Is Brazil Safe a Safe Place To Travel? A Personal Perspective

Editor’s note: Safety information is accurate as of November 2025; always verify current advisories before travel.

I recently had a conversation with a fellow European while visiting Brazil that pulled on my heartstrings. Tom and I had just been introduced through mutual friends, and we discussed our love for Brazil over some amazing gelato in Trancoso, Bahia.

He mentioned being shocked that there seem to be fewer Western tourists in Brazil than in other tropical hotspots like Thailand, Bali, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. I couldn’t agree with him more. The comment led to a passionate discussion about how we can recall times when we felt more unsafe in cities like Barcelona, London, Los Angeles, and New York than in Brazil.

I’m not writing this to tell you that the safety perception of Brazil is all wrong, and there is no danger in Brazil. Having been in a couple of scary situations myself, that would be an outright lie.

However, I believe that the extent to which mainstream media exaggerates the risk to tourists deters visitors from Europe and the U.S. That’s disappointing because Brazil is one of the warmest, most welcoming, and soulful places on the planet — a country that everyone should have the privilege of getting to know one day.

With a bit of common sense and awareness, most travelers can explore Brazil safely and confidently.

Hear me out, please.

Tourists Aren’t Typically Violent Crime Targets

Believe it or not, it’s really not about you or me. Brazil experiences violent crime, but much of it is geographically and socially concentrated — typically avoidable for tourists.

Brazil had 6.6 million international visitors in 2024, and most tourists perceived the country as very secure. The gun violence and murders that dominate headlines in Brazil are often related to gang activity and police operations separate from typical tourist areas. For tourists in Brazil, the greatest danger lies in contested urban areas and less-policed zones, where the U.S. Department of State advises against travel.

Indeed, it’s possible to come across the occasional scary story in the news about something awful happening to a tourist in Brazil. Over the last year, I have been aware of 3 high-profile cases. An Argentinian was shot and killed after accidentally driving into the Morro dos Prazers favela; a Brazilian visiting Rio was shot dead after her Uber driver mistakenly drove into another favela; and a British man disappeared in June this year.

I agree, that’s scary. But what’s more frightening: being a very rare victim of violent crime in Brazil, or one of 369 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2025 (at the time of writing) that have caused the deaths of many innocent people?

If you were to be an unfortunate victim of crime while visiting Brazil, the most likely thing to happen is having your necklace swiped from around your neck or your phone stolen out of your hand. The latter is a crime I hear just as often about on the streets of London. I’ve felt more on edge walking around central London with my phone out and on a public bus in Los Angeles than in Brazil.

I Was Robbed in Brazil

For all the warmth and generosity I’ve experienced in Brazil, I’ve had an unforgettable reminder that even seasoned travelers can find themselves in the wrong situation. I was violently attacked and robbed in Copacabana in February 2020.

The story could also read: “Drunk tourist gets robbed after taking selfies on Copacabana at 5 a.m.”

You can ask me the full story if we ever meet in person. But in summary, instead of going straight home from a nightclub, I stopped for McDonald’s and watched the sunrise on the beach instead. It resulted in a fractured eye socket, a stolen phone and wallet, and $1,000 withdrawn from my Amex account. Thankfully, American Express recognized the transaction as unusual immediately, and the money was returned to my account before I could even call to cancel the card.

Should I have been walking alone in the street at 5 a.m. in Rio? Probably not. Should I have had my phone out, taking selfies on the beach at 5 a.m. in Rio? Definitely not. Now, reread those questions, but remove “in Rio” from the sentence. I guess your answer will have changed to something like “Why not?” We should be free to do those things wherever we are and not have to worry about our safety. However, I was reminded that, sadly, that’s not the case for some places.

For the longest time after the attack, I gave myself a hard time about having let complacency take over. Looking back 5 years later, as I write this piece sitting in a café overlooking Copacabana, just 2 blocks from where it happened, I no longer blame myself.

Safety Perspectives on Brazil

To get a more rounded perspective of what it’s like living in Brazil, I reached out to Chris Hassan, my colleague at Upgraded Points, and Brazilian friend Carol Smith.

Chris is an American who has lived in Brazil for years, and Carol grew up in Brazil but has lived abroad (mainly in the U.S.) for much of her adult life. Here’s what they had to say about safety in Brazil.

“I have been living in Brazil for more than 15 years and (knock on wood) have never had any safety issues,” says Hassan. “I take precautions when heading into Rio de Janeiro from my relatively quiet mountain town; I don’t wear fancy watches or drive an expensive car, things that might call attention in the city of 6 million people. Just a little common sense and being aware of your surroundings can go a long way.”

And here’s what Smith had to say:

“I lived in Brazil until I was 27, and nothing bad ever happened to me. I would take the public bus all the time and never felt unsafe. It was when I moved to New York that my luck began to change. I had my Kindle stolen on the metro, and my bank cards were compromised. To tell you the truth, I feel safer in Brazil these days than I do in the U.S.”

Top Tips for a Safe Visit to Brazil

There are some simple precautions that you can take to reduce your risk of getting into any trouble, mainly common-sense behaviors for visiting many countries and cities around the world, not just Brazil.

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

If you’re in Rio or São Paulo, this is where you’re most likely to have your phone stolen. I also know of a few people whose necklaces were torn off their necks. It usually occurs in large crowds, such as during Carnaval, and often goes unnoticed by the victim until they return home, as it happens so quickly.

Sometimes you need to use your phone in the street, like ordering a ride-sharing service or looking at Google Maps. Before taking it out of your pocket or bag, take a moment to look around and assess your environment. If possible, use it near the entrance to a store or building where a security guard is likely to be present.

The worst place to take your phone out in the street is while waiting to cross the road. Similar to what’s happening scarily frequently in London, this is the perfect spot for opportunistic thieves on bikes and scooters to whip your phone out of your hand.

Expensive jewelry, including watches, will draw the most attention; it’s best to leave them locked away in your accommodation or leave them at home.

Spend Time Visiting Cities Other Than Rio or São Paulo

I’ve stopped counting the number of times I’ve traveled to Brazil over the years. Despite being the cities with the highest risk of violent crime, I’ll still always visit Rio and São Paulo each time I’m here.

I would never advise avoiding these cities altogether. However, if you would like to visit Brazil but are apprehensive about Rio and São Paulo, there are many alternative destinations to consider.

Curitiba, Florianópolis, and Brasília are 3 very safe cities to consider if you’d still like a taste of big-city life in Brazil.

In my experience, almost every other city (except Salvador) I’ve visited has felt “tranquilo,” meaning relaxed, chilled, and peaceful in Portuguese.

In fact, places that rely heavily on tourism are among the safest in Brazil. For example, when I asked locals in popular beach towns of Jericoacoara and Trancoso, they said crime is rare. I even used my phone in the street and walked alone at night without a care in the world.

Avoid Walking Alone at Night

I’m stating the obvious again here, but try to avoid walking the streets at night. This applies mainly if you’re in Rio and São Paulo.

When the hours of darkness set in after sunset, thieves are most likely to be on the lookout for their next easy target.

Final Thoughts

Even after being violently attacked and mugged in Rio, Brazil is still my favorite place in the world. I’m even considering a permanent move here next year.

If Brazil has been on your personal “will not” list, I hope this article helps you reconsider taking a trip.

I can’t promise you that nothing bad will happen in Brazil, but I also can’t promise that of London, New York, or anywhere else in the world. However, what I can promise is this: If you give Brazil a chance, it will steal your heart and make you want to go back again and again.