Is Washington Safe for Women? Crime Rate in Washington

DC proper is quite safe for a solo female. I’ve never felt unsafe walking around alone as it is a busy place and you will encounter many other people outside. I would exercise caution after dark just like with any other place.

Washington state is a great place to live in and has moderate to low crime rates where I live. Staying out of the higher crime rate areas is a most, of course, but as is everywhere. Keep yourself protected if you feel uncertain of your surroundings! Pepper spray, etc. I don't walk outside at night besides the neighborhood I live in, but that's because I'm afraid of the dark. Lol.

The crime level here is pretty low, I’ve never been mugged or jumped here and while there are some sketchy parts of the city, it’s always best to use common sense and not wander around alone after dark.

It’s pretty safe. But depends a lot on the area that you are in. Southeast on a certain side at night you don’t want to do that. ( anacostia) but for the most part it’s okay. Scary in metro to me. I drive.

DC is highly neighborhood-dependent when it comes to safety. Heavily trafficked areas and the metro are generally quite safe, but it’s still a major metropolitan area and you do have to be aware of your surroundings. SW of the Capitol (any street name ending in SW) generally has the highest crime, but I don’t generally find myself in that area to begin with as most popular restaurants and activities are in NW or NE. Theft is probably the primary issue. Carjackings have been on the rise, as has crime by minors, but I don’t know anyone who has personally experienced this. Do not leave anything visible remaining in a car, as it will be targeted for a break in. Avoid wearing name-brand bags or coats such as Canada Goose, as those have also been targeted for thefts and muggings. There are very few tourist scams, however. That being said, I live in NW just a few stops from downtown, and it feels very safe—I regularly take the metro and walk home alone at night (including after 11pm on Fri/Sat) and haven’t had any major issues besides occasional cat calling/honking in over 4 years. There are frequently other people out and about at night. Do be extremely aware of your surroundings if there are only a few people around you, if you encounter a group of teenagers, or someone having a mental health crisis. Don’t hesitate to switch cars on the metro if you feel unsafe. You can also discreetly text metro police at 696-873 if you encounter an issue. Definitely avoid parks or the National Mall after dark. Happy to provide a breakdown per neighborhood if you have any questions!

Although crime rates are supposedly down, the city is not safe after dark! There are frequent muggings and robberies. The metro can feel unsafe during off-peak hours. Situational awareness is key!!!!!

Group travel

We stayed on AirBnb and the locality was decent but we knew we couldn’t walk around at night. People were telling us to keep our bags in places and be attentive. But we didn’t have any bad experiences. Used metro card for travelling around. There are lots of museums if you are into them. DC is mostly filled with administrative buildings. There is a zoo too. Overall the experience was good.

Group travel

We stayed at the Marriott Hotel during our exchange trip. The accommodation was decent for the experience, but unfortunately, the food at the hotel was below average. That said, the overall experience was really enjoyable. I loved exploring many of the city's monuments, and we even got the chance to attend a baseball game, which was a highlight! For food, I highly recommend Elephant & Castle and Pizza Uno at Union Station they were definitely a step up from the hotel dining. My favorite place was the National Gallery of Art a must-visit if you're in the city. Overall, the city felt quite safe, and I had a great time discovering it.