San Francisco is a fascinating and vibrant city, but when choosing your accommodation there, it's important to remain vigilant about safety.
Indeed, for a safe stay, you will have to avoid the most problematic neighborhoods and favor the safest areas.
In this article, you will discover the most dangerous neighborhoods, the areas to avoid in San Francisco, and also the safest neighborhoods to stay in.
This guide is sourced from news articles, statistics, rankings published on the web in 2024 and AI. I made it by synthesizing information and data on the crime level of San Francisco and its neighborhoods.
Is San Francisco dangerous in 2024?
According to the most recent statistics, the overall crime rate in San Francisco is higher than the U.S. national average.
This is confirmed by the Numbeo ranking where San Francisco is ranked the 16th most crime-ridden city in North America.
With a crime index of 61.69, in 2024 it is classified as more dangerous than Seattle, Phoenix ou Los Angeles but remains less criminal than Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia ou Oakland.
In fact, the city is facing a homeless crisis, with more than 8000 people living on the streets. This situation contributes to a heightened perception of insecurity. In addition, the growing presence of fentanyl in certain neighborhoods is also a major problem linked to the increase in crime.
However, during the first quarter of 2024, San Francisco saw a 32% decrease in property crimes and a 14% decrease in violent crimes compared to the same period in 2023.
This trend has continued since 2023, when overall crime reached its lowest level in ten years, excluding the pandemic year of 2020.
To form your own opinion, I invite you to consult the crime figures on the official website of the San Francisco Police which published a official report.
San Francisco's Most Dangerous Neighborhoods
Despite the efforts of the authorities, some areas of the city and its outskirts remain more problematic in terms of security.
So here are the most dangerous neighborhoods that I recommend you avoid during your stay in San Francisco:
- The Tenderloin : With its high rate of violent crime and drug-related offenses, this neighborhood west of Union Square is definitely to be avoided. It has a reputation for being dangerous at all hours and serious crimes such as assaults and robberies are common.
- Hunters Point : This historically important but poor neighborhood is plagued by crime, particularly gang violence and poverty. Crime rates remain high, making it a dangerous area, especially at night.
- Bayview-Hunters Point : This neighborhood experiences incidents of armed violence with a crime rate significantly higher than the national average.
- Mission District : While popular with tourists for its vibrant culture, the Mission District can be unpredictable at night. Robberies, violence and gang-related incidents contribute to its reputation as a risky area after dark.
- Outer Mission : This residential area also experiences crime rates significantly higher than the national average.
- Western Addition : While parts of this neighborhood are safe, some areas have high rates of petty crime such as assaults and car break-ins. Drug-related crime is also a concern.
- South of Market (SoMa) : Mostly safe during the day due to its commercial activity, SoMa has a mixed reputation at night due to incidents of theft and homelessness. Some areas of SoMa have higher crime rates than others.
- Golden Gate Park : Although a beautiful place during the day, Golden Gate Park becomes less populated at night, leading to increased illicit activity and security concerns.
- Civic Center : Concentration of homeless people and drug trafficking with high risk of theft and assault
San Francisco Red Light Districts
Regardless of crime rates, here are the red-light neighborhoods in San Francisco to avoid because of their reputation and bad crowds:
- North Beach between Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf
- Broadway/Columbus Avenue
- Tenderloin
Best neighborhoods to stay in San Francisco
Without ranking them in order of preference, here are the places considered to be the best neighborhoods in San Francisco:
- Financial District
- Union Square
- Russian hill
- Nob Hill
- Fisherman's Wharf
- North Beach
- The embarcadero
- La Marina
It's hard to say what is the best place to stay in San Francisco. Indeed, all the beautiful neighborhoods listed above have their own interest, their own identity and characteristics that may appeal to some and may not to others. It all depends on your tastes and the type of stay you are planning in San Francisco.
However, I will tell you the 2 neighborhoods most popular with tourists:
Best neighborhood to visit San Francisco: Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf is the most touristy district of San Francisco. See location Fisherman's Wharf
This neighborhood has it all: Entertainment, restaurants, shops and its view of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate and Alcatraz Island!
Another neighborhood to stay in San Francisco: Nob Hill
This rich and chic neighborhood overlooks the entire city of San Francisco. This is where the city's bourgeoisie and aristocracy reside. It is a safe, friendly neighborhood with charm and central enough for visiting the city. There are good restaurants and nice shops there. See location Nob Hill
This is where a majority of the most beautiful luxury hotels in San Francisco are concentrated:
And, if you are hesitant about staying in San Francisco, you can move away a little and look for accommodation in San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley!
Hi
mein Mann und ich waren für volle 13 Tage in SF, (jetzt im September 2023). Ich kann SF nicht wirklich als eine erneute Reise in Betracht ziehen. This war is of the last time in America, but it sleeps for 2 days in California. Wir waren sehr shockiert. Wir haben die Stadt zu Fuß erkundet.
Fisherman´s Wharf is full, den Hon-Top Bus sollte man gar nicht erst erst in Betracht ziehen. Die Lautstärke (95 dB) in SF in exorbitant high, of the Dreck and Gestank, sowie auch die hohe Zahl der Obdachlosen, wo viele von denen auch noch verwirrt sind und mit sich selber reden, ganze Zeltstraßen, alles sehr verkommen und nur auf die Meile für die Touristen abgestellt. Nein, das ist ein Armutszeugnis für SF, Einmal ja, aber nicht noch einmal. Als mein Mann und ich auf unseren Bus gewartet haben, hat neben uns ein Obdachloser sein großes Geschäft erledigt, mitten auf der Straße, und es hat keinen Interessiert. Die ganze Market Street ist all von Obdachlosen, selbst die Polizei hat ihre Mühe, aber ab 18 Uhr abends rotten die sich richtig zusammen. Jeder Laden dort hat mindsestens 3 Wachleute, voll bestückt mit Waffen, damit nicht geklaut wird, echt unheimlich. On Market Street there is a Tag Ranger, in full Montur, and you can be found by a Tourist, so it was there in Egypt, but not in SF. Hier treffen Welten aufeinander und die Schere zwischen Arm und Reich ist extrem, an jeder Ecke zu sehen, sehr bedauerlich für SF. War es für viele vielleicht vor 20 Jahren noch eine Vorzeigestadt, ist SF ein sinkender Stern und wenn die Führung in SF nicht bald was einfällt, dann bleiben auch die Touristen weg.
Kommen wir zu den positiven Aspekten. Please note that when the Hotel begins, you will be able to do so. Wir haben jeden Tag die Öffis genutzt, was sehr gut geklappt hat. Wir hatten unsere tägliche Route mit dem Bus 292 vom Sam Trans, Tageskarte 10 Dollar, für 2 Personen. You can now use the Citypass. Vorab gekauft (€153,00 for 2 Personen), denn die Preise vor Ort sind wesentlich höher. Damit kann man alles verbinden, wie Bootstour, Zoo, Aquarium und Exploratorium. Alcatraz, the Karten had also been eaten ($90,00, for 2 Persons), was already gut war and also of its time. So it will be possible to do all of these things in Ruhe and then they will be spontaneous. Muir Woods mit den Öffis geht auch zu erreichen, including schönen Wanderung, mit atemberaubender Aussicht über den Bäumen und tollem Wetter. Some people and angels were on Market Street, they were all there and they were there. Am Union Quarre gibt es einen absolute tollen Diner (Loris) nur zu empfehlen, absolute Klasse. If you have one of the tickets of the automatic ticket, you will have to pay for them and you will be able to do so, if you have a good ticket, you will be able to have a good effect on the Muni nur einmal benötigt. Ocean Beach is located on the Straßenbahn (Linie N) railway line, which is directly on Market Street to Ocean Beach. The Cable Car (8 Dollar, Pro Person) is only available for 4 to 6 hours. Der Golden Gate Park is already covered. China Town war ok. Wenn man aber SF wirklich kennenlernen möchte, sollte man versuchen alles zu erlaufen, nur so kann man sehr schöne Sachen sehen, wie die Mauerbilder im Mission Distrikt, aber bitte nur am Tage. Die Art Street ist nur zu empfehlen, aber auch hier Vorsicht, denn Tenderloin ist auch am Tage gefährlich. SF doesn't need to be in the spotlight when it comes to tourism, but we don't have to worry about tourism.
Fazit für uns, man muss es gesehen haben, nur dann kann man sich ein Bild machen, aber es bestätigt alle Angaben zur Sicherheit. Schade für SF, denn so zieht man keine Touristen mehr an. Kathrin
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