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
As the state capital of Nuevo León, Mexico, Monterrey anchors the Monterrey Metropolitan Statistical Area.
More than five million people live and work there.
According to the Air Miles Calculator, Monterrey lies 127.9 miles southwest of Laredo, Texas, by air, and 144.5 miles when driving.
Downtown Monterrey offers many family-friendly tourist sites and activities, including Fundidora Park, the Macroplaza, and the Paseo Santa Lucia, a 2.5-kilometer artificial waterway that connects them.
Warnings & Dangers in Monterrey
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Travelers to Monterrey should use increased caution, according to the U.S. Department of State. Monterrey had a 4.21 overall crime risk score in June 2023, according to Pinkerton. Pinkerton assigns a weighted severity score to each crime type, known as the Pinkerton Crime Index. Jail terms, property damage costs, and court fees factor into the PCI. The underreported crime rate in Mexico affects Pinkerton's accuracy. Monterrey's score indicates a crime rate four times the national average.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
To protect your safety, avoid carrying too many items. Travel in groups and stay with your travel companions and family members. *Avoid hailing taxicabs that you did not schedule. *Let your hotel arrange transportation, or use a trusted ride-share app such as Uber. *Purchase Mexican car insurance if you decide to drive. *Share your travel plans and trip progress with someone you trust.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Purse snatching and pickpocketing occur on public transport and in large crowds in Monterrey. *Carry as little as possible outside your hotel, including purses and electronics. *Use cross-body bags, wallet belts, and front-facing fanny packs to prevent theft.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Monterrey's inland position protects it from most life-threatening natural disasters. There is a slight risk of earthquakes and a moderate risk of flooding during and after heavy rains from cyclones intense enough to blow so far inland. Sustained heavy rains have caused mudslides, and dry, hot weather has led to wildfires.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
Bling attracts the wrong sort of attention. Pack clothes without logos, and leave designer bags and jewelry at home. Follow common sense precautions by staying in well-lit areas.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Insisting on wearing political gear can make you a target even if you avoid demonstrations and large gatherings. Even sports gear could lead to fights, since both Monterrey soccer leagues have superfans. The terrorism risk is low, but never zero. According to the U.S. Department of State, rival drug cartels sometimes clash on the roads between Monterrey, Nuevo León, Laredo, Texas, and the northwest arm of Tamaulipas.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Nearly everyone has heard sob stories when traveling. Monterrey, Mexico, has the classic "stranded pastor" or "tourist" scam. The scam artist will ask for a $5 or $10 donation to their local ministry. Others are more audacious and request $300 or more for "airfare home." Avoid this hustle and direct them to the police or their home country's embassy. Other scams include using low-quality, watered-down liquor if you fail to specify a brand name.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Due to human trafficking, women traveling solo or with children can become crime victims at higher rates than men. Women with children focus on their children's comfort and safety, making them easy to distract. Also, children provide leverage to criminals, allowing them to force women to give up their purses and jewelry. In extreme circumstances, criminals may threaten children so they can harm women and girls.
TAP WATER RISK: HIGH
Sixty percent of Monterrey's drinking water comes from the San Juan watershed upstream. Deforestation, wildfires, and human activities have degraded local water quality despite investments in water purification. Avoid drinking the area's tap water. Do not wash your face or brush your teeth with tap water either.
Safest Places to Visit in Monterrey
Family-Friendly Activities
Fundidora Park, the Macroplaza, and the Paseo Santa Lucia are three of the most family-safe activities in Monterrey.
You may bike, rollerblade, or skateboard at Fundidora.
The park also provides a glimpse into the city’s industrial history.
Take the Santa Lucia Riverwalk boat tour from Fundidora to the Macroplaza.
There, you can view the Metropolitan Cathedral’s Baroque-era architecture and brightly colored interior murals.
Night Life
Try the Ambia Social Club at Padre Mier 1094, Barrio Antiguo, Centro, 64000 Monterrey if you enjoy electronic dance music such as Low House Noreste Caliente, and eye-popping light shows.
Or head over to San Pedro Garza Garcia for some jazz on the rooftop at Maverick MTY, at Rio Mississippi 103D, Col. del Valle, 66220 San Pedro Garza García.
Places to Avoid in Monterrey
According to Global Guardian intelligence analyst Joe Chafetz, tourists should avoid Independencia and Niño Artillero.
Independencia no longer leads the city’s homicides and robberies.
The neighborhood’s historic poverty and low educational attainment keep residents primarily employed in manual labor and customer service.
Niño Artillero refers to the child soldier Antonio Gómez Delgado.
The area is now an industrial zone that recently underwent extensive street repairs.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Monterrey
- The United States Department of State recommends that tourists fly into Monterrey rather than driving. The highways between Laredo, Texas, and Monterrey have a reputation for carjackings, cartel shootouts, and kidnappings. The situation has improved, but it remains high risk.
- Keep your attention on your belongings in crowds and on public transport. Wear cross-body, belted, and front-facing fanny packs, backpacks, and baby slings.
- Stick to well-lit places and stay with your tour group or family.
- Have one adult for every two infants, toddlers, or children to stay alert to potential threats.
- Avoid excess drinking or substance use. Keep your situational awareness high.
- Do not enter cabs that you did not order. Use Uber in Monterrey instead of an unmarked or random street cab, and do not pay with cash.
- Avoid the city’s outer margins, especially Independencia and Niño Artillero.
- Leave vapes, medical marijuana, and codeine-based over-the-counter medications at home.
- Firearms, ammunition, and non-lethal weapons such as stun guns and pepper spray are illegal in Mexico.
- You must declare cash at the border if you carry more than 10,000 USD.
- Bonus Tip: Purchase medical insurance that includes Medevac service. Mexican hospitals will keep you admitted until you pay your bill in full. The U.S. Embassy does not cover your return trip home in an emergency.
So... How Safe Is Monterrey Really?
Like any large city, you need to pay attention to your own safety at all times.
However, you should exercise additional caution in Monterrey.
Stick together and stay in well-lit areas.
Fly into the city rather than driving from the border.
Stay off the route between Laredo, Texas, and Monterrey and from Monterrey into the Mexican interior.
Natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides are all possible but usually avoidable.
Listen to weather reports and plan your trip to avoid the cyclone and fire seasons.
Political issues have become more problematic since 2025, especially between Mexico and the United States of America.
Check the travel alerts from your country’s Department of State to remain on top of rapid policy changes.
Have contingency plans for any outbreaks of civil unrest.
How Does Monterrey Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Monterrey |
58 |
| Puerto Morelos |
80 |
| Zamora |
30 |
| Morelia |
45 |
| Matamoros |
35 |
| Reynosa |
30 |
| San Luis Potosi |
65 |
 Washington | 88 |
| Hope Mills | 53 |
| Miami Gardens | 52 |
| Harlingen | 75 |
| Lake Charles | 73 |
| Superior | 82 |
Useful Information
Visas
Legal entry to Monterrey is fairly easy. Nationals can obtain a traveler’s permit for 15 USD upon entering Mexico. If you are unsure about your visa status as per your nationality, contact your local Mexican embassy for more information.
Currency
Most tourist sites will provide prices in U.S. dollars (USD). In Mexico, prices are typically in pesos, the national currency. Use credit cards instead of large amounts of cash, and carry pesos for tips and public transit fares. Also, go into a bank to use an ATM or exchange dollars for pesos. You will receive a more up-to-the-minute exchange rate and have protection against robbery or mugging.
Weather
Monterrey has cold, dry winters and hot summers. Bring layers in colder months: a light jacket, a T-shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants. Summer wear should include light colored natural fabrics such as cotton or linen. Flowy skirts and dresses, short-sleeve tops, and cargo shorts will allow you to carry your wallet and ID safely.
Airports
Monterrey International Airport is located in Apodaca, Nuevo León. In conjunction with Del Norte International Airport, the airport handles domestic and international flights for the city of Monterrey and its surrounding area. MIA is conveniently small with a fast, friendly, and English-speaking service.
Travel Insurance
If you drive in Mexico, your country's policy will not apply. You must purchase Mexican auto insurance. Even if you don't drive, you will need a travel policy to cover damage to any durable medical equipment, such as prosthetics, wheelchairs, or walkers. Travel policies also cover lost or stolen luggage, documents, and personal items.
Monterrey Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C |
21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 27 | 24 | 20 |
| Low °C |
9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 10 |
| High °F |
70 | 75 | 81 | 86 | 90 | 93 | 93 | 93 | 88 | 81 | 75 | 68 |
| Low °F |
48 | 52 | 57 | 63 | 68 | 72 | 73 | 73 | 70 | 64 | 55 | 50 |
More Info Needed
If there IS any truth to this (which I am REALLY skeptical about seeing as, I CANNOT FIND a “Paraiso Avenue” anywhere on the map), the the Monterrey visitors center needs to post on their website.
Monterrey is beautiful and the people are generally very nice.
I am from Texas but have been to Monterrey several times in 2019 and 2020. I have never had an issue here. People have always been very friendly. I am not fluent in Spanish but people here are always so nice about it and will help. Of course it has some not nice areas, like any city in the US (Think South Side Atlanta, nobody goes there at night either) but I always use Uber, if the person doesn’t match the picture, I don’t get in the car and report them to Uber. Only happened once. Uber is MUCH cheaper than renting a car and you don’t have to worry about parking. I have seen the police driving around in the big truck with guns on the back, and I have also seen the police carrying machine guns along Fashion Drive and other areas. While I don’t trust the cops in the US, that doesn’t change when I go to Mexico. I appreciate their presents and don’t go out of my way to antagonize them. They were very helpful once when I was lost and asked one for directions. He walked with me all the way to the area I was going to make sure I found it because of my limited Spanish. I go back as often as I can.
There aren’t any beaches near Monterrey lololol. It’s pretty inland.
Good experience in MTY
I lived in Monterrey for a semester as a student and I really enjoyed my time there. I travelled by public transport and I didn’t have any issue with safety beyond standard precautions as a single female. I found the locals to be quite friendly as well.
Did you really just say there’s a 2.5-kilometer waterway connecting everything in Monterrey? That’s wild!
Did you actually paddle along the Paseo Santa Lucia? I’ve heard it’s a blast but I can’t imagine how it is dodging all the tourists!
I didn’t realize how much there is to do in downtown Monterrey until I visited Fundidora Park, which was such a nice surprise with its green spaces and vibe.
Did you really just suggest I take a leisurely stroll along the Paseo Santa Lucia after battling rush hour traffic in Monterrey?
That little boat ride along Paseo Santa Lucia at dusk, when the heat finally backs off and you can see the Macroplaza lights kicking on, kind of sneaks up on you as one of those simple Monterrey moments you end up missing later.
It’s funny how the 2.5-kilometer Paseo Santa Lucia made me feel calmer than I expected, and now I’m wondering why I don’t stroll it more often at dusk.