Sydney Travel Risk — Low Risk (22/100)
Is Sydney safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Sydney scores 22/100 on our travel risk index (Low). The US State Department rates Australia Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions, updated 18 Aug 2026); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise normal security precautions. No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Government advisory (score 10)
Natural disasters (score 40)
September 27, 2026
Sydney, Australia has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 22 out of 100 (low risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is natural disasters at 40/100; the lowest-rated category is government advisory at 10/100; last updated September 27, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the Australia travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Sydney to visit in 2026?
Sydney currently sits at 22/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the low-risk tier. Most travelers report routine, uneventful trips and the page below covers the few category-specific things to stay alert for. The highest-rated risk category for Sydney is natural disasters (40/100), and the lowest is government advisory (10/100). This page was last updated on September 27, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: natural hazards (38/100) and security (23/100).
A score of 22 is higher than the scores of 10% of the 241 countries we cover.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 16, 2026
Sydney maintains a low risk baseline composite of 22/100 and a US State Dept advisory level of 1. Current alerts include a green forest fire notification in Australia and a Level 1 global dengue notice from the CDC. Travelers should also note recent headlines regarding potential Sydney Airport strikes, a plane and van near-collision, and incidents at immigration detention centers.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 09:48 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Natural disasters (score 40/100): Check seasonal hazard (hurricane, monsoon, earthquake) for your dates. Identify hotel evacuation routes on arrival.
- Environmental quality (score 35/100): Check air-quality forecasts. If sensitive, pack a mask and adjust outdoor activity. Hydration is critical in heat.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Sydney
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime transit and exploration in central areas are generally safe and routine. Standard alertness in crowded transit hubs and tourist plazas is adequate.
After dark, keep to well-illuminated thoroughfares and busy dining/entertainment quarters. Use verified taxis or rideshare apps when returning late.
Safety by Traveler Type in Sydney
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Sydney for solo travelers (Crime 20/100 · Transport 15/100), women traveling solo (Crime 20/100), families with children (Health 35/100 · Natural disaster 40/100), older travelers (Health 35/100 · Transport 15/100), business travelers (Digital 45/100 · Money 30/100 · Transport 15/100) and lgbtq+ travelers (Advisory 10/100 · Political 10/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Grounded open data research & citations
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 27, 2026 |
Live conditions in Sydney
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Today's weather
🌙 Clear
Sydney, Australia
| Today's high / low | 19.3°C / 13.1°C | Wind now / max | 12.1 km/h / 15.7 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humidity | 68% | Precipitation today | 1.7 mm · 87% chance |
| UV (max today) | 7.4 | Sunrise / Sunset | 06:13 / 19:09 |
- High precipitation chance
Source: Open-Meteo (free public weather API) · fetched 2026-10-16 09:48:05 UTC · cached
Official travel advisory
Level 1 · Exercise Normal Precautions
Australia - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Green forest fire notification in Australia GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-16
On 12/10/2026, a forest fire started in Australia, until 13/10/2026.
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Green forest fire notification in Australia GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-16
On 10/10/2026, a forest fire started in Australia, until 13/10/2026.
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Green forest fire notification in Australia GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-15
On 14/10/2026, a forest fire started in Australia, until 15/10/2026.
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Green forest fire notification in Australia GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-15
On 13/10/2026, a forest fire started in Australia, until 15/10/2026.
-
Green forest fire notification in Australia GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-15
On 12/10/2026, a forest fire started in Australia, until 15/10/2026.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 09:34:27 UTC
Natural hazard calendar & history
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Sydney happened in April, June and August (3 of 3 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Australia travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Australia entry requirements.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-16 07:26:45 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Sydney
The most weather-stable two-month window for Sydney is September–October, when typical daily temperatures run from about 12°C to 22°C and monthly rain averages 50 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include cyclone season in November–April. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 6, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Sydney
Sydney has 10 hospitals, 10 police stations, 5 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 5 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Balmain Hospital
- Hospital: East Sydney Private Hospital
- Hospital: Sacred Heart Health Service
- Hospital: Saint Luke's Private Hospital
- Hospital: St Vincent's Hospital
- Hospital: St Vincent's Private Hospital
- Hospital: Surry Hills Day Hospital
- Hospital: Sydney Hospital
- Hospital: The Skin Hospital Darlinghurst
- Hospital: Women and Babies Services
- Police: Australian Federal Police
- Police: Balmain Police Station
- Police: Day Street Police Station
- Police: Glebe Police Station
- Police: NSW Police Force
- Police: Surry Hills Police Centre
- Police: Sydney Police Centre
- Police: Sydney Water Police
- Police: The Rocks Police Station
- Police: Woolloomooloo Police Station
- Embassy: Consulate-General of Brazil
- Embassy: Consulate-General of Portugal
- Embassy: Consulate-General of the Republic of Costa Rica
- Embassy: Consulate-General of the Republic of Croatia
- Embassy: Consulate-General of the Republic of Madagascar
- Pharmacy: Amcal Express
- Pharmacy: Barangaroo Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Health Line Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Kent St Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Priceline Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Priceline Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Priceline Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Pyrmont Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Shelley Street Chemist
- Pharmacy: TerryWhite Chemmart
- Fire station: City of Sydney Fire Station
- Fire station: Glebe Fire Station
- Fire station: Pyrmont Fire Station
- Fire station: Rail Fire & Emergency (99)
- Fire station: The Rocks Fire Station
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (Australia)
| Police | 000 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 000 |
| Fire | 000 |
| General | 112 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Medical access
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | medium |
| Emergency response | high |
| English-speaking care | unknown |
| Evacuation complexity | medium |
Sources highlight robust emergency services in Sydney, indicating a strong response capability. No specific details on hospital locations, pharmacy availability, or evacuation procedures were provided.
Common scam patterns
- Overpriced taxi rides. Tourists arriving at Sydney Airport have reported taxi drivers inflating fares or adding unauthorized surcharges, a practice known as taxi top‑up scams. The NSW government introduced a capped $60 flat fare to combat this issue, but vigilance is still advised. Tip: Use the official airport taxi queue or book a reputable ride‑share service and confirm the fare before starting the trip.
- Three‑Card Monte street hustle. Street hustlers set up unwinnable Three‑Card Monte games near The Rocks and Circular Quay, especially on weekend afternoons, to trick tourists into losing money. Bystanders are often drawn in by onlookers, making the scam appear legitimate. Tip: Avoid participating in street games and walk away if you see a crowd gathered around a makeshift table.
- Pickpocketing. Pickpocketing is the most common risk for visitors, especially in crowded spots like Circular Quay and nearby markets. Thieves work by distracting tourists and stealing wallets or phones without being noticed. Tip: Keep bags zipped, use a money belt, and stay aware of your surroundings in busy areas.
Area notes
- CBD. The central business district is well‑patrolled, has extensive public transport and is generally safe for daytime and evening strolls.
- The Rocks. Historic precinct popular with visitors but known for street scams, so keep valuables secure while exploring.
- Kings Cross. Vibrant nightlife hub where alcohol‑related incidents can occur after dark; stay alert and use reputable transport.
Nearest embassies & consulates
Find your home country's diplomatic mission in Australia for consular support, lost passports, or citizen emergencies:
Run a personalized assessment for Sydney
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 23 → 22 | low | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| Sep 10, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Data update Grounded open data research & citations |
| May 15, 2026 | — → 16 | low | Data update Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + Global Peace Index references) |
Every editorial change to Sydney's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Sydney
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Sydney, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.