Is Philadelphia safe for solo female travelers?

Philadelphia, like many other large cities in the USA, has a mixed safety record. It's safe to move in tourist areas during the day but some neighborhoods are advisable to avoid especially at night. Always be aware of your surroundings, use well-traveled streets, and use common precautions that you would in any other large city.

Safety rating

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How safe is Philadelphia for female travelers?

Travel safety index

2.9 /5

based on 3 experiences from female travelers

Solo travel

I rented an Airbnb for a day, and it went well! I walked to the store with the Airbnb host and we chatted and got groceries, and the area felt safe. People were mostly friendly, and the grocery store I went to was very bougie but the food was meh. Philly cheesesteak is overrated as I learned.

Posted: January 22, 2025Experienced: April, 2023
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Group travel

I traveled with two of my friends to Philadelphia last year And it was the first time we did couch surfing And some of the places we went to weren’t that safe but we did not had any bad encounters Since we did couch surfing (and the host was very generous) we did not really have to paid for food I will say that it’s not a city with a lot activities but there’s some of the places and things we did : - got to celebrate St Patrick at a very nice pub (1116 Walnut St) - saw a show at the Wells Fargo Center (3601 S Broad St) - great pizza at OG Pizza (2500 Frankford Ave) - Cute Market : Reading Terminal Market (1136 Arch St) - Independence National Historical Park with the Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell - and for The Rocky’s fan there’s a statue and the stairs (of the Philadelphia Museum of Art ; 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway)

Posted: April 8, 2024
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Solo travel

I spent a couple of weeks in Philadelphia during covid. I found the people incredibly friendly, even though we were all keeping our distance. I biked around the city using Indego bikes, which are super affordable by the hour. My favorite Italian food is in Philly.

Posted: June 30, 2023
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How safe is Philadelphia for women?

Local safety index

2.8 /5

Based on 15 local experiences

Local crime index

2.6 /5

Based on 15 local experiences

Historic city center mainly safe, we well as parks during daylight. Avoid north of the city center. Fishtown neighborhood is gentrified but don’t stay in Kensington. Lots of homeless folks that don’t usually bother others.

Posted: October 20, 2025
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I have taken the SEPTA at odd hours and in between and in my experience, I’ve been fine thankfully though I have heard reports of harassment/assault from others. Just be alert/aware of your surroundings at all times, be respectful, etc.

Posted: October 14, 2025
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Depending on the neighborhood you’re in, some neighborhoods can be really safe while others can be dangerous. Center city, Fishtown area and South Philly generally feel safe to me while I’ve experienced some harassment in West Philly and Kensington area.

Posted: July 27, 2025
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Safety levels in Philadelphia are highly dependent on the area. Strongly recommend avoiding Kensington in general. Manayunk/Wissahickon area I would say is the safest with city center somewhere in between, but city center does have a strong police presence with the courts there.

Posted: March 21, 2025
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Aurore

Aurore

Philadelphia is great City with a lot of Culture I think for an American City. And as a big city there’s always downsides to it. I have never experienced any harassment or violence there but there is always a risk in a big city. But that should stop you from experiencing Philadelphia ! There’s good foods, the people are generally welcoming and it’s pretty walkable ! Just stay aware of your surroundings, like in any other big cities.

Posted: February 8, 2025
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Safety in United States