Solo Female Travel in Rio de Janeiro

Solo travel experience

Rio is beautiful, like no other city I have been to because of it being built into the mountains but you need to be careful and aware of your surroundings. Not many people outside tourist areas speak English.

Family travel experience

Rio de Janeiro was by far one of the most incredible places I had been to! I went with my family December of 2022 for the New Years (Reveillon). We stayed in Barra de Tijuca, a more upper-class neighbourhood of Rio. This time, Jan 2024, I am going back to Brazil (yes, back so soon) because I loved it so much haha! It has such a special place in my heart.

Family travel experience

The best place in the world. Do not go out at dawn or wander alone in desolate places. By doing so, you will be safe and have an incredible journey. Natural passages are so beautiful. Shopping centers are top class. It might be a bit chaotic if you stay in the northern or southern zones, but Barra da Tijuca is incredibly friendly and prepared to welcome foreigners.

Solo travel experience

I was in Rio for some time and I liked the tourist places I visited. My advice - take care of your phone's safety and use Uber. Don't walk around the city when it gets dark.

Solo travel experience

I stopped in the Copacabana district and loved the place. I didn't go out late at night and always watched my belongings in crowded places, just as I would do in any other large city. I had heard various opinions before leaving, but I was very pleasantly surprised and generally felt safe in Rio. I highly recommend seeing the steak restaurants, Sugarloaf Mountain, and taking the train to Christ the Redeemer.

Solo travel experience

I spent 10 days alone in Rio a few months ago and completely fell in love with the city. It's one of the best places I've visited and I never felt too scared or worried about my safety, but I adhered to all of those common safety rules. Brazilians are some of the friendliest and most cheerful people I've met.

Solo travel experience

Rio de Janeiro is a city it is worth visiting. Crime is high but knowing how to move around will allow you to have plenty of experiences You can stay 2 weeks or 2 years and still have new things to do.

Group travel experience

Rio is such an amazing city! But can get very unsafe, even in Copacabana. We went for carnival and had such an amazing time.

Group travel experience

I was in Rio with my friend for about 11 days and we never experienced anything suspicious. We stayed in Copacabana and did our own trips. We used Uber and everything was fine, except that not everyone speaks English, but it wasn't a big problem as we translated basic Portuguese phrases using Google. It was one of the best places I've been and if I get the chance, I will definitely go back there.

Solo travel experience

I went to Carnaval and I really enjoyed it. I stayed in tourist areas and the whole time I was there, I felt quite safe. It can be quite cheap or as expensive as you want. I also really enjoyed the free walk around the city center.

I live in Rio, in Copacabana. I believe it's fairly safe here, so maintain the same precautions as you would in any large city. I recommend using Uber everywhere when night falls. Also, dress casually and try to scatter your belongings - put money in your bra and a card to be ultra-safe. It's really not as bad as people say. I love it here and I have not felt threatened in any way. Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Gávea are very safe neighborhoods. The downtown seems much less safe. Rio is an amazing city, and Brazilians are some of the friendliest people you can meet, always ready to help.

I love Rio, but I usually avoid the city center in the evenings or going to bars alone. As for places to stay, I recommend the districts of Urca, Botafogo, Leme, and Copacabana. As for places to visit, I recommend Barra da Tijuca, Sao Conrado beach, Parque da Laje, and taking a ferry to Niteroi or to the island of Paquetá. As for public transportation, it is safe and cheap.

I am half Brazilian and almost every year I travel to Rio to visit my family. People usually say that it is not a safe city, but honestly, you need to be cautious, just like in any other city, although you can take additional precautions. Do not walk around with your phone in your hand or attract too much attention to yourself, especially in places with a high concentration of tourists, like Zona Sul. Leave your expensive jewelry at home and do not open the windows too much if you are at a red light. Tourists are unfortunately a target for thieves, but if you keep everything close to you, you should be safe. These are all rules that the locals adhere to and that I have known since childhood. Rio is a beautiful city and I absolutely love it, you just need to be a little more careful.

I lived there for many years and I loved it. A lot to see, but as anywhere, one needs to be street smart, carry local currency in small amounts, avoid showing jewelry and expensive equipment, pay attention to your surroundings. Enjoy the beaches if possible, get off the beaten path, visit Barra da Tijuca beach, walk along Copacabana sidewalk, admire the sunsets in Leblon or Arpoador, check out Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Botanical Garden, Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, if you can, visit the Lake Region (Buzios, Arraial do Cabo), it's also worth visiting Angra dos Reis, Parati, Teresopolis mountains to see God's Finger Mountain, Petropolis - visit there the Imperial Museum, Nova Friburgo. Try traditional grilled Rodizio BBQ, Feijoada, Romeo and Juliet dessert, Flan, Peixada and caipirinha.