and in isolated areas. Pickpocketing is common in crowded spots like markets and the beachfront promenade. Visitor sentiment reflects widespread unease, particularly at night.
Recent developments
- Oct 2026IsMyTripSafe rates Port Elizabeth 46/100, citing high violent crime and ongoing risks for visitors despite some area improvements— IsMyTripSafe
- Sep 2026Daily Investor reports five South African cities, including Port Elizabeth, are among the ten most dangerous in the world— Daily Investor
- Jul 2026newsday.co.za highlights police stations falling apart in South Africa’s murder capital, reflecting strained local safety infrastructure— newsday.co.za
Common scams
- fake tour operators
- currency exchange schemes
- distraction pickpocketing
Full briefing
Port Elizabeth’s safety profile shows serious concerns for visitors, with armed robbery and mugging remaining high risks, especially in isolated areas and after dark. Pickpocketing is prevalent in crowded zones such as markets, bus stations, and the beachfront promenade, where distraction tactics are frequently used. Recent traveller reports consistently reflect unease, particularly when walking alone at night, with many citing aggressive begging and street crime as common experiences. While some neighbourhoods like the beachfront are noted as well-patrolled and safer, suburbs such as Bethelsdorp, New Brighton, and Motherwell are identified as danger spots in the province. Visitors should use hotel-arranged transfers or verified ride services, avoid minibus taxis and unfamiliar areas at night, and keep valuables concealed. ATMs should be used inside banks or malls to reduce fraud risk. Scams involving fake tour operators and currency exchange schemes are active, so verifying operators and using official exchange points is advised. Despite the city’s nickname as the “Friendly City,” the reality is that crime remains a serious issue requiring constant vigilance, and the overall environment warrants increased caution rather than complacency.
Was this Port Elizabeth, South Africa report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Port Elizabeth districts for visitors: 2 safer, 3 needing caution and 3 best avoided. See them plotted on the Port Elizabeth safety map.
New BrightonavoidHigh violent crime and robbery; identified as a provincial danger spot in Sept 2026 Herald report.
BethelsdorpavoidConsistently high crime; cited among most dangerous suburbs in Eastern Cape (The Herald, Sep 2026).
MotherwellavoidHigh violent crime and robbery; flagged as a danger spot in Sept 2026 local news.
Central (Gqeberha City Centre)cautionBusy with markets and transit; petty theft common, especially around Station Square and after dark.
WalmercautionResidential with mixed safety; daytime okay, but avoid walking alone at night due to opportunistic theft.
Mill ParkcautionQuiet suburb near university; generally safe by day, but reports of break-ins and muggings after dark.
SummerstrandsaferTourist-friendly beachfront with hotels and patrols; low violent crime but watch for pickpocketing.
HumewoodsaferWell-maintained beach area with visible security; safe during day, avoid isolated spots after dark.
07 · After Dark
Is Port Elizabeth 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 mugging pose a significant risk to visitors, particularly in isolated areas and after dark.
After dark, be most careful around New Brighton, Bethelsdorp, Motherwell, Central (Gqeberha City Centre). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Port Elizabeth safety FAQ (2026)
Is Port Elizabeth safe right now (2026)?
No. Port Elizabeth remains risky for visitors due to high violent crime and theft despite some safer zones. Official advisories urge increased caution due to widespread crime, and local data confirms armed robbery and mugging are significant risks, especially after dark and in isolated areas. Pickpocketing is common in crowded spots like markets and the beachfront promenade. Visitor sentiment reflects widespread unease, particularly at night. (Assessed 20 October 2026.)
Is Port Elizabeth safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth should tourists avoid?
Field research flags New Brighton, Bethelsdorp, Motherwell as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Port Elizabeth (2026)?
- fake tour operators
- currency exchange schemes
- distraction pickpocketing
How does Port Elizabeth compare with other places in South Africa (2026)?
Port Elizabeth ranks #9 of 9 South Africa destinations we've assessed, scoring 37/100. See the South Africa safety overview for the full list.
How is this port-elizabeth safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 14+ 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: port-elizabeth.json (CC BY 4.0).