City in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Is Belo Horizonte safe?
Typical big-city Brazil: fine in Savassi and Lourdes by day, risky on empty streets and in the centre at night.
Is Belo Horizonte safe?
Typical big-city Brazil: fine in Savassi and Lourdes by day, risky on empty streets and in the centre at night. Phone snatching is the main threat.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-28.
- Homicide rate in Brazil: 19.3 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Brazil: 16.0 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193.
Safety in Belo Horizonte at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone snatching by people on bikes or on foot, robbery on quiet streets and in Centro after dark, and theft from parked cars. |
| At night | Bars in Savassi and Santa Tereza are busy. Take an app ride door to door instead of walking between neighborhoods. |
| Solo women | Catcalling is common but most solo women travel fine. Use ride apps at night, avoid empty streets and watch drinks in bars. |
| Other risks | Flash floods and landslides in the Nov–Mar rains; Steep hills and uneven pavements |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Card machine showing an inflated total; check the screen
- Drinks added to bar bills; ask for the itemised tab
- 'Helpful' strangers at ATMs
Take care
- Centro (Praça Sete, Rodoviária) after dark: robberies
- Street phone use anywhere; walk with phone put away
- Walking back from bars in Santa Tereza late at night
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Carry ID: your passport or a certified copy; police checks happen.
- Any alcohol before driving is illegal, and Lei Seca checkpoints are common.
- Racist or homophobic insults are crimes that can bring prison terms.
How Belo Horizonte compares in Brazil
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Fernando de Noronha | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Foz do Iguaçu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Florianópolis | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jericoacoara | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ilha Grande | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Paraty | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Búzios | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pipa | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Itacaré | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Morro de São Paulo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chapada Diamantina | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lençóis Maranhenses | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bonito | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ouro Preto | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Balneário Camboriú | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Porto de Galinhas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gramado | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rio de Janeiro | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| São Paulo | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Salvador | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Recife | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Fortaleza | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Manaus | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Natal | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Maceió | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Belo Horizonte | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Brasília | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Curitiba | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Porto Alegre | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Belém | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Belo Horizonte safe for solo female travelers?
Catcalling is common but most solo women travel fine. Use ride apps at night, avoid empty streets and watch drinks in bars.
Is Belo Horizonte safe at night?
Bars in Savassi and Santa Tereza are busy. Take an app ride door to door instead of walking between neighborhoods.
What is the crime rate in Belo Horizonte?
Phone snatching by people on bikes or on foot, robbery on quiet streets and in Centro after dark, and theft from parked cars. Nationally, Brazil records 19.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Belo Horizonte?
Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193.
More about Belo Horizonte
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- Solo travelin Belo Horizonte
Going to Belo Horizonte solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte
- Metrô BH
- BH Airport (Confins)
- Inhotim
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.