Is Haifa Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Haifa is the third-largest city in Israel and the major city in the north of the country.

Apart from the older downtown area nearest the sea, most of Haifa is built on the Carmel mountain, so there are only two directions: up and down.

However, it’s a beautiful city, with fantastic views, very green (partly because of all those wooded ravines) and right by Israel’s biggest national park.

All in all, it’s a very quiet city, low crime rates, high standard of living, peaceful coexistence between Arabian and Jewish residents and a very good nightlife in the renovated port district downtown.

Warnings & Dangers in Haifa

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Haifa is overall a safe city to travel to, with considerably low crime rates where tourists are free to explore without having to worry about street crime. However, it is advised that you remain vigilant at all times, especially on public transport.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

It is recommended that you remain vigilant when using public transport since it can be16 the target of terrorist groups. Try to avoid public transport during rush hours and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Pickpockets are a problem like in the majority of destinations in Israel that are frequented by tourists. Be careful, keep your eyes open in public, crowded areas such as train stations and airports, and keep your valuables close by your side.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Haifa is located in a seismically active area. Apart from that, you can expect sand storms and occasional floods.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

It is not likely you will get mugged in Haifa. Crime rates are very low, and violent crime against tourists is highly unlikely. Still, be careful and avoid deserted and dark areas, especially at night.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

There have been recent shootings in Haifa, and they were suspected terrorist attacks, so it's still good to remain vigilant at all times, though the residents of the city aren't too scared of this possibility.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

The risk of getting scammed in Haifa is somewhat low, though you should still negotiate everything in advance, double check your change and never pay anything upfront.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Haifa is safe for women traveling solo. Just use your common sense and have your wits with you. Avoid poorly lit and deserted areas at night and finding yourself in places filled with drunken people.

So... How Safe Is Haifa Really?

Traveling to Haifa is generally safe, provided you don’t go to the war zones.

There are no bad neighborhoods in Haifa: it’s safe everywhere.

Some areas are older and not as pretty, some are newer and have newer houses and people there are more rich.

The old city center “Hadar” is the less good neighborhood, but still safe and has more nightlife, and it has been improved a lot in the last few years.

Most of the neighborhoods are residential, not a lot of nightlife or places to go out.

If you see anyone acting suspiciously, notify the authorities immediately, and never leave your bags or backpacks unattended as they might cause panic since people may suspect a bomb is inside.

As for other forms of crime, Haifa is very safe to travel to, it even has among the lowest crime rates in the world and is much safer, in terms of street crime, than other top tourist cities in Europe.

Crimes such as mugging and violence happen rarely and even more so towards tourists, so you are safe to walk at night.

You should still take precaution measures, especially if you are a single woman traveling alone, and you should be careful late at night as you would be in your own country.

How Does Haifa Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

Many countries, including all U.S, Australian, European and Canadian visitors do not need a visa for stays shorter than 90 days. Any longer than that, you might need to acquire a visa. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Israeli embassy about further information.

Currency

Israeli new shekel is the official currency of Haifa. Be wary of people trying to pass off the old version of a shekel as the new one: the old ones do not have any value. ATMs are widely available, except near the borders with Jordan and Egypt and credit cards accepted throughout the city.

Weather

The weather in Haifa is characterized by hot and sunny summers, and long sunny spells, with clear skies from May to September. The average temperature in summer is 26 °C and in winter, 12 °C. Snow is rare in Haifa, but temperatures around 3 °C can sometimes occur.

Airports

Haifa Airport often referred to as U Michaeli Airport is a small international airport located in Haifa. It is situated to the east of the city, close to Kishon Port and Israel Shipyards and mainly serves civilian flights, with some military usage.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Haifa since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Haifa Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Israel - Safety by City