City in Bahia, Brazil
Is Salvador safe?
Tourist areas are policed and fine by day, but robberies are common elsewhere.
Is Salvador safe?
Tourist areas are policed and fine by day, but robberies are common elsewhere. Use ride apps at night and keep to busy streets.
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 Salvador at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone and bag snatching in Pelourinho, Barra and on the beach, plus armed robbery in quiet streets at night. |
| At night | Rio Vermelho and Barra stay lively; Pelourinho is busy only at events. Use Uber or 99 door to door at night. |
| Solo women | Catcalling is common but solo women travel here. Use ride apps at night, avoid quiet beaches and hills, and watch drinks. |
| Other risks | Steep hills and slippery cobbles in wet weather; Heat and humidity year-round; Rip currents on open beaches |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Unwanted ribbon bracelets handed out, followed by demands for money
- Guides in Pelourinho who overcharge for short tours or photos
- Restaurants adding an automatic extra charge not on the menu
- Inflated taxi fares from the airport
Take care
- Pelourinho after dark: leave by 8 pm unless at an event
- Cidade Baixa and Comércio streets: empty and risky after dark
- Beaches at night and off-peak: muggings
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 Salvador 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 Salvador safe for solo female travelers?
Catcalling is common but solo women travel here. Use ride apps at night, avoid quiet beaches and hills, and watch drinks.
Is Salvador safe at night?
Rio Vermelho and Barra stay lively; Pelourinho is busy only at events. Use Uber or 99 door to door at night.
What is the crime rate in Salvador?
Phone and bag snatching in Pelourinho, Barra and on the beach, plus armed robbery in quiet 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 Salvador?
Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193.
More about Salvador
Going to Salvador solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- CCR Metrô Bahia
- Bahia tourism (Setur)
- 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.