Is Rio safe? This blog post will teach you how to travel to this beautiful city safely!
I was probably never going to visit Rio de Janeiro if it wasn’t for my 7 Wonders of the World bucket list. I was nervous to go because the first thought I had was, is Rio de Janeiro safe to travel to? You hear it on the news and from other Americans about how Rio is a dangerous place to visit. But after visiting Rio by myself, I can say it is an amazing place to go as a tourist!
When you are standing at Copacabana beach, you will see the 2.5 mile magnificent beach view next to a gorgeous mountain backdrop. It’s like you get the best of both worlds with the landscape! Not to mention the food, the culture, and the night life is incredible! It is no wonder many celebrities like Madonna or Princess Diana have visited the area for that reason.
Over the years, Rio’s favelas have been part of the issue of high crime rates and local drug trade. But the crime has decreased slowly in the last few years, especially since 2018. That being said, you should always travel with the same common sense you exercise in large cities.
Is Rio de Janeiro Safe?
When I told people I was going to Rio de Janeiro alone, the first question I got was, “Is it safe?” Or, “Are you going to die there?” I had so many people tell me not to go. I started down a rabbit hole of internet research to find out if I was going to survive this trip. Fortunately, I made it back in one piece and had a fantastic time!
I was only there for 4 days and I took every safety precaution since I was so paranoid. However, I think you have to do your own research and weigh out the risks of each thing you are going to. Are you going to a concert? A large event? A drunk time with friends? Clubbing? Just sightseeing? Or beach time?
The history of Rio involves multiple criminal groups fighting for land with a government that has been working on establishing some sort of peace for decades. The homicide rates have gone down since 2018, but the drug trade is still rampant. Keep in mind the violent crimes you hear about are mostly going to impact locals and not tourists. You are only there for a few days and the chances of you being involved in a violent crime is incredibly low.
There are 5 million tourists visiting Rio each year, and most people probably are not going to be robbed at knifepoint. Don’t put yourself in situations where you can be an easy target and you’ll have no problems!
Safety is about minimizing risk with your personal comfort level of risk-taking. If you are truly that worried then you may not want to travel there at all. Personally when I was in Rio, I did so much research on safety that I made sure I was never alone on sketchy streets or at night. I was always in a tour group or an Uber if I was going somewhere.
The most crimes targeted for tourists are crimes of opportunity, like pick-pocketing or mugging if you are walking alone at night. Stay in a group with a local guide and you’ll be fine! If you are going with friends, don’t look like tourists who are not paying attention to your surroundings or causing a scene on the beach.
One of my friends was mugged in Rio 10 years ago but she was walking in a sketchy area at night drunk. She admitted they took a shortcut into a sketchy area at nighttime instead of walking into a more visible area. But this was also 10 years ago.
Always make sure you know where you are walking and do research on your location. As a tip, I would not go to the Favela alone or leave your belongings on Copacabana Beach while you go swimming. Personally, I only carried a little cash when I left the hotel. And the end result was that I had no issues when I traveled by myself as a solo female traveler in August. I stayed in a very nice hotel with tons of security as well.
Is Rio de Janeiro Safe at Night?
Rio de Janeiro is a large city of 6 million people and just like any other large cities, you should take the same precaution as any other cities at night. I was a solo female traveler, so I did not walk around at night alone. I went to dinner on my own and took Ubers everywhere. It was very safe and due to the U.S. dollar being so strong, my Ubers were literally $1-2. There is almost no reason to walk around at night alone when the cost of an Uber is so cheap! Use Uber black.
Is Rio de Janeiro Safe for Female Tourists?
I went there as a solo female tourist and had no issues. I would recommend getting on day tours using Viator.com and they will come pick you up from your hotel and drop you back off. After my day tours, I would take Ubers to my dinner locations and had no issue with my Uber drivers. I did not walk alone at night.
Is Rio de Janeiro Safe for Solo Travel?
Absolutely! I heard about so many safety concerns before going to Rio so I researched and just prepared myself. That being said, I saw cop cars everywhere on the beach during the daytime. I think safety has gotten a lot better in the last 10 years. It did not feel any less safe than walking around NYC at night alone — I would not do that either!
Just use your common sense and best big city travel tactics. Best to carry a little cash on you and just hold your phone. Pay attention to your surroundings and don’t act like a drunk on the beach!
Safety Tips For Rio
Here are some tips to stay safe in Rio and have a wonderful experience in a wonderful city full of diversity!
#1: Take Day Tours
If you came to Rio to see Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf mountain, take a day tour with a tour company!! I took an amazing day tour that included pick-up and drop-off at my hotel, tickets to Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf, a wonderful tour guide and lunch! Not only was it super fun, but it was wonderfully safe and got you through all the major sites efficiently and avoided some crowds.
⭐ BOOK MY FAVORITE DAY TOUR TRIP HERE ⭐
#2: Utilize Ubers
Instead of walking to your restaurant at night, take an Uber! They are cheap and will keep you safe at night. Even if you aren’t alone and came with friends or a partner, I would still recommend this option!
#3: Don’t leave your belongings on the beach unattended
I think the most likely scenario of robbery for most people is leaving their personal belongings unattended on the beach while they swim in the ocean. Even if it’s for a few minutes and you are close to your belongings, there are so many pep;e on Copacabana beach it’s easy for someone to swipe your wallet or phone. If you want to go swimming, either take nothing besides a towel or have a friend watch your belongings and alternate going in the water.
#4: Don’t walk alone at night
Just as in any major city, don’t walk alone at night. Even if it’s you and one other person, I would recommend taking an Uber around. The cost is so cheap and you are less likely to be mugged or pick-pocketed. Don’t go to the beach at night either!
#5: Don’t go to the Favelas alone
The favelas started in the late 19th century when the soldiers who fought in the Canudos War settled in Rio de Janeiro with no compensation from the government and nowhere to go. So they started building illegal homes in Rio. Now known as the slums, there has been a lot of corruption and drug trade in the favelas which has been mostly under controlled by the police in certain areas.
If you want to see the favelas, do not go alone as a tourist. There are Favelas tours you can go on, even though there is some debate on who funds those tours and where the money goes to. If you know a local, they may be able to take you. But don’t go wandering into the areas with other tourists or on your own.
#6: Stay in the South Zone
Hotel areas in the South Zone are very safe for tourists to stay in. I would recommend staying at Copacabana Beach or Ipanema Beach, since you are a tourist and want to see the beautiful views there regardless! I am not a beach person but I still stayed over at Copacabana because it was safer and had amazing views!
#7: Buy a cheap back-up phone if you are worried
If you are a solo female traveler and are nervous about things being stolen, I recommend buying a $30 cell phone from Amazon that I kept as a back-up in my hotel in the event my regular cell phone was stolen. I never had to use mine and I still kept it for any future solo travels in other countries. You never know if you end up losing your phone and need to digitally call or reach home!
Safe Places To Stay In Rio
Here are some affordable and great safe places to stay in Rio!
📍Budget Option: Americas Copacabana Hotel. Great location to the beach, great breakfast buffet and clean rooms!
📍Mid-Range Option: Windsor California Copacabana. Located right on the beach, it was an easy walk to literally everywhere. The rooms were clean and the bathrooms were huge! I think the best part of this hotel was actually the food! I thought their steak was incredible and their breakfast buffet was one of the most plentiful variety of fruits, meats and pastries! They had a partnership with the hotel next door for Spa Services and I got a massage next door. Top floor of this hotel had a lovely gym with a great view of Sugarloaf mountain. The top floor also had a gorgeous pool overlooking Copacabana beach! It was rainy when I was there but you can tell the view would be amazing on a nice day.
📍Luxury Option: Copacabana Palace! I think this is my favorite place of all time out of anywhere I’ve ever stayed at. Like literally ever. It was top notch 5 star from the room, to the food, to the gym, to the service. Also, it felt like staying at an old beautiful 18th century mansion with a modern flair. Updated but classically beautiful.
Day View Inside Copacabana Palace:
Night View Inside Copacabana Palace:
Getting Around Safely
Uber, Uber, Uber! Take Ubers everywhere. The app works well and I would even recommend the extra $1 to spend on Uber black. You get even another level of safety with the Uber black drivers. The Uber rides I took were anywhere between $1-2 USD. It was so cheap that it was a much better and safer option – especially going out at night!
Walking around tourist areas like Copacabana beach is totally fine during the day. There are lots of people out and even police cars on the beaches. You can even rent bikes and take the lovely bike path that extends throughout Copacabana beach!
FAQs
Most frequently asked questions about the safety in Rio de Janeiro. Go visit— it is a wonderful place!
Is it safe to walk in Rio?
Yes! You can walk around safely during the day in the tourist areas by the major beaches. I would not walk around the favelas or North Zone during the day or night. But the major tourist areas or South Zone you can walk around on your own during the day. At night time, I would not walk alone or even with one other person due to petty crime. Even with large crowds and huge events, petty theft is extremely common!
Is Rio de Janeiro safe for American tourists?
Yes! It is no different for American tourists vs. any other tourists in terms of safety. Just like any major city, watch your belongings, carry minimal cash or just one credit card, and don’t wear flashy jewelry.
Is Rio de Janeiro expensive?
With the exchange rate for Americans of 1 USD to 5.6 Brazilian real, the food is cheap for us! I had a full Michelin star restaurant meal with appetizer, entree and desert for less than $50.
There are premium Brazilian steakhouses with all-you-can-eat seafood and meat for $40USD. Food in Rio is also a melting pot of Asian, European and African influences so you get a mix of so many cultures and tasty flavors!
Check out my Rio de Janeiro Food Guide: 14 Best Eats & Treats to Try!
Is Rio de Janeiro safe for families?
Absolutely. There are many fun family-orientated activities to do in Rio! You can go on a jeep tour through the rainforest, go hang out on the beach, rent bikes at Copacabana beach, go snorkeling, go on a day boat trip, go on a hike, check out AquaRio which is the largest aquarium in South America, or go to the Museum of Tomorrow! All these activities are perfectly safe to do during the day, preferably with a guide who can take you around!
Conclusion
Rio de Janeiro is a wonderful place to visit. The city is full of diversity and culture, with a beautiful backdrop of rainforests, beaches and mountains. You can visit Copacabana beach, Tijuca rainforest, or Sugarloaf mountain all within 30 minutes of each other! When traveling there, take all the necessary precautions in any major city and you’ll be totally safe!