El Paso to Juarez: Walkable? Safe? Recommendations?

The Plaza de Armas is about one km south of the Santa Fe Bridge.

I´m surprised no other travelers have bothered to add their comments. I´ve just finished reading ¨To Die in Mexico¨ by John Gibler, which discusses the violence of the war on drugs in such places as Monterrey and Cd Juarez. I agree that the safety has probably improved since 2010, but it´s still worth taking the precautions you mention. I like the idea of walking over and returning in daylight. That way you can assess your surroundings as you go, and talk to locals, pedestrians and shopkeepers, and ask them about the local security situation. But I expect that a significant number of locals have also moved to El Paso, or at least visit on a daily basis, and they would be a good source of info too.

Have you been there before, mclarjh? Plaza de Armas is where I would probably go, if not the only place.

I'm just trying to get a general sense of the safety. I would ideally like to go with someone, but will most likely end up having to go on my own. I have been to a few places before that other people would consider "unsafe" (i.e. some places in the Middle East), but this seems a little different.

As a smaller "white boy" with VERY little Spanish knowledge, despite my travel experience, I want to get some level of comfort that simply walking over, even if just for lunch, will not be a dangerous or risky maneuver.

Also, it looks like I will either need to go on Christmas day or the day after. If anyone could recommend one day over the other, please let me know, as I am not sure what border traffic would be like or if it will be a ghost town on Christmas Day (for better or worse).

I would just go and see what happens. Maybe ask one of the border guards if they have any tips. If you cross over and there are people walking the streets and milling around, food stands with hungry customers standing around, normal looking stuff happening, continue on. If everyone is behind locked doors peering out their windows, maybe turn around... ;)

I used to walk across the border into Nuevo Laredo from time to time, I always enjoyed those visits.

I have never been to Cd Juarez, but have talked to a resident, and other visitors, and of course read Roberto Bolano´s ¨2666.¨ I find many businesses open late (midday) on 25 Dec, after a late dinner and drinking on the 24, so perhaps the 26 Dec is better.

I have also visited some places that others consider insecure, for example: Tepito, Doctores, and la Joya, in Mexico City. I preview the neighbourhoods first on Google Maps streetview, then walk block by block, checking my progress as I go with the locals, and am prepared to turn around whenever I get the sense that the risk is too high.

whenever I get the sense that the risk is too high.

Wait... huh? Just the other day I thought you were dead set against the idea that "feeling" safe had any bearing on actual safety?

All those places (Doctores, Tepito, etc.) are fine to visit during the day, but the idea that you can wander into an actual dangerous neighborhood and just "turn around" when a perilous situation arises is... endearingly optimistic.

And if you find a stray mutt snapping at your heels, kick it.

What is it with you and all these dog attacks? Maybe they've seen your canine comments on TT...

Really, dogs are some of my best friends. As I was finishing dinner in San Miguel Amatlan last Sunday I saved the bone from my meal and threw it to a dog I remembered passing on my way to the comedor. The dog seemed pleased.

Which reminds me of another safety tip. Try to befriend all the dogs you pass, you can never have too many best friends.