This post answers a question that many visitors to New York City want to know, “Is Harlem safe for tourists?”
As a native New Yorker, I've witnessed Harlem lose its bad reputation and gain a favorable one among locals and visitors alike.
Still, crime exists in every neighborhood. So I've written this post explaining what sections of Harlem are safer than others. I also share some safety tips.
Harlem is a fairly big neighborhood with multiple sub-sections, each with its own character and safety concerns.
To answer the question, you must know about the three main sub-sections, Central Harlem, West Harlem, and East Harlem.
IS CENTRAL HARLEM SAFE?
Central Harlem is safe for tourists and also has the most sites of interest which is why we offer our walking tours of the area.
Central Harlem runs east to west from 5th Avenue to St. Nicholas Avenue and from 110th Street to 155th Street.
Gentrification in Central Harlem has been rapidly growing since the 2000s.
In addition to some amazing historic sights, there are excellent restaurants and bars.
IS WEST HARLEM SAFE?
Generally, West Harlem is safe. Much of it is residential with beautiful brownstones.
It covers the area from Frederick Douglass Boulevard to the Hudson River between West 96th Street to West 155th Street.
Unless you have a specific place to go, it’s best not to wander around West Harlem at night.
IS EAST HARLEM SAFE?
The neighborhood is also known as El Barrio or Spanish Harlem.
As the name suggests, this area is home to one of the largest Latin American communities in New York City.
East Harlem is not as safe as other parts of Harlem. This is due mainly to high poverty levels.
East Harlem’s north-south boundaries are East 96th Street to 143rd Street, and from Fifth Avenue on the west to the East River on the east.
East Harlem does not have many points of interest to tourists.
Also, it is not a great idea to head to East Harlem at night without a particular destination in mind, like Patsy’s Pizzeria.
SAFETY TIPS
With gentrification along 125th Street and the surrounding streets, much of Harlem is safe, especially during the day.
We recommend that you use many of these tips, not just in Harlem, but when visiting any other New York City neighborhood.
(1) Make sure your bags, purses, and backpacks are zipped closed at all times except when you are getting something from them. Always have them in sight.
(2) Don’t casually handle your valuables like wallets or expensive jewelry when in public.
Do not flash your phone around more than needed, especially at night. Phones are an easy grab for a petty thief.
(3) As best as possible, try to blend in with the locals. For example, don't stop in the middle of a crowded street to take photos.
You will stand out as a tourist for sure, in addition to annoying people walking down the street!
(4) Feel free to ask locals for directions if you are lost. Most people are friendly, just like in other parts of the city.
Most locals will be happy to assist you, although not everyone who lives in Harlem is happy that their neighborhood has become a tourist destination.
If someone does not respond to you kindly, don't engage with them. Just say “Thanks anyway” and be on your way.
(5) At night, use your common sense. If a street is not well-lit and you don’t have a particular destination on that street, take another route.
(6) After dark, do not venture into parks, particularly the northwest section of Central Park at 110th Street called the North Woods. By the way, this applies to many parks in NYC.
(7) Don’t take the subway too late at night. Yellow cabs and Uber are a better option if you’re out past 11 pm.
For more safety tips for all of NYC, read our full post, “Is New York Safe to Visit for Tourists?”
WHAT DOES REDDIT SAY?
Hopefully, this post gave you a good sense of Harlem and safety concerns but I think it's important to hear other points of view.
Since Reddit is a good place to find opinions about many NYC topics, I reviewed what Reddit users had to say about safety in the three parts of Harlem.
First, how safe is Central Harlem?
Here a native New Yorker who knows the area well had excellent insight.
Most crimes in the neighborhood (and I would argue the same for many neighborhoods in NYC) are between people who know each other.
The advice? Keep your head down and mind your own business and you should be fine.
A local says that he and his wife feel safe in Central Harlem and went on to say that there's no need to worry about getting mugged.
I disagree with the second part of his comment.
Not because Central Harlem is dangerous but because in a city of nearly 9 million people, muggings occur anywhere.
But the chances of you being mugged are incredibly slim.
What about West Harlem?
People had positive things to say about safety in the area.
The below comment suggests that the further west the better, and also recommends where to go for good coffee!
Lastly, what do Reddit users say about safety in East Harlem?
I found this long reply from a local to be very sensible with great suggestions: be aware of your surroundings, stay in well-lit areas, avoid large crowds, especially at night, and don't stray off your known route home.
While a local has more experience than many people who comment on Reddit, I do think that visitors to New York might want to skip East Harlem unless there is a reason to go there.
There are many great things about the neighborhood but it doesn't see a lot of tourists and no one likes to stand out like a sore thumb.
For even more thoughts on safety concerns in Harlem, read this thread from members of our New York Travel Tips Facebook Group made up of both locals and travelers.
