Is Rio de Janeiro safe to visit right now? (September 2026)

Travel advisories for Brazil

What the advice says

• The US State Department rates Brazil at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, a country-level advisory that is not specific to Rio de Janeiro.
• Robbery is common in Brazilian cities, particularly on buses, and thieves often target mobile phones between 4pm and 9pm.
• Beach theft, including group grab-and-run incidents known as arrastoes, occurs on city beaches, so keep belongings close and avoid the beach after dark.
• The UK Foreign Office advises avoiding all favelas, including tours or accommodation advertised as being within one, since the security situation there is unpredictable.
• Protests and demonstrations happen regularly in Brazilian cities and can turn confrontational, so it is best to avoid political rallies and leave any gathering that feels unsafe.
• Drink spiking, including through dating-app contacts, and methanol-tainted spirits have caused serious illness in Brazil, so buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.
• Short-term express kidnapping, where victims are pressured to withdraw cash from an ATM, has been reported, and if threatened it is advised not to resist and to hand over valuables.