Mexico : Safety by City
- Acapulco
- Aguascalientes
- Cabo San Lucas
- Cancun
- Chichen Itza
- Chihuahua
- Cozumel
- Cuernavaca
- Culiacan
- Durango
- Ensenada
- Guadalajara
- Guanajuato
- Hermosillo
- Huatulco
- Isla Holbox
- Isla Mujeres
- Ixtapa
- Juarez
- Leon
- Los Cabos
- Manzanillo
- Matamoros
- Merida
- Mexicali
- Mexico City
- Monterrey
- Morelia
- Nogales
- Nuevo Laredo
- Oaxaca
- Piedras Negras
- Playa del Carmen
- Puebla
- Puerto Morelos
- Puerto Vallarta
- Queretaro City
- Reynosa
- Saltillo
- San Luis Potosi
- San Miguel de Allende
- Sayulita
- Tijuana
- Tulum
- Valladolid
- Veracruz
- Zacatecas
- Zamora
- Zapopan
- Zihuatanejo
Ciudad Juarez, in Chihuahua, Mexico, has a reputation as being dangerous.
This is true to an extent; cartel- and gang-based violence, along with gender-based violence, has been a problem for years.
But like any Mexican city, Juarez has a calmer tourist zone in the center of the city that people have traveled to daily for decades.
The city has gorgeous historical buildings and parks, along with busy markets and restaurants.
If you use common sense and take care to protect yourself, you can have a fun time in this interesting city.
Warnings & Dangers in Juarez
OVERALL RISK: HIGH
The state of Chihuahua has that Level 3 travel advisory from the State Department for a reason. People do travel to Juarez, but you need to be aware of the risks if you want to see the city. That said, if you take care, stay in the tourist areas, and don't look for trouble, you could have an enjoyable time.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: HIGH
Use Uber or a dispatched, legal taxi that your hotel calls instead of hailing a street cab. The cabs have been implicated in some kidnappings and theft in the past.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
Keep a close eye on your belongings, especially in crowded areas and on public transportation. Even the border has its problems. Make yourself an unattractive target who would be too difficult to snatch items from.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Summer heat and flash flooding from storms are common risks. Dust storms can also be an issue, as they are anywhere in the desert areas along the border and in the southwest U.S.
MUGGING RISK: HIGH
You really want to downplay any potential material wealth. Avoid wearing a lot of jewelry, don't dress up, and so on. You want to look presentable, but not like a wealthy target.
TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
Cartel- and gang-based violence is a problem here, from fights to kidnappings and beyond. These have affected tourist areas in the past, and U.S. citizens have been victims. Yes, people travel to Juarez daily, and you could walk down a main street in Juarez without encountering problems. But whenever you travel, you take chances, and in Juarez, the chances of something happening can be higher than in other cities. If two cartels decide to duke it out, they're not going to clear the area of tourists first.
SCAMS RISK: HIGH
Unfortunately, a lot of scams aren't reported, so you can assume that the real risk is even higher than any official reports state. Watch out for gas station scams where the attendant doesn't clear the previous person's tank before starting to fill yours; you could end up paying for both. Another scam involves claiming you gave them a smaller bill than you really did; always state the amount of money you're giving to the attendant as you hand it over. Watch out for overly helpful people at ATMs (always go into banks), overcharging taxis (Uber might be safer), and bar scams like being dragged into a bar by someone you just met (they'll rack up a huge bill and leave you to pay).
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: HIGH
Juarez has a very high risk of gender-based violence, and the city has had a high murder rate for women for years. As a tourist, if you still go to Juarez, you don't want to stray from tourist areas, and you don't want to walk around alone at night even in those areas. There are travelogues online that describe visiting markets and such alone in the tourist areas, and a number of people online have claimed that Juarez is fine. But the crime rates state otherwise. People still do travel there, but stay close to the border. You may want to follow the State Department's advice for government employees: Stay west of Bulevar Independencia; stay north of Carretera de Juarez, De los Montes Urales, and Avenida Manuel J Clouthier; stay east of Via Juan Gabriel, Melchor Ocampo, Calle Miguel Ahumada, Francisco Javier Mina, and Avenida de los Insurgentes; and if you travel to the airport, use Highway 45. And within those boundaries, stick to populated tourist zones.
TAP WATER RISK: HIGH
You'll see comments online about the tap water in Juarez being fine to drink, but in reality, it suffers from the same issues as tap water all over Mexico. Contamination can be a problem, and you need to stick with bottled water to be safe. Also keep in mind that many of the people commenting about drinking tap water in Juarez also say they live there or have visited there every couple of weeks for years, so they are going to have a different tolerance level than someone who's never been to Mexico.
Safest Places to Visit in Juarez
The area past the Paso del Norte bridge port of entry has a lot of historical tourist sights, such as the Kentucky Club.
In fact, some anecdotal advice online for day trips to Juarez mention crossing on foot at that bridge and checking out the immediate area at first.
You can easily return to El Paso if things don’t feel right.
But if they feel OK, you can try going to places like Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or Mercado Juárez for shopping.
Places to Avoid in Juarez
Anapra.
This is a colonia northwest of the main city, along the border with New Mexico.
It’s an extremely poor area with a high crime rate.
You’re best off also avoiding areas outside the perimeter set by the State Department for government employees.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Juarez
- Do not go to Anapra. This area is outside the city center, so it’s not a place you’re going to stumble into unexpectedly.
- Sign up for STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, for advisories from the U.S. State Department.
- Stay in tourist areas. Don’t venture past the boundaries that the U.S. State Department set for government employees.
- Don’t walk around alone at night, and be cautious at night even in a group.
- Stay calm. Yes, you’ve just read a bunch of warnings. But you can plan an enjoyable trip to Juarez if you use common sense. You can always arrange to stay in El Paso instead and walk over each day, if you’re not sure about staying in Juarez at night.
- Use Uber or a taxi that your hotel requests for you, rather than hailing street taxis.
- Watch your belongings. Keep backpacks in front, and never leave purses or other bags open as you walk.
- Change money only in banks or at official exchange houses. Don’t exchange with random people on the street, no matter how good the rates may seem.
- Stay hydrated no matter what season it is. The region is arid, and that aridity can affect you badly before you know it.
- Be cautious in summer heat. You are in the desert.
So... How Safe Is Juarez Really?
Juarez does unfortunately have a high crime rate; it’s second only to Tijuana in terms of crime.
For those of you who’ve been to Tijuana before, you may be thinking, well, that doesn’t sound bad as the tourist population in Tijuana is always huge, with plenty of people making trips across the border from San Diego for a taco or a dental appointment, and never encountering issues.
But those people tend to stay in areas frequented by tourists, and even then, there have been issues.
A good example comes from 2022, when federal authorities arrested a cartel head; the cartels set cars on fire across the city, including in tourist zones.
The risk that something like a turf war could flare up around tourists is higher in Juarez than in most other cities.
Most residents of Juarez want tourists to be safe and to enjoy their visit to the city, but the element that doesn’t care about your safety is a lot stronger there than in, say, Ensenada or Los Cabos.
Can you travel to Juarez? Of course.
People do it daily, and they enjoy seeing the sights! And the good news is that a number of travelers have reported that things are getting better, at least in the city center.
But you’ll need to take extra care to stay in populated tourist areas near the border.
Have your trip planned out and ensure that the places you want to go are in the areas where U.S. government employees are allowed to go.
Never go into areas where those government employees are forbidden from going, like Anapra, northwest of Juarez.
How Does Juarez Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Juarez |
28 |
| Culiacan |
40 |
| Oaxaca |
78 |
| Cuernavaca |
60 |
| Monterrey |
58 |
| Nuevo Laredo |
35 |
| Reynosa |
30 |
 Perth | 85 |
 Stonecrest | 53 |
| Pasadena | 78 |
| Pensacola | 69 |
| Metairie | 61 |
| Incline Village | 78 |
Useful Information
Visas
U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico for fewer than 180 days don't need visas. (If you're planning to stay in Mexico for a longer time, even as a tourist, you'll need a temporary resident visa.) However, you'll still need an entry permit called a multiple migration form, or FMM. The Mexican government has moved these forms online, so you can apply before your trip. If you apply at the border, you may get only a stamp as your FMM. Depending on your trip, you may also have to pay a small fee. U.S. citizens staying in Mexico for six or fewer days, who enter via a land border crossing, and who won't be venturing outside a specific border zone don't need the FMM and don't need to pay a fee. U.S. citizens venturing outside that border zone but still staying only six or fewer days need the FMM, but they're not required to pay the fee.
Currency
Juarez's main currency is the Mexican peso; 1 peso equals 100 centavos, and as of late January 2026, US$1 = MEX$17.48. Yes, the peso uses the $ sign, too, and that means you need to be careful in Juarez. A number of larger stores often accept US dollars, so if you see a price and aren't sure if it's in dollars or pesos, ask the staff. Be aware that if you pay via a card transaction in one of these stores, the exchange rate and fees might not be that great. If you want to exchange dollars for pesos (recommended if you plan to shop in smaller stores), use a casa de cambio in El Paso or Juarez. If you use an ATM, use one inside a bank. Don't exchange dollars and pesos with random people offering you a better deal on the exchange rate. It usually isn't.
Weather
Juarez's weather is similar to what you'd find in West Texas and southeast New Mexico: dry and often windy. January is the coldest month, with highs often in the upper 50s (Fahrenheit, although Mexico uses Celsius) and lows in the upper 30s. June is the hottest month, with average highs hovering just below 100F and average lows in the mid-70s. Humidity in June can be in the 20s, although the region does get monsoons. Layers are always appropriate; in winter, bring some cold-weather gear with you, including gloves and hats; in summer, bring sunhats or a parasol plus light layers that allow air to pass through. Remember hand lotion and lip balm, and stay hydrated. Desert aridity is nothing to joke about.
Airports
You've got two airports to choose from if you want to fly in to visit Juarez. One is Ciudad Juarez Airport, a.k.a. Abraham Gonzalez International Airport. This is located southeast of the city center, on the outskirts of the city. To get into the city from the airport, you can rent a car or arrange for an authorized taxi cab or van. Arrange for taxi services at the official kiosk; never go off with random "taxi drivers" offering you a better rate if you arrange the ride with them instead of buying tickets at that kiosk. The other airport option is actually in the U.S. You can fly into El Paso International Airport, located on the northeast side of El Paso, take a taxi or Uber to the border, cross on foot, and then grab an Uber or cab on the other side of the bridge. You'll need to ensure you have a data plan that allows your phone to work in Juarez so you can call for services if needed.
Travel Insurance
You don't need travel insurance just to enter Mexico, but it's a very good idea to have it anyway. You can get travel insurance policies for everything from trip cancellation to medical insurance. The medical insurance is especially important because you want to be able to cover potential health issues or care should you get into an accident or get sick. Mexican car insurance is definitely required, however, if you plan to drive in Juarez. Check with your insurance agent to see if they offer policies; if not, you'll have to look for an agency that offers country-specific car insurance. If you plan to rent a car, you should be able to get basic coverage, at the very least, through the rental agency.
Juarez Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C |
14 | 17 | 21 | 26 | 31 | 35 | 36 | 34 | 30 | 25 | 19 | 14 |
| Low °C |
0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| High °F |
57 | 63 | 70 | 79 | 88 | 95 | 97 | 93 | 86 | 77 | 66 | 57 |
| Low °F |
32 | 36 | 41 | 48 | 55 | 64 | 70 | 68 | 61 | 48 | 37 | 32 |
playas de juarez
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : LOW
the beaches of Juarez are dangerous, especially the Pacific beaches,use your credit card,
don’t show your cash to her.
also i don’t agree that the TERRORISM RISK : LOW, what level of risk do you apply for losing your head.
Beaches?
There are no beaches in Juarez.
Only on rare occasions when the Rio Bravo foods it’s banks 😀
Crossing in to Juarez
If crossing by bus from El Paso over the boarder you do NOT need an exit stamp from the US Immigration with a UK passport, I was told incorrectly by Mexican authorities on the border when applying to enter Mexico that I needed an exit stamp, I had to walk back across the border bridges pulling bags in the heat, queued after being questioned by US police along with loads of Mexicans to be told by two different US immigration/Passport officers that NO exit stamp is required on leaving the US to enter Mexico, they have other methods of following us but would not say how. Tramped now back to Mexico and got my entry tourist visa to enter, all this took about 2hrs wasted in a dangerous city Cuidad Juarez that I wanted to leave asap.
Juarez is one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico for women. The femicide, trafficking and kidnap rates are really high.
****ing dangerous
Are you crazy man?? If you lost your mind so you can go to this ****ing hell
Juarez beaches?
Juarez doesn’t have a beach. There is no ocean or sea nearby Juarez, it is literally in the middle of the desert. The mayor natural disaster risk are the heat waves and torrential rainfalls on the summer and fall season (and thus not common to happen).
Get real
I was reading, PACIFIC OCEAN. PACIFIC OCEAN? who in the hell wrote this un-factual piece. Exactly there is NO OCEAN !!! the bs that gets passed as info on the internet!!!
Was robbed 6 times in 3 days . By the cab driver , the hotel clerk , followed by the door men from the bar & pushed into a doorway by 6 idiots . I was capable of fighting them off if only the bartender had not doping me up gradually spiking my beer . You CANNOT GET A DRINK IN JUAREZ W/O A DRUG IN IT . Stay in the US . Visiting a country , a bar , a beach , a hooker isn’t worth the pathetic hassle of going back home with nothin . Police aren’t there to protect you either . You are a US citizen. You have no rights in Mexico.
Super dangerous but still 4 stars?
But you gave it 4 stars? Wth?
You have got to be kidding...
Beaches in Juarez, eh? Boy I must have really missed something when I was there. I’m not sure how you find the Pacific Ocean in Juarez when it’s like a 1000 miles away.
One hell of a place
Never been but heard wonderful things, not! If anyone goes there then prepare for a bad time. Youd be better off at home lol
I’ve been in Juarez multiple time it’s a wonderful experience if you have family down there or friend because it is way safer with people that live there i would say don’t go past dark because that’s when things can get really ugly.
The time to visit was 40-50 years ago.
We used to go to Juarez back in the 70s. it was a fun day trip. Cheap meals, cheap shopping. Fireworks, switchblades. You would park in the Decor parking lot, pay the attendant like 50 cents to watch your car, and spend the day walking around. I would never go now.
Yes I remember. I was stationed at Ft Bliss, TX in 1971, much different time. Would walk over the bridge, cost 1 cent to enter Mexico. It cost 2 cents to go back to El Paso. Many that lived in Juarez would cross the bridge with their Green Card and work in El Paso. I would always cross back into the US in a cab with the same cab driver, always nice and took me to Ft Bliss.
my time visiting Juarez
I was stationed at fort bliss from May 1968 until august 1969. We would most every weekend walk over the bridge into Juarez. never having any fear of being shot or having any trouble there. I enjoyed shopping there, would get great bargains, just plain enjoyed time spent there.I dated a girl that lived in Juarez, visited her home there, she worked in El Paso. I have visited El Paso 5 times first time back 2015, but would not go to Juarez with my wife and friends because of the danger. I under stand that Juarez is off limits to military now. Do not get me wrong, the people I met back then in Juarez were friendly and for the most part treated you nicely, no problems, Someday I would hope to be able to visit Juarez again just to see how it has changed over the years
Swell swell
Best surfing this side of Kandahar. Great fun. Try to arrive early to avoid the annoying El Pasonians. Absolutely no hassle from the Mexicans. Lovely beach and topless clubs.
dont go
Grow a Pair
The last time I visited Juarez was back in the mid-80s. It was exactly what I expected, cheap beer, cheap pussy, cheap souvenirs, etc. It was a fun place to go for us GIs and probably is still very much the same now as it was back then; only now everybody is a pussy these days. Hell, people nowadays can’t even drop their drawers to figure out what gender they are. I wouldn’t blame that on Mexican violence, I blame that on American families that failed to raise their kids to have some balls.
Can be a nice experience
It’s too bad to see and hear the bad things that keep dragging Juarez down. I mean, sure there’s crime and drugs but these things are not as horrible as they are portrayed on some sites or on the TV. This is especially true if we’re talking about tourists. If you’re a tourist and go on the tourist route and keep doing the right things you will probably not encounter anything bad. Won’t have any problems unless you go out, alone, at night. Or if you visit dangerous areas at any time of the day. But this is the case with any big city.
Paso del Norte Cultural Center is a great place to start. You can either go for the theater scene or even see a sporting event. It’s a very family friendly place.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the place to go to to learn about the history of the place. It’s a special, energy-filled spot.
Monumento a la Mecaneidad is a huge monument that can be seen from a great distance. It’s nice to look at from up close as well.
La Rodadora is a must visit, especially with your children as they will love it. Very hands on and has plenty of nice exhibits like the very cool dinosaur one. If your kid is in love with dinos then this is the place to be.
Museo de la Revolución en La Frontera is where you can go to learn more about Juarez and it’s free.
Other attractions are the City Market, Mercado Juarez, Centro Cultural paso del Norte, Parque Central, Samalayuca Dune Fields, etc. Plenty to see, do, visit and experience in Juarez. Like I said, stay within the tourist areas, get a guide (or if you have a friend to help) and the experience will be a much better one overall. It’s just a matter of avoiding sketchy areas.
I actually ended up moving to Juarez for a while & honestly it was a great experience. Everyone was so kind and helpful, they all gave me meals & i gained 60 lbs from the great food hahah. I pretty much h always felt safe and during the 2 years I was there I never got robbed or kidnapped, I did see a few dead bodies, which is so sad, but that was about it.
Don't go!
Let no one kid you…Juarez is NOT a safe place. I have lived in El Paso since the early 80s and Juarez has changed dramatically. I used to go to Juarez weekly. People here posting that it is a safe place are either lying or don’t live in this region or have never been to Juarez. Unfortunately, Juarez has gone downhill because of the drug cartels that didn’t dominate Juarez in the 80s. The drug cartels breed other crimes there. You might go there and come back and wonder why people think it’s dangerous. On the other hand you could go there and be a victim. If you DO decide to go before you go read ‘The People’s Guide to Mexico’. This book has the most useful information of any book on the market. Again take this advice DON’T GO TO MEXICO unless you are completely aware of the potential dangers involved.
Just be courteous
I grew up in El Paso, moved away and had not been across since 1990. I went back in May of 2025 for Dental work, and my DDS recommended a great Hotel (Maria Bonita) close to his office. I have since been back twice to finish up my DDS work in January 2026. We never felt afraid, or harassed, we went to the Kentucky club, shopped and had a great time. We ate at the restaurant downstairs (El Comal) ,yes, its poor, dirty and traffic is crazy, but overall, we had a great time. It helps to be bilingual.
Juarez has such a unique vibe with all those contrasting neighborhoods; it’s wild how much culture you can feel in just a day. Have you tried any of the local food spots?
Had a blast exploring the historical buildings in Juarez; the market scene is so vibrant, and you really feel the local culture come alive amidst the chaos!
What was your favorite spot in the tourist zone? The historical buildings there really have a unique charm that caught me off guard.