Rio is nowadays safe to visit and will be even safer the closer we get to the two major events that will take place in Brazil: 2012 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.
The Rio de Janeiro and the Brazilian economies were not good in the end of the 1980s, the whole 1990s up to the beginning of the 2000s. In those years visiting Rio was not particularly very unsafe but without a doubt, not as safe as it is today.
However, due to a combination of political and economical actions, the standard on living has increased substantially, and that has reflected directly on the safety levels, which have been increasing year after year, up to the point of placing Rio de Janeiro at a level of safety above many other cities in Brazil.
In fact, many Brazilians living in others cities in Brazil had never come to Rio because they thought they would not feel safe. Nowadays, these very same tourists are visiting Rio again and again, either for several days or weeks during school national vacation (summer and winter) as well as for only two days over the weekend (or during long holiday weekends — when a holiday falls on a Friday or on a Monday).
As Brazilians now have purchase power and feel safe, they are the ones filling up the hotels in Rio as never before, especially during major festivities such as New Years Eve and Carnival, which attracts each approximately one million visitors to Rio de Janeiro.
A record number of Brazilians visiting Rio is for sure a sign that the city is safe. If it is safe for Brazilians it is safe for foreigners, regardless of the nationality (American, British, French, Canadians, Argentinians, or any other).
The fact that foreigners may stand out because of their looks does not put them at an unsafe position while visiting Rio. The rule of thumb to feel safe in Rio de Janeiro is to be where people are, where is busy with pedestrians and sportspeople. So, whether you are a traveler coming from a distant country or a Brazilian driving to Rio for the weekend, the rule is the same, mix with locals and you will feel safe and be safe.
Planning to visit Rio de Janeiro soon and still not sure how safe you will feel? Then, plan your trip by following the recommendations found in My Rio Travel Guide – The Essential How-To Visitor’s Guide to Rio de Janeiro. In this frequently updated guide (in PDF), you will learn how to safely visit landmarks such as Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugar Loaf as well as other tourist and non-tourist attractions.
Read related article: ► Rio de Janeiro Safest Neighborhoods
