Brazil : Safety by City
- Belo Horizonte
- Brasilia
- Campinas
- Curitiba
- Florianopolis
- Fortaleza
- Porto Alegre
- Recife
- Rio de Janeiro
- Sao Paulo
Brasília, the capital of Brazil and the seat of government of the Distrito Federal, is a planned city.
The place is a masterpiece of modernist architecture, is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and attracts architecture aficionados worldwide.
Brasília is also an important transportation hub for travel within Brazil.
Travelers come here to see the modern architecture of the city.
The city is designed in the shape of a giant bird or airplane, with various separated zones assigned for specific functions such as housing, commerce, hospitals, and banking.
Visitors to the capital of Brazil can find entertainment on any of the “wings” of the city.
Warnings & Dangers in Brasilia
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
In the afternoon, the city is safe enough, and you can even walk alone. In the dark, it is not recommended to walk around the city, especially with valuables and money. You should beware of drug dealers on the outskirts of the town and in the station area.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Be vigilant when using public transport, especially during rush-hour as petty crime is common. There have been incidents of hijacking and robbery of tour buses in recent years. Only use licensed taxis. Taxi apps are also a useful way to call a registered taxi.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
The risk of picketing is high enough. Thieves wield very skillfully. You can be distracted, ask for help, or offer support - all this can be a trick to steal your wallet. Do not carry a lot of jewelry and cash with you; always look behind your pockets.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
The region is prone to droughts, floods, and landslides. However, in the capital of Brazil, this does not happen often. Examine the weather and the current situation for natural disasters before you travel here.
MUGGING RISK: HIGH
Armed robberies are a common occurrence in Brasilia. Do not walk the streets at night, move in groups, and use a taxi to get to your hotel if you return home late. It is recommended not to carry a lot of cash and valuables.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Even though in the history of Brasilia, there were no terrorist attacks, the proximity to Venezuela and its conflicts makes it possible to attack the capital of Brazil. Besides, like any capital, the city is especially attractive to terrorists. Be on the alert and avoid political demonstrations.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Scam with tourists is common and happens quite often here. Especially vigilant you should be during festivals and carnivals. Buy tickets for performances and shows only in licensed places. Otherwise, it can turn fake. In crowded areas, watch your pockets and wallet, especially carefully. Be watchful with those who offer you help or distract you with questions - at this time, another thief may empty your pockets.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Women traveling alone in Brasilia can be safe in city streets in the daytime. But at night it strongly advised not to be alone. Avoid bars and outskirts' market places. It is also better not to get around by taxi or to hitchhike alone. Wear more modest clothing to avoid unwanted attention from men.
So... How Safe Is Brasilia Really?
Brasilia is not a very safe city.
The index of crime is high, and it increased in the last years.
Most problems connect with mugging, car theft, and corruption.
The area near the central bus station is not safe for travelers, especially at night.
There is a lot of prostitution and drugs dealing in this place.
Travelers should be aware of kidnapping also – some times people can be attacked near or inside their car, robbing and getting away with the car, and sometimes driving with the owner to make them withdraw money from automatic cash machines or even committing other kinds of violence.
Particular care should be taken in the dark, do not stay on the streets alone, travel in groups.
Only park in well-guarded garages.
Be vigilant, and if you were attacked, give what you ask and then contact the police.
Avoid any relationship with drug dealers – drugs are illegal in Brazil.
Selling or transporting drugs for the use of others is considered trafficking, a grave crime, and will lead to severe consequences.
In general, in tourist places and during the daytime you will not meet much danger, using common sense can avoid all troubles.
If possible, do not carry valuables and a lot of cash.
How Does Brasilia Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Brasilia | 62 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 43 |
| Sao Paulo | 45 |
| Porto Alegre | 21 |
| Belo Horizonte | 48 |
| Campinas | 57 |
| Curitiba | 51 |
| Manama (Bahrain) | 54 |
| Brussels (Belgium) | 60 |
| Belize City (Belize) | 37 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
Useful Information
Visas
Visitors to Brazil must obtain a visa from one of the Brazilian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries. Visas are not required for airport transit, from any nationality, as long as the traveler does not leave the international transit area. A valid passport is a must.
Currency
The Brazilian real is the official currency of Brazil since 1994. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. It has a sign: R$ and code: BRL. The Brazilian real is the nineteenth most traded currency in the world by value.
Weather
The best times to visit Brasilia for ideal weather are May to October. The average temperatures in Brasília vary little. Temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some hot weeks in the summer, with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year.
Airports
Brasília–Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport is the only international airport serving Brasília. It is located in the administrative region of Lago Sul, in the Federal District, 11 km from the city center of Brasilia. Regular buses, numbers 102 and 102.1, are frequent and link the airport to the main bus terminal at Rodoviária, from where travelers can catch buses or the subway to other parts of the city. Taxis also serve the airport.
Travel Insurance
The travel insurance policy is a must when visiting a foreign country. Make sure you got it before starting your journey, the customs officer may ask for it.
Brasilia Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
| Low °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| High °F | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 79 | 79 | 82 | 86 | 84 | 82 | 82 |
| Low °F | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 59 | 54 | 54 | 55 | 61 | 64 | 64 | 64 |
Brazil - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Belo Horizonte | 48 |
| Brasilia | 62 |
| Campinas | 57 |
| Curitiba | 51 |
| Florianopolis | 68 |
| Fortaleza | 37 |
| Porto Alegre | 21 |
| Recife | 48 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 43 |
| Sao Paulo | 45 |
Not worth your money
Only brazilians like this city, you need a car for basically everything, is extemeley hot, ugly concrete architecture and nothing to do.
Brasilia is not Brazil
That’s true! The city of Brasilia was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, an adept of communist architecture, in the 60s.
Capital of hope
Hello Mark! You definitely don’t know Brasilia. First, Brasilia is the safest big city in Brazil, after all here is the place of embassies and all federal government structures.
Police in this city works well. Nothing to do? Well, I don’t know where you did go, but did you visit the Catedral, Pontao do Lago Sul, or City Park?
Brasilia has a lot of shows, pubs, restaurants, clubs, malls, and places in the open air for to people enjoy it… So… the UNESCO doesn’t think architecture in Brasilia is ugly… I think you should contact them and ask why Brasilia is a heritage of humanity.
Did you drive to the Asa Sul to Asa Norte? Saw those builds? Honestly… but I assume that I agree with you with these two-point:
The weather in Brasilia is like Saara and need a car, but in some aspects, Brasilia is one the greenest city in Brazil and the car problem… well, we have cars services to drop the people at the place she/he wants. Some satellite cities, like Taguatinga, Guara, and Aguas Claras are very interesting to know. Hope you come again and enjoy the most potable water in Brazil and the most beautiful sky in the world.
Well done João Almeida
You all dont know the real worth of Brasilia its a wonderful place and all you brats dont deserve to visit, I have lived there all my life and it is a really safe city musch more safer than Rio de Janeiro.
Underrated
Brasília is a great city for brazilian standards. There’s plenty of green spaces and organized and calm neighborhoods. It’s not very safe though specially in the “satellite cities”. There is a significant problem with homelessness and dangerous drug users and dealers that has gotten worse recently.
Very safe, but take precautions
I will speak of my experience staying primarily in Asa Sul, in a part very near to the city center. For any of you asking, the trip was in early 2022
Regarding safety, I had a great experience! I had absolutely no problems with such issues. Brasilia is clearly one of the safest, if not the safest, big city in Brazil.
However, the hotel employees made it a point to try to avoid going out past 10 pm. Unfortunately, similar to every large South American city, it is not safe to walk around outside at night.
Although I will say that I drove around with a native friend at night multiple times for probably close to three or four hours in total over the five days I was there. There were not any problems. Again, primarily in Asa Sul.
Furthermore, I would not recommend going out to the Satellite Cities unless you go with a native from there, and even then, make sure to dress modestly and not show money, phone, etc.
With all this being said, do not let this website scare you. I have seen so many reviews that completely bewilder me, and safety ratings that I do not understand about so many cities. Brasilia is an extremely safe city for Brazil and South America. Just make sure to take the right precautions, as always.