City, Brazil
Is Rio de Janeiro safe?
Tourist areas are manageable with care, but phone snatching and robbery are real.
Is Rio de Janeiro safe?
Tourist areas are manageable with care, but phone snatching and robbery are real. Use ride apps at night and avoid empty streets and favela detours without a guide.
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 Rio de Janeiro at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone and bag snatching by thieves on bikes, pickpocketing at Carnival and on beaches, and armed robbery on empty streets at night. |
| At night | Ipanema and Leblon stay fine until late. Elsewhere take Uber or 99 door to door; don't walk the beach or hills after dark. |
| Solo women | Catcalling is common but solo women travel here widely. Use ride apps at night, keep phones out of sight on the street and watch drinks. |
| Other risks | Rip currents; swim between lifeguard posts; Stray bullets near some favelas; stay on tourist routes; Dengue in the rainy season |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Beach kiosks and restaurants adding unordered items to the bill
- Card machines swapped or showing a higher amount than the bill
- Unlicensed taxis near the airport charging triple fares
- Drink spiking in Lapa bars, followed by robbery
Take care
- Centro and Lapa after dark: empty streets and robberies
- Beaches at night: muggings, especially Copacabana and Ipanema
- Favelas without a local guide: avoid, even if apps route you there
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 Rio de Janeiro 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 Rio de Janeiro safe for solo female travelers?
Catcalling is common but solo women travel here widely. Use ride apps at night, keep phones out of sight on the street and watch drinks.
Is Rio de Janeiro safe at night?
Ipanema and Leblon stay fine until late. Elsewhere take Uber or 99 door to door; don't walk the beach or hills after dark.
What is the crime rate in Rio de Janeiro?
Phone and bag snatching by thieves on bikes, pickpocketing at Carnival and on beaches, and armed robbery on empty streets at night. Nationally, Brazil records 19.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Rio de Janeiro?
Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193.
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Going to Rio de Janeiro solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- MetrôRio
- Riogaleão Airport
- Santos Dumont Airport (Infraero)
- Visit.Rio
- 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.