Cincinnati is a safe city to visit, however care should be taken when visiting certain neighborhoods. Some perceive downtown as unsafe, but according to a 2011 article by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Downtown is "as safe as the suburbs. ... The most common crime [downtown] is theft, which includes shoplifting but not muggings, and the most likely crime you'll suffer is having your car broken into." Therefore, it's safer to park your car in a monitored lot then on the street. As always, be sure to take proactive steps to ensure your safety regardless of where you are by using common sense. There are a fair number of Panhandlers, most aren't harmful, use common sense and firmly say no if approached.
The safest neighborhood near downtown is Mount Adams, which statistically experiences almost no serious crime. Some neighborhoods you should avoid, particularly at night, include Avondale, Walnut Hills, The West End, and parts of Over-the-Rhine.
Over-the-Rhine is becoming a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, but it is still in a transition phase. As of 2011, the safest part of Over-the-Rhine is on Vine Street from Central Parkway to 14th Streets and Main Street up to Liberty. This area is well lit at night, and has constant police presence. Use caution wandering off by yourself in Over-the-Rhine at night as the neighborhood is inconsistent in its makeup. A good rule of thumb for OTR is to stay on the major streets (Vine and Main) and stay south of Liberty. Travel in a group if possible, or call a cab.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Cincinnati
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Cincinnati - updated May 2024
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Cincinnati Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
