Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Advisory summary Many violent crimes take place in Mexico.”
Updated Tue, 12 Aug 2025
Full advisory →Is Monterrey safe? 🇲🇽
Mexico · Safety report last updated
As of September 2026, Monterrey scores 54/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Yes — Monterrey is moderately safe for visitors who stick to tourist zones and use reputable transport, though express kidnapping via street taxis remains a serious risk at night. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Monterrey 🇲🇽
Mexico · Assessed 21 September 2026
54
/ 100
Mostly — take normal precautions
Safer than ~47% of countries
What drives this score
Crime50/100CautionCrime index 52.7 / 100
Sentiment60/100FairMostly positive
Advisories72Good
Stability57Fair
Health73Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel State of Baja California FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tijuana, except: airside transit through Tijuana airport the Cross Border Xpress bridge from the airport linking terminals across the Mexican-US border the federal toll road 1D and Via Rápida through Tijuana to the border FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tecate in Baja California, including roads between Tijuana and Tecate.”
Updated 2026-09-11T15:29:14Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Mexico: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-09-17T16:54:26.2607194-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Caution
Mugging & robbery risk
Moderate risk
62
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
High risk
58
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
58 / 100 (Mostly positive)
58
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
1.1M residents
66
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
24.9 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3Mexico24.9South Africa43.7
21
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMuggings and armed robbery occur mainly at night in poorly lit peripheral areas like Independencia; rare in tourist zones during daylight
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag-snatching are frequent in crowded spots such as Macroplaza, Barrio Antiguo, and the Central de Autobuses bus terminal
▸ 4 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
60/100
Reported feel58Mostly positive
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk58High risk
Recent traveler reports indicate visitors generally feel safe in Monterrey's main tourist districts during the day, but express caution at night and in unfamiliar neighborhoods due to taxi scams and petty theft.
Yes — Monterrey is moderately safe for visitors who stick to tourist zones and use reputable transport, though express kidnapping via street taxis remains a serious risk at night.
Monterrey's composite safety index of 48/100 reflects moderate overall risk, driven by a high homicide rate (24.9/100k) but offset by strong health infrastructure and low terrorism. Visitor-oriented crime is concentrated in petty theft and opportunistic scams, with violent incidents against tourists rare when precautions are taken.
Recent developments
- Jun 2026Monterrey police arrested four people over an attempted robbery of World Cup fans near tourist areas— The New York Times
- Jun 2026U.S. Embassy in Mexico warned Americans of safety risks ahead of the World Cup, urging increased caution— CBS News
- Apr 2026Reports highlighted rising disappearances on the 'highway of death' route to the U.S. border, affecting regional travel safety— borderreport.com
Common scams
- Express kidnapping via unlicensed street taxis, particularly at night near Macroplaza, Barrio Antiguo, and the Central de Autobuses bus terminal
- Taxi overcharging and unnecessary detours by unregulated operators in tourist zones
- Street distraction scams involving fake officials or 'helpers' targeting wallets and phones in crowded areas
Full briefing
Monterrey presents a moderate safety profile for travelers, with risks that are manageable through vigilance and smart choices. The city's safety index of 48/100 reflects a balance between serious concerns like a high homicide rate (24.9 per 100k) and strengths in healthcare, infrastructure, and low terrorism risk. For visitors, the primary dangers are not random violence but targeted crimes such as express kidnapping via unlicensed street taxis and opportunistic pickpocketing in crowded areas. These risks are concentrated in specific zones and times, meaning safety largely depends on where you go and how you move around.
Recent reports confirm these patterns: in June 2026, Monterrey police arrested four individuals for attempting to rob World Cup fans, underscoring that opportunistic crime does occur near tourist hubs despite overall lower rates of visitor-targeted violence. The U.S. Embassy reiterated its warning for increased caution around the same time, aligning with the Level 2 advisory from the U.S. State Department. Additionally, ongoing concerns about disappearances on routes to the U.S. border, while not directly affecting city center tourists, highlight broader regional instability that warrants caution when traveling outside Monterrey. Traveler sentiment remains mostly positive, with visitors reporting safe experiences in well-patrolled areas like San Pedro Garza Garcia, Macroplaza, and Barrio Antiguo during daylight hours.
To stay safe, avoid all street-hailed taxis at any time — especially at night near Macroplaza, Barrio Antiguo, or the bus terminal — as they are linked to express kidnapping schemes where victims are forced to withdraw cash from multiple ATMs. Instead, rely on Uber, DiDi, or taxis arranged through your hotel. Keep valuables concealed and avoid flashing electronics in crowded markets or transit hubs where pickpocketing is common. Stick to established tourist zones during the day, and refrain from walking alone at night in unfamiliar or poorly lit areas such as Independencia or Niño Artillero. By following these precautions, visitors can enjoy Monterrey’s cultural and business offerings with significantly reduced risk.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Monterrey districts for visitors: 1 safer, 5 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Monterrey safety map.
Colonia IndependenciaavoidRegarded as unsafe due to drug crime and cartel activity; not recommended for visitors.
Niño ArtilleroavoidPeripheral area with elevated risk; avoid unless necessary and with local guidance.
Centro (Macroplaza, Parque Fundidora, Barrio Antiguo)cautionWell-patrolled by day; avoid after dark due to express kidnapping risk from street taxis.
GuadalupecautionWorking-class area with higher crime; exercise caution, especially at night.
San NicolascautionNon-tourist friendly zones present; avoid unfamiliar areas after dark.
Santa CatarinacautionSimilar to Guadalupe and San Nicolas; stay in well-trafficked zones, avoid at night.
ApodacacautionIndustrial zone; exercise caution, particularly near freight corridors and after dark.
San Pedro Garza GarciasaferAffluent municipality with strong security, lowest crime perception in Mexico.
07 · After Dark
Is Monterrey safe at night?
41% of people in Mexico say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2024).
Muggings and armed robbery occur mainly at night in poorly lit peripheral areas like Independencia; rare in tourist zones during daylight
After dark, be most careful around Colonia Independencia, Niño Artillero, Centro (Macroplaza, Parque Fundidora, Barrio Antiguo), Guadalupe. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Monterrey safety FAQ
Is Monterrey safe for tourists right now?
Yes — Monterrey is moderately safe for visitors who stick to tourist zones and use reputable transport, though express kidnapping via street taxis remains a serious risk at night. Monterrey's composite safety index of 48/100 reflects moderate overall risk, driven by a high homicide rate (24.9/100k) but offset by strong health infrastructure and low terrorism. Visitor-oriented crime is concentrated in petty theft and opportunistic scams, with violent incidents against tourists rare when precautions are taken. (Assessed 21 September 2026.)
Which areas of Monterrey should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Colonia Independencia, Niño Artillero as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Monterrey?
- Express kidnapping via unlicensed street taxis, particularly at night near Macroplaza, Barrio Antiguo, and the Central de Autobuses bus terminal
- Taxi overcharging and unnecessary detours by unregulated operators in tourist zones
- Street distraction scams involving fake officials or 'helpers' targeting wallets and phones in crowded areas
How does Monterrey compare with other places in Mexico?
Monterrey ranks #9 of 9 Mexico destinations we've assessed, scoring 54/100. See the Mexico safety overview for the full list.
How is this Monterrey safety score calculated?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
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