Nashville is generally safe for visitors in 2026, and Metro police data shows reported crime has declined. Yet a new SmartAsset study ranks the city among the 10 least safe large cities in the country, and that headline makes people nervous. I read the 2025 police results, the first half of 2026 report, and the study itself. Below, I explain why they disagree and what actually matters for your trip.
Is Nashville Safe to Visit Right Now?
Yes for most visitors, and reported crime is falling. Nashville police recorded 74 homicides in 2025, and Nashville’s official 2025 crime results summary shows that is about 27.5% fewer than 2024 and the lowest total since 2014. Violent offenses fell to their lowest point since 2013, and gunshot victims dropped 35%.
Robberies and burglaries reached historic lows too. Metro Nashville Police counted 866 robberies, the fewest since 1969, and 2,524 burglaries, the lowest total in Metro government history.
The first half of 2026 shows the same direction. According to the first half 2026 MNPD crime report, police recorded 14,686 Part I offenses from January through June, down from 18,186 in the first half of 2025. Violent offenses fell from 3,769 to 3,155, and property offenses fell from 14,417 to 11,531.
| Measure | Number | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Homicides in 2025 | 74 | Lowest since 2014 |
| Robberies in 2025 | 866 | Fewest since 1969 |
| Burglaries in 2025 | 2,524 | Lowest in Metro history |
| Part I offenses, first half of 2025 | 18,186 | Baseline for comparison |
| Part I offenses, first half of 2026 | 14,686 | About 19% lower |
The city’s administration also reports vehicle thefts down 37% in the first half of 2026. One caution applies to the 2026 numbers. MNPD describes its crime analysis reports as management tools, not official totals, and says preliminary classifications can change. A falling count still leaves thousands of offenses a year, so where you stay and when you go out still matter.
Why Does a New Study Rank Nashville Among the Least Safe Large Cities?
SmartAsset’s 2026 safest big cities study ranks Nashville 76th out of 83 large cities, which makes it the 8th least safe. It scored every city with 250,000 or more residents on violent crime, property crime, traffic deaths, and natural disaster risk.
The crime inputs came from the FBI’s 2024 report, so the study predates the 2025 decline in Nashville. It also counts traffic fatalities and disaster risk, and it measures risk per resident, not per visitor.
| Measure | Nashville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Rank among 83 cities | 76th (8th least safe) | 83rd (least safe) |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 residents | 11.2 | 25.0 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 residents | 45.1 | 69.0 |
| Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents | 13.6 | 21.5 |
Memphis posts a violent crime rate about 2.2 times higher than Nashville’s, and its traffic death rate is also higher. Both Tennessee cities sit in the bottom 10, but they are not in the same situation.
Why Do Rankings, Police Data, and a Tourist’s Experience Tell Different Stories?
They measure different things, so none of them contradicts the others.
| Source | What it measures | What it cannot tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Citywide ranking | Per resident crime from 2024 FBI data, plus traffic deaths and disaster risk | Which block or hour is risky for a visitor, or anything after 2024 |
| Current MNPD data | Reported offenses citywide and by precinct, 2025 and first half of 2026 | Your personal risk, unreported crime, or rates, since precinct totals are raw counts |
| A tourist’s experience | Where you stay, when you go out, alcohol, traffic, and theft | Statistical risk, since individual accounts are unverified |
I treat the latest official data as the authority on crime trends and the ranking as a citywide benchmark. Online visitor discussions mostly describe comfortable trips, with worries centered on late night drinking, crowds, and rentals, but those posts are unverified, so I use them only as context for which questions to answer. That is why the sections below focus on neighborhood, time of day, alcohol, traffic, theft, and your exact accommodation.
Which Parts of Nashville Deserve More Caution?
MNPD does not label neighborhoods dangerous. It publishes incident data by precinct and street, so I use it to show where extra care makes sense. In the first half of 2026, the five precincts with the highest Part I offense totals were Southeast (2,050), Midtown Hills (1,773), Hermitage (1,747), South (1,739), and North (1,636), according to the same MNPD report.
Those are raw counts, not rates, so large and busy precincts post bigger numbers. A high precinct total says little about any single block.
Local safety guides name pockets of Antioch, Glencliff, Bordeaux, Talbot’s Corner, and North Nashville as places to be more careful, and according to those guides none sit on a typical tourist route. Treat that as a prompt to check, not a verdict. Risk also varies inside one district, and neighborhood by neighborhood East Nashville crime data shows the risk shifts a lot from one pocket to the next. You can check any street on the Metro Nashville police incident map dashboard before you commit to a hotel or rental.
Is Nashville Safe for Tourists?
Yes in the districts where most tourists spend their time. Lower Broadway, The Gulch, Midtown, Germantown, and the honky tonk strip draw heavy foot traffic and visible police presence. Local guides and past Metro police announcements point to theft, such as phones, wallets, and items left in parked cars, as the most common visitor problem.
Music Row, Centennial Park, and the Country Music Hall of Fame sit in busy districts, and Vanderbilt University anchors the West End corridor. Picking a good base matters just as much, so knowing which Nashville neighborhoods suit first time visitors before you book a stay makes a real difference.
Where Are the Safest Places to Stay in Nashville?
Looking at crime rates and safety by Nashville neighborhood shows how each area compares before you commit. Areas that visitor guides frequently recommend include Belle Meade (home of Belle Meade Plantation), Green Hills, The Gulch, Germantown, Hillsboro Village, 12 South, and Historic Edgefield in East Nashville. Confirm the exact address before booking, because a neighborhood name does not tell you about a specific block.
Some of those names confuse visitors. Belle Meade and Berry Hill are separate small cities inside Davidson County, while Brentwood and Franklin sit in Williamson County. They are quiet suburbs, not Nashville neighborhoods, and they add a longer drive back from Broadway.
How Do You Verify an Airbnb in Nashville?
Check the exact address, not the listing’s neighborhood label. Nashville law requires a Metro Codes permit before anyone lists a short term rental, and Metro’s short term rental permit rules set the framework. The permit number or a photo of the permit must appear in the listing, so a listing without one is a red flag.
Use that permit number to ask the host or Metro Codes to confirm the rental is permitted at that address. Metro’s online eligibility viewer shows what permit type an address can obtain, and Codes handles permit questions at 615 862 6500. Permitted rentals also go through a Fire Marshal inspection, which covers fire safety, not crime.
A permit does not say anything about the block’s crime. After you confirm the permit, look up the street address on the MNPD incident map dashboard and note recent reports nearby. Then plan your rides home accordingly, because the exact location matters more than any citywide number.
Is Downtown Nashville Safe to Walk?
Yes during the day, and at night on busy blocks. Areas like The Gulch, West End, and Hillsboro Village are considered safer and more walkable, and where Nashville is actually walkable beyond downtown walks through most of those pockets, but side streets and less crowded areas can pose risks.
Traffic deserves as much attention as crime. SmartAsset’s ranking lists Nashville at 13.6 auto fatalities per 100,000 residents, so cross at signals and wait for your rideshare inside the venue or at a lit, set back pickup spot instead of the curb.
Is Nashville Safe at Night?
Yes in busy, lit districts, and with more care in quiet, unfamiliar ones. If you’re out late, stick to well lit areas like Downtown or The Gulch, and use safer ways to enjoy Nashville after dark to plan an evening around venues instead of wandering into unfamiliar neighborhoods.
Tennessee law generally stops liquor service at 3 a.m., so bar crowds reach the street at nearly the same time. Book your ride before you leave the bar, because the closing time rush is when pickups and crowds collide.
| Time window | What changes | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime | Families and tourists fill Broadway | Walk freely and watch traffic |
| Evening to midnight | Crowds and drinking build | Keep valuables in a front pocket and stay on lit blocks |
| Midnight to 3 a.m. | Peak crowds around the honky tonks | Stay in a group and arrange the ride early |
| After 3 a.m. | Bars empty onto the street | Skip the curb scramble and wait inside |
That table is my guidance based on how police and local guides describe nightlife, not a statistic. It leads straight to the street where those patterns concentrate.
Is Broadway Street Safe?
Yes in daylight, and with more caution after dark. The area is relatively kid friendly in daylight, with restaurants, shops, and plenty of charm to enjoy, so families can lean on daytime things to do on Broadway to fill the hours before the bars take over.
After dark, crowds, drinking, and bachelorette parties change the street, and theft and fights become more likely. Metro police launched a dedicated Entertainment District Unit in 2023 with 28 officers, four sergeants, and a lieutenant, working Thursday through Sunday on Lower Broadway and The Gulch.
Alcohol also raises the stakes. In March 2024, 22 year old Riley Strain was found in the Cumberland River after leaving a Broadway bar, and the medical examiner ruled the death an accidental drowning with alcohol intoxication. Stay with your group, and keep away from the riverbank after drinking.
Is Nashville Safe for Kids and Families?
Yes, when you build the day around daytime attractions, parks, and quieter districts. Plenty of family activities that avoid the Broadway crowds fill the rest of the city, so kids and parents alike always have something to do. Indoor options like Gaylord Opryland Resort help when the weather turns. Keep Broadway to daylight hours with children, since evenings bring heavy drinking crowds.
Which Scams and Crimes Target Visitors?
The most commonly reported visitor problems are theft and fraud, not violence, and ways to blend in like a local helps you stand out less in a crowd.
Guard your phone and wallet in packed bars, and never leave bags or luggage visible in a parked rental car, especially in busy lots near Nissan Stadium on Tennessee Titans game days. Buy tickets and book stays only through official sites, because fake tickets and fraudulent listings are the usual hooks.
How Do You Get Around Nashville Safely?
Use app based rides or licensed taxis, and arrange the pickup before you need it. Choose from reliable licensed taxi options for late rides and check the driver’s name and plate before you get in. Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft cover most downtown hops.
WeGo Public Transit runs buses and the WeGo Star commuter train, though night service is limited. The Greyhound Bus Station on Rep. John Lewis Way South handles intercity trips.
What Weather and Outdoor Risks Should You Know?
Spring brings severe storms, so keep a weather alert app on your phone. Snow or ice can shut roads and make driving risky in winter, so shift to indoor plans like museums and music venues when the forecast turns. Summer heat and ticks matter on trails, and copperheads and timber rattlesnakes are the venomous snakes in Middle Tennessee.
For hiking, Radnor Lake State Park offers easy strolls and tougher hikes through the woods, so pairing it with Nashville trail picks for every skill level makes it easier to match a route to your fitness. Swimmers can head to Percy Priest Lake or Old Hickory Lake.
Which Laws Can Trip Up Visitors?
A few local rules can turn a fun night into a citation. Be mindful of your actions to avoid winding up with a ticket or even jail time, starting with the open container rules that can earn tickets before you carry a drink down the street. Public intoxication also draws police attention quickly on Broadway.
What Should You Do in an Emergency?
Call 911 for any danger. Use the MNPD non emergency line at 615 862 8600 for reports that can wait, and Crime Stoppers at 615 742 7463 to share a tip. Save all three in your phone before you arrive.
Nashville Safety Questions Answered
Is Nashville safe to visit in 2026?
Yes for most visitors. MNPD data shows reported crime declined in 2025 and the first half of 2026, with 74 homicides in 2025, the lowest since 2014. Neighborhood, time of day, and alcohol still matter.
Is Nashville one of the least safe large cities?
SmartAsset’s 2026 study ranks Nashville 76th of 83 large cities, the 8th least safe. It uses FBI 2024 crime data plus traffic deaths and disaster risk, so it predates the 2025 decline and measures residents, not visitors.
Is Nashville safer than Memphis?
By these numbers, yes. SmartAsset lists Memphis at 25.0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents against 11.2 for Nashville, and Memphis ranks last of 83 cities.
Which areas of Nashville deserve more caution?
MNPD publishes data by precinct and street, not neighborhood labels. Local guides name pockets of Antioch, Glencliff, Bordeaux, and North Nashville. Check the MNPD incident map for the exact address before booking.
Is it safe to walk downtown at night?
Mostly yes on busy, lit blocks near Broadway, Printers Alley, and The Gulch. Avoid quiet side streets, stay in a group, and book your rideshare before bars stop serving around 3 a.m.
Is Nashville safe for solo travelers?
Generally yes in tourist districts. Keep your phone in a front pocket, use Uber or Lyft after midnight, share your plans with someone, and avoid walking through unfamiliar blocks late at night.
Is Broadway safe for kids and families?
Yes in daylight, with restaurants, shops, and museums nearby. After dark, heavy drinking and crowds make Broadway a poor fit for children, so plan to leave before evening.
How do I check whether a Nashville Airbnb is safe?
Confirm the listing shows a Metro Codes permit number, verify it with Metro Codes at 615 862 6500, then check the exact street address on the MNPD incident map. A permit confirms legality, not low crime.
Where should I stay in Nashville to feel safe?
The Gulch, Midtown, Germantown, 12 South, Green Hills, and Hillsboro Village are frequently recommended bases. Confirm the exact address on the MNPD incident map, since blocks vary within neighborhoods.
What should I do if I feel unsafe in Nashville?
Move to a busy, lit place such as a hotel lobby or an open restaurant. Call 911 for danger, and use 615 862 8600 for non emergencies.
Final Verdict on Nashville Safety
Nashville is generally safe for visitors, but neighborhood, time of day, alcohol, traffic, theft, and your exact accommodation location matter more than the citywide ranking. Reported crime is declining, and the ranking measures residents, not a tourist’s weekend. A little caution and more practical Nashville travel tips for visitors go a long way in making your trip unforgettable.