Safety and emergency info for New York City visitors (2026)

911 connects you to police, fire, and ambulance dispatch across all five boroughs. Operators speak multiple languages and can connect you to an interpreter within seconds if English is not your first language.

311 handles everything that does not require an immediate response: noise complaints, non-emergency police reports, questions about city services, and lost property inquiries. You can also reach 311 through the NYC311 app or by texting 311692.

For mental health emergencies, NYC Well operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-888-692-9355, text "WELL" to 65173, or chat online at nycwell.cityofnewyork.us. Counselors speak over 200 languages.

Poison Control covers the entire state of New York. Call 1-800-222-1222 any time, day or night, for guidance on accidental ingestion, medication overdoses, or chemical exposure.

Knowing which hospital sits closest to where you are staying can save critical minutes in a real emergency. Each of the locations below has a 24-hour emergency department.

The MTA subway runs 24 hours a day across 472 stations, and most rides are uneventful. That said, a few habits reduce your risk considerably.

Stand away from the platform edge, especially during rush hour between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. And 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Platform crowding at stations like Times Square-42nd Street, Grand Central-42nd Street, and Union Square can get intense.

Keep your phone in your pocket or bag while waiting on the platform. Phone snatching through closing subway doors is the most reported theft type on the MTA system. If someone grabs your phone, do not chase them onto the tracks.

If you see something concerning on a train or platform, text 511 with your train line, direction, and car number. MTA police respond to these texts. You can also press the intercom button inside any subway car to reach the conductor.

The MTA website and the free MYmta app both show real-time service alerts, which helps you avoid stations with known delays or police activity.

Midtown Manhattan, from 34th Street to 59th Street, sees heavy NYPD foot patrols and camera coverage. Times Square specifically has a dedicated NYPD unit stationed there around the clock.

Lower Manhattan below Chambers Street, including the Financial District and the area around the 9/11 Memorial, is among the safest parts of the city after business hours because the residential population is smaller and security presence from nearby federal buildings is high.

Harlem, above 110th Street, has changed considerably over the past decade. Central Harlem around 125th Street and Lenox Avenue is active with restaurants and foot traffic through the evening. As with any neighborhood, stay on main streets after midnight.

The outer boroughs vary more by specific block than by borough. In Brooklyn, neighborhoods like Williamsburg, DUMBO, and Park Slope draw heavy tourist traffic and are well-patrolled. In Queens, Jackson Heights and Flushing are busy and safe during the day and early evening.

Avoid extended time in isolated areas of any park after dark, including sections of Central Park north of 100th Street and Riverside Park above 125th Street at night.

Report a stolen passport to the NYPD first. Go to the precinct covering the area where the theft occurred and get a police report number. You will need this for both your embassy and your travel insurance.

The nearest US passport agency for emergency replacement is the New York Passport Agency at 376 Hudson Street. Appointments are required and available to US citizens with international travel within 14 days. Call 1-877-487-2778.

For non-US citizens, contact your country's consulate or embassy in New York. Most major countries maintain consular offices in Midtown Manhattan, concentrated along Second Avenue between 42nd and 50th Streets in the area known as Consulate Row. The NYC consulate directory lists addresses and phone numbers for every mission.

Medical care in New York City is expensive without insurance. A single emergency room visit at a major Manhattan hospital can cost between $1,500 and $3,000 before any treatment begins. Travelers from countries without reciprocal healthcare agreements with the US, which includes most of the world, should carry travel insurance that covers at least $100,000 in emergency medical expenses.

Most major hospitals accept travel insurance directly, but you may need to pay upfront and claim reimbursement later. Keep every receipt and get itemized bills from the hospital before you leave.

For non-emergency care, urgent care clinics cost significantly less than ERs. CityMD operates over 30 locations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, with walk-in visits typically running $150 to $250 without insurance. Locations include 55 West 46th Street in Midtown and 100 West 14th Street in the West Village.