San Francisco Travel Risk — Moderate Risk (27/100)
Is San Francisco safe to visit?
Moderate risk. Mostly safe. There are a few specific situations to watch for in San Francisco — read the breakdown below.
Political instability (score 10)
Crime (score 48)
September 1, 2026
70%
San Francisco, United States has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 27 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is crime at 48/100; the lowest-rated category is political instability at 10/100; last updated September 1, 2026. This page is a baseline travel safety overview for San Francisco, United States, covering crime, health, government travel advisory, political stability, natural disasters, transport, environmental quality, digital security, and money safety. Real-time conditions — including today's weather, official US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines — are shown in the Live conditions section below and refreshed multiple times per day.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is San Francisco to visit in 2026?
San Francisco currently sits at 27/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine with normal precautions, but a few categories below score high enough that planning matters. The highest-rated risk category for San Francisco is crime (48/100), and the lowest is political instability (10/100). This page was last updated on September 1, 2026; the baseline category scores are editorial estimates, 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.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Aug 27, 2026
San Francisco's safety risk is moderate, with a baseline composite score of 27 out of 100. While a green forest fire alert is active in the United States and the CDC has issued a Level 1 global dengue notice, local health officials have reported ten isolated cyclosporiasis cases with no outbreak.
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: Sep 1, 2026 00:49 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Crime (score 48/100): Use registered taxis or ride-share apps. Keep electronics out of sight in public transit. Read recent reviews for your specific neighborhood.
- Government advisory (score 35/100): Read your country's current official advisory within 7 days of travel. Register with your embassy on arrival if available.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Safety by traveler type in San Francisco
Computed from the category scores on this page plus general best practice — not personalized advice. For guidance tuned to your exact dates, transport, and profile, run a personalized assessment.
Solo travelers
Crime risk is moderate. Solo travelers should keep valuables out of sight, prefer well-lit routes after dark, and use registered taxis or ride-share.
Women traveling solo
General crime risk is moderate. Favor reputable accommodation, pre-book airport transfers, and keep to busier streets at night. We don't hold gender-specific incident data for San Francisco, so also check the live official advisory above and local women-traveler communities.
Families with children
Health and disaster risk are low — a generally family-friendly profile. Pack a basic first-aid kit and confirm your insurance covers children.
Senior travelers
Health and transport risk are low. Carry medication in original packaging and keep a copy of prescriptions.
Business travelers
Digital/money risk is moderate. Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi, prefer contactless or one dedicated card, and keep a backup payment method separate.
LGBTQ+ travelers
Local laws and social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ travelers vary widely by country and are not captured in our category scores. The official advisory/political indicators are moderate. Review your government's LGBTQ+ travel guidance and the advisory shown above before booking.
Baseline scores
Source: AI-enriched 2026-07-21 (Ollama-grounded + Jina full text, cited; pending editorial verification) · Confidence: 70
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 1, 2026 |
Live conditions in San Francisco
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.
Official travel advisory
No current US State Department advisory entry matched United States in the latest feed. Check the official advisory directory before travel.
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Green notification for tropical cyclone FIVE-26. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 0 (0 in Tropical Storm). GREEN · country-wide · 2026-08-31
From 31/08/2026 to 31/08/2026, a Tropical Depression (maximum wind speed of 93 km/h) FIVE-26 was active in Atlantic. The cyclone affects these countries: United States (vulnerability Low). Estimated population affected by category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 0 (0 in tro
-
Green forest fire notification in United States GREEN · country-wide · 2026-08-30
On 19/08/2026, a forest fire started in United States, until 30/08/2026.
-
Green forest fire notification in United States GREEN · country-wide · 2026-08-29
On 26/08/2026, a forest fire started in United States, until 29/08/2026.
-
Green forest fire notification in United States GREEN · ~225 km away · 2026-08-29
On 26/08/2026, a forest fire started in United States, until 31/08/2026.
-
Green forest fire notification in United States GREEN · country-wide · 2026-08-28
On 22/08/2026, a forest fire started in United States, until 29/08/2026.
“~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 2026-09-01 00:49:38 UTC
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-07-30
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, Samoa, Vietnam, New Caledonia (France), Maldives, Bolivia, Tonga, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia,
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-03-09
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 2026-08-31 15:03:16 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent news headlines were returned for San Francisco. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in San Francisco
San Francisco 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: CPMC California Campus
- Hospital: CPMC Davies Campus
- Hospital: CPMC Mission Bernal Campus
- Hospital: CPMC Van Ness Campus
- Hospital: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Geary Campus
- Hospital: Laguna Honda Hospital And Rehabilitation Center
- Hospital: Saint Mary's Medical Center
- Hospital: San Francisco General Hospital
- Hospital: UC Medical Center Moffett & Long Hospitals
- Hospital: UCSF Mount Zion Campus
- Police: California Highway Patrol
- Police: Golden Gate Park Police Station
- Police: Ingleside Police Station
- Police: Mission Police Station
- Police: Northern Police Station
- Police: Park Police Station
- Police: Richmond Police Station
- Police: San Francisco Police Academy
- Police: Taraval Police Station
- Police: Tenderloin Police Station
- Embassy: Consulate General of El Salvador
- Embassy: Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco
- Embassy: Consulate General of People's Republic of China
- Embassy: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea
- Embassy: Yemen Consulate
- Pharmacy: CarePlus / CVS
- Pharmacy: CVS Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: CVS Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Walgreens
- Pharmacy: Walgreens
- Pharmacy: Walgreens
- Pharmacy: Walgreens
- Pharmacy: Walgreens
- Pharmacy: Walgreens
- Pharmacy: Walgreens
- Fire station: San Francisco Fire Station 11
- Fire station: San Francisco Fire Station 12
- Fire station: San Francisco Fire Station 20
- Fire station: San Francisco Fire Station 24
- Fire station: San Francisco Fire Station 6
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 (United States)
| Police | 911 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| General | 911 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Medical access
| Hospital access | low |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | low |
| Emergency response | low |
| English-speaking care | unknown |
| Evacuation complexity | low |
The provided sources did not contain specific information on hospital capacity, emergency response times, English‑language medical services, pharmacy availability, or evacuation difficulty in San Francisco. Travelers should consult up‑to‑date local health resources before their trip.
Common scam patterns
- Unlicensed rideshare at SFO. Scammers pose as rideshare or taxi drivers at San Francisco International Airport, offering flat‑rate rides that far exceed official fares. They may also take longer routes to increase the charge. Tip: Use only official Lyft, Uber pick‑up zones or metered taxis and verify the vehicle’s license plate before boarding.
- Sob story panhandling at Fisherman's Wharf. Individuals approach tourists with emotional stories, asking for cash donations while subtly attempting to distract them. In many cases they combine the plea with a quick pickpocket attempt. Tip: Politely decline donations and keep your belongings secure, staying aware of your surroundings.
- Credit Card Skimming. Fraudsters install hidden devices on ATMs or payment terminals to capture card data when travelers enter their PIN. The stolen information can later be used for unauthorized purchases. Tip: Cover the keypad when typing your PIN and inspect machines for any unusual attachments before use.
Area notes
- Union Square. Heavily trafficked with strong police presence and good lighting, making it one of the safer downtown spots.
- Fisherman's Wharf. Popular waterfront area with many visitors; petty theft is common, so stay alert.
- Tenderloin. Known for higher property‑crime rates and visible homelessness; visitors should limit time spent there, especially after dark.
Frequently asked questions
Is San Francisco safe to visit right now?
Mostly safe. There are a few specific situations to watch for in San Francisco — read the breakdown below. Composite score: 27/100 (Moderate risk). Crime category sits at 48/100; pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas is the most common issue, but violent crime against tourists is uncommon. Last refreshed September 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for San Francisco, United States?
The current US State Department advisory level for United States is shown in the Live conditions section above. Always cross-check your home country's foreign-ministry advisory — for many countries the tier differs from the US assessment. Real-time advisory text is fetched every 6 hours from the US State Department RSS feed.
How safe is San Francisco for tourists?
Mostly safe. There are a few specific situations to watch for in San Francisco — read the breakdown below. The biggest risk factor right now is Crime (48/100). Even the highest category here is moderate, so a generally manageable risk profile with normal precautions.
What is the biggest risk in San Francisco?
The highest-scoring risk category is Crime (score 48/100). Even the highest category here is moderate, suggesting a generally manageable risk profile. Full 9-category breakdown is in the Scores section of this page.
Is it safe to visit San Francisco in September 2026?
For September 2026, the composite risk for San Francisco is 27/100 (Moderate risk). Live weather, disaster alerts, and news shown in the Live conditions section above are refreshed every 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the source. For an AI-synthesized briefing for your specific trip dates and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked at the top of this page.
How are these travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 based on government travel advisories (US State Dept), crime indices (Numbeo), Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (weather, advisories, news) is layered on top of every assessment.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated daily: live weather, official advisories, disaster alerts, health notices and news refresh automatically multiple times per day, and an AI safety snapshot is regenerated on the first visit each day. The baseline category scores are editorial estimates reviewed periodically (see the Transparency & Sources section below).
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
Run a personalized assessment for San Francisco
Get a tailored briefing in ~15 seconds, with live weather, advisories, and recent news.
Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Auto-enrichment from Ollama-grounded AI (https://www.isitsafetovisit.com/cities/san-francisco | https://beforeyougotravels.com/destinations/san-francisco/is-it-safe | https://www.travelwarningcheck.com/travel-advisory/usa) AI-enriched 2026-07-21 (Ollama-grounded + Jina full text, cited; pending editorial verification) |
50% |
| May 15, 2026 | — → 33 | moderate | initial snapshot Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + Global Peace Index references) |
70% |
Every editorial change to San Francisco'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.
Transparency & Sources
We try to be honest about what we know, what we estimated, and what we don't have. Below is the audit trail for this page.
Review status
verified
Last reviewed
2026-07-21 02:39:11
Data confidence
70%
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for San Francisco
- 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.
What is estimated
- Composite tier and category scores are an editorial baseline estimate, not a real-time measurement.
What is unavailable
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Data review process · 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.