Rio de Janeiro is not among the areas the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against, but the US State Department says not to travel to its favelas. The US State Department says to exercise increased caution in Brazil because of crime and kidnapping, and it names Rio de Janeiro for assaults involving drugs placed in drinks. The US State Department also says violent crime occurs in urban areas, day and night.
At Safe to Go, we track safety guidance from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada every day to help travelers separate national warnings from city risks.
What Official Travel Advisories Say About Rio de Janeiro
The US State Department and the UK FCDO both name Rio de Janeiro: the US for drink-spiking assaults, and the UK for thefts around Copacabana beach and for flash floods and landslides. The panel above shows today’s level across governments.
The US State Department specifically notes that assaults are common, including with sedatives or drugs placed in drinks, especially in Rio de Janeiro. American officials warn that criminals target foreigners through dating apps or at bars before drugging and robbing their victims. Furthermore, US government employees need special authorization to travel to informal housing developments and are advised against using municipal buses due to robbery and assault risks.
Guidance from the UK FCDO highlights that the most common incidents affecting British nationals in Rio de Janeiro are thefts and pickpocketing around Copacabana beach. The UK FCDO also says Rio de Janeiro Pride events attract large numbers and are usually very peaceful. Meanwhile, Canada advises travelers to exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).
How Rio de Janeiro Compares to Wider Brazil Warnings
Rio de Janeiro shares the urban crime warnings that cover Brazil, but it is not in the remote river and border areas that carry the strictest advice. See Is Brazil safe? for how those areas compare.
The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to river areas in the west of Amazonas State. The list includes the Amazon River west of Codajás and east of Belém do Solimões, the Rio Negro north or west of Barcelos, and the Itaquaí and Japurá rivers. The US State Department says not to travel to international land borders, and its staff need special authorization to go within 100 miles (160 km) of them, except to Foz do Iguaçu and the Pantanal.
Street Robberies, Beach Theft, and Scams in Rio de Janeiro
Thieves regularly target mobile phones, particularly between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., and attackers may be armed or under the influence of drugs.
On public beaches like Copacabana, thefts occur frequently and include arrastões, where groups of thieves run through the sand grabbing personal belongings. Advisories state that visitors must never go onto city beaches after dark, should keep possessions close, and should avoid bringing any valuables to the shoreline. Criminals also target large-scale celebrations such as Carnival, the UK FCDO says.
Bank and credit card scams are common in Brazil, including card cloning at ATMs and in shops, and payment machine and beach vendor scams have been reported in busy tourist areas. Keep sight of your card, check the amount on the payment terminal before paying, and do not use an ATM if you notice anything suspicious.
- Avoid using a mobile phone openly on the street, especially between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
- Do not bring jewellery, expensive watches, or large amounts of cash to public beaches.
- If threatened, hand over your valuables without resistance.
Favela Boundaries and Urban Navigation Hazards
Favelas exist in all major Brazilian cities and can border areas used by tourists. The UK FCDO says the security situation in many favelas is unpredictable and can be dangerous.
The UK FCDO advises travelers to avoid all favelas entirely, explicitly warning against booking favela tours marketed to tourists or patronizing bars, restaurants, and accommodation located inside these settlements. Tourists have been shot after accidentally entering favelas. The US State Department says not to travel to informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades, or conglomerados) because of crime.
When moving through the city, travelers must check GPS routes carefully to confirm that driving directions do not route through an informal settlement. If uncertain about whether an address borders an unsafe area, visitors should verify the route with local hotel staff.
Express Kidnapping and Banking App Precautions
The US State Department calls express kidnapping an ongoing threat to both locals and foreigners in Brazil. Perpetrators force victims at gunpoint to withdraw cash from multiple ATMs or make instant electronic transfers using mobile banking applications such as Pix.
Kidnapping for ransom involving US citizens is rare but occasionally occurs, and organized criminal groups sometimes target people seen withdrawing money from ATMs or leaving banks. The US State Department advises using ATMs in secure locations such as shopping malls or major hotels.
Travelers can reduce their exposure by limiting the number of payment cards they carry outside their accommodation and varying daily travel routes. Criminals frequently confront targets at their vehicles, so drivers should park only in well-lit, guarded garages.
Bus Risks and Election-Period Protests in Brazil
The US State Department advises its staff not to use municipal buses in Brazil because of serious risks of robbery and assault, especially at night. The UK FCDO says robberies are common in many Brazilian cities, particularly on buses.
Visitors who fall victim to passport theft can still board domestic flights to consular hubs in Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, or São Paulo using a valid photo identification card or an official police report.
Demonstrations, protests, and strikes can erupt across city centers without warning, and local police have used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. If you encounter a protest, the UK FCDO says to leave the area as soon as it is safe to do so.
Rainy Season Flooding and Coastal Landslide Risks
Heavy rainfall often disrupts infrastructure in Brazil, particularly in rural areas, the UK FCDO says. The regional rainy season runs from November through March across southern and southeastern Brazil, though severe weather events can strike outside designated seasonal windows.
Flash floods and landslides are common where mountains are close to the coast, such as Rio de Janeiro, including in tourist areas. Fast-flowing floodwaters have caused fatal drownings, and cars and buses have been caught in landslides, resulting in deaths.
If you travel between November and March, monitor local media for weather updates.
How to Track Current Safety Warnings for Rio de Janeiro
Travelers should verify daily advisory updates before departing for Rio de Janeiro, as security conditions and government warnings change over time. You can compare warnings using our City safety guides or see how Rio de Janeiro stacks up against other regions via our tool to Compare destinations side by side.
US citizens can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). UK travellers can sign up to get email notifications when the UK FCDO Brazil advice is updated. You can also view recent shifts across countries through our Latest advisory changes feed.
Before departing, review our Free travel safety checklist and our framework explaining How we rate safety. Our verdict would change if the UK FCDO or the US State Department advised against Rio de Janeiro as a whole. If your plans include a favela tour or a stay advertised as inside a favela, change them, because the UK FCDO advises avoiding all favelas, including tours marketed to tourists. Review the live advisory panel above, save the local police number 190 on your phone, and leave your passport and valuables in a safe place.