On your next trip to Argentina, you wonder if Buenos Aires is dangerous, where the neighborhoods to avoid and the best areas to stay are.
It is true that the big cities of South America have a bad reputation. And if it is often justified, is it also the case of Buenos Aires?
Here is an article on the safety of tourists in Buenos Aires, on dangerous neighborhoods but also on the best areas to stay in the Argentine capital.
You will also find a Google Map of the districts of Buenos Aires to more easily locate the districts to avoid.
The information in this study comes from various and serious sources: World rankings, economic media, local press articles.
Argentina dangerous country?
Even though Argentina is considered one of the least dangerous countries in Latin America, it cannot be said to be a completely safe country. According to the recent Safe city Index publication by The Economist,, the capital of Argentina would be classified in terms of security in the average.
To form your own opinion on the dangerousness of Argentina, here is the link to the crime statistics from the official website of the Government of Argentina (argentina.gob.ar).
And to put it simply, here are the recommendations of the French Government:
“Insecurity exists in Argentina, particularly in the capital. No neighborhood is spared: even residential areas are affected. Small and medium-sized delinquency is common in Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Rosario: petty fraud, thefts sometimes with violence, attacks with scopolamine (the rapist's drug). It is advisable to be careful about the criminal use of this drug called burundanga. It causes loss of will, consciousness and temporary amnesia. Attacks have been recorded in Buenos Aires where taxi drivers spray the passenger with a spray to rob them. You should be careful around tourist sites where attacks are increasingly frequent and violent (robbery with threats of using firearms). " Source France Diplomacy
Buenos Aires a dangerous city?
Yes, but in the low average because it is one of the safest capitals in South America.
According to Numbeo ranking, Buenos Aires is ranked 16th out of the 26 most criminal cities in South America. With its fairly high crime index of 63.27 in 2024, Buenos Aires remains less dangerous than Lima, Rio ou Bogota en Colombia !
Buenos Aires dangerous for tourists?
Yes and no because crime in Buenos Aires is not present everywhere in the city. So do not hesitate to discover this magnificent city because travelers can visit it in complete safety. Indeed, tourists will simply have to avoid a few neighborhoods (see details below) and remain cautious as in all tourist towns.
Neighborhoods of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires counts 48 quarters which are grouped together in all numbered “Comunas” (like the arrondissements in Paris).
Here is the list of the 15 communes of Buenos Aires communicated by Wikipedia with the names of the districts that compose them:
- Comuna 1: Puerto Madero - San Nicolás - Retiro - Monserrat - San Telmo - Constitución
- Comuna 2: Recoleta
- Comuna 3: Balvanera - San Cristóbal
- Comuna 4: La Boca - Barracas - Parque Patricios - Nueva Pompeya
- Comuna 5: Almagro - Boedo
- Comuna 6: Caballito
- Comuna 7: Flores - Parque Chacabuco
- Comuna 8: Villa Soldati - Villa Lugano - Villa Riachuelo
- Comuna 9: Parque Avellaneda - Mataderos - Liniers
- Comuna 10: Villa Luro - Vélez Sársfield - Floresta - Monte Castro - Villa Real - Versalles
- Comuna 11: Villa Devoto - Villa del Parque - Villa Santa Rita - Villa General Miter
- Comuna 12: Villa Pueyrredón - Villa Urquiza - Coghlan - Saavedra
- Comuna 13: Nuñez - Belgrano - Colegiales
- Comuna 14: Palermo
- Comuna 15: Villa Ortúzar - Chacarita - Villa Crespo - La Paternal - Agronomía
Map of Buenos Aires neighborhoods
To better locate the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires that we are going to talk about, here is a map that you need to enlarge for research: Google map
Dangerous neighborhoods Buenos Aires
By cross-checking the information ofinfobae.com, puntoconvergente.uca.edu.ar and securidad.gob.ar, here are the neighborhoods deemed to be the least safe in Buenos Aires:
- Barracks
- Retiro
- Constitution
- Balvanera
- Palermo (in some places)
You will find below their respective locations in the city of Buenos Aires.
Neighborhoods to avoid in Buenos Aires: Barracas in Comuna 4
According to the figures, Barracas is the neighborhood that records the most crimes. However, it is also a district renowned for its street art and its numerous and very beautiful graffiti. See location of this neighborhood
By avoiding going there in the evening or at night, tourists can visit this area during the day. To see the Free Tour offered by Civitatis.
Buenos Aires neighborhood: Retiro in Comuna 1
Retiro is a very busy, lively and very pleasant area during the day. But it is also the area of a large train station which attracts pickpockets and other delinquents. See location of this neighborhood
Buenos Aires district: Constitucion in Comuna 1
This is another area of Comuna 1 that is best avoided, especially at night. See location of this neighborhood
Buenos Aires district: Balvanera in Comuna 3
This area is quite central, very lively and renowned for its fashion boutiques. Without being dangerous for tourists, it is still on the list of the least safe neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. See location of this neighborhood
Buenos Aires district: Palermo Comuna 14
It is the largest district of Buenos Aires. It consists of two main parts Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho. These are upscale neighborhoods with beautiful homes, upscale restaurants, art galleries, museums, and great boutiques.
Many Argentines consider Palermo to be the most beautiful neighborhood in Buenos Aires. See location of this neighborhood
However, some areas of Palermo are party hotspots (bars, clubs, pubs). This is perhaps what explains why this district registers a greater number of offenses compared to other districts of Buenos Aires. But this area is not dangerous for tourists.
Other neighborhoods to avoid in Buenos Aires
In addition to the neighborhoods listed below, here are the poorly classified neighborhoods in terms of safety:
- Caballito
- San Nicolas
- Villa Devoto
- Flowers
- Villa Lugano
- Boca
- Villa Santa Rita
Where to stay in Buenos Aires?
It's hard to tell you where to stay in Buenos Aires because there are many safe and friendly neighborhoods to choose from. Among the most fashionable neighborhoods, real estate agencies cite first:
- Palermo Hollywood
- Monserrat
- La Boca
- San Telmo
- Puerto Madero
- Recoleta
- Belgrano
Where to stay in Buenos Aires for tourists?
To choose your hotel or Airbnb, I recommend that you choose an area that is fairly central and close to the tourist sites of Buenos Aires.
The most central district is Microcentro which houses, among others, the Plaza de Mayo, the Manzana de las Luces, the Church of San Ignacio de Loyola. But it is a business district where the hotel offer is not developed. In addition, as it is an area with a majority of offices, at night it is desert, which can give a feeling of insecurity.
So here are the 2 favorite districts of tourists:
Where to stay in Buenos Aires: Recoleta
Recoleta is a neighborhood very popular with tourists. Elegant, rich, lively, this neighborhood allows you to enjoy the most beautiful sites in Buenos Aires: National Library, Recoleta Cultural Center, National Museum of Fine Arts, Recoleta Cemetery, etc. See location of this neighborhood
In addition, it is an ideal district for shopping with a dozen shopping malls and many fashion boutiques. Finally, it is a district where you can go out at night because it offers many bars, good restaurants and milongas to dance the tango!
The hotel AQ Tailored Suites that I recommend below is located in the beautiful district of Recoleta, less than 1 km from the Colón Theater and close to the Obelisk of Buenos Aires.
Its advantages: A beautiful swimming pool and terrace and a tour desk to help you visit Buenos Aires!
Where to stay in Buenos Aires: Monserrat
Monserrat is the historic district of Buenos Aires. It is in this magnificent district that the Place de Mai is located with the Presidential Palace (Pink House), the Cabildo museum, the Manzana de las Luces, the Palacio Barolo and the legendary Tortoni café.
In addition, this district is very close to Port Madero and the typical and colorful district of La Boca.
Here is a very well located hotel with good value for money: HTL City Baires
Ho vissuto alcuni mesi a BA (abitavo a Recoleta). Non mi sono mai sentita in pericolo e utilizzavo solo le precauzioni più elementari. Inoltre, utilizzavo solo taxi autorizzati.. E costavano talmente poco! Mi sarebbe piaciuto tanto visitare una villa, equivalent argentino di favela, ma era un no no no
Hello !
Have been to Buenos Aires several times. I never felt in danger there, day or night. It is common sense not to tempt people with ostentatious signs of “wealth”: the Covid has been there and society is living badly. Poverty has increased. It is therefore good form to remain cautious. Taxi transport is very common and economical, to avoid the metro or crowded buses. But again I repeat, there are no real worries. It is a South American megalopolis with very European aspects, a New York – Madrid mix. I really love this city and I feel good there every time I go there. I think I could live there. Take it easy and stay curious! Cecile
Hello Cécile and thank you for your testimony. You make us want to visit this city!
Estive por 8 vezes em Buenos Aires and nunca me sens tão segura, sou Brasileira, Paulista and não me atrevo a andar pelas ruas de São Paulo dure a noite sem preocupações. Buenos Aires é muito agradável, muito segura e um lugar barato com boa qualidade, estou indo novamente em Setembro.
Hello
I plan to go to Buenos Aires in November 2022. We are a couple. My companion is not used to travelling. I read on many sites about security that you should avoid carrying valuables (watches, jewelry, shoes) and even small backpacks, avoid taking out a cell phone or a small camera. Recommendation also to take only small amounts with you, and copies of your identity papers. Do these tips seem realistic to you? or underestimated? thank you.
Hello Claire,
Personally, I've never been to Buenos Aires: I wrote this article by summarizing information published on the web on different media.
But I was able to make great trips to Colombia (Bogota and Medellin), Peru (Lima) and Mexico (Mexico City). The cities I visited there are considered more dangerous than Buenos Aires.
We were very careful in avoiding going out in the evening (except in Lima where I absolutely wanted to eat at Astrid y Gaston). During the day, we always took official taxis to get around. Hotels were booked in safe neighborhoods. So everything went very well.
I think the same is true for Buenos Aires.
Hi Clear
I'm a female from Australia and have been to BA twice now. First time stayed in Palermo Soho and second time in Palermo Hollywood.
Your suggestions are not overestimating safety. I, too, carried a copy of my passport (which was locked in hotel safe) and carried two pouches for money – one that had a bit of cash in it to hand over if I was robbed (I was not) and my 'normal ' pouch with card and cash that I wasn't prepared to part with.
I dress pretty plainly overseas compared to home so as to not attract attention.
I did a couple of tours during my visits – the hop on, hop off bus is excellent as you can go to so many places around the city. I went to the San Telmo markets also on a Sunday morning which were huge but great.
Be careful if you visit La Boca – visit during the day and walk with others and keep to the main areas.
Belgrano is also cool. A bit of a younger crowd with lots of fashion stores (not 'boutiques' though).
Palermo is gorgeous and hip and I love it. My sister and I walked around Palermo Hollywood at night and did not feel unsafe. When I was with a group in Palermo Soho walking home after dinner (probably between 12-1am), I felt a little more on edge but was fine. During the day is totally fine, just be aware of your surroundings.
I hope this helps a little. It's a wonderful city!
Have a great trip
Oh, I forgot to mention we used Uber to get around. Did not have any problems and they were so cheap!
The one time we used a taxi (and we were warned about this but weren't paying attention because he engaged us in conversation), he 'forgot' to turn on the meter so when we got to our hotel he tried to charge a bit much so I had to push back and say that was too much.
Would definitely use Uber again there though.
Hello !
I have been on a university exchange in Buenos Aires for 3 weeks, for 1 year.
In reality Buenos Aires is a rather safe city, especially in the neighborhoods favored by tourists (Palermo, Recoleta, Belgrano…) where police officers camp at each cuadra.
However, you have to be careful not to attract too much attention (luxury clothes, high-value items, don't take your phone out in crowded places, etc.). Regarding money, it is rather advisable to always have 3000 or 4000 pesos on you to be able to give in case of aggression. In the event of an attack, you must not oppose ANY resistance (this is where it can become very dangerous), you must hand over your belongings, leave and notify the police and then the consulate. Similarly, you should avoid having your papers on you at all times and rather take copies of the identity papers.
I hope I was able to help you 😉
Bon voyage to one of the prettiest cities on the continent!
Oh yes and contrary to what a comment mentioned above, you should avoid taking uber because it is illegal here! The drivers are not geolocated… You should rather favor cabify (cheaper and more secure) or yellow and black taxis (rather during the day). Otherwise the metro and buses work very well (buses are in service 24 hours a day, but less frequently at night)!
Pode ir tranquilo que é super seguro e leve sim seus losses e use, pq eles são muito elegantes! I flew 8 xe vou em setembro pela 9 vez e nunca me aconteceu nada, vc troca reais por pesos, sai com uma sacola de dinheiro e ninguém nem te olha.