Candelária Church in Downtown Rio de Janeiro.
Downtown Rio (called ‘Centro’) is a rather big area and has safe sections as well as not so safe ones.
The downtown Rio is the old city as well as the business district — very busy during the day on weekdays but rather empty and deserted at night, on weekends and on public and bank holidays.
Your safety in downtown will depend on many factors. What section in downtown Rio you will walk at, your pace, how “like a tourist” you are perceived, your gender, how many are you, what sort of visible accessories you have on you (cameras, backpack, watch, necklace), and other factors.
The worse case scenario is to be mugged, but that happens only to a tiny minority of tourists who visit downtown Rio.
Generally, it is best to explore the Centro areas where there are lots of locals walking. The busiest time in downtown Rio is from 9 am to 5 pm.
Downtown areas with no pedestrians should be avoided in Rio de Janeiro
Staying in downtown Rio
Planning to stay in downtown Rio de Janeiro? Well, there are good, safe, and well-located hotels offering bargains and specials deals in the downtown Rio area.
However, if you are on a business trip you will probably have some time off after work. Then, in this case it is much better to stay in Copacabana, which is only 15-20 minutes away by taxi or by subway from downtown Rio.
At night, Copacabana is much nicer than downtown Rio — no comparison. You can go for a stroll on the beach sidewalk, have a drink at one of the many cafés in the area, and finish your night at a local Brazilian steakhouse.
If you go to Rio for leisure and not on business, then there are extra reasons not to stay in downtown Rio. Again, maybe it’s better to choose a cheaper accommodation in Copacabana than a nicer one in downtown.
Taking the subway is a safe way to get to downtown Rio de Janeiro
Visiting downtown Rio
A half-day is enough to visit downtown Rio on foot (or a full-day if you want to see in detail the interior of absolutely all attractions). If you are on private tour, or on a taxi, you can visit the main highlights in downtown Rio much faster (and safer).
Visiting downtown Rio is a must — there are plenty of attractions in the areas such as Cinelandia Square, The Municipal Theater, Rua do Mercado (Mercado Street), Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Saint Sebastian Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, Colombo Café, Church of the Monastery of Saint Benedictine, and many others.
Want to feel safer in downtown Rio? Access the updated downtown map in My Rio Travel Guide — the essential travel guide to Rio de Janeiro.
This guidebook presents a colorful map of downtown Rio, including a recommended self-guided walking tour of the area, safety recommendations as well as places to visit, eat, and drink.
Click below the visit downtown Rio the safe way!
