Is Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Safe in 2026? Crime & Tips

What the score means — 50/100

• Personal safety (36) — low, and the reason to take this city seriously. Violent street crime, armed robbery and carjacking are real, well-documented risks, not remote possibilities. Staying in secured hotel precincts, moving by arranged transfer and never walking with valuables on show are the basics that keep you out of trouble.
• Transport (40) — below par. Public minibuses (PMVs) and street taxis carry a documented robbery and assault risk; the safer options are hotel or company transfers and pre-arranged trusted drivers. How you move around here matters more than in almost any capital.
• Healthcare (42) — limited. Port Moresby has the country's better facilities, including a private hospital used by expats, but public services are stretched and specialist care and standards fall away sharply. Carry insurance with medical-evacuation cover and expect to arrange serious treatment abroad.
• Night safety (28) — the standout weak spot, and among the lowest on our index. Armed crime rises sharply after dark, lighting is patchy, and taxis and public transport get considerably riskier. The honest advice is to avoid movement at night and to stay within your secured accommodation unless you have arranged, trusted transport.

Where risk concentrates — and where you have safer footing

Knowing which part of the city you are in, and staying within the areas geared to visitors, is the single most useful safety skill in Port Moresby.

Where most visitors stay and work: the business, government and diplomatic areas around Waigani (government offices and embassies), Konedobu, and the Town/Harbour district offer more security infrastructure and are where much of the visitor and expatriate activity is based. Secured hotel precincts — for example around the APEC Haus and Ela Beach waterfront, and the Vision City complex at Waigani — provide controlled environments with their own security and are the usual base for a stay. These are relatively safer footing, but "safer" here means well-managed and secured, not risk-free: normal city awareness still applies.

Areas to avoid: informal settlements on the city's edges, isolated or quiet areas, and anywhere off the main serviced routes carry serious crime and are called out in official advisories. There is no visitor reason to enter them, and you should not walk into an unfamiliar neighbourhood on foot. When in doubt, don't go on your own — travel by arranged transfer with a trusted driver and stick to the areas your hotel or hosts recommend.

Crime and precautions

• Carjacking — a real and recurring risk in Port Moresby. Keep vehicle doors locked and windows up at all times, including in traffic and at junctions, leave nothing valuable visible in the car, and be especially alert when stopping or arriving somewhere. Use trusted drivers who know the city and its routes.
• Armed robbery and violent street crime — the risk to take most seriously here. Muggings and robberies can involve weapons, and the standard, life-preserving advice is to comply immediately: hand over phone, cash and valuables without resistance. Carry only a small "throw-away" amount of cash and keep your real valuables in the hotel safe.
• Don't walk, especially after dark — walking around, particularly alone or at night, exposes you to robbery and assault. Move door to door by arranged transfer rather than on foot, even for short distances.
• Keep a low profile — don't display phones, jewellery, cameras or laptops on the street or in vehicles, don't walk with your phone out, and dress down. Much street crime is opportunistic and targets visible valuables.
• ATM and card safety — use ATMs inside banks, secured hotels or the guarded shopping complexes in daylight, never street-side machines, shield your PIN, and be alert to anyone loitering nearby. Withdraw during the day and only what you need.
• "Raskol" gang activity — organised gang crime is a documented feature of the city, and can involve groups and weapons. This is another reason to stay within serviced areas, move by trusted transport and avoid isolated spots.
• Documents — carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in the hotel safe.

Getting around — arranged transfers and the airport

• Use hotel or company transfers — the safest way to move around Port Moresby is by pre-arranged transfer through your hotel, your employer or a reputable operator, with a driver who knows the city. Arrange your rides in advance rather than sorting transport on the spot.
• Use only trusted, booked taxis — do not hail cabs in the street. If you use a taxi, use one booked and vouched for by your hotel, not one flagged down; standards and safety of street taxis are unreliable.
• Avoid PMVs and public buses — the public minibuses (PMVs) and buses carry a documented robbery and assault risk and are not a safe option for visitors. Do not use them.
• Plan your airport transfer in advance — arrange a pickup from Jacksons International Airport (POM) through your hotel or operator before you arrive, rather than accepting unsolicited offers at the terminal. Confirm the driver's details and don't leave the secured area to find your own way.
• Avoid moving at night — minimise being out after dark; if you must travel, use a pre-arranged, trusted transfer door to door rather than walking, PMVs or street taxis.
• Driving — if you drive, keep doors locked and windows up at all times, don't leave valuables visible, avoid driving after dark and in unfamiliar areas, and be aware of the carjacking risk at junctions and on quieter roads.

After dark — the weak spot (night 28)

This is the part of the guide to take most literally. The night sub-score of 28 is among the lowest on our index, and it reflects a real, elevated risk of armed crime after dark rather than a minor caveat.

• Avoid movement at night — the safest approach by far is to stay within your secured hotel or compound in the evening. If you have to go out, do it only by pre-arranged, trusted transfer door to door, never on foot and never by PMV or street taxi.
• Don't walk after dark — walking at night, even a short distance, exposes you to robbery and assault. There is no routine reason for a visitor to be on foot in the city after dark.
• Keep valuables out of sight — no phone in hand, no visible jewellery, and carry only a small amount of cash.
• Watch your drink — if you are out at a hotel bar or restaurant, keep an eye on your drink, don't accept drinks from strangers, and arrange your ride back before you go.
• Follow local guidance — take your hotel's and hosts' advice on what is and isn't sensible after dark; they know the current situation better than any general guide.

Women and solo travellers

• Heightened caution is warranted — Port Moresby has a serious, well-documented problem with violence against women, including sexual assault, and solo women should take particular care. The sensible approach is to base yourself in a secured hotel precinct, keep your time in the city short, and move only by arranged, trusted transfer.
• Don't walk or use public transport alone — avoid walking, PMVs and street taxis entirely, especially alone and after dark. Move door to door with transport arranged by your hotel or hosts.
• Harassment and unwanted attention — be prepared for the possibility of unwanted attention; keep to secured, serviced areas, avoid isolated spots, and don't be shy about declining company firmly.
• Nightlife caution — watch your drink, don't accept drinks from strangers, and arrange your ride back before going out.
• Trust your instincts and stay connected — share your plans and accommodation details with someone, check current advice from your hosts, and err firmly on the side of caution. It is completely fine to decline unwanted "help" or company.

Health, medical care and emergencies

• Emergency numbers — 000 and 112 are commonly cited emergency numbers, but coverage and response can be unreliable, so confirm the current local numbers with your hotel on arrival and keep the direct number of a private hospital and your hotel's security handy.
• Hospitals — medical facilities are limited. Port Moresby has the country's better options, including the Pacific International Hospital, which is used by expats and offers the best available private care, typically requiring upfront payment you then claim on insurance. Serious conditions often require evacuation abroad (for example to Australia), so plan accordingly.
• Travel and medical-evacuation insurance — comprehensive cover that includes medical evacuation is essential, not optional, given the limited facilities. Check it remains valid against the government travel advisories before you travel.
• Malaria — Papua New Guinea is a high-risk malaria area. Seek travel-health advice well before you go about antimalarial prophylaxis, use insect repellent, cover up at dawn and dusk, and choose accommodation with screens or air-conditioning and bed nets where appropriate.
• Tap water — do not assume the tap water is safe to drink. Stick to sealed bottled or properly treated water, use it for brushing your teeth, and be sensible with food to avoid stomach upsets.
• Vaccinations and pharmacies — check routine and recommended travel vaccinations with a travel clinic before departure, bring any prescription medicine in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and don't rely on being able to buy specific medicines locally.

Cultural and regional context

• The wantok system — Papua New Guinean society is organised around wantok (literally "one talk") networks of kin and language-group loyalty, which shape social obligations and local life. As a visitor you'll rarely interact with it directly, but understanding that local relationships and obligations run deep helps you read situations and take local advice seriously.
• Tribal tensions elsewhere in PNG — outside the capital, particularly in parts of the Highlands, tribal disputes ("tribal fighting") can flare and turn violent, sometimes affecting roads and wider areas. If your trip continues beyond Port Moresby, check the specific advice for those regions carefully.
• Civil unrest — Port Moresby has experienced episodes of civil unrest, rioting and looting, which can erupt with little warning and disrupt movement and services. Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and follow local guidance if unrest occurs.
• Respect and low profile — dress and behave modestly, ask before photographing people, and take your cues from local hosts. A respectful, low-key manner both fits the culture and keeps you safer.
• Check advisories — read the US State Department and UK FCDO pages for Papua New Guinea before and during your trip; they carry the current, region-specific detail this guide can't keep pace with.

Practical precautions and staying informed

• Check advisories — read the US State Department and UK FCDO pages before and during your trip; US citizens can enrol in STEP for alerts, and other nationals should register with their own government's equivalent where available.
• Keep your city time short and serviced — many visitors spend as little time in Port Moresby as their itinerary requires, stay within secured precincts, and move only by arranged transfer.
• Currency and cash — the currency is the PNG kina (PGK); carry only small amounts, use ATMs inside banks or guarded complexes in daylight, and keep cards for hotels and larger establishments.
• Stay connected — a local data SIM and a charged phone make it easier to stay in touch with your hosts and arrange transport; keep your hotel's and driver's numbers saved.
• Low profile — don't flash phones, cameras or jewellery, split your cash and cards, and leave what you don't need in the hotel safe.
• Take local advice — your hotel, employer or local hosts have the best read on current conditions; ask them before going anywhere and follow their guidance.
• Comply if robbed — worth repeating: if confronted, hand over your valuables without resistance. Possessions are replaceable.