Av. Beira Mar, Fortaleza, Ceará - Brazil
Image Source/ G1 - Globo
To kickstart the list we have the specific street Av. Beira Mar based in Fortaleza, Ceará, a notoriously dangerous street in a notoriously dangerous neighborhood. Just recently, around 14 people were unjustly killed during a nightclub shooting supposed to have been born from rising tensions between rival drug gangs. Many areas in Fortaleza are deemed unsafe (particularly after dark) and are suggested to be avoided. While Av. Beira Mar is one of them, there's more streets around Iracema Beach that ought to be left out of your itinerary, including Av. Historiador Raimundo Girão.
Av. Juan R. Escudero, Acapulco - Mexico
Image Source/ Quadratin Guerrero
While some people believe that Acapulco in Mexico is a beloved, beautiful city with lots to offer, the real picture might be something a little bit different. It was believed that the city was perfect for a relaxing retreat, and was even used in some Mexican movies! But cameras don't allow for the drug wars that go on beneath the streets; in particular Av. Juan R. Escudero. Two gangs, Los Locos and 221, hang out regularly in the hills neighborhoods. Crime and murder are both rife issues present in the city.
Baga Toiruu, Ulaanbaatar - Mongolia
Image Source/ Horseback Mongolia
This is the sort of place you don't want to be caught in when the street lights are turned on. The streets of Ulaanbaatar, particularly Baga Toiruu, pose a concern to visitors who are out and about late in the evening. According to reports, young males often engage in unprovoked street fights with tourists; nobody is exempt from being a victim of crime here. Even though this threat is of a different kind from the ones described elsewhere in this list, you should still take precautions to prevent it (by avoiding the place altogether!).
Bulevar del Sur, Chamelecón, San Pedro Sula - Honduras
Image Source/ LaPrensa.hn
San Pedro Sula in the Honduras was once-upon-a-time voted to be the world capital of homicide back in 2009, so let this tell you all you need to know about the area. Right now, there's about 800,000 living here, and the homicide rate is expected to be circa 42 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, which is uncomfortably high. Between the civil wars, dictatorships and drug trafficking, it's no wonder San Pedro Sula isn't having a good time, and a particularly bad street there has to be Bulevar del Sur in Chamelecón.
Calle Argentina, Catia, Caracas - Venezuela
Image Source/ The Irish Times
Catia has to be up there as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods, in one of the most dangerous cities in the world. So, by that means, Calle Argentina must be potentially one of the worst, if the not the worst, street in the world right now. The situation in Catia got so bad at one point, that in 2016 they were seeing around 60 people being murdered EACH DAY. Venezuela is under a lot of pressure right now considering its political climate and the barrio of Caracas is suggested to be avoided at all costs.
Calle Principal, San Pedro Sula, Cortes - Honduras
Image Source/ El Heraldo
Another area of San Pedro Sula is being included on this list purely for how dangerous and violent the city can be. Some have said that it's generally a common experience to see dead bodies scattered around the roads here, and that streets like Calle Principal are particularly ripe with violence and crime. Within the Chamelecón area, much of the crime committed tends to be drug-oriented. There have been some US-based programs intended to make the city a safer place to live and to visit too.
Calle Tiburcio Reyes, La Perla, San Juan - Puerto Rico
Image Source/ Flickr
Calle Tiburcio Reyes in Puerto Rico is not the place to go on holiday, that's for certain. With its rich history of the butchering industry, La Perla has changed, and not necessarily for the better. More recently, it's the Latin mafia and their drug trade that take the crown for the biggest business going. While there are some stunning places to be seen in the area, it's not worth the risk of travelling there. In more recent years, the government has tried to tackle the issues at hand with an increased police presence.
Calle Zacamil, San Salvador - El Salvador
Image Source/ Solo Noticias
The year 2016 saw an average of almost 84 killings committed for every 100,000 inhabitants living in San Salvador. Unfortunately, but probably not unsurprising, the state that San Salvador is in now might have something to do with the US. The notorious and lethal MS-13 gang that plagues the city was originally founded in the United States by the children of Salvadorean immigrants. This gang is a major contributor to the crime rates that exist in San Salvador now. Both Calle Zacamil and the Calle Principal are considered to be among the most dangerous streets in this area.
Camino Verde, Tijuana - Mexico
Image Source/ El Sol de Tijuana
Tijuana is a well known area of Mexico that's located right at the border with the USA. It was actually ranked the most violent city in the world back in 2018 by the Citizen Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Allegedly, six people a day are killed in the city, and one area that has a particularly high concentration of murders is none other than Camino Verde. Those that have lived there have expressed that violence and murder is a way of life; it's what's expected of you as you grow older.
Cancún - Mexico
Image Source/ The Independent
On the shore of the Caribbean Sea in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, you'll find the city of Cancún. It's a relatively major tourist destination, but that doesn't excuse its 64.47 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. It's famous for its stunning beaches and the extensive cultural heritage. Cancún sees a substantial amount of criminal activity, including killings. In September of 2022, the government decided to send 3,000 more troops into the city in an effort to bring the soaring murder rate under control.
Cape Flats, Cape Town - South Africa
Image Source/ South African
As you might already know, South Africa has had it's fair share of poverty and violence throughout history, even with Mandela as President. The country's economic situation meant that drastic improvement wasn't achievable, and it's well known that poverty and violence go hand in hand. Cape Flats is a particular neighborhood of Cape Town which is notoriously known for the amount of gangs that hang around the streets each day. The gangs pose such a threat that the army are regularly called in to manage them.
Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince - Haiti
Image Source/ The Guardian
Located right on the edge of Haiti's capital, Cité Soleil is not a place for the faint-hearted. One avid traveler reports his own anecdote of travelling to Cité Soleil, or "The City of Sun." The tension can be felt just walking around the area and the streets are mashed together with an array of slums and huts, potentially fallout of the 2010 earthquake. It's not even necessarily the crime that you could fall victim to here, with the area being without centralized sewer systems, anyone there becomes more susceptible to disease.
Ciudad Guayana - Venezuela
Image Source/ Caracas Chronicles
Ciudad Guayana has a population of approximately 964,000 people and is located in the southeast area of Venezuela, close to the Orinoco River. It's well-known for the robustness of its industrial sector, particularly the manufacturing of iron and steel but, nevertheless, during the course of the last several years, the city has been struggling with high levels of both crime and violence. The city of Ciudad Guayana has an array of serious issues, including the increases in carjackings, robberies, and killings.
Coatzacoalcos - Mexico
Image Source/ The Guardian
Coatzacoalcos is located in an area that is notorious for drug trafficking, and the city's residents face a severe problem with drug-related violence on a daily basis. Within the city of Coatzacoalcos, there's loads of gangs responsible for all sorts of illegal operations, including drug trafficking, extortion, and abduction. The local police force in the city has been the target of criticism due to the fact that it is understaffed, underfunded, and has poorly trained officers, all of which may hinder its capacity to successfully fight crime.
Complexo De Alemao, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Image Source/ Evening Standard
In Complexo do Alemao, one of Rio de Janeiro's major favelas, there's a supposed firefight every 30 hours and gunshots can be heard pretty much 24/7. The city is so rife with crime that the third shootout of the day usually happens around 4 p.m. It's typical of a "guerilla warfare" neighborhood. Complexo do Alemao represents a city plagued by gang violence. In 2021, Rio's worst police raid killed 28 people, including a police officer. According to writer Raphael Tsavkko Garcia, this police presence makes it difficult for Brazil to break the cycle of violence.
Feira De Santana - Brazil
Image Source/ The Conversation
Northeastern Brazil is home to the city of Feira de Santana. It is the state's second-largest city and is famous for the historic buildings still standing as well as the cultural events that are consistently hosted here. Feira de Santana, like many other Brazilian cities, has a crime rate that is much higher than the country's average. In the city, the neighborhoods of Queimadinha and Sobradinho have a reputation for being among the most violent, with murder rates at a soaring 63.29 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Felipe Camarao, Natal - Brazil
Image Source/ G1 - Globo
Statista lists Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, as one of the most dangerous cities in Brazil. The International Journal of Safety and Security in Tourism/Hospitality showed that Natal's Western Zone's most deadly neighborhood, Felipe Camarao, hosts 26.99% of the city's killings. The area has 166 killings between 2015 and 2017, and the trend only gets worse. G1 reported the senseless death of a 39-year-old man on his daily walk to work in 2021. In a city with 102 murders per 100,000, mass violence never goes amiss.
Irapuato - Mexico
Image Source/ Daily Sabah
While not a street, Irapuato is a city in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. In October 2022, the city was rocked by a horrific incident in which 12 people were shot and murdered at a pub located in the southern section of the city by unknown assailants. This incident brings to light the high rates of criminal activity and violent behavior that are typical across the state of Guanajuato in general. As you'll already be aware, Acapulco, and Ciudad Victoria are some of the other cities in Mexico that are regarded to be among the most dangerous cities in the world.
La Vele, Scampia, Naples - Italy
Image Source/ Global Design News
It should come as no surprise that Scampia, which is one of the worst neighborhoods in Naples, is located around the biggest open-air drug market in Europe. If you're visiting here, you'll most likely be followed on a motorcycle by one of the numerous gang "lookouts" who keep an eye out for police or intruders. Drug use and violence are at epidemic proportions and, unsurprisingly, you don't want to be darting about once the sun goes down at this particular location, unless crime is what you're looking for.
Livernois Ave, Detroit, Michigan - USA
Image Source/ Michigan Radio
With a rich history in car manufacturing and sales, Detroit didn't always used to be the epicenter of crime that it is nowadays. There are some suburbs of Detroit now that you just wouldn't want to be caught in; it's not a safe area for anyone. Around 25% of the population of Detroit have upped and left since 2000, that statistic comes as no surprise. Because of the population decreased, crime and murder have rapidly increase, with Livernois Avenue taking the crown of the most dangerous street to be stood in.
Long Street, Cape Town - South Africa
Image Source/ The Times
According to the statistics that were issued by the police in 2016 and 2017, the region of Central Cape Town was the most dangerous in all of South Africa. It can be a wonderful destination to visit, much like many of the other cities that have been described in this article; nonetheless, one must always remain vigilant when in the city, since crime is a way of life there, regardless of how lovely the city may be. Long Street is one of the most dangerous parts of the neighborhood, especially late at night.
Mcculloch Street, Baltimore, Maryland - USA
Image Source/ WMAR
Baltimore is yet another American city that is home to some of the most dangerous streets in the world. The junction of Mcculloh Street and West Preston Street is a particularly troublesome stretch since the crime rate, which includes guns, is high. The worst thing is that Baltimore is just a fifty-minute drive away from upscale Washington, DC; but, according to The Economist, African-America men aged 15 to 29 are as likely to die violently as American soldiers were in Iraq. Doesn't seem like a destination for the bucket list!
McKinley Street, Detroit, Michigan - USA
Image Source/ Zillow
There's a couple of Detroit streets on this list, and one of them is McKinley Street (along with any of the area around West Warren Avenue too, to be honest). There's a big reputation about Detroit being a somewhat violent and crime-ridden place in Michigan, and it's reputation really does reflect what happens each day on those streets. The odds of being a victim of a crime in Detroit has reached a staggering 1 in 13 people per year - meaning quite a few of the people you know will most likely fall victim to the crime.
Natal - Brazil
Image Source/ Los Angeles Times
The city of Natal can be found in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, tucked away in the upper-northeast corner of Brazil. It's much-loved for the stunning beaches, sand dunes, and all-year-round lovely weather that it offers. The city is home to around 900,000 residents. In the first part of the month of March 2023, fourteen cities in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, including Natal, were targets of coordinated assaults on public property. A true reflection of how strong the state's criminal element is.
National Bridge Avenue, Saint Louis, Illinois - USA
Image Source/ KSDK
Saint Louis is commonly regarded as the most dangerous and impoverished city in the US and its neighborhood is a prime example of why. In 2013, the murder rate was 18% higher than the average for the whole country. 19 occurrences of murder or manslaughter, 146 cases of robbery and 682 cases of violent were recorded in 2015 alone. At the time, the population was just 26,616. Surprisingly, despite the fact that East Saint Louis is the more hazardous city, a section of National Bridge Avenue in North Saint Louis is the most deadly street in the United States owing to the high number of fatal gun crimes.
Nyanga, Cape Town - South Africa
Image Source/ The Mail & Guardian
There's been a few mentions of Cape Town in this article and considering the political unrest of South Africa, it's hardly surprising why. Nyaga became a place for migrants to live after being forced out of their homes in Langa. With high levels of unemployment, and increase contractions of the HIV and AIDS diseases, tensions began to escalate. There could be up to 120 gangs ruling Cape Town at the minute, and the homicide rates have managed to reach 45.15 per 100,000 inhabitants, a scary statistic.
Palmira - Colombia
Image Source/ Planet Deadly
The city of Palmira is situated in the department of Valle del Cauca near the southwestern region of Colombia. It's the third biggest city in the department after Cali and Buenaventura and has a population of around 300,000. It's homicide rate has managed to peak at 47.97 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it not the worst on this list, but definitely still dangerous. The local government has initiated a program with the intention of reducing the likelihood of young people being involved in criminal activity by offering them access to various services.
Peabody-Darst-Webbe, St Louis - Missouri
Image Source/ FOX 2
Detroit and St. Louis are among the most hazardous US cities by far, given that CBS News ranked St. Louis the second most dangerous city in November 2020. Peabody-Darst-Webbe is the city's most violent area. An example of the senseless crime committed was a car containing four children and two mothers being shot at in June 2019. Reports declare that only one woman survived being shot. The Kansas City Star reported the death of a man shot in the upper chest in August 2021. According to KMOV St. Louis, murder increased 40% in 2021.
Parliament House, Waigani, Port Moresby - Papua New Guinea
Image Source/ Trip.com
You might be looking at this photo of the Parliament House in Papua New Guinea and wondering why it's been included in this list. Well, considering the civil unrest and politically-fulled wars going on in the streets, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea is not deemed to be one of the safest places to be living right now. It's highly advised against that you go out at night; security is suggested for anywhere you might be going. It's heard that many of that gangs use the Parliament House as a location to meet at night.
Trench Town, Kingston - Jamaica
Image Source/ The Guyana Chronicle
Kingston, Jamaica, has long been one of the most hazardous cities, and Trench Town is one of the worst neighborhoods there. In 2018, Business Insider ranked Kingston the 19th most violent city. Gang fighting fuels crime and bloodshed and Jamaica's crime rate is three times the Latin American and Caribbean average due to understaffed and underfunded police, According to the Jamaica Observer, gang activity is focused on Trench Town, which was restricted in January 2021 following a series of killings. A drive-by gunshot killed a 16-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man six months later on June 13.