Go with a plan.
Tajikistan’s safety score rose to 68 today, though you should still account for a global measles outbreak and the level 2 travel advisories from the US and Canada.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Tajikistan
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Police bribe solicitation
Police officers in Dushanbe demand bribes from tourists even when no crime occurred. Pretend you do not understand the officer's request and never argue or provoke them.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Photography restrictions
It is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings in some locations.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Perhaps surprisingly, Tajikistan is one of the safest countries in the world in terms of petty thefts and tourism-specific crimes.
- •Some factional fighting spilling over from nearby Afghanistan (as well as local warlordism) can occur in Tajikistan, although it is rare.
- •After sunset, it is not advisable to walk around outside alone; generally, do not travel unaccompanied to rural areas.
- •Of significant concern is the inability of Tajikistan's law enforcement entities to provide adequate and immediate assistance.
- •Even in Dushanbe, power outages (and with them, water shutoffs) can strike at any time, and can last upwards of a few days.
- •In some places it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.…
Staying healthy
- •The healthcare system in Tajikistan is best described as severely underdeveloped.
- •Do not drink tap water.
- •For long-term visitors, it's not a question of "will you get food poisoning", but "when". Be prepared for it.
- •Longer stays may consider the hiring of private drivers and home security guards. Rent out secure known owners' places.
- •Air quality in the winter (and sometimes in other seasons) in the cities can be horrendous, with practically everyone using coal-powered heating.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers consistently report that Tajikistan is safe regarding crime, but the primary danger lies in the physical environment. The roads are notoriously treacherous, featuring deep potholes, steep drops without guardrails, and aggressive driving conditions that surpass the hazards found in many other regions. Travelers must exercise caution near border areas by avoiding photography of military installations and keeping a distance from river banks. While the country is generally secure, the infrastructure, particularly in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, requires vigilance. Visitors should be prepared for extreme altitude, cold, and the necessity of obtaining specific permits for the Pamir region to avoid issues at military checkpoints.
“Completely safe as all post-soviet countries with the exception of road conditions. The roads were BAD. I am talking 1m deep potholes, insane drivers and drops of 300+ meters on the side of the road with no guard rails obviously.
— r/travel
“Caution must be exercised when photographing at the border areas: no photography of military installations, and no venturing too close to the river banks.
— r/travel
“Print 5-10 copies of this alongside your passport photo page (as you will encounter a fair few military checkpoints at the border regions).
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / F / I · 220V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12