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Are you planning a trip and wondering “Is LA safe?”
As a Californian and a very frequent visitor to LA, I can say Yes, LA is safe. The parts of LA I travel to, and where you are likely to visit, are safe.
Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is the huge and sprawling metropolis in Southern California most famous for its beaches, movie stars, exciting culture, and iconic landmarks.
LA attracts millions of tourists per year and, as one of the most populous cities in the US, it also sees millions of new residents each year.
I love spending time in LA and honestly never feel unsafe when I’m there. I feel as comfortable in LA as I do in any major US city, like when visiting San Francisco or touring in New York. In this post, I tell you why and give you all the tips that keep me and my family safe in LA.
Table of contents
Is LA Safe?
Yes, overall, LA is safe. Like any mega city, there will be unsafe areas and safe areas, but also ask yourself, would so many people be flocking to LA if it was unsafe?
I found a wide range of data on this topic. An FBI study places LA at #5 of the Safest Large Cities in the US. A 2023 Gallup Poll places LA at #14. And some other studies don’t include LA in the top 20.
Theft in LA is reported to be the city’s most frequent crime and violent crimes are reportedly on the decline. Also of note is that I didn’t find any list that placed Los Angeles as one of the US’s most unsafe cities.
All this is to say that I don’t want to mislead you. When looking at crime rates of the massive expanse that is Los Angeles, you’ll find varied information.
In my opinion, safety in LA is not that complex of an issue – As long as you practice vigilance and safe traveling routines, you can feel safe and comfortable while visiting Los Angeles.
Is LA Safe for Tourists?
Yes, LA is safe for tourists.
Up to 50 million tourists each year head to La La Land! And I’m one of them! I enjoy many of the main LA tourist activities when I visit, and I go back again and again. LA offers such a fun vibe for tourists, you’ll be really happy you went!
Tourism in Los Angeles is one of the city’s biggest industries, so the main attractions take many safety measures to keep people happy. For instance, places like Disney, the film and television studios, and all the museums will have security protocols that often involve bag checks and safety checkpoints.
We’ve all heard that LA has a reputation for gang violence, terrible homelessness, and other sad truths all too familiar to big cities. However, you won’t be touring in those parts of town. Many places you’ll visit are in neighborhoods such as Beverly Hills and West Hollywood which are considered to be the safer parts of LA.
The areas to be most cautious around are the very crowded tourist spots like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Venice Beach, and the Santa Monica Pier. These are busy with wall to wall tourists and can be a magnet for petty theft, pickpockets, and that sort of thing. So, remember to be a smart tourist. Just because you’re in an upscale area, does not mean you should let your common sense slip away!
Is LA Safe at Night?
The nightlife of LA is part of the reason you’ll want to visit. There’s a very exciting restaurant and bar scene as well as movie theaters and comedy clubs. All of these are great reasons to venture out at night in LA.
In order to stay safe in LA at night, you should follow basic and instinctual precautions that you would employ in any big city at night.
These include things like:
- Avoid unsafe areas at night such as Venice Beach, (It’s OK in the daylight, but much more sketchy at night), South Central LA, Westlake, Boyle Heights, Pico Union, Marina Del Rey, and Culver City.
- Know where you are going – have a clear sense of where you are headed and how to get there.
- Take safe modes of transportation such as driving yourself or taking ride shares.
- Avoid public transportation at night if you can.
- Stay in well lit areas with plenty of people around.
- Keep your wallets close, and your friends closer!
Is LA Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
We get it! Solo female travelers do it because they love it, not because they don’t have any friends! When was the last time you met a woman who didn’t have 50 girlfriends who would love to travel together? The reason female solo travelers go solo is for the myriad of benefits it brings.
With that, can also come some safety concerns. LA for female travelers is like any other big city in the world. I spend plenty of time driving and touring around LA on my own and have always been safe.
You may appear to be more vulnerable if you look lost, confused, or out of place. So, try to have specific plans that you can execute safely, and trust your gut with good boundaries when meeting and interacting with others.
Consider carrying a safety tool. It’s legal in California to carry pepper spray or one of those small flashlights that will shine a strong light or strobe to disorient an attacker.
It’s absolutely fine to travel alone in LA as a woman – just take care to follow the safety tips below.
Safety Tips For Los Angeles
#1: Stay alert! Keep your eyes peeled for all the fun sites, but also for any suspicious looking behavior.
#2: Have a plan. Know where you are going, how you are getting there and how you are getting back.
#3: Be cautious on public transportation and take your own car or a ride share service when possible.
#4: Keep your wallet, purse, and valuables hidden. Avoid carrying too much cash and be cautious if withdrawing from an ATM. Keep a hidden stash of emergency cash. And then use things like Apple Pay to avoid pulling out your wallet and cash or credit cards.
#5: Don’t flash expensive jewels or purses and be discreet with your expensive camera.
#6: Keep your eyes up and not looking down at your phone.
#7: Keep your phone charged and have emergency numbers easily available.
#8: Ask for directions if need be. Don’t wander around looking lost.
#9: If you’re not traveling with others, then be sure to let someone know where you’re going and how long you plan to be gone.
#10: Stay in well traveled areas, including when hiking on trails.
#11:Be aware of scams! LA is known for people posing as producers, talent scouts, and casting agents. Ask for a legitimate business card and say you’ll be in touch at a later date after you research them.
#12:Be aware of pickpockets working as a team. Their techniques might include bumping into you, distracting you, or talking with you. ALWAYS check your stuff if you’ve been bumped or tousled.
#13: If staying at a vacation rental, do not open the door to strangers.
#14: Consider taking organized walking or bus tours to get a safe overview of the best sites and then you can return to your favorites with a little more know-how.
#15: Don’t hang your bag on the back of a chair. (This is one of my bad travel habits that I am trying to break!)
#16: Don’t leave your things unattended at the beach, at a restaurant, or anywhere.
#17: Don’t do that thing you see in movies when people walk alone down a dark and deserted street!
#18: Leave valuables in the hotel room safe.
#19: In the event of an earthquake, step away from windows or mirrors, get under a sturdy doorway, or pull over on the road. They usually pass pretty quickly.
#20: Follow the swimming rules and read the signs at the beaches re: strong undertows.
#21: Wear sunscreen. Always!
#22: If it’s a high smog day, then check air quality and precautions on your phone’s weather app.
#23: Be open to other cultures and lifestyles, LA has its own thing going on!
Safe Places To Stay In LA
I highly recommend the West Hollywood/Laurel Canyon area. It’s very safe, really pretty, and is a great spot for all kinds of activities!
📍Budget Option: Beverly Hills Marriot – This hotel has great reviews and is in a terrific location very close to Beverly Hills. It’s a Marriot, so you can trust the safety and it’s budget friendly for sure. There is a pool, a work out room, and a restaurant/bar.
→ Book the Beverly Hills Marriott Here!
📍Mid-Range Option: The Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza – Perfect for first timers. This is where we always stay. It’s close to fabulous restaurants, Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in walking distance to Runyon Canyon. There’s a beautiful pool and a good breakfast.
→ Book the Best Affordable Hotel on Susnset Blvd – The Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza Hotel.
📍Luxury Option: The Beverly Hills Hotel is the dream spot if you can splurge for a luxury experience. It needs no introduction, but lets just say it is in a beautiful location, is a stunning piece of property and has all the luxury amenities that movie stars like yourself deserve!
→ Book the Iconic Beverly Hills Hotel Here!
→ Book an LA Vacation Rental Here!
Getting Around LA Safely
Transportation is a big consideration when planning a trip to L.A. It’s a sprawling city with a massive freeway and surface street system. The activities and sites are spread around the city making it critical that you plan ahead for the time needed to travel to and fro.
Your options are to get around by car, bus, or subway:
→ My top recommendation is by car. Here’s why –
If you rent a car, take a ride share, or drive your own, you’re able to make your own schedule. Expect a lot of traffic on the freeways and surface streets, especially at rush hour. Parking can be an issue in some places, but research parking garages and lots before you venture out, and that should help. Make sure you have a GPS with you!
→ Ride Share and Taxi Apps like Uber and Lyft and Curb are a great way to get around if you don’t want to be the one driving and paying for parking. We use these services a lot in LA because the convenience is worth the cost.
→ Public Transportation Options – Check the LA Metro App for detailed info about the public transportation options. You can purchase a TAP card to load cash for reuse on all the public transportation systems.
In all honesty, LA Metro is billed as convenient and easy to use, but I have not found this to be the case. And, public transportation in LA does not have a great reputation as the safest way to get around.
The DASH Bus system however, which is also run by LA Metro has 33 shuttle buses that operate daily to take you to some of the most fun sites of the city. The shuttles only cost 50 cents and are a great bargain!
The LA Metro Bus System offers over 200 different routes crossing the city.
The Orange Local buses travel to most of the tourist spots.
The Red Rapid buses offer express routes with fewer stops.
The Blue Express buses take commuters to downtown and business districts.
The LA Metro Rail System offers two subway lines, four light-rail lines, and two express bus lines that connect to Downtown Los Angeles. The subways and light rails connect to many of the bus routes and the different parts and suburbs of LA.
FAQs
Is Beverly Hills safe at night?
Yes, Beverly Hills is safe at night! You can enjoy the famous neighborhood in the evening and be very safe. Of course, take all precautions, but this city within a city is as exciting and vibrant at night as it is in the daytime.
There are some iconic rooftop bars and restaurants for you to soak in the views at sunset. Or just do some shopping along the two mile stretch of Rodeo Drive, see the lights of the fountain in Beverly Gardens Park on Wilshire and Santa Monica, take a photo at the famous Beverly Hills sign, or go to an evening performance at the Greystone Mansion.
Is it safe to walk in Hollywood?
Yes, it is safe to walk in Hollywood, but parts of this area can be very sketchy. It’s often overrun by tourists and has the Times Square kind of vibe. It is not my favorite part of town.
You need to be mindful that there are some unfortunate occurrences of intoxicated people and homeless people on the streets in Hollywood.
Go for the views of the iconic sign, the Walk of Fame, and the Chinese Theater, but you’re not likely to want to linger for too long. Especially if you have your young family in tow.
Is New York safer than Los Angeles?
Yes, according to recent FBI data, New York is safer than LA. On a scale of 1- 100, with 1 being the safest and 100 having the highest crime rates, New York is safer than Los Angeles in both violent and property crime. Both cities scored in the high 20’s on this scale.
The caveat is that there are plenty of parts of LA that are safe and plenty of parts of NYC that are not.
Read more here about LA vs NYC!
Quick & Easy Links
Flights & Hotels: I recommend Expedia
Vacation rentals: I recommend VRBO
Car Rental: I recommend Hertz
🌐 Tours: I recommend Viator
Gear: Check out my Travel Stuff
☑ Create Your Travel Memory Books with MILK
Pack your bags with the answers to
“is LA safe?”
In a nutshell …
Los Angeles, much like any major city around the world, presents a nuanced landscape when it comes to safety.
While certain areas are known for their vibrant culture, bustling nightlife, and tourist-friendly attractions, others parts of LA are more prone to crime and require you to exercise caution.
Stay informed about where you’re visiting, practice all the common sense safety precautions, and stay aware of your surroundings. These are always essential steps for navigating any city.
Honestly, the question of whether LA is safe can’t be answered with a simple yes or no, because it varies by neighborhood, time of day, and the steps you take to stay safe.
Los Angeles offers a great wealth of cultural, culinary, and scenic opportunities that shouldn’t be missed. With common sense skills you’ll have a fabulous time in LA. – and you’ll walk away with a big appreciation for the dynamic City of Angels.
xx,
Carrie
