Is Buenos Aires safe for travelers?
Buenos Aires has a moderate safety profile. The US State Dept advises "Exercise Normal Precautions" for Argentina due to petty crime in tourist areas. Many visitor-friendly areas exist, but awareness of surroundings is warranted.
What the sources say
Buenos Aires scores Moderate. Argentina's capital is one of the more navigable major cities in South America for visitors, with Palermo, Recoleta, Belgrano, and San Telmo all accessible with standard precautions. All three advisories place Argentina at elevated caution overall, with the US advisory specifically flagging Rosario (Santa Fe province) rather than Buenos Aires for elevated crime.
Express kidnapping ("secuestro virtual") — phone-based scam where callers convince families a relative is kidnapped — targets tourists. Pickpocketing in La Boca (tourist area, not residential), Constitución neighbourhood, and Once market area is common. La Boca's colourful Caminito street should be visited only in the indicated tourist zone; straying into residential blocks is risky.
San Telmo, Palermo, Recoleta, and the Puerto Madero waterfront are all appropriate for independent tourism. La Boca: visit only the Caminito tourist strip, not after dark. Avoid Constitución and the southernmost barrios at night. Subte (metro) is safe by day; use apps in the evening. Buenos Aires is one of the more relaxed capitals for independent visitors in this region.
Official statistics
- SNIC Argentina — homicidios dolosos en CABA (ciudad-nivel): 2025: 74; 2024: 79; 2023: 89; 2022: 87; 2021: 99; 2020: 121. Fuente: Sistema Nacional de Información Criminal, MJyDDHH Argentina.
- World Bank / UNODC — national intentional homicide rate for Argentina: 2023: 4.5/100k; 2022: 4.3/100k; 2021: 4.6/100k; 2020: 5.4/100k. Note: this is a country-level rate, not city-specific. Source: World Bank Open Data (VC.IHR.PSRC.P5), compiled from UNODC Crime Trends Survey.
The map covers 48 districts with differentiated risk ratings:
Ratings are consolidated from the sources below, not real-time. Conditions can change — verify before travel.
Common questions
Is Buenos Aires safe for tourists?
Buenos Aires is safe for tourists who exercise reasonable vigilance. Stay in well-visited areas, avoid displaying expensive electronics or jewellery, and be cautious after dark in less-familiar neighbourhoods.
Is Buenos Aires safe at night?
Buenos Aires is reasonably safe at night in well-known tourist and residential areas. Avoid displaying valuables, use reputable transport, and be cautious in unfamiliar neighbourhoods after dark.
What are the safest neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires?
Based on incident data consolidated across our sources, Palermo, Puerto Madero, Belgrano are among the areas rated safer in Buenos Aires. Always verify current conditions with the sources listed below, as conditions can change.
Which areas of Buenos Aires should travellers be cautious about?
Villa Lugano, Villa Riachuelo, Villa Soldati are rated with elevated caution on our map. This reflects patterns from consolidated advisory and incident sources — conditions vary and can change, so check current guidance before travelling.
What are the main safety risks for visitors to Buenos Aires?
The primary risks for visitors to Buenos Aires are opportunistic theft, phone snatching, and pickpocketing in crowded areas. Argentina authorities note petty crime in tourist areas.