Is Gramado safe?
One of Brazil's safest tourist towns. Petty theft is rare; the main risks are cold weather, crowded streets and winding mountain roads.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- 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 Gramado at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Occasional theft from cars and unattended bags, and pickpockets in crowded events during Natal Luz and the film festival. |
| At night | Central streets are lit and busy in the evening in high season, and quiet in low season. Taxis and apps run until late. |
| Solo women | Solo women generally feel comfortable here. Normal city precautions apply; the town is quiet and low-key at night outside high season. |
| Other risks | Fog and wet winding roads; Frost on roads on cold winter mornings; Hypothermia risk on winter hikes |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Overpriced tours sold by street touts in the centre
- Restaurant cover charges and fixed-menu extras not listed upfront
- Some app drivers cancel, then ask tourists for extra cash off-app
Take care
- Hillside roads in fog or rain: steep curves and low visibility
- Crowded Christmas and festival events: pickpocketing
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 Gramado 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 Gramado safe for solo female travelers?
Solo women generally feel comfortable here. Normal city precautions apply; the town is quiet and low-key at night outside high season.
Is Gramado safe at night?
Central streets are lit and busy in the evening in high season, and quiet in low season. Taxis and apps run until late.
What is the crime rate in Gramado?
Occasional theft from cars and unattended bags, and pickpockets in crowded events during Natal Luz and the film festival. Nationally, Brazil records 19.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Gramado?
Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193.
More about Gramado
Going to Gramado solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Prefeitura de Gramado
- Porto Alegre Airport (Fraport Brasil)
- 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.