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I will soon be visiting NYC with my girlfriend, and we'll be staying in Harlem, somewhere between 122nd and 125th streets, near Malcolm X Boulevard (Airbnb has not yet provided the full address). I wanted to know how safe this area is, especially at night (say, until around midnight).
I want to mention that I visited NYC almost a decade ago and stayed in Washington Heights, which is about 30 streets north. While I know that Washington Heights isn't luxurious either, I felt safe most of the time back then. However, I understand that things can change.
Do you have any advice for staying safe and alert while walking around this area? I'm aware that the situation can vary from block to block, and I've come across information online that mentions the presence of several individuals with mental issues, and it's often advised not to engage with them.
I will soon be visiting NYC with my girlfriend, and we'll be staying in Harlem, somewhere between 122nd and 125th streets, near Malcolm X Boulevard (Airbnb has not yet provided the full address). I wanted to know how safe this area is, especially at night (say, until around midnight).
I want to mention that I visited NYC almost a decade ago and stayed in Washington Heights, which is about 30 streets north. While I know that Washington Heights isn't luxurious either, I felt safe most of the time back then. However, I understand that things can change.
Do you have any advice for staying safe and alert while walking around this area? I'm aware that the situation can vary from block to block, and I've come across information online that mentions the presence of several individuals with mental issues, and it's often advised not to engage with them.
Thank you all in advance!
A rule of thumb that will serve all travelers well regardless of what city you visit in the US is the following:
- Any neighborhood, town or street or blvd that has "MLK" and/or a "Malcolm X" in its name is to be avoided. Always. I've traveled the country extensively since the mid 90s and no matter where you go, areas with these names seem to be the mostly downtrodden and violent.
But you should be fine during the day as other have posted since this is a busy, bustling area. However at night, especially if you are a person of non color, be aware. Very aware.
Most hard working folks have been conditioned for getting up early in the morning and shuffling off to work.
In my decades of experience rarely did crime happen in early morning hours especially impoverished neighborhoods.
I would be working a few hours by this time as I saw people walking out their buildings 9-10 am to the nearest bodega
for coffee and a roll in a state of semi-consciousness.
Yes. I found early mornings to be the safest.
Nights.........especially hot and muggy ...........were trouble.
Nights belong to the devil and his minions.
Last edited by Mr.Retired; 08-24-2023 at 05:17 AM..
The answer will depend on whether you blend into the neighborhood and what time of day it is. Posters who say your appearance doesn't matter are delusional. A white European or Asian tourist couple will stick out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood especially at night. They will be a potential target for those looking to cause trouble.
The answer will depend on whether you blend into the neighborhood and what time of day it is. Posters who say your appearance doesn't matter are delusional. A white European or Asian tourist couple will stick out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood especially at night. They will be a potential target for those looking to cause trouble.
not any more with all those transplants living it up tryin to create SoHa (South Harlem).. smh
I will soon be visiting NYC with my girlfriend, and we'll be staying in Harlem, somewhere between 122nd and 125th streets, near Malcolm X Boulevard (Airbnb has not yet provided the full address). I wanted to know how safe this area is, especially at night (say, until around midnight).
I want to mention that I visited NYC almost a decade ago and stayed in Washington Heights, which is about 30 streets north. While I know that Washington Heights isn't luxurious either, I felt safe most of the time back then. However, I understand that things can change.
Do you have any advice for staying safe and alert while walking around this area? I'm aware that the situation can vary from block to block, and I've come across information online that mentions the presence of several individuals with mental issues, and it's often advised not to engage with them.
Thank you all in advance!
You’ll be ok, just take normal precautions
Most people responding to this can’t even remember the last time they’ve been to Harlem at night to be honest
Some probably have never walked around Harlem at night
__________________
"The man who sleeps on the floor, can never fall out of bed." -Martin Lawrence
The answer will depend on whether you blend into the neighborhood and what time of day it is. Posters who say your appearance doesn't matter are delusional. A white European or Asian tourist couple will stick out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood especially at night. They will be a potential target for those looking to cause trouble.
Many years ago I used to go to Manhattan by myself and literally walk the entire island with a DSLR always on display taking photos. I would spend an entire day doing that, multiple times during the warmer months. Arrived early morning to Manhattan and leave in the evenings. Walking around when you basically have nothing to do or somewhere to go is different from walking around because you have to be at a specific place at a certain time. You literally walk as fast or slow as you want, sit at a bench whenever you want and wherever there is one, enter a restaurant anywhere to eat, never in a rush; actually very relaxing. Anyway, I never had a problem whether I was in an area surrounded by whites, blacks, Asians, Hispanics, whatever; rich, poor, whatever; locals, tourists, whatever.
That includes Harlem and one time I even walked into an area in Harlem where a movie scene was being filmed. lol I never went to Harlem in the evenings or at night. I may had been many things, but naive is not one of them. I remember seeing a few white people in Harlem, especially on 125th St. If that was the case then, now with the gentrification there and further north in Manhattan are going through it must be much more common to see white people walking in the streets.
PS. Another thing that probably helped in never having any problems was that I have never been afraid of anyone. I probably walked by drug dealers, certainly homeless people, people that looked they were always mean, others bubbly happy types, people with tattoes, people that looked neat, people that looked they had a hard life, etc. Just walked by them never thinking of them at all. I think that helped because certain people can sense if someone else has fear or is nervous and that inevitably attracts the trouble makers.
Last edited by AntonioR; 08-25-2023 at 12:46 AM..
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