The tourist safety in Rio de Janeiro is 99,99% in the tourist’s own hands. But first things first, Rio de Janeiro is not as unsafe for tourists as it used to be. Rio is much safer lately and will probably be even safer in 2012, 2013, 2014, and the following years.
However, if you are planning to travel to Rio de Janeiro as a tourist and are worried about about your safety, read the top 5 tips and advice below:
- 1. Take guided tours, taxis or subway to visit tourist attractions such as Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain and Sugar Loaf Hill
- 2. Prefer to stay in districts such as Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Leme (which are among the best districts in Rio — for tourists to stay in and for locals to live in)
- 3. Prefer taxis than city buses — taxis are the best, fastest and safest way to get around in Rio de Janeiro (subway is also safe, but has few stations next to tourist spots)
- 4. Explore on foot the tourist neighborhoods of Rio — Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Leme — and visit the other districts and places of interest on a guided tour or by yourself on a taxi
- 5. Stay away from areas with few people or nobody.
Your safety in Rio de Janeiro is pretty much in your hands — it is a matter of following the safety tips specific to Rio de Janeiro. The vast majority of visitors have a great time in Rio and feel completely safe. You, too, will probably feel the same.
To feel more confident before travelling to Brazil, read the tested and tried itinerary on how to safely visit Rio de Janeiro tourist attractions in My Rio Travel Guide – The Essential How-To Visitor’s Guide to Rio de Janeiro.
Read related article: Rio de Janeiro Safest Neighborhoods
