Top 10 Dangerous Tourist Destinations

The on-going civil war in Syria makes it incredibly easy to wander into someone else’s territory and immediate danger of potential death. With some government and rebel bases just city blocks apart, being caught in open warfare is a likely occurrence. Even if you get yourself an armed guide for travelling, you may find you have accidentally sided with one of the armies.

One of the first things to note about Mexico is that you should try to travel by air, as the roads can present problems like illegal roadblocks that could result in possible hijackings. While this isn’t true for all of Mexico, the country’s biggest dangers include its drug wars and police corruption, particularly in places like Ciudad Juárez and Acapulco. With transnational criminal organizations at large, drug trafficking has become more and more of the norm, and this makes it easier to find yourself in a jam.

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#8: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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Top 10 Surprisingly Dangerous Vacation Destinations

With its legendary carnivals and festivals, some parts of Rio de Janeiro may seem like a good place for a holiday. But the sheer amount of gun crime on the streets means that anything could happen at any time, any place, anywhere. In fact, the country has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world. Then there are the spontaneous dangers of cutthroat drug trafficking, kidnapping and rape.

Looking past the veil of tranquil camel rides, you’ll soon see Sudan is a republic hanging in the balance between war and starvation. Not only has the onslaught of the Darfur conflict resulted in the Sudanese president being indicted for war crimes; it has also caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The war between the government and rebels has made the streets a constant danger.

First, a quick stat to put this place in perspective: for every 100,000 inhabitants, over 120 people will fall victim to a homicide. This means that Caracas is often called one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Why? Its poor neighborhoods have become the headquarters for brutal drug trafficking, violent and spontaneous street crime, kidnappings and hijackings. Put it this way: some tips for travelling in Caracas include not wearing jewelry and driving with your doors locked.

Political turmoil is the least of your worries here. Aside from the killings and chaotic atmosphere, places like Karachi and Peshawar host battles between the Taliban and Pakistani military, which can get out of control very quickly. Territorial gang warfare is also a huge danger, as accidentally wandering into the wrong part of a certain area can prove to be a fatal mistake.

With foreigners limited to just hundreds, you can feel a little out of place in North Korea. In fact, tourists face strict travel restrictions and are constantly accompanied by tour guides. With a reportedly oppressive and unpredictable regime, as well as an uncertain security situation due to housed nuclear weapons, North Korea can be one of the most spontaneous places in the world – but not necessarily in a good way.

As it is still an active war zone, Kabul is unpredictably dangerous, with erratic suicide bombings and public executions a regular occurrence. With Taliban residing in Kabul and the government losing grip on almost all of Afghanistan, anyone can become a target. If you insist on visiting Kabul, some would even go so far to advise that you take specialist war zone survival training. Seriously, if that’s the case, maybe you should think twice about going here.

The fact that it’s recommended that tourists hire bodyguards to get from point A to point B in Somalia speaks volumes. Somalia has become notorious for its kidnappings, pirates and banditry, and American citizens are often specifically targeted – since there’s no U.S. embassy present, you’d be straight outta luck when it comes to immediate assistance. Due to the scarce government control, the country is also home to mass acts of gang violence between locals and merciless warlords.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Russia
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Sana’a, Yemen
- Colombia
- Nairobi, Kenya
- San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Baghdad is possibly one of the first locations that comes to mind when you think no-fly zone. Despite the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011, the Iraqi insurgency continues, meaning the country still houses a hostile atmosphere of gunfire and public bombings. Several countries warn against all but essential travel to the country, as Iraq has limited support for tourists when it comes to policing. Not to mention that some Al-Qaeda members make their home there.

Do you agree with our list? Which place do you think budding tourists should avoid? For more interesting Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.