San Juan is revered as a historical city.
It’s actually the second-oldest European-discovered city in the Americas.
Interestingly, the area has changed over the years as settlers arrived.
It’s now a melting pot, complete with African, Spanish, and Taino influences.
Besides the cultural diversity that has influenced the city’s celebrations and traditions, San Juan is also renowned for its stunning beaches.
And it has just-right conditions for swimming off the coast of those beaches most of the year with its continuous sunshine.
The city has a mix of beach styles for tourists — calm ones perfect for swimming, like El Escambron, and ones with rougher waters like Ocean Park, ideal for kiteboarding and surfing.
Before booking your trip, though, you may wonder if it’s a safe area overall.
Warnings & Dangers in San Juan
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
San Juan is moderately safe. Its crime rate is similar to that of the neighboring cities. The dangers of San Juan are more prevalent at night than during the day. You're safest in the tourist areas. A majority of crime in the city is opportunistic and non-violent. It's mainly pickpocketing and petty theft. There are violent crimes that happen rarely and affect travelers; they're usually gang- or drug-related.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
As of 2025, the population of San Juan was estimated to be over 500,000. That’s not counting the number of tourists, so as you can imagine, the streets can be busy. Riding a bike or walking could be dangerous because of this, especially with its unpaved roads or on narrow streets. Ride-share services and public transportation are relatively safe, but watch for taxi cab drivers taking you the long way.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Some areas are more prone to pickpocketing and petty theft than others. Overall, it's a common occurrence, especially in tourist attraction areas and crowded spaces, such as the markets and beaches. It happens more frequently at night than during the day.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH
The proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the fact that it's located in the tropical storm belt make the area prone to hurricanes. In fact, in 2017 alone, the city experienced two hurricanes — Hurricanes Irma and Hurricane Maria, one a category five and the other a category four. Hurricanes and tropical storms aren't the only natural disasters that impact the area; droughts, earthquakes, flooding, and landslides are also potential threats for the region.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
The risk of being mugged in San Juan isn't nonexistent, but it's also not a common occurrence. Especially at night, you could experience a mugging or see someone else being mugged. Deserted areas or the lesser-touristy areas are other common places for muggings.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Terrorist attacks have happened in San Juan over the years, such as the incident on a JetBlue flight to the city in 2021. Terrorism isn't a common occurrence, though. The risk here is about the same as in major U.S. cities. The FBI and Coast Guard also conduct preparedness drills to be ready for a possible attack on San Juan or another city.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
When you're traveling to San Juan, be on alert because the locals could try to scam you. Taxi drivers may not use meters or could overcharge you. Sometimes, fake tour guides will offer tours of the city, and they'll charge you too much and/or provide you with a low-quality experience. Street vendors may inflate prices, and some people may try to sell you counterfeit tickets to events.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
San Juan is a safe place for women to travel. A woman may experience some catcalling when she's walking down the street, but that's generally where it ends. It's even a safe area for a woman to travel alone, as long as she remains aware of her surroundings and doesn't completely let her guard down.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
Overall, the water in San Juan is safe to drink. It undergoes processing by the Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA), a government-run organization. This agency adheres to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If you're visiting after a hurricane or other major storm, the city may be on a temporary boil-water alert.
Safest Places to Visit in San Juan
Much of San Juan is safe for travelers, but certain areas are known for being the safest.
Old San Juan, for instance, is a historic area with blue-gray cobblestone streets, cafes, rooftop bars, and little crime.
Condado is an urban portion of the city that doesn’t have much crime and provides easy access to beautiful beaches.
Ocean Park is a budget-friendly, residential area.
You can travel throughout Ocean Park without much risk of being a crime victim, but you’ll need a car; it’s not walkable like Old San Juan.
Isla Verde is known for being a portion of the city that doesn’t come with much risk.
It’s known for its resorts and wide beaches.
Places to Avoid in San Juan
While the city is generally safe, you’ll want to avoid certain areas because they’re known to be dangerous.
For example, La Perla is a small neighborhood close to Old San Juan, but it has limited police presence.
Organized crime is high here.
Santurce has a mix of good and bad.
Some blocks like La Placita are popular destinations without much crime.
On the other hand, other parts of this neighborhood are known for high rates of assaults, theft, and local criminal networks.
These worries are greater at night.
Puerta de Tierra is located between Old San Juan and Condado.
During the day, especially where beaches and museums are, you don’t have much to worry about.
However, outside of these areas, and especially at night, drug activity is a concern.
Being a tourist on foot could make you susceptible to mugging or other similar crimes.
You’ll also want to avoid Vega Baja, Guanica, and Adjuntas.
Safety Tips for Traveling to San Juan
- Exercise caution when exploring at night. Stay in the main tourist areas if you’re exploring at night, such as Old San Juan and Condado. Never visit poorly lit or remote sections of the city once the sun goes down. If at all possible, don’t walk around the city at night. Instead, use a ride-share service to get where you need to go.
- Confirm prices in advance. Whether you’re buying tickets, using a transportation service, or opting for a rental, check on the prices before you use the service, purchase, or book. Watch the meter in a taxi carefully. These practices will help you avoid scams and having someone overcharge you.
- Watch the weather. Hurricane season is from June to November, and storms are often predictable. However, make sure you’re watching the weather before you plan your trip, as well as when you’re in Puerto Rico. In addition to the weather, you should also watch ocean conditions to avoid beaches with rip currents.
- Use official transportation only. Use a ride-share service, public transportation, or well-known taxi services. You can prevent paying a higher-than-average fare this way.
- Research the areas you’re going to first. Before you visit any places in San Juan or the surrounding cities, research them first. Understand what, if any, risks there are for that area. Avoid the truly dangerous areas completely.
- Consider traveling with someone. If you’re going to San Juan, it’s safe enough that you could explore much of the city by yourself without much problem. However, if you’d like to move throughout the city with less worry, you may want to consider traveling with a partner or in a group.
- Watch how much you drink. When enjoying the nightlife of San Juan, watch how much you’re drinking. Although it’s a safe area, you never want to lose total inhibition in a foreign place. Always watch your drink carefully because, just like with any bar, you never know if someone there will spike your drink.
- Leave valuables at your hotel. Leave any expensive jewelry, spare cash, at least one credit card, your passport, and any other vital or valuable items at the hotel. Consider locking in the hotel safe. You want as little on you as possible that someone could take when you’re in a crowded space.
- Keep your belongings near you or watch them carefully. Any time you’re outside of your hotel room, watch your belongings carefully. Keep your credit card, ID, and money close to you.
- Know emergency numbers. Know the number for police and medical services in the areas you’re traveling to in San Juan. The universal number is 911, which can connect you with police, medical, or fire emergency services.
So... How Safe Is San Juan Really?
The city is relatively safe, particularly when you’re comparing it to other major cities.
A majority of the crime here is petty theft and scams.
Violent crimes are usually isolated incidents that happen within organized crime rings.
Some areas are safer than others, which you can determine on crime watch maps that break down the crimes and their rates by location.
The safety of a neighborhood can vary from block to block, which means you should look into each place you plan to travel as well as the route you plan to take.
The weather can be a danger in the city.
Therefore, you’ll want to plan carefully when you go to the city.
Before your trip, watch the news to see if there are any severe weather events set to hit the city.
Because of the potential for natural disasters, you may want to make all your reservations refundable in case you need to change your plans.
During the day, you’re safer than at night.
For this reason, you’ll want to proceed with caution whenever you’re visiting any parts of the city after dark.
That means traveling to well-lit areas only and avoiding places that aren’t popular destinations after sunset.
How Does San Juan Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
 San Juan |
55 |
| Ponce |
48 |
| Rincon |
74 |
 Hot Springs | 61 |
| Forks | 85 |
| Los Angeles | 56 |
| Tucumcari | 73 |
 Leipzig | 78 |
 Helsinki | 95 |
Useful Information
Visas
You don't need a visa to travel to Puerto Rico, no matter how long you plan to stay, if you're a U.S. citizen, since it's a territory of the country. If you have a visa to be in the U.S., though, you'll need it to travel to Puerto Rico. If you're a U.S. citizen, you won't even need a passport to travel here.
Currency
Puerto Rico uses the U.S. dollar. You can use the same bills and coins you use in the States. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most places. You can also find ATMs throughout San Juan. Keep in mind that many small beach sellers, vendors, food stand owners, and shop owners would prefer cash.
Weather
The average daily temperature in San Juan is 81 degrees Fahrenheit. The dry season in the city is December through April. It's slightly cooler during this time, but it has more sun and less rain. Rain showers are usually short. In the wet season of May through November, you're more likely to have rainy days. The rain often happens in the afternoons or evenings. It's still mostly sunny during this time.
Airports
The main airport in San Juan is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. It's in Carolina, about eight to 10 miles outside of Old San Juan. It offers both domestic U.S. flights and international flights. Some airlines that fly in and out of the city include American, United, Southwest, Frontier, and Delta.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance isn't a necessity, but you may want to consider it to protect your belongings in case of loss or theft. You might also want to have it to safeguard what you spend on your trip in the event your flight is canceled or delayed for any reason.
San Juan Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C |
28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 |
| Low °C |
21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| High °F |
82 | 82 | 84 | 84 | 86 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 86 | 84 | 84 |
| Low °F |
70 | 70 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 72 |
Puerto Rico - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Ponce | 48 |
| Rincon | 74 |
| San Juan | 55 |
A lot of BS
The BS in this list is through the roof. I bet if anyone searches for the US cities where massacres have occurred in the last decade they are labeled safe to travel. We’re tired of the marginalization of our neighborhoods. Do us a favor, and just stay away.
You are so right!!! Especially it rate “terrorisim” high, what the hell is that??
BEAUTIFUL ISLAND
I DO AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS A 1000 PERCENT. I HAVE TRAVEL TO MANY COUNTRIES AND PR IS STILL ONE OF THE SAFEST TO VISIT. IT IS LIKE EVERY OTHER CITY IN USA. THANK YOU AND ALWAYS VISIT THE ISLAND OF PR.
If San Juan is “like every other city in USA” I’d stay away. USA is very unsafe and should be avoided at all costs. People in America will rob and kill you over chicken sandwiches, with no repercussions whatsoever.
Ridiculous!
Why is the terrorism risk is listed as “HIGH” when there hasn’t been a terror attack in all of Puerto Rico since the 1980s? And even then it was an exceedingly rare event. In contrast, New York City has a terrorism risk of “MEDIUM”? This data is 30 years out of date.
San Juan does have its share of crime. But as a large tourist destination, receiving over 500 cruise ship stops a year, it is relatively safe. It is certainly far, FAR safer than Baghdad, Ciudad Juarez, or Kandahar, all of which scored higher than San Juan on this site’s overall safety index.
BAD BAD
it matters about how many terrorist attacks are in san juans history in total/ 3 cops were killed today by a carjacker and there was a mass shooting in san juan and 7 people died in the same day. oh and there was 600 murders in puerto rico in 2020.
There's absolutely no terrorism in SJ
I’m sorry but do you even know what terrorism means? Because it isn’t that. Stop trying to spread misinformation.
When did San Juan become its own country?
Unfortunately, San Juan couldn’t be described as a particularly safe country to visit.
I thought San Juan was a city, inside of Puerto Rico – which is part of the United States of America’s. Since when did it become an independent country?
San Juan is not a country
San Juan is not an independent country, it’s the Capital of Puerto Rico.
Worst researched article on San Juan - 100% inaccurate
This is one of the most assbackwards articles i’ve ever read on the internet. There is zero terrorism, pickpocketing is unheard of in the city, unpaved roads! WTF! People, disregard anything this website states. They probably just do some Wikipedia BS research and redact and article in minutes to seem like a legit source.
Have you been to San Juan in recent years? I have been a few times as part of a team working on a documentary. I can tell you first hand, it is not a safe place. I would not come here alone or as a couple. I think it is only safe to travel in a group of 4 or more to places like this and even then, you need to be on high alert. Gang issues are EVERYWHERE and if you so much as give the wrong person the wrong impression, you can find yourself getting the life beat out of you.
I DO GO TO PR EVERY JUNE AND JULY AND IT IS STILL ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES THAT I CAN GO. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY COUNTRIES INCLUDING EUROPE AND LIVING IN USA. BECAUSE OF A BAD EXPERIENCE DOES NOT MEAN THAT IS A BAD PLACE. JUST VISIT A FEW COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA OR EUROPE AND YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND.
It depends were you go in San Juan, but the tourists sites are completely safe. I would just stay away from La Perla or walking in Santurce at night.
is fajardo safe
WTF ??
This rating is ridiculous !! Terrorist level is high ? I’ve been traveling back and forth for over a decade on business and have NEVER experienced a fear of terrorism . I’ve felt less safe in Vegas or New Orleans or Florida panhandle at night then I ever had in Puerto Rico . My worse experience was a drunk who wanted to dance . Puerto Rico runs at a slower pace than the states but that the appeal of it .
Safe for tourists
Puerto Rico has a higher rate of crime than most continental US. And in rate per capital to all the US. But overall the rate of death is between the gangs which are controlled by colombian cartels or do bussines with them. Its safe for travel for turist and for most part. Where this article has it wrong is that San Juan isnt the most dangerous place in the island, that tittle goes to Bayamon a neighbor city, and secondly to Carolina. Then goes San Juan but most of San Juan is safe. People mistake the neighbor areas as part of San Juan
Never felt unsafe
I don’t know, guys, I feel like things are grossly exaggerated by the media. I’ve been to San Juan in 2019 and I honestly had a blast. We traveled as a group so this might explain some of the things I’ll discuss next but come on. I don’t think things are that bad, honestly.
Yes, you will find bad people in San Juan but this is true for any other destination. Have your street smarts about and you’ll be just fine. If you buy drugs from a guy that randomly approached you or if you pick fights with strangers you can’t blame the city for the awful time you had, that’s all on you.
Clubbing till morning might lead to gang bust ups so I simply avoided staying that late. We’re all well over 30 and if I’m being honest, we couldn’t stay that late not even if we wanted to.
During the day we saw zero violence or anything that might pose a threat. That is unless we’re talking about public transportation which is downright awful. This is not a walkable place, you need to either rent a car or uber around.
Avoiding staying glued to your phone is the best advice I could give you because 1. you are way more careful of your surroundings and 2. you won’t find yourself deposed of it.
5/5, I wholeheartedly recommend at least looking on youtube for travel vlogs from people that went there and then decide. Use common sense and avoid having luxury brands on you, being bags, shoes or watches. Just an understated luxury look should be enough. If you don’t stand out you won’t catch unwanted attention. And again, don’t go looking for trouble, you might find yourself in a very unpleasant situation. Stick to tourist areas, there’s plenty to see and experience there.
Somehow, nothing happened.
Noone tried to steal anything, actually. Would recommend.