Is Rio de Janeiro Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Rio de Janeiro has many beautiful attractions and vibrant culture, however caution is recommended especially for solo female travelers. Crime can be prevalent especially in certain neighborhoods and at night. Always keep an eye on your belongings and avoid walking alone at night in less populated or unfamiliar areas. It's also recommended to keep your valuables and flashy jewelry inconspicuous to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. As a rule of thumb, traveling via taxi or Uber, especially at night, is safer than walking. Despite this, many tourists visit Rio safely each year, so it is not impossible to enjoy the city while taking appropriate precautions.

Safety rating

3.3 /5

Based on 22 experiences from female travelers

2.5 /5

Based on our research and crime data

2.4 /5

Based on 17 experiences from local women

Rio de Janeiro is currently ranked #8 safest place in Brazil for solo female travellers, with an overall safety rating of 3.3 out of 5. . Check the full ranking.

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How safe is Rio de Janeiro?

Safety at night:Unsafe

Walking alone in Rio de Janeiro at night generally presents higher risks due to incidents of crime, particularly in certain neighborhoods that experience higher than average rates of theft and assault. It's always advisable to use licensed taxis or rideshare services to get around after dark and avoid isolated areas. Be mindful of your surroundings at all times and make sure your valuables are secure and not on display. Remote, secluded beaches and parks can be especially problematic in terms of personal safety after sunset.

Public transportation:Moderate

Public transportation in Rio de Janeiro, such as buses and metro, is generally safe during day time, but extra caution is required during late hours. Buses are often crowded, which can unfortunately lead to occasional pickpocketing. It is advisable to avoid displaying valuable items. The Metro is very clean and convenient. Regular security practices, such as being aware of your surroundings and keeping personal belongings close, should work well.

Street harassment:High

As a solo female traveler in Rio de Janeiro, you may experience a significant amount of street harassment. It is not uncommon to encounter catcalling and unwelcome advances particularly when walking alone in certain neighborhoods. It is advised that solo female travelers should be cautious and alert at all times. Avoid isolated areas, especially after dark. Dress conservatively, ignore unwanted attention, and be confident. Connect with other travelers, and do not hesitate to ask for help if you feel uncomfortable.

Petty crimes:High

In Rio de Janeiro, petty crimes like pickpocketing and bag snatching can be common occurrences, particularly in crowded areas. These incidents typically peak in tourist spots, public transportation and beach areas. Staying vigilant in both day and night times is advisable as these crimes can occur at any time. Furthermore, travelling in groups when possible and minimizing the display of high-value items can mitigate such risks.

Is Rio de Janeiro worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 22 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.8/5

Safety

3.3/5

Food

4.4/5

Budget-friendly

3.9/5

Wlianni

Brazil

Couple travel

A city with beautiful places but I constantly felt in danger and had to stay alert all the time. I really liked the places I visited. I avoided going up hills, but I wouldn't return to the city because of the lack of safety.

Posted: April 21, 2025

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Paula

Portugal

Solo travel

I loved Rio! I also managed to see some carnival celebrations as they started in January already! I felt very safe although I was also cautious because I know that it can be very unsafe there. Prices were very affordable but, as usually, in more touristic areas they were higher than they should be. I can definitely reccomend! And the weather was awesome.

Posted: February 3, 2025Experienced: December, 2024

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Solo travel

Rio de Janeiro is a really vibrant and wild city. And also really dangerous at the same time. But when you aware of that and not showing your phone that much in public you will be safe. I really loved the sunsets at ipanema beach that’s totally the best beach in Rio and also the Streetparty on Monday’s at Pedro do Sal.

Posted: January 15, 2025

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Sara

El Salvador

Solo travel

I loved Rio The culture is really friendly, the food is good and not to expensive and the beaches are just perfect. You can go on hikes or if you like to party you can always go to Lapa. Most people don’t speak english so I would recomendar to learn solo basic words. I would not recommed going to the Chist the Redeemer because it is way too crowded so you don’t get to enjoy the amazing view and you have to do a two hour line (or more). The place is amazing but the amount of people is a little overwhelming.

Posted: January 14, 2025

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Solo travel

I loved Rio, I stayed in Copacabana and adored the restaurants on the beachfront. I went paragliding and it was an incredible experience. The city is lively and for those who like entertainment it is the ideal place, there are parties every day.

Posted: April 21, 2024

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Is Rio de Janeiro safe for women?

Safety index

2.4 /5

Based on 17 local experiences

Crime index

3.1 /5

Based on 17 local experiences

Laura

The city of Rio de Janeiro is pretty diversified. In Zona Sul(South Zone), there are rich places, and I imagine that is the place tourists would stay more. In those places, everything works nice, but you always have to stay alert about robberies and thefts. In the rest of the Rio de Janeiro: Zona Norte(North Zone) and Zona Oeste(West Zone), things get more complicated. There are nice neighborhoods and bad neighborhoods. You should always stay alert to never go into a Favela for accident. As I said... there are good favelas and bad ones. Feel free to ask me more about it :) But me, as a local, can tell you that: No, you are not going to experience anything really bad in Rio. You just have to be careful. It's an amazing town.

Posted: May 21, 2025

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Laura

About Me

Hello, I am a 20 years old girl who loves to be proactive! I have been a scout since I was 6 years old, and I love to meet other scouts. I joined this app to talk to other women who like to travel and learn from them :) By the moment, I don't travel much, but I am doing a lot of plans. I feel really good if I am able to give some tips about trips to Rio de Janeiro, my own Town! But unfortunately I am not able to go out much because I study a lot. 🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro

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Selena

About Me

My name is Selena! Follow on IG @thediaryofle

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Stay with locals in Rio de Janeiro

Iris

Rio de Janeiro

Can host for:

1 day

About me

Travelling keeps me fulfilled.

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Mariana

Rio de Janeiro

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Nasci no Rio de Janeiro, mas morei a maior parte da vida em Goiânia-GO-BR. Há 7 anos voltei a morar no Rio de Janeiro, cidade que amo e que além de linda tem muita cultura.