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 →Personalize Report NowTailor this report specifically to you and get the latest and most valuable insights with one click.8 districts
Is Tampa safe? 🇺🇸
United States · Safety report last updated
As of September 2026, Tampa scores 74/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Tampa is generally safe for visitors, though rising homicides and isolated armed robberies warrant increased caution, especially at night and in certain areas. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Tampa 🇺🇸
United States · Assessed 2 September 2026
74
/ 100
Yes — generally safe
Safer than ~78% of countries
What drives this score
Crime66/100FairCrime index 49.2 / 100
Sentiment65/100FairModerately positive
Advisories75Good
Stability75Good
Health79Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
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 2026-08-18T09:29:04Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for United States: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-09-01T14:09:58.5076863-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Mugging & robbery risk
Moderate risk
62
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Moderate risk
78
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
60 / 100 (Moderately positive)
60
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
415k residents
80
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
5.8 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
62
Robbery / mugging
ModerateArmed robbery poses a moderate risk to visitors, with recent incidents reported at hotels and in residential areas; avoid isolated areas at night.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur at moderate levels, especially in crowded tourist zones like Ybor City, Busch Gardens, and during large events.
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Moderately positive
65/100
Reported feel60Moderately positive
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
About 60% of residents report feeling safe walking alone after dark, reflecting mixed but generally acceptable perceptions of personal safety among visitors and locals.
Yes — Tampa is generally safe for visitors, though rising homicides and isolated armed robberies warrant increased caution, especially at night and in certain areas.
Tampa's composite safety index of 76/100 indicates it is safer than most global destinations, with strong scores in health, environment, and institutional quality. However, crime remains a concern, particularly homicide and armed robbery, which have shown an upward trend in 2026. Visitors should exercise standard precautions, especially regarding personal belongings and nighttime movement.
Recent developments
- Jul 2026Trio of thieves accused of armed robbery at a Tampa hotel— CBS12.com
- Jul 2026Three arrested in armed robbery outside Extended Stay America in Tampa— wtsp.com
- Jun 2026Two Tampa men accused of zip-tying a 13-year-old during an armed robbery— FOX 13 Tampa Bay
- Jun 2026NFL player Terrion Arnold arrested in Tampa in connection with a kidnapping and robbery case— WFLA
Common scams
- Timeshare or vacation club pressure sales targeting tourists
- Fake charity solicitations near event venues or tourist areas
Full briefing
Tampa presents a generally safe environment for travelers, supported by strong performance in health infrastructure, environmental quality, and governmental effectiveness. The city's composite safety score of 76/100 places it above the global average, with particularly low risks from terrorism, natural disasters, and air pollution. Visitors benefit from excellent access to medical care, with 18 hospitals within 15 kilometers and the nearest just over a kilometer away. However, the safety profile is tempered by a homicide rate of 5.8 per 100,000 — in line with the U.S. national average — and a Numbeo crime index suggesting moderate concerns, especially regarding violent crime.
Recent reporting from mid-2026 indicates a troubling upward trend in homicides, with multiple armed robbery incidents gaining local media attention. In July 2026, a trio was accused of an armed robbery at a Tampa hotel, and three individuals were arrested in connection with an armed robbery outside an Extended Stay America property. Earlier in June, two Tampa men were charged with zip-tying a teenager during an armed robbery, and NFL player Terrion Arnold was arrested in a kidnapping and robbery case that drew regional coverage. These incidents, while not targeting tourists specifically, underscore the importance of situational awareness, particularly after dark and in less frequented neighborhoods.
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching remain moderate risks, especially in high-traffic areas such as Ybor City, the Channel District, and near Busch Gardens during events or peak tourist hours. Scams targeting visitors often involve high-pressure timeshare presentations or individuals posing as charity collectors near festivals or sports venues. To stay safe, travelers should avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas — particularly west and north of downtown — use rideshares after dark, and keep valuables secured and out of sight. While the UK and Canadian advisories suggest normal precautions, the U.S. State Department’s Level 2 advisory (Exercise Increased Caution) for the United Kingdom does not apply domestically; nonetheless, exercising increased caution in Tampa, particularly regarding nighttime movement and personal security, is prudent given the current crime trends.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Tampa districts for visitors: 3 safer, 3 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Tampa safety map.
Busch Gardens / University Square areaavoidIsolated area with higher theft/vandalism and hitchhiking; minimal tourist presence and limited patrols.
East Tampa (near I-4 and 22nd St)avoidHigher incidence of violent crime including armed robbery and assault; avoid non-essential travel, especially at night.
Downtown TampacautionGenerally safe by day; increased caution advised at night due to sporadic armed robberies and protests.
Ybor CitycautionPopular nightlife area with moderate pickpocketing and theft risk; avoid walking alone late at night.
Seminole HeightscautionTrendy residential area with rising property crime; exercise caution after dark.
Channel DistrictsaferWell-patrolled waterfront area with hotels and museums; low violent crime and good lighting.
WestshoresaferMajor business district with low crime; safe for daytime and evening travel.
Hyde ParksaferAffluent residential area with low crime; safe for walking day and night.
07 · After Dark
Is Tampa safe at night?
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Armed robbery poses a moderate risk to visitors, with recent incidents reported at hotels and in residential areas; avoid isolated areas at night.
After dark, be most careful around Busch Gardens / University Square area, East Tampa (near I-4 and 22nd St), Downtown Tampa, Ybor City. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Tampa safety FAQ (2026)
Is Tampa safe right now (2026)?
Yes — Tampa is generally safe for visitors, though rising homicides and isolated armed robberies warrant increased caution, especially at night and in certain areas. Tampa's composite safety index of 76/100 indicates it is safer than most global destinations, with strong scores in health, environment, and institutional quality. However, crime remains a concern, particularly homicide and armed robbery, which have shown an upward trend in 2026. Visitors should exercise standard precautions, especially regarding personal belongings and nighttime movement. (Assessed 2 September 2026.)
Is Tampa safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Tampa 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 Tampa should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Busch Gardens / University Square area, East Tampa (near I-4 and 22nd St) as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Tampa (2026)?
- Timeshare or vacation club pressure sales targeting tourists
- Fake charity solicitations near event venues or tourist areas
How does Tampa compare with other places in United States (2026)?
Tampa ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 74/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
How is this tampa 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 (and U.S. reports lean more on the latest field research); the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
More United States reports
6 reportsNearby destinations
4 reportsSimilar safety profile
4 reportsBrowse the United States safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: tampa.json (CC BY 4.0).