United States · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, San Antonio scores 77/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — San Antonio is safe for travelers with normal urban precautions. Violent crime is declining (down 21% as of March 2026), and tourist areas like the Riverwalk and downtown are heavily patrolled. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
United States · Assessed 29 July 2026
77
/ 100
Safer than ~83% of countries
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
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 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateProperty crime is elevated above national average. Armed robbery and mugging occur but concentrate in non-tourist neighborhoods; well-patrolled zones like the Riverwalk and downtown maintain strong security.
Pickpocketing
ModerateTypical for crowded tourist areas; watch bags and valuables on the busy Riverwalk, downtown streets, and around major attractions.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
68/100
Travelers report feeling safe in tourist areas and note San Antonio compares favorably to other major U.S. cities like Detroit and Chicago. Concerns center on property crime and avoiding certain neighborhoods after dark, but organized attractions and downtown zones receive consistent positive feedback.
Yes — San Antonio is safe for travelers with normal urban precautions. Violent crime is declining (down 21% as of March 2026), and tourist areas like the Riverwalk and downtown are heavily patrolled.
Official U.S. and Canadian travel advisories recommend only standard security measures for San Antonio. While the city's property crime rate sits above the national average, violent crime is dropping sharply, and most crimes are domestic or gang-related rather than targeting visitors. Tourist districts are well-policed and designed for visitor safety.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
The Bottom Line
San Antonio is genuinely safe for tourists who exercise normal urban precautions. Both U.S. and Canadian authorities recommend only standard security measures, and the city's violent crime rate—the metric that matters most for visitor safety—has declined sharply: down 21% as of March 2026. While the city's overall crime statistics run above the national average, the breakdown is crucial: most crimes are domestic or gang-related rather than targeting outsiders, and tourist-heavy areas receive heavy police investment and infrastructure designed specifically for visitor safety.
What the Data Means on the Ground
The Riverwalk, downtown, the Alamo, and major attractions are consistently well-patrolled and bustling with both tourists and visible security. Travelers report genuinely feeling safe in these zones during the day and evening. However, property crime—theft and vandalism—is a real concern outside tourist boundaries; this means the usual urban discipline applies: don't leave valuables in cars, watch bags in crowds, and stick to official transportation. The city's one distinctive hazard is heat: July highs reach approximately 39°C (102°F), so plan walking and outdoor time for early morning or dusk, and stay hydrated.
Current Situation & Recent Trends
The March 2026 crime report showing a 21% drop in violent crime is the most relevant recent development—it indicates that San Antonio's sustained crime-reduction efforts are working. A June 2026 protest outside a political summit drew headlines, but police separated the groups without incident. The city has also made high-profile law enforcement arrests (drug cartel figures, captured fugitives), which reflect active policing but are not visitor-safety concerns. The broader picture from recent traveler reports is positive: visitors consistently describe feeling safer in San Antonio's tourist core than in many other major U.S. cities.
How to Stay Safe
Watch for scams targeting tourists: the biggest threat is unsolicited phone calls from people impersonating IRS agents or police demanding payment via gift cards (4,700+ complaints in the metro area in 2024 alone)—hang up immediately. Fraudulent ticketing websites for the San Antonio Zoo and SeaWorld are also active; buy tickets exclusively from official websites or at the gate. Use Uber, Lyft, or official taxis rather than street hails, and remain in well-lit, busy areas after dark. Keep normal awareness in crowds (watch your bag on the Riverwalk), but do not let property-crime statistics deter you from the city's genuine attractions and tourist infrastructure. San Antonio is declining into greater safety, and most visitors navigate it without incident.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 7 San Antonio districts for visitors: 3 safer, 2 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the San Antonio safety map.
SouthsideavoidHigher property and violent crime concentration; not recommended for tourists
East SideavoidElevated crime rates; stay away unless with a local guide
SouthtowncautionCulturally vibrant arts district; mixed conditions—watch belongings, avoid after dark
North StarcautionResidential area, generally okay but petty crime present; stay alert with valuables
Downtown/RiverwalksaferHeavy police presence, tourist infrastructure, well-lit pathways; major attractions heavily secured
Stone OaksaferNorthern upscale neighborhood; low crime, family-oriented, gated sections
Alamo HeightssaferAffluent suburb with excellent safety record; well-maintained, low crime rates
07 · After Dark
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Property crime is elevated above national average. Armed robbery and mugging occur but concentrate in non-tourist neighborhoods; well-patrolled zones like the Riverwalk and downtown maintain strong security.
After dark, be most careful around Southside, East Side, Southtown, North Star. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight San Antonio's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
Yes — San Antonio is safe for travelers with normal urban precautions. Violent crime is declining (down 21% as of March 2026), and tourist areas like the Riverwalk and downtown are heavily patrolled. Official U.S. and Canadian travel advisories recommend only standard security measures for San Antonio. While the city's property crime rate sits above the national average, violent crime is dropping sharply, and most crimes are domestic or gang-related rather than targeting visitors. Tourist districts are well-policed and designed for visitor safety. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
Field research flags Southside, East Side as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
San Antonio ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 77/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
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.
Browse the United States safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: san-antonio.json (CC BY 4.0).
