Is San Francisco Safe for Tourists? Crime, Safety Tips & Areas to Avoid

City by the Bay

While the focus of this article is San Francisco, personal safety is the most crucial factor when deciding whether to visit a particular destination. I’m sure none of us know of anyone planning a getaway who has said, “well, it’s not the safest place, but I’ve always wanted to go there.” Vacations are meant for relaxation, to find warmer weather, explore another part of the U.S. or an international destination, and of course, to escape to somewhere that will take your mind off of work or other issues in your life.

Zeroing in on San Francisco, a magnificent city that is perennially in the top 10 of U.S. vacation spots with nearly 24 million visitors in 2024, the answer to the question above is a resounding YES!

While the “City by the Bay” has experienced struggles in recent years, especially during and shortly after the COVID-19 outbreak as have so many other American cities, the city remains safe overall. This also can be said about every U.S. city. Challenges with homelessness and property crime are ongoing, but the effects on tourists are typically minimal.

Let’s take a closer look at San Francisco’s current situation and what you should, and shouldn’t do, to ensure an uneventful visit. For the most part, what is suggested here is no different than what we would advise if you were traveling to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Denver, or any other major city.

San Francisco Here We Come!

Now that’s what I call an excellent decision. Visiting San Francisco will provide you with one of your most memorable vacations. From the Golden Gate Bridge to Golden Gate Park, to Lombard Street, the Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, Chinatown, and Pier 39, there is so much to see and do here that you will surely be back multiple times.

If you are visiting during baseball season, taking in a Giants game at Oracle Park beautifully situated right on San Francisco Bay is highly recommended. During the fall/winter/early spring, the big ticket in town is a Golden State Warriors NBA game[ at Chase Center. The NFL’s 49ers play their home games at Levi’s Stadium in the South Bay suburb of Santa Clara, minutes from San Jose, and a healthy 40+ miles south of downtown San Francisco.

Staying Safe

Petty theft, which includes pickpocketing, snatching an unattended purse or wallet, or walking off with a suitcase from a hotel lobby are some of the most common crimes that tourists may encounter. Keeping your belongings close at hand is always highly recommended. Don’t carry your wallet, passport, or cell phone in the back pocket of your pants where they are easier for the wrong person to access. And, if you are the proud owner of expensive jewelry or watches, leave them at home.

Another suggestion for visitors who are driving while in San Francisco is to leave nothing, and I do mean nothing of value in your car. Even something that you don’t consider to be valuable, such as a pillow or blanket left in the back seat is an invitation to property thieves to break into your car to see what else may be of interest. Taking everything with you to your hotel room is the best deterrent. Car break-ins are the most likely type of crime to occur in tourist areas.

The safety advice in the preceding paragraph is no different than what you should do at home, or in any other city you may travel visit. It is not exclusive to San Francisco. You should also know that the top tourist areas are very well patrolled by the local police, both in uniform and in plain clothes. These same areas are considered to be quite safe during the day, and also after dark.

Again, as you would anywhere else, at night try to avoid poorly lit areas, especially avoiding dark side streets and alleys. Stay aware of your surroundings and if an area you are heading into makes you uncomfortable, turn around and head back to where you were. Both Uber and Lyft originated in San Francisco. Make use of their services, reasonable rates, and door-to-door pick-up and drop-off. BART, the Bay Area Rapid Transit train system that operates in much of the region, is considered a safe mode of transport.

The Tenderloin neighborhood, a small area close to downtown, the South of Market neighborhood (SoMa), and portions of the Mission District, best known as a vibrant area busting with taquerias, cocktail lounges, tattoo parlors, etc., are considered less safe due to homelessness and increased drug use. The most popular tourist sites are not located here, so there is little reason to come here during your stay. Also, the area close to City Hall and Market Street can be sketchy, especially at night. While most of the Civic Center area is quite safe, it is best visited during daylight hours.

At night, the more popular tourist areas including Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Nob Hill, Chinatown, and Union Square are again, “generally safe”, but try to stay in well-lit areas that are popular with other walkers, i.e., tourists like you. And remember, what is recommended here is mostly common sense, and are the same suggestions we would make if you were going to a Broadway play in New York, the Broadway Historic District in Nashville, or strolling Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

What Is the Crime Rate in San Francisco?

The U.S. as a whole saw crime spike appreciably during the COVID-19 pandemic but has now shown a sharp reversal of this trend in the last couple of years. For instance, there was a 37% decrease in the San Francisco murder rate in 2024 compared to 2023 and it is now at the lowest levels in more than 60 years. Violent crime declined last year by 16%, and with the exception of the COVID years has been in a steady decline since the 1990s.

Repeating an earlier point, it is very infrequent that a tourist is affected by a crime here, and if you are, it will involve the theft of private property from your purse or backpack, or from a break-in involving your unoccupied car. But even car break-ins were down 69% in 2024 from the previous year.

Overall, San Francisco’s crime rate in 2024 was the lowest since 2001, with the expectation that this trend will continue. And if you are looking for more good news, San Francisco’s crime rate isn’t even in the top ten of all California cities with more than 100,000 residents.

What Else Should I Know When Planning to Visit San Francisco?

When is the best time of year to visit? – San Francisco and Los Angeles may be in the same state and on the same ocean, but their climates are quite different. You can count on cooler weather in Northern California, but it still remains mild enough to visit anytime of year. The best weather in our opinion is in the spring and fall, though even during the summer the “City by the Bay” rarely gets what you would consider uncomfortably hot.

Summer is the foggy season with low clouds enveloping the city until lunchtime at least, and often it remains cloudy well into the afternoon. Across the Bay Bridge in the East Bay cities of Oakland and Berkeley the summers are sunnier and a few degrees warmer. Head further east across the Berkeley Hills just a few miles inland to Concord and Walnut Creek and 90+ summer heat isn’t unusual.

Honestly, watching the Golden Gate Bridge break out of the fog into brilliant sunshine is one of our favorite pastimes here. The Battery Spencer and Vista Point overlooks on the north side of the bridge are the best location for taking your own famous photo, with Vista Point being our preferred spot.

If you are an avid walker, the 1.7 mile-long bridge’s free walkway is open from sunrise to sunset, affording spectacular views towards the bay and city, as well as out to the Pacific Ocean.

Where are the best places to stay within the City of San Francisco? – The most popular tourist-friendly areas close to Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39, the Embarcadero, Ghiradelli Square and the Financial District are home to a plethora of excellent hotels in various price ranges. These hotels also tend to be located in well-lit areas with a clear police presence and will appeal to visitors.

Are there less expensive places to stay close to San Francisco? – Yes, for sure. Just across the majestic Bay Bridge is Emeryville, with several more affordable hotels and great shopping. Berkeley just to the north and the west side of Oakland also offer some good options. We do not recommend staying in downtown Oakland or near the Oakland International Airport. While there are some good properties in both locations, the surrounding neighborhoods aren’t the greatest.

An Incredible Vacation Awaits You in San Francisco

Knowing that tourism is vitally important to their city’s viability, San Francisco’s tourism sector pulls out all of the stops to makes tourists feel welcome and safe. You are visiting to have fun and make memories, not to worry about you and your family’s personal safety, and the tourism authorities are well aware of this. Spectacular sights, steep hills, cable cars, whimsical fog, superb dining experiences, and unique experiences are guaranteed in San Francisco.

What are you waiting for? Do your research and make your plans. An unforgettable getaway awaits you in this world-class American city.