Is San Diego Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

San Diego is generally very safe for solo female travelers. The city is clean, locals are friendly, and it's known for its relaxed southern California vibe. Like any place, caution is advised to maintain safety -- travel in well-lit and populated areas, and be aware of your surroundings. Downtown and popular tourist areas can get crowded, which can pose a risk for theft, so it's recommended to keep your personal belongings secure. Public transportation and ride-sharing services are easy to use and are generally safe. However, always trust your instinct. If a situation or a person makes you uncomfortable, there's no harm in removing yourself from that scenario. With the right precautions, a solo trip to San Diego can be a safe and memorable experience.

Safety rating

4.2 /5

Based on 4 experiences from female travelers

4.5 /5

Based on our research and crime data

3.7 /5

Based on 9 experiences from local women

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How safe is San Diego?

Safety at night:Safe

San Diego is generally a safe city, even at night, especially in the popular tourist areas downtown and lie Balboa Park, which are well-lit and patrolled. However, like any major city, there are areas, such as some parts of downtown and the East Village, where you need to be more cautious after dark. Always be aware of your surroundings, avoid walking alone late at night and use a reputable taxi service when needed.

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in San Diego, including the trolleys, ferries, and buses, is generally safe and well-managed. It is usually punctual, clean, and fairly reliable. There are transit police who patrol the areas regularly for added safety. However, like in any city, it's important to stay alert especially during late at night or in less crowded areas.

Street harassment:Low

San Diego is generally considered safe and welcoming for solo female travelers. Like any large city, there can be areas where unwanted attention is more likely, especially during evening hours. However, it's relatively infrequent and typically mild. Remember to appear confident, avoid less-populated areas at night, and always maintain awareness of your surroundings for the best experience.

Petty crimes:Low

San Diego is generally considered a safe city, especially for a big urban area. That said, incidents of petty crimes like pickpocketing, bag snatching, or car break-ins do occur, particularly in crowded tourist locations and at beaches. It's necessary to remain aware, but as long as you exercise basic precautions such as not leaving belongings unattended and not flashing expensive items in public, these risks can be minimized.

Is San Diego worth visiting?

Overall rating

3.7 /5

based on 4 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4/5

Safety

4.2/5

Food

3.1/5

Budget-friendly

3.2/5

Solo travel

I had a great time visiting the old town area. Lots of free museums and markets to check out and close to public transit. There was a lot of mexican souvenir shops and artisans, as well as niche shops including a mineral/gem store.

Posted: June 29, 2024

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Family travel

The beaches, parks, San Diego Zoo, and art museum, were all incredible! So was Coronado Island, where we rented bikes to see the sights. Great, reasonably priced food is everywhere, as long as you know how to look. We used a rental car to get around town, and were able to drive around downtown during Comic Con. A truly incredible experience, so glad I got to spend it with my sister and father!

Posted: June 1, 2024

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Family travel

I really enjoyed my time we stayed in an air bnb in sunset cliffs the running was awesome along the ocean the weather was perfect I loved loved it With the exchange things cost about the same Oscillato desert was so hot and fun of roading was the best, the Mexican food so good

Posted: December 27, 2023

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Is San Diego safe for women?

Safety index

3.7 /5

Based on 9 local experiences

Crime index

1.8 /5

Based on 9 local experiences

San Diego is a big city where there’s always events going on so there’s always something to do. I would feel less safe alone in downtown given the homeless population there. Public transport is reliable

Posted: November 23, 2024

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San Diego is a big place and so safety definitely varies depending on where you are. The main tourist areas near the ocean and along the waterfront downtown are generally pretty safe. During the day, I feel fine doing things alone. Uber/Lyft are plenty and public transport is there, but slow and sparse. Use basic travel smarts (lock your car, keep valuables stowed where people can't see them, keep your phone charged should you need to look up alternative routes/plans for getting around).

Posted: November 10, 2024

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Meet locals in San Diego

Whitney

About Me

I love to travel

Speaking

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Yaneli

About Me

I’m Yaneli! A newly graduated student from University with a Bachelors in Global Health looking to take a break from the normal life and travel while i still can! My future career is to become a Physician Assistant but before that I wish to work for a non profit organization and help people around the world. I’m Mexican and it’s a passion of mine to learn new cultures and meet new people!

Speaking

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Stay with locals in San Diego

Alexandra

San Diego

Can host for:

3 days

About me

San Diego, CA Psych nurse in graduate school for Master of Science in Nursing and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I have a three year old aussiedoodle named Spyro. I love music, festivals, & sports! I shoot film photography for fun 📸