How safe is Tijuana for travel?

Is Tijuana a safe city?

Tijuana is a city located in the Mexican state of Baja California, on the US-Mexico border. The city of Tijuana is Mexico’s most populous city with 2,181,000 people, and the 2nd largest city in the country after Mexico City.

Tijuana has a long and rich history, dating back to pre-Columbian times, and is home to a diverse population of Indigenous peoples, as well as descendants of European immigrants.

• If you enjoy a good drink, Tijuana is the place for you.
• The city has a thriving nightlife, with many bars and nightclubs.
• Just be sure to stick to well-known and tourist-friendly areas, as some neighborhoods are best avoided after dark.
• Tijuana is also home to some excellent museums, including the world-famous Museum of Anthropology.
• The city is a great base for exploring Baja California’s wine country, as well as the beaches and resorts on the Pacific coast.

Unfortunately, this city is also infamous for being a major center of drug trafficking and organized crime. However, while it is certainly not without its risks, Tijuana is generally safe for travel if visitors take the right precautions by sticking to certain areas.

Warnings & Dangers in Tijuana

Overall Risk in Tijuana is high.

If you must travel to Tijuana right now, it may be best to go on a well-protected tour.

Tijuana was voted the most dangerous city for two years in a row. There are 134 murders per 100,000 people. By the end of 2020, Tijuana accounted for at least 2,000 murders. More Americans living in the area have become targets of organized crime.

Safest Places to Visit in Tijuana

The tourist locations are the safest part of the city.

These include the downtown area, the Zona Rio, Zona Centro, Zona Norte, and the beaches.

The beaches are beautiful and offer great swimming, snorkeling, and diving opportunities.

When downtown, you can visit historic landmarks, museums, art galleries, and cultural centers.

Zona Centro is home to many of the best bars and nightclubs, while the Zona Norte is known for its nightlife, cheap drinks, cheap accommodations, and – well- its red-light district. It may not be the classiest part of the city, but you will be among many tourists.

Zona Rio has many specialty shops, craft beer bars, a casino, and cultural tours. It is a major shopping hub in the area.

Places to Avoid in Tijuana

As with any city, it is best to avoid wandering around alone at night in areas that are not well-known or are known for being dangerous.

There are several bars and clubs in Tijuana that are safe to visit, but it is always best to check with your hotel concierge before venturing out.

The most dangerous neighborhoods in Tijuana are those that are known for being a center of drug trafficking and organized crime.

Avoid the eastern part of the city as it is simply not safe and will have little to see for a tourist.

Do your best to avoid neighborhoods such as Reforma, Sánchez Taboada, Camino Verde, and Mariano Matamoros.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Tijuana

Here is a list of 10 safety tips you should follow when visiting Tijuana:

• Be aware of your surroundings and be cautious when traveling to unfamiliar areas – Certain areas of the city are more dangerous than others. So get a map, and become familiar with the safe areas. Know where you are going at all times.
• Avoid walking alone at night – regardless of gender. If you are a woman, you must avoid traveling alone here. Come with a group if you can.
• It is not safe to drink water from the tap – Stick to bottled water or drinks from sealed containers. Water throughout Mexico has bacteria and parasites, which may give you long-term problems.
• Be careful about leaving visible items in your car – Thieves regularly break into and steal from cars here. If you need to leave something of value in your vehicle, be sure to conceal it as much as possible.
• Avoid buying counterfeit or pirated goods – while some tourists enjoy purchasing these items, they support organized crime and drug cartels who often use their profits for illegal activities such as human trafficking and murder.
• Don’t leave food or drinks unattended – if you are in a crowded area, be aware of your surroundings and who might approach you with the intent to drug your drink. While this does happen at all times of the day, it is more common at night when many people are intoxicated.
• Be cautious about taking taxis – while Tijuana offers cheap transportation options, there have been reports of taxi drivers drugging passengers so that they can rob them upon arrival at their destination. Only use licensed taxi cabs and make sure that the meter is on when you get in the cab. If you can, try to stick with Uber so you won’t be hassled about the rate.
• Carry small bills and coins with you – as most shopkeepers do not carry much change.
• Avoid carrying large sums of cash and valuables with you – Leave most of your belongings in a safe place at your hotel or home.
• Avoid getting into confrontations with strangers – If you are feeling unsafe, walk away and find a safe place to go.

When traveling to any new destination, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers that may await you.

However, with a little bit of common sense and caution, most tourists experience no problems while visiting Tijuana.

So… How Safe Is Tijuana Really?

With a population of over 2 million people, Tijuana is the largest metropolitan area in northwestern Mexico.

Unfortunately, it’s most known for its high crime rate.

Like many border towns, violence has plagued this city for decades.

Cartels frequently traffic drugs throughout the region.

Tijuana continues to have problems with violent drug-related crimes and gang turf wars in poor neighborhoods.

As a tourist, you can avoid most crimes that will plague the average local.

However, a lack of common sense or being in the wrong place at the wrong time can easily make you a victim of a crime.

Kidnappings, robberies, and homicides have gone up in the last couple of years to the point where Tijuana has been dubbed the “Most Dangerous City In The World”.

More women are murdered here than in any other city, and more American residents are becoming targets of organized crime for kidnappings and home robberies.

If you go out for a drink in a touristy club, be extra vigilant about your drink so it does not get spiked.

Areas frequented by tourists are generally safe in Tijuana, but visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times and avoid walking in bad neighborhoods at night.

You can still be a victim in a tourist zone if you are not being careful.

How Does Tijuana Compare?

• Tijuana: 41 (safe index)
• Playa del Carmen: 69 (safe index)
• Cabo San Lucas: 68 (safe index)
• Acapulco: 63 (safe index)
• Cancun: 71 (safe index)
• Belize City (Belize): 37 (safe index)
• La Paz (Bolivia): 52 (safe index)
• Sao Paolo (Brazil): 45 (safe index)

Basic information about Tijuana

• Visas – American and Canadian tourists can visit Tijuana for up to 72 hours without a visa. To stay beyond that time frame, make sure you stop at the immigration kiosk for a visa if you are coming by land. Mexico usually allows Americans to stay for up to six months on an approved cost-free Visa.
• Currency – The currency of Mexico is the peso. One US dollar equals about 20 pesos. You can use your credit card in most major cities in Mexico, but it is best to carry cash.
• Weather – The weather in Tijuana is typically warm and dry with average temperatures ranging from 18-25 degrees Celsius.
• Airports – To fly to Tijuana, visitors can use the Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) which is about a 15-minute drive from the city center. You can also fly into San Diego, California, and take a short bus or taxi ride across the border.
• Travel Insurance – It is best to come to Tijuana with some type of travel insurance for both health and property protection. Make sure you can seek medical care in case you accidentally get food poisoning, which is known to happen in Mexico. Since property crime can be rampant in Tijuana, having property coverage can give you peace of mind.