Is Detroit Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Group travel

Detroit was pretty cool.I went there for a conference so I didn't get to see a whole lot.But I didn't get an airbnb for a reasonable price and visited a couple of coffee shops breakfast places and restaurants. I'd say a coffee on average was about six dollars or seven. Detroit felt smaller than I was expecting it too of course this is different if you're downtown. Also, you can see Canada from a lot of different places.It's super super close.

Suburbs, downtown and midtown are relatively safe. Just know where to go and don’t be dumb. Public transport can have some sketchy characters on it at times but I’ve never felt personally threatened. I wouldn’t wander alone at night. Even in groups you will probably have beggars come up to you.

Detroit has had a bad reputation for years of having been neglected by its government and abandoned by populations who wanted to live out the suburban dream, but the city is way safer than it looks (it’s very spread out so parts of the city have a lot of derelict houses and not a lot of people on the street), and way safer than racist folks in the burbs will tell you. BUT like anywhere, you have to be aware of your surrounds, not on your devices outside, and know something about the neighborhood you’re in. Don’t wander around at night in neighborhoods where no one else is walking around. Don’t go around snapping pictures of falling down houses and breaking into abandoned buildings. Even if the house looks terrible, someone may live there and regardless, neighbors don’t want someone coming in doing a disaster photography tour. People in Detroit are super-friendly, amazing hosts, very open and kind. YOU HAVE TO SAY HI in Detroit when you see someone or at least nod at them/greet them in some way. It’s taken as the basic acknowledgement of someone’s humanity. If you look people in the eye and greet them, the city opens up to you. Like the t-shirt slogan here goes, “say nice things about Detroit.”