Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin the United Kingdom due to terrorism. There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in the United Kingdom.”
Updated Thu, 08 May 2025
Full advisory →Is Manhattan safe? 🇺🇸
United States · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Manhattan scores 71/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Manhattan is one of the safest major cities in the world for visitors, with violent crime at historic lows, though pickpocketing and tourist scams in crowded areas require vigilance. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and tourist-targeted scams. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Fair
No advisory against travel
“This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe.”
Updated 2026-07-23T16:13:06Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for United States: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-07-20T14:01:54.5526199-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Homicide rate
5.8 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
65
Robbery / mugging
LowMuggings of visitors are rare in tourist areas due to constant police presence; the few incidents occur mainly in residential neighborhoods late at night.
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in Times Square, Herald Square, Union Square, Grand Central, Penn Station, and packed rush-hour subway cars (4/5/6, 1/2/3, A/C/E lines).
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Yes — Manhattan is one of the safest major cities in the world for visitors, with violent crime at historic lows, though pickpocketing and tourist scams in crowded areas require vigilance.
Manhattan's overall crime rate continues to fall, with murders and shootings at record lows in 2026 and major crime down 6.2% year-to-date. The NYPD maintains a heavy, visible presence in tourist zones and has added subway platform barriers and enhanced nightlife patrols. The primary risks for travelers are not violent crime but opportunistic pickpocketing in packed areas like Times Square and rush-hour subways, and a handful of persistent street scams targeting tourists.
Recent developments
- Jul 2026Two men stabbed on Upper West Side near Central Park in unprovoked attack; suspect allegedly yelled 'Allahu Akbar'; NYPD investigating as possible hate crime; suspect in custody.— WSJ / ABC News / CNN / ABC7 NY
- Jul 2026Former Manhattan Catholic priest arrested on child sex crime charges — unrelated to tourist safety but noted in local crime reports.— News Radio KMAN
- Jun 2026U.S. FIFA World Cup host city issued unusual travel warning for 8 specific match dates starting June 2026, citing extreme crowding and transport strain.— TheTravel
- May 2026NYC released official World Cup travel information page with safety and transit guidance for visitors.— NYC.gov
Common scams
- Costumed characters in Times Square demanding aggressive tips after photos
- CD/mixtape handout scams near Times Square, High Line, and tourist corridors
- Fake Staten Island Ferry ticket sellers — the ferry is free
Full briefing
Manhattan remains one of the world's safest big cities for travelers in mid-2026. The data backs this up: major crime is down 6.2% year-to-date through May, murders and shootings have hit record lows, and the NYPD has rolled out enhanced subway patrols, platform barriers, and a nightlife-safety program (CURE) that keeps tourist zones heavily monitored. Government advisories reflect this — Canada calls for normal precautions, the UK has no warning, and the U.S. Level 2 alert is for the UK, not New York. On the ground, the real threats are low-level and predictable: pickpockets work the crush of Times Square, Herald Square, Union Square, Grand Central, and packed rush-hour subway cars (especially the 4/5/6, 1/2/3, and A/C/E lines), while a handful of street scams — costumed characters demanding tips, CD handouts, fake ferry tickets — target distracted visitors. Violent crime against tourists is rare; the July 2026 double stabbing on the Upper West Side, investigated as a possible hate crime, is an outlier that drew massive police attention precisely because it's so unusual. Neighborhoods like the Upper East Side, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, and the Financial District/Battery Park City are consistently safe day and night. East Harlem and quiet late-night blocks of the Lower East Side warrant extra caution. The immediate seasonal hazard is brutal July heat (highs near 36°C/97°F) — hydrate, shade, and pace yourself. World Cup match days through July will swell crowds and transit strain on specific dates, amplifying pickpocket risk. Bottom line: use front pockets or a zipped cross-body bag, board crowded subway cars, ignore street hustlers, and you'll almost certainly have a trouble-free visit.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Manhattan districts for visitors: 5 safer, 3 needing caution. See them plotted on the Manhattan safety map.
Midtown / Times SquarecautionHeavy police presence makes violent crime rare, but extreme crowds create prime pickpocket and scam territory — keep valuables secured and ignore street hustlers.
Harlem (East Harlem)cautionImproving but still higher violent-crime rates than rest of Manhattan; visitors should stick to main commercial corridors (125th St) and avoid side streets after dark.
Lower East SidecautionTrendy bars and restaurants on main streets are safe; quiet residential side streets late at night have limited foot traffic and lighting — use rideshare for late returns.
Upper East SidesaferUpscale residential, low crime, excellent transit, popular with families and solo travelers.
Upper West SidesaferResidential, museum-friendly, well-patrolled; recent hate-crime stabbing near Central Park is an outlier — remain aware but area remains very safe.
Greenwich Village / West VillagesaferHistoric, lively, well-lit streets with constant foot traffic; low violent crime, popular nightlife with good police coverage.
ChelseasaferGallery district, High Line access, gay-friendly nightlife; safe day and night on main avenues, quieter side streets warrant normal caution after dark.
Tribeca / Financial District / Battery Park CitysaferBusiness/residential mix, very low crime, heavy security presence around 9/11 Memorial and ferry terminals; quiet weekends but well-lit.
07 · After Dark
Is Manhattan safe at night?
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Muggings of visitors are rare in tourist areas due to constant police presence; the few incidents occur mainly in residential neighborhoods late at night.
After dark, be most careful around Midtown / Times Square, Harlem (East Harlem), Lower East Side. 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 Manhattan's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
Solo travellerCrime +23% weight69
Solo, nightlife-focusedCrime +32% weight69
Family with kidsCrime +15% weight · Health & Air +12% weight72
Travellers 65+Crime +9% weight · Health & Air +16% weight · Stability +4% weight73
09 · Questions
Manhattan safety FAQ
Is Manhattan safe for tourists right now?
Yes — Manhattan is one of the safest major cities in the world for visitors, with violent crime at historic lows, though pickpocketing and tourist scams in crowded areas require vigilance. Manhattan's overall crime rate continues to fall, with murders and shootings at record lows in 2026 and major crime down 6.2% year-to-date. The NYPD maintains a heavy, visible presence in tourist zones and has added subway platform barriers and enhanced nightlife patrols. The primary risks for travelers are not violent crime but opportunistic pickpocketing in packed areas like Times Square and rush-hour subways, and a handful of persistent street scams targeting tourists. (Assessed 24 July 2026.)
Which areas of Manhattan should tourists avoid?
East Harlem (especially after dark — higher violent-crime rates persist); Quiet side streets of Lower East Side late at night — limited foot traffic and lighting. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Manhattan?
- Costumed characters in Times Square demanding aggressive tips after photos
- CD/mixtape handout scams near Times Square, High Line, and tourist corridors
- Fake Staten Island Ferry ticket sellers — the ferry is free
How does Manhattan compare with other places in United States?
Manhattan ranks #2 of 5 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 71/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
How is this Manhattan safety score calculated?
The score blends 12+ 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.
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4 reportsBrowse the United States safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: manhattan.json (CC BY 4.0).