Is Brazil safe for solo female travelers?

Brazil is a country of many contrasts with unique culture and affluent natural beauty. However, safety can be a concern, particularly for solo female travelers. The different parts of Brazil present varying levels of security. Some safer regions like Florianopolis and Rio Grande do Sul can be enjoyed with relative peace. However, cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo tend to have higher crime rates. It's always advisable to stay alert, avoid isolated areas, especially at night, and to keep your belongings close. As always, knowledge of the local language Portuguese is invaluable to navigate any safety concerns.

Safety rating

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How safe is Brazil for solo female travelers?

Travel safety index

3.7 /5

based on 72 experiences from female travelers

Praia de Iracema, Group travel

The boardwalk in front of Iracema beach is peaceful, beautiful, and has a wide variety of foods. However, you need to be careful with the cars, as they drive at high speeds and do not respect pedestrian crossings. The beach is not suitable for swimming and is also dangerous.

Posted: October 3, 2025Experienced: August, 2024
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Flavia

Flavia

Chile

Rio de Janeiro, Group travel

Overall, the trip was great. I traveled with my sister and her partner, and even though we sometimes went out together or separately, I felt pretty safe, always sticking to the quieter areas I knew were quieter. In the afternoon and at night, you can walk around Copacabana or along Rio's waterfront. However, I don't recommend going to Celarón at night. Many people say it's a great place to party. I've also heard many terrible stories about being mugged, intimidated, or otherwise attacked. You should definitely visit the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon, as well as Praia Vermelha. Other must-sees include Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Botanical Garden, Christ the Redeemer, and Tijuca National Park. A very interesting place to visit is the Museu do Amanhã. There are definitely plenty of museums and cultural attractions, as well as many beautiful beaches. Regarding food, I'm not a particular fan, but street food, especially the corn with butter, was delicious after climbing up and down the Sugar Loaf Mountain. We stayed in a high-rise apartment in a very, very old building in Copacabana. While it looked very nice in photos and also very pretty inside, the building wasn't in very good structural condition, which made us a little unsafe. Overall, it felt pretty safe, though I wouldn't recommend going to other places at night. Our transportation to visit the area was mainly a bicycle, rented through a phone app. Also, since everything was very close, it was very easy to walk almost everywhere. When we had to travel to distant places, we used public transportation or took a car through phone apps.

Posted: October 3, 2025Experienced: May, 2023
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Rio de Janeiro, Solo travel

* Extremely beautiful but did feel safe at all. * If you visit Pao de Azucar, go for the sunset, one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in my life. * A cool and safe space to stay is Hostel Sunrise, a room only for women, a pool and an entrance right on the road, which makes it safer to go home at night with an uber or taxi. * If you are alone, I would definitely recommend to travel with a Dry Bag to allow you to the beach with some basic belongings.

Posted: September 1, 2025Experienced: July, 2025
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Pietra

Pietra

Italy

Brazil, Solo travel

Rio de Janeiro is a violent city, but I've gone a couple of times there and everything was good. Day 1: Christ & Sugarloaf; Day 2: Copacabana & Ipanema; Day 3: Santa Teresa & Lapa; Day 4: Tijuca Forest hike; Day 5: Maracanã & Samba night. Restaurant: Aprazível, which won a Michelin

Posted: August 18, 2025
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How safe is Brazil for women?

Local safety index

3.4 /5

Based on 215 local experiences

Local crime index

3 /5

Based on 215 local experiences

Maíra

Maíra

Porto Alegre

In Brazil in general, and also here in Porto Alegre, where I live, it’s important to keep your belongings very close to you at all times, like your phone, bag, and wallet. Stay aware of the area you’re walking in and pay attention to the people around you. If you notice someone watching you too closely, something might happen. It’s safer to walk around if you’re accompanied, not all areas of Porto Alegre are like this, but to be on the safe side, having someone with you is better. Avoid walking alone at night, especially in downtown Porto Alegre. Stick to busier, well-lit areas. During the day, downtown is much better for walking. It’s also usually safer to take an Uber rather than walking at night, for example

Posted: November 26, 2025
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Sonia

Sonia

São Paulo

Not to much, you have to be “malandro” - but usually gringos aren’t. Just Dont be on the street waving your phone to pickpockets, and try to always go out with a friend if you don’t know where u r going.

Posted: October 21, 2025
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Sao Jose

As far as I can tell, crimes do happen but are usually in distant neighbourhoods, or small robberies. But, as expected, being cautious is always important. Not walking alone at night, being careful with your drinks, avoiding specific neighborhoods.

Posted: October 12, 2025
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Ponta Negra

It is a safe place because there are police checkpoints on every corner and a large flow of people; it is an upscale area of the city. There, you can find craft fairs, various places to eat with a wide range of prices, from more affordable options to more sophisticated ones.

Posted: October 3, 2025
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Safety in Brazil

Hospitality Exchange in Brazil

Renata

Renata

Campinas

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I Just love to travel, learn new things, meet people from another cultura, tryng to learn New languages Just like english, french and spanish...

Speaking

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Letícia

Letícia

São Paulo

Can host for:

7 days

About me

Creative soul with a love for languages, music, and storytelling. I travel to feel alive, to learn, and to meet kind people with open hearts. Always up for a beach sunset, a good coffee, or a deep chat about life.

Speaking

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Expats in Brazil

Maíra

Maíra

Porto Alegre

About me

Hi! I’m Maíra, 31, from Porto Alegre, Brazil. I’m traveling solo and looking to enjoy new experiences. I’ll be in Barcelona from December 22nd to 30th, then heading to Paris before flying back home on January 1st. It’s my first long-distance trip, and I’d love to meet new people and explore new places during this time. If you’re around, it would be amazing to have some company to make the journey even more special! I’m still looking for a place to stay in Barcelona, so if you have any good recommendations (or know someone open to sharing a stay), feel free to let me know!

Speaking

Mariana

Mariana

Aracaju

About me

Hi :D I'm a Brazilian internationalist and remote worker and I'm looking for friends around the world! I'm going to Paris-France in the next week and i would like to met the city with cool people. Nice to meet you and let's talk 😸

Speaking